ScienceDaily: Mind & Brain News

Study maps extroversion types in the brain's anatomy Posted: 25 Feb 2015 06:01 PM PST Scientists have mapped the similarities and the differences in the brain between the two different kinds of extroverts: 'Agentic' go-getters and 'affiliative' people persons.

Sleeping over 8 hours a day associated with greater risk of stroke Posted: 25 Feb 2015 01:40 PM PST People who sleep for more than eight hours a day have an increased risk of stroke, according to a study -- and this risk doubles for older people who persistently sleep longer than average. However, the researchers say it is unclear why this association exists and call for further research to explore the link.

Helmet add-ons may not lower concussion risk in athletes Posted: 25 Feb 2015 01:39 PM PST Football helmet add-ons such as outer soft-shell layers, spray treatments, helmet pads and fiber sheets may not significantly help lower the risk of concussions in athletes, according to a new study.

Hidden gene gives hope for improving brain function Posted: 25 Feb 2015 12:18 PM PST The mechanism a novel gene uses to affect brain function and elicit behavior related to neuropsychiatric disease has been identified by an international team of researchers. They discovered that a gene called Gomafu might be key to understanding how our brain rapidly responds to stressful experiences.

Unusual disease that causes acute confusion may be underdiagnosed Posted: 25 Feb 2015 11:23 AM PST An unusual disease called Susac syndrome, which can cause acute confusion and problems with hearing and eyesight, is rare but probably under reported, physicians report.

The £180 billion bill for living in a material world: Material lifestyles not making us happier Posted: 25 Feb 2015 09:27 AM PST Our modern material lifestyles are failing to make us happier, damaging our health, are no longer sustainable and cost the overall economy tens of billions of pounds every year.

Parkinson's disease patients have reduced visual contrast acuity Posted: 25 Feb 2015 09:27 AM PST An iPad® application has been developed that can help physicians screen for Parkinson's Disease, report researchers. Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) often have difficulties with visual acuity in low-contrast images. Because they may have normal high-contrast vision, this is often overlooked during routine eye exams, but this new app can help to identify the problem.

Biology teachers: Understanding faith, teaching evolution not mutually exclusive Posted: 25 Feb 2015 08:44 AM PST Discussing the relationship between science and faith, rather than avoiding the discussion, may better prepare future high school biology teachers for anticipating questions about evolution, according to political scientists.

When it comes to the digital playground we need to stop crying wolf Posted: 25 Feb 2015 08:42 AM PST Kids are leading the transition to digital media today. But, while too much time online could cause developmental problems, media consumption habits may not be making our children less bright or sociable, after all.

International marketing: Are store brands becoming a global phenomenon? Posted: 25 Feb 2015 07:30 AM PST Big name brands in the United States and Western Europe face a serious and growing threat from successful store brands. A new study explains why store brands have taken some countries by storm while leaving other countries relatively untouched.

Stark inequalities in aging as UK government encourages people to work longer Posted: 25 Feb 2015 07:28 AM PST Changes in pension and employment policies are making it increasingly necessary for older people in the UK to work beyond the age of 65.  However, new research fnds significant differences in the likelihood of employment and income levels of people beyond 65, depending on their gender and health.

Women twice as likely to see pot as risky Posted: 25 Feb 2015 06:44 AM PST A study on the perceived risk of using cannabis and characteristics associated with these perceptions found that non-white, low-income women over 50 were most likely to perceive a risk in using the drug. Least likely were those 12 to 25, with a high school diploma or more, and family income above $75,000. The study is the first to describe changes across time in perceived risk of regular cannabis use among those 12 years and older.

Consumer behavior and free trials: What makes a customer stay? Posted: 25 Feb 2015 06:43 AM PST Free trials are wildly popular, but customers attracted with these promotions behave very differently from standard customers, according to a new study.

Blockbusters: Can EEGs predict a movie's success better than surveys? Posted: 25 Feb 2015 06:43 AM PST Seventy-five percent of movies earn a net loss during their run in theaters. A new study finds that brain activity visible through EEG measures may be a much cheaper and more accurate way to predict the commercial success of movies.

Predicting consumer preferences? Do NOT walk a mile in their shoes Posted: 25 Feb 2015 06:43 AM PST Salespeople have long believed that by imagining themselves as the customer, they can steer clear of their own personal preferences and make decisions that will appeal to consumers in general. According to a new study, the reality is exactly the opposite.

