ScienceDaily: Mind & Brain News

iPhone separation linked to physiological anxiety, poor cognitive performance Posted: 11 Jan 2015 04:57 PM PST Cell phone use has become a common part of life as mobile devices have become one of the most popular ways to communicate. Even so, very little research exists on the impact of cell phone usage and specifically what happens when people are separated from their phones. Now, research has found that cell phone separation can have serious psychological and physiological effects on iPhone users, including poor performance on cognitive tests.

eLearning as good as traditional training for health professionals Posted: 11 Jan 2015 04:53 PM PST Electronic learning could enable millions more students to train as doctors and nurses worldwide, according to research.

Infamous study of humanity's 'dark side' may actually show how to keep it at bay Posted: 09 Jan 2015 01:45 PM PST In 1961, with memories of Holocaust atrocities and the prosecution of Nazi officials at Nuremburg still fresh, psychologist Stanley Milgram undertook a series of now infamous experiments on obedience and reprehensible behavior. But Milgram divided his subjects into just two categories: obedient or disobedient. After examining the experiences of more than 100 of Milgram's participants, a modern day graduate student in sociology sees a great deal more nuance in their performances.

Coupling head and neck cancer screening, lung cancer scans could improve survival Posted: 09 Jan 2015 10:28 AM PST Adding head and neck cancer screenings to newly recommended lung cancer screenings would likely improve early detection and survival, according to a multidisciplinary team led by scientists. Head and neck cancer is the world's sixth-most common type of cancer. Worldwide every year, 600,000 people are diagnosed with it and about 350,000 die. Tobacco use and alcohol consumption are the major risk factors for developing the cancer.

Study identifies two genes that boost risk for post-traumatic stress disorder Posted: 09 Jan 2015 09:33 AM PST Why do some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while others who suffered the same ordeal do not? A new discovery may shed light on the answer.

Teachers on the front line following attack in Boston: Study identifies varying support following 2013 Boston Marathon attack Posted: 08 Jan 2015 01:24 PM PST While teachers are well-tuned to student psychological distress following a crisis, support varies considerably, a study shows. The study involved 72 schools and details the complex supportive role of teachers, and the importance of working with them to improve school response plans.

In head and neck cancer, surgeons need solid answers about tumor recurrence Posted: 08 Jan 2015 01:23 PM PST Partnering with head and neck surgeons, pathologists in the U.S. have developed a new use for an old test to determine if a patient's cancer is recurring, or if the biopsy shows benign inflammation of mucosal tissues.

Neurons that detect disease Posted: 08 Jan 2015 10:00 AM PST Life in a group entails a major risk: that of being exposed to contagious pathogens. To counter this danger, different strategies have evolved in social species. In the case of rodents, specific olfactory signals emitted by sick individuals induce avoidance behavior among their peers. Now researchers reveal the neural mechanisms underlying this behavior.

Sound mind, strong heart: Same protein sustains both Posted: 08 Jan 2015 09:59 AM PST A Roman philosopher was the first to note the relationship between a sound mind and a sound body. Now the findings of a new study reveal a possible biochemical explanation behind this ancient observation.

How do men, women respond to gender bias in STEM? Posted: 08 Jan 2015 05:48 AM PST A well-known space for candid sharing of thoughts -- the comments sections of online articles -- was the focus of recent research on the topic of gender bias in STEM. Researchers found that men are much less likely to agree with scientific evidence of gender bias in STEM than women are.

Risks of youth rugby need urgent scrutiny  Posted: 07 Jan 2015 05:48 PM PST The unknown risks of youth rugby need urgent assessment to ensure the safety of junior players, says a senior doctor. In UK schools where rugby is played, it mostly begins as a near compulsory activity from the age of 8 years, he explains. By 10 years, most players engage in some form of contact competition, increasing the potential for injury.

Poor acceptance of illness associated with worse quality of life in chronic heart failure Posted: 07 Jan 2015 05:45 PM PST Patients must redefine themselves as chronically ill for treatment to be effective, new research suggests.

Science at risk as young researchers increasingly denied research grants Posted: 07 Jan 2015 01:22 PM PST America’s youngest scientists, increasingly losing research dollars, are leaving the academic biomedical workforce, a brain drain that poses grave risks for the future of science, according to a new article.

Synthetic oil drug may bring promise for Huntington’s disease Posted: 07 Jan 2015 01:22 PM PST A synthetic triglyceride oil called triheptanoin may provide hope for people with Huntington’s disease, an early study suggests.