ScienceDaily: Mind & Brain News

Napping beyond age of two linked to poorer sleep quality in young children Posted: 17 Feb 2015 05:29 PM PST Napping beyond the age of 2 is linked to poorer sleep quality in young children, although the impact on behavior and development is less clear-cut, finds an analysis of the available evidence.

Tadpole model links drug exposure to autism-like effects Posted: 17 Feb 2015 05:29 PM PST In utero exposure to the epilepsy drug VPA appears to elevate the risk to babies of developing an autism spectrum disorder. A new study used a tadpole model to investigate VPA's effects on developing neural physiology and behavior. Researchers now hope to use the model to develop an intervention and to learn more about the underlying causes of neurodevelopmental disorders more broadly.

New insight into how our brain performs 'mental time travel' Posted: 17 Feb 2015 05:27 PM PST New brain mapping study pinpoints the areas of the brain responsible for "mental time travel."

Tau-associated MAPT gene increases risk for Alzheimer's disease Posted: 17 Feb 2015 10:11 AM PST The microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene has been identified as increasing the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), scientists report. The MAPT gene encodes the tau protein, which is involved with a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and AD. These findings provide novel insight into Alzheimer’s neurodegeneration, possibly opening the door for improved clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Women seek greater variety in men and consumer products near ovulation Posted: 17 Feb 2015 09:28 AM PST New research suggests women seek more options in dating partners near ovulation -- when they are most fertile -- which may lead them to also seek a greater variety of products and services.

Shy babies need secure parent bond to help prevent potential teen anxiety Posted: 17 Feb 2015 09:28 AM PST Shy babies need to have a strong bond with their parents to avoid developing anxiety disorders in their teens, according to a new study. Attachment is especially vital, the researchers found, when a baby shows behavioral inhibition or shyness to new situations or people.

Even animals compose: What it means to be a musical species Posted: 17 Feb 2015 09:27 AM PST Music is found in all human cultures and thus appears to be part of our biology and not simply a cultural phenomenon. One approach to studying the biology of music is to examine other species to see if they share some of the features that make up human musicality.

Tool can help assess cognitive impairment in multicultural populations Posted: 17 Feb 2015 09:26 AM PST The ability to assess cognitive impairment in multicultural older populations will become more important as demographics change worldwide. A new study reports that the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale is particularly effective in multicultural populations where English is not a patient's first language.

Some bilinguals use emoticons more when chatting in non-native language Posted: 17 Feb 2015 08:46 AM PST One group of bilingual speakers used emoticons more often when typing in their second language in casual, online communication than they did when typing in their native tongue, a study has found.

Molecular inhibitor breaks cycle that leads to Alzheimer's Posted: 17 Feb 2015 08:45 AM PST A molecular chaperone has been found to inhibit a key stage in the development of Alzheimer's disease and break the toxic chain reaction that leads to the death of brain cells, a new study shows. The research provides an effective basis for searching for candidate molecules that could be used to treat the condition.

New pathways discovered to prevent blindness Posted: 17 Feb 2015 08:44 AM PST Scientists have made a major new discovery detailing how areas of the brain responsible for vision could potentially adapt to injury or trauma and ultimately prevent blindness. The study sheds new light on the relationship between vision loss and brain plasticity -- the extraordinary ability of the brain to modify its own structure and function as a result of change or damage.

Modular anatomical structure of human head described for first time Posted: 17 Feb 2015 08:43 AM PST A new mathematical analysis tool has allowed a deeper understanding of the anatomy of the human head thanks to describing the skull as an extended network structured in ten modules. For the first time ever, the researchers added the head muscles and cartilages to the study of the skull bones (including the inner ear bones, the jaw and the bones that connect with head muscles, such as cervical vertebrae and clavicles).

Can virtual reality help treat anxiety in older people? Posted: 17 Feb 2015 08:41 AM PST Up to 25% of people aged 65 and over experience varying degrees of anxiety. Although cognitive behavioral therapy is a preferred treatment approach, it has limitations as people age (decreased mobility and visualization skills). Could virtual reality be an effective therapy for anxiety in older people? Some researchers say yes.

Science behind commonly used anti-depressants appears to be backwards, researchers say Posted: 17 Feb 2015 08:41 AM PST The science behind many anti-depressant medications appears to be backwards, say the authors of a paper that challenges the prevailing ideas about the nature of depression and some of the world’s most commonly prescribed medications.

Workplace bullying a vicious circle Posted: 17 Feb 2015 05:39 AM PST Bullying at work grinds victims down and makes them an 'easy target' for further abuse according to new research. The research suggests that employers should not only crack down on workplace bullies, but also help victims gain the skills to cope with difficult situations.

Schizophrenia: Impaired activity of the selective dopamine neurons Posted: 17 Feb 2015 05:37 AM PST Schizophrenia is not only associated with positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, but also with negative symptoms e.g. cognitive deficits and impairments of the emotional drive. Until now, the underlying mechanisms for these negative symptoms have not been well characterized. Now a team of researchers reports that a selective dopamine midbrain population that is crucial for emotional and cognitive processing shows reduced electrical in vivo activity in a disease mouse model.

Amyloid formation may link Alzheimer disease and type 2 diabetes Posted: 17 Feb 2015 05:37 AM PST The pathological process amyloidosis, in which misfolded proteins (amyloids) form insoluble fibril deposits, occurs in many diseases, including Alzheimer disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). However, little is known about whether different forms of amyloid proteins interact or how amyloid formation begins in vivo. A new study has found evidence that amyloid from the brain can stimulate the growth of fibrils in the murine pancreas and pancreatic-related amyloid can be found along with brain-related amyloid in human brain senile plaques.

Researchers discover potential new therapy for opioid tolerant patients Posted: 17 Feb 2015 05:36 AM PST While opioids are a widely used treatment for pain, patients who take them on a regular basis can become tolerant, requiring a higher dose for continued pain relief. Researchers have now identified a compound that appears to play a role in the development of opioid tolerance. It may be possible to lessen the development of opioid tolerance if that compound is neutralized or blocked in patients taking opioids chronically for severe pain.