Is your busy schedule affecting your health? Time might not be the problem Posted: 25 Feb 2015 06:43 AM PST The modern schedule is infamously frantic, leaving many of us feeling constantly pressed for time. But that feeling may not have much to do with time itself, according to a new study. "Feeling pressed for time impacts how consumers spend time, and how much they are willing to pay to save it. From a consumer standpoint, feeling pressed for time can have many harmful consequences such as poorer health, trouble sleeping, and depression. By pausing to breathe or envision the source of stress in a more positive light, people can enjoy the time they actually have in a healthier and happier way," conclude the authors.

Fundraising 101: Tempting alternatives increase willingness to donate Posted: 25 Feb 2015 06:43 AM PST Charities are always trying to understand what type of appeal will increase the likelihood of donations. According to a new study in the Journal of Marketing Research, people are also very driven by seeing the good in themselves. Referencing particularly indulgent products -- not a simple cup of coffee -- can significantly increase charitable donations.

Workplace negativity can hurt productivity Posted: 25 Feb 2015 06:43 AM PST Employees who point out problems in the office may help the company improve, but could be hurting themselves in the process. Such negative-minded workers are more likely to become mentally fatigued and defensive and experience a drop-off in production, according to a first-of-its-kind study.

Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D may control brain serotonin, affecting behavior and psychiatric disorders Posted: 25 Feb 2015 06:41 AM PST Although essential marine omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D have been shown to improve cognitive function and behavior in the context of certain brain disorders, the underlying mechanism has been unclear. In a new paper, serotonin is explained as the possible missing link tying together why vitamin D and marine omega-3 fatty acids might ameliorate the symptoms associated with a broad array of brain disorders.

Warning on use of drug for children's sleep Posted: 25 Feb 2015 06:41 AM PST Sleep researchers are warning doctors and parents not to provide the drug melatonin to children to help control their sleep problems.

Meditation can reduce chronic neck pain, study shows Posted: 25 Feb 2015 06:41 AM PST Meditation might be an effective treatment for reducing chronic neck pain, according to research. Chronic neck pain can lead to serious comorbidities like depression. Patients with chronic neck pain frequently experience distress. Meditation has been increasingly used as a supportive treatment for individuals with chronic pain.

Experts criticize 'inaccurate' view that B Vitamins have no role in Alzheimer's disease prevention Posted: 25 Feb 2015 05:27 AM PST Patients in the very early stages of dementia could miss out on a potentially effective treatment after misleading research was published last year, say medical experts.

Using snus doubles the risk of alcohol dependency Posted: 25 Feb 2015 05:27 AM PST People who use snus run twice the risk of developing alcohol dependency compared with non-users, and the more one uses snus, the higher the risk, a study shows. "A doubled risk of alcohol dependency can be a seemingly quite moderate risk increase seen from the individual perspective, but if using snus is common in a population, it means that the overall use of snus might have an impact on public health," an author explains.

Playful adults preferred in choice of partner Posted: 25 Feb 2015 05:25 AM PST Which characteristics do young adults value in a potential partner for long-term relationships? A new study reveals that, besides friendliness, intelligence and a sense of humor, playfulness is also important – regardless of gender. Playful people also deem humor, a fun tendency, a laid-back attitude and creativity more important in partners than their non-playful counterparts.

New look at culture, its influence on individuals, organizations Posted: 24 Feb 2015 12:48 PM PST 'Polyculturalism' offers a better lens for understanding cultural complexity and how it affects collaboration, negotiation and leadership, a new article suggests

Study assesses link of preexisting mental disorders with chronic headaches Posted: 24 Feb 2015 06:17 AM PST An association between a broad range of pre-existing mental disorders and subsequent onset of severe or frequent headaches has been identified by researchers.

Climate science literacy unrelated to public acceptance of human-caused global warming Posted: 24 Feb 2015 05:38 AM PST Deep public divisions over climate change are unrelated to differences in how well ordinary citizens understand scientific evidence on global warming. Indeed, members of the public who score the highest on a climate-science literacy test are the most politically polarized on whether human activity is causing global temperatures to rise.

Helping elders become more self-reliant Posted: 23 Feb 2015 09:23 AM PST At a relatively small cost, elders could be made more self-reliant and healthy and also less depressed, suggest the preliminary findings of a home-intervention pilot.