ScienceDaily: Mind & Brain News

Ads effective even in the midst of multitasking, studies find Posted: 26 Jan 2015 02:06 PM PST Those video ads playing in the corner of your computer screen, in the midst of multitasking, may have more impact than you realize. They may be as effective as ads you're really watching, says one expert. It depends on how you perceive and process media content -- whether your processing 'style' is to focus more on one thing or to take it all in. It also may depend on your mood.

Chronic insomniacs may face increased risk of hypertension Posted: 26 Jan 2015 01:17 PM PST Insomniacs who take longer than 14 minutes to fall asleep face a greater risk of hypertension, according to new research. This study is the first to test whether insomnia with physiological hyperarousal, defined as a longer time to fall asleep, is linked to hypertension.

Engineering self-assembling amyloid fibers Posted: 26 Jan 2015 12:05 PM PST Nature has many examples of self-assembly, and bioengineers are interested in copying these systems to create useful new materials or devices. Amyloid proteins, for example, can self-assemble into the tangled plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease -- but can also form very useful materials, such as spider silk, or biofilms around living cells. Researchers have now come up with methods to manipulate natural proteins so that they self-assemble into amyloid fibrils.

Phase 1 clinical trial of CUDC-101 'throws kitchen sink' at head and neck cancer Posted: 26 Jan 2015 10:52 AM PST At 18 months median follow up of a phase 1 clinical trial, one patient's cancer had worsened, two had died, and nine remained free of disease. Testing of blood and tumor samples showed that CUDC-101 had indeed inhibited the action of EGFR, HDAC and Her2.

Students master math through movement using Kinect for Windows Posted: 26 Jan 2015 10:52 AM PST Significant gains in the understanding of angles and angle measurements by elementary school students are seen in those who performed body-based tasks while interacting with a Kinect for Windows mathematics program.

Girls lead boys in academic achievement globally Posted: 26 Jan 2015 09:50 AM PST Considerable attention has been paid to how boys' educational achievements in science and math compare to girls' accomplishments in those areas, often leading to the assumption that boys outperform girls in these areas. Now, using international data, researchers have determined that girls outperform boys in educational achievement in 70 percent of the countries they studied -- regardless of the level of gender, political, economic or social equality.

Good bedtime habits equal better sleep for kids Posted: 26 Jan 2015 09:49 AM PST Children obtain better and more age-appropriate sleep in the presence of household rules and regular sleep-wake routines, according to sleep researchers.

Higher dementia risk linked to more use of common drugs Posted: 26 Jan 2015 09:47 AM PST A large study links a significantly increased risk for developing dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, to taking commonly used medications with anticholinergic effects at higher doses or for a longer time. Many older people take these medications, which include nonprescription diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

Possible therapeutic target for common, but mysterious brain blood vessel disorder Posted: 26 Jan 2015 09:46 AM PST Tens of millions of people worldwide have abnormal, leak-prone sproutings of blood vessels in the brain called cerebral cavernous malformations. These abnormal growths can lead to seizures, strokes, and hemorrhages, yet their precise molecular cause has never been determined. Now, cardiovascular scientists have studied this pathway in heart development to discover an important set of molecular signals, triggered by CCM-linked gene defects, that potentially could be targeted to treat the disorder.

Largest-ever autism genome study finds most siblings have different autism-risk genes Posted: 26 Jan 2015 09:46 AM PST The largest-ever autism genome study reveals that the disorder's genetic underpinnings are more complex than previously thought: Most siblings who have autism have different autism-linked genes. The study's data is part of the historic first upload of approximately 1,000 autism genomes to the Autism Speaks MSSNG portal in Google Cloud Platform. The data will be openly available for global research in order to speed understanding of autism and the development of individualized treatments.

Is head CT overused in emergency departments? Posted: 26 Jan 2015 08:24 AM PST Most patients presenting to the emergency department with syncope or dizziness may not benefit from head CT unless they are older, have a focal neurologic deficit, or have a history of recent head trauma.

Brain study sheds light on how children with autism process social play Posted: 26 Jan 2015 08:24 AM PST Brain scans confirm significant differences in play behavior, brain activation patterns and stress levels in children with autism spectrum disorder as compared with typically developing children, new research demonstrates.

Majority of homeless adults with mental illness have high rates of cognitive deficits Posted: 26 Jan 2015 08:24 AM PST Nearly three-quarters of homeless adults with mental illness in Canada show evidence of cognitive deficits, such as difficulties with problem solving, learning and memory, new research has found. The study-believed to be the largest of its kind -assessed neurocognitive functioning indicators such as mental processing speed, verbal learning and memory in 1,500 homeless adults in five Canadian cities.

Cochlear implant users can hear, feel the beat in music Posted: 26 Jan 2015 08:24 AM PST People who use cochlear implants for profound hearing loss do respond to certain aspects of music, contrary to common beliefs and limited scientific research, says a research team. The scientists say exposure to the beat in music, such as drums, can improve the emotional and social quality-of-life of cochlear implant users and may even help improve their understanding and use of spoken language.

Would you tell your manager you had a mental health problem? Posted: 26 Jan 2015 08:23 AM PST Although nearly four in 10 workers wouldn't tell their manager if they had a mental health problem, half said that if they knew about a coworker's illness, they would desire to help, a new survey shows. The survey reveals that workers have both negative and supportive attitudes about mental health in the workplace.

In infants, pain from vaccinations shows up in brain activity Posted: 26 Jan 2015 08:21 AM PST Infants show distinct, consistent patterns of brain activity in response to painful vaccinations, new research shows.

New mechanism to aid cells under stress identified Posted: 26 Jan 2015 08:21 AM PST New details in a cellular mechanism that serves as a defense against stress have been identified by a team of biologists. The findings potentially offer insights into tumor progression and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's -- the cell's inability to respond to stress is a major cause of these diseases.

Brain circuit that regulates thirst identified Posted: 26 Jan 2015 08:20 AM PST Scientists have identified a circuit in the brains of mice that regulates thirst. When a subset of cells in the circuit is switched on, mice immediately begin drinking water, even if they are fully hydrated. A second set of cells suppresses the urge to drink.

Mindfulness-based program in schools making a positive impact, study shows Posted: 26 Jan 2015 06:59 AM PST A social and emotional learning program started by Academy Award winning actress Goldie Hawn to help school children improve their learning abilities, be more caring, and less stressed is now backed by new scientific evidence.

Towards a scientific process freed from systemic bias Posted: 26 Jan 2015 06:59 AM PST Research on how science works -- the science of science -- can benefit from studying the digital traces generated during the research process, such as peer-reviewed publications. This type of research is crucial for the future of science and that of scientists, according to experts.

Mother's stress hormone levels may affect fetal growth and long term health of child Posted: 26 Jan 2015 06:57 AM PST Increased levels of stress hormones can lead pregnant mice to overeat, but affect growth of the fetus and, potentially, the long term health of the offspring, according to a new study.

Poor psychosocial work environments may contribute to heart problems Posted: 26 Jan 2015 06:54 AM PST A psychosocially poor work environment means that employees experience highly demanding requirements but have little ability to control their work or not feel sufficiently appreciated for the contributions they make. Research shows that these kinds of environments at work may negatively contribute to a person's heart health.

Stress during pregnancy related to infant gut microbiota Posted: 26 Jan 2015 06:54 AM PST Women who experience stress during pregnancy are likely to have babies with a poor mix of intestinal microbiota and with a higher incidence of intestinal problems and allergic reactions. This could be related to psychological and physical problems as the child develops.

Testosterone helps bind antidepressants in brain Posted: 26 Jan 2015 05:38 AM PST Female sex hormones have a strong effect on the psyche. This has been confirmed by numerous scientific studies and by phenomena such as the "baby blues", a bout of low mood following childbirth, or recurrent mood swings that occur prior to menstruation. However the male sex hormone testosterone also affects our mood and emotions, as well as our libido - and in a positive way.

Daily drinking increases risk of alcoholic cirrhosis Posted: 26 Jan 2015 05:38 AM PST Although alcohol is the most important risk factor of alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, less is known about the significance of different patterns of drinking. Currently scientists believe that cirrhosis is a function of the volume of alcohol consumed irrespective of patterns of drinking. Investigators have now established that alcohol drinking pattern has a significant influence on the risk of cirrhosis and that daily drinking increases that risk compared with drinking less frequently.

Reducing work-family conflicts in the workplace helps people to sleep better Posted: 26 Jan 2015 05:38 AM PST Workers who participated in an intervention aimed at reducing conflict between work and familial responsibilities slept an hour more each week and reported greater sleep sufficiency than those who did not participate in the intervention, a study shows.

'Fifth taste,' umami, could be beneficial for health Posted: 25 Jan 2015 06:31 PM PST The umami taste could have an important and beneficial role in health, according to research. 'Kokumi' substances, which modify flavor, could improve the taste of low-fat foods, the scientists say.

Use it or lose it: Active learning improves cognitive learning in active adults Posted: 23 Jan 2015 04:01 PM PST Older adults who learn a new, mentally demanding skill can improve their cognitive function, according to research. "When we see all these media reports that tell people that they should get involved socially, or do crossword puzzles or Sudoku, they are just not as beneficial as learning something new where you really have to put that effort in,” says one investigator. “You have to want to change and work hard to see real benefits.”