ScienceDaily: Mind & Brain News

Does a competent leader make a good friend? Posted: 10 Feb 2015 01:01 PM PST New research shows that when we elect leaders and politicians we tend to prefer dominant-looking, masculine men, but when we are looking to make new friends we seek the opposite.

Significant link between cannabis use and onset of mania symptoms Posted: 10 Feb 2015 01:01 PM PST Researchers have found evidence to suggest a significant relationship between cannabis use and the onset and exacerbation of mania symptoms.

Napping reverses health effects of poor sleep Posted: 10 Feb 2015 11:17 AM PST A short nap can help relieve stress and bolster the immune systems of men who slept only two hours the previous night, according to a new study.

Plain packaging reduces 'cigarette-seeking' response by almost ten percent Posted: 10 Feb 2015 10:32 AM PST Plain tobacco packaging may reduce the likelihood of smokers seeking to obtain cigarettes by almost 10 percent compared to branded packs, according to new research.

Smoking thins vital part of brain Posted: 10 Feb 2015 10:31 AM PST A major study shows new evidence that long-term smoking could cause thinning of the brain's cortex. The cortex is the outer layer of the brain in which critical cognitive functions such as memory, language and perception take place. Interestingly, the findings also suggest that stopping smoking helps to restore at least part of the cortex's thickness.

When a broken heart becomes a real medical condition Posted: 10 Feb 2015 10:05 AM PST Broken heart syndrome occurs during highly stressful or emotional times, such as a romantic breakup, death of a spouse, serious medical diagnosis or significant financial problems. Symptoms can easily be mistaken for a heart attack.

Creatine does not slow rate of Parkinson disease progression Posted: 10 Feb 2015 10:01 AM PST Treatment with creatine monohydrate for at least 5 years for patients with early and treated Parkinson disease failed to slow clinical progression of the disease, compared with placebo, according to a new study.

Taking too much folic acid while pregnant may put daughters at risk of diabetes and obesity Posted: 10 Feb 2015 05:36 AM PST Mothers that take excessive amounts of folic acid during pregnancy may predispose their daughters to diabetes and obesity later in life, according to a new study. With high dose supplements being widely available, the study calls for a need to establish a safe upper limit of folic acid intake for pregnant women.

Understanding how to teach 'intelligence' Posted: 10 Feb 2015 05:36 AM PST More than ever, we need problem-solving skills to be able to adapt to our fast changing economies and societies. Researchers believe it is possible to teach these skills which are widely known as “intelligence”.

Could there be a gleevec for brain cancer? Posted: 09 Feb 2015 02:09 PM PST The drug Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) is well known not only for its effectiveness against chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but also for the story behinds its development. A similar drug might be able to tame some brain cancers, new research has shown.

Many would rather buy generic clothes than stand out with designer brands Posted: 09 Feb 2015 01:15 PM PST A new study has found that people who are more sensitive to how others perceive them are actually more likely to avoid clothing with large logos, even if the clothing is from a prestigious brand.

Valentine's Day gift-giving strategy for the hopeless romantic Posted: 09 Feb 2015 01:15 PM PST New research suggests you buy a gift your sweetie wants, not one that proves how thoughtful you are.

Bringing texture to your flat touchscreen with virtual bumps Posted: 09 Feb 2015 01:14 PM PST What if the touchscreen of your smartphone or tablet could touch you back? Researchers now report a discovery that provides insight into how the brain makes sense of data from fingers. When people draw their fingers over a flat surface with two 'virtual bumps,' the researchers found that, under certain circumstances, the subjects feel only one bump when there really are two. And the researchers can explain why the brain comes to this conclusion.