ScienceDaily: Mind & Brain News

'July Effect' doesn’t apply to length of surgery Posted: 23 Jan 2015 04:01 PM PST The "July Effect" -- when newly trained physicians begin their residency at teaching hospitals, potentially increasing the risk of medical errors -- doesn't appear to lengthen surgeries during that month, according to an American study.

Lead negatively impacts cognitive functions of boys more than girls Posted: 23 Jan 2015 11:09 AM PST The female hormones estrogen and estradiol may help ward off the effects of lead exposure for young girls, explaining why boys, are shown to suffer more often from the cognitive disabilities linked to lead.

Early English exposure prepares Spanish-speaking children for academic success Posted: 23 Jan 2015 09:17 AM PST Family members, teachers and peers can play different roles in shaping Spanish-speaking children's school readiness and English skills that are vital to children's academic success, research confirms.

Genome-wide search reveals new genes involved in long-term memory Posted: 22 Jan 2015 01:59 PM PST Genes involved in long-term memory in the worm have been discovered as part of research aimed at finding ways to retain cognitive abilities during aging. The study identified more than 750 genes involved in long-term memory, including many that had not been found previously and that could serve as targets for future research, said the study's senior author.

Pro-marijuana 'tweets' are sky-high on Twitter Posted: 22 Jan 2015 01:59 PM PST Analyzing every marijuana-related Twitter message sent during a one-month period in early 2014, researchers have found that the 'Twitterverse' is a pot-friendly place. In that time, more than 7 million tweets referenced marijuana, with 15 times as many pro-pot tweets sent as anti-pot tweets.

Anti-inflammatory protein may trigger plaque in Alzheimer's disease Posted: 22 Jan 2015 12:48 PM PST Inflammation has long been studied in Alzheimer's, but in a counter-intuitive finding reported by researchers has uncovered the mechanism by which anti-inflammatory processes may trigger the disease.

Tablet computers good medium for educational materials Posted: 22 Jan 2015 12:48 PM PST It's increasingly important for educators to understand how mobile technology such as touch-screen tablets can enhance learning instead of being classroom distractions, says a professor of business administration, and co-author of new research in business and e-learning.

Low-income boys fare worse in wealth's shadow Posted: 22 Jan 2015 11:18 AM PST Low-income boys fare worse, not better, when they grow up alongside more affluent neighbors, according to new research. The greater the economic distance between boys and their neighbors, the worse the effects. In mixed-income neighborhoods, poor boys showed more antisocial behavior, such as lying, cheating, swearing and fighting. The findings reflect a dozen years of research on mixed-income neighborhoods in the UK.

Prescription painkillers, widely used by childbearing age women, double birth defects risk Posted: 22 Jan 2015 10:32 AM PST Many women are unaware that prescription opioid-based medications such as codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, or morphine, used to treat severe pain, may increase the risk for serious birth defects of the baby's brain, spine, and heart, as well as preterm birth when taken during pregnancy. Use of these medications also can cause babies to suffer withdrawal symptoms when born, a condition known as neonatal abstinence syndrome or NAS, a growing problem in US birthing hospitals.

Family voices, stories speed coma recovery Posted: 22 Jan 2015 10:32 AM PST 'Can he hear me?' Family members are desperate to know when a loved one with a traumatic brain injury is in a coma. A new study shows the recorded voices of loved ones telling the patient familiar stories stored in his long-term memory help awaken the unconscious brain and speed recovery from the coma.

Secrets of a clump-dissolving protein uncovered Posted: 22 Jan 2015 10:31 AM PST Workhorse molecules called heat-shock proteins contribute to refolding proteins that were once misfolded and clumped, causing such disorders as Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers are developing ways to 'reprogram' one such protein -- a yeast protein called Hsp104 -- to improve its therapeutic properties.

Estrogen-producing neurons influence aggression in both sexes Posted: 22 Jan 2015 10:31 AM PST A miniscule cluster of estrogen-producing nerve cells in the mouse brain exerts highly specific effects on aggressive behavior in both males and females, according to new research.

Brain secrets unlocked by international imaging effort Posted: 22 Jan 2015 10:30 AM PST Significant genetic factors that influence the size of structures within the brain have been discovered by an international team of researchers. It is hoped these new insights may help scientists better understand disorders such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy.