Category Archives: Brain

Feb
08
2013

by James
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Playing first-person shooters improves learning abilities and cognitive function

Research shows that playing first-person action games (particularly shooters) can improve brain function including cognitive abilities and learning skills. The Downside In the wake of mass shootings and violent outbursts, much research has been conducted on children who play violent video games or watch violent TV which demonstrates that they can become violent themselves. According to researchers at Indiana University, brain scans show that violent videogames can alter brain function in young men after only a week of play. The games depress activity among regions of the brain … Continue reading →

Dec
12
2012

by James
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Psychology, Social Conformity & Violence (Part 1): The Milgram Experiment

In 1961, in the wake of the atrocities of the Holocaust, Stanley Milgram conducted one of the most important experiments ever done in the field of human psychology and social conformity. He set out to test the hypothesis that there was something special about the German people which allowed them to participate in genocide. His results proved that it is not a condition isolated in the German people, but one present in all of humanity; A condition that exists in our very nature. Continue reading →

Sep
18
2012

by James
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Neural implants enhance mental capabilities in primates.

Researchers were able to restore and improve decision-making abilities in primates by implanting an electrode array in the cerebral cortex which improves brain function internally, by fine-tuning communication among neurons. This could be the first step in a long line of bio-technology used to treat cognitive disorders and brain injuries. Continue reading →

Jul
27
2012

by James
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Why so curious? The impact of curiosity on human evolution.

What goes on in our minds that makes us so inquisitive? I feel as though I am in a perpetual state of curiosity. What happens in the next episode, what’s new in scientific research, what did she mean by that? Our curiosity drives us often to unproductive things that have no real direct benefit to our lives. We read about people we will never meet; learn topics we will never use, or explore places we will never return to. It seems that part of the human condition is … Continue reading →

Jun
18
2012

by James
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Sleep cycles and circadian rhythm: The science of rest

A circadian rhythm is the 24 hour cycle of living beings. They are important in determining the sleeping and feeding patterns of all animals, including human beings. Patterns of brain wave activity, hormone production, cell regeneration and other biological activities are all linked to this daily cycle. Importance of Circadian Rhythmn in daily life. Circadian rhythms prepares organisms for environmental changes and in regulating and coordinating internal metabolic processes. Traditional Chinese Medicine takes a unique approach to understanding how the body works based on the Circadian Rhythmn. In … Continue reading →

Jun
08
2012

by James
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Neurons resemble the structure of the Universe.

The image on the left shows three neuron cells and their connections in a mouse’s brain. The neurons are only a few micrometers wide. It was created by Mark Miller, a doctoral student at Brandeis University, who is researching how particular types of neurons are connected to one another. The image on the right was a created by group of astrophysicists working on a simulation of the evolution of the universe and it measures billions of light-years across. These images suggest similar patterns found in vastly different natural … Continue reading →

Jun
06
2012

by James
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Neuroscience: The brain rewrites itself from moment to moment.

Summary from I Power website: “Developments in neuroscience and sociology from the past decades have shed light on many aspects of human psychology that are only now beginning to be discussed in the fields of ‘self-help’ and self-development. While there is a lot of popular literature on the subject from authors that range from popular lifecoaches such as Tony Robbins to spiritual teachers like Eckhart Tolle, Chiren saw a huge lack of material that takes a purely scientific approach. ‘God is in The Neurons’ makes important correlations about … Continue reading →

May
21
2012

by James
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Communication and language in the developing young mind.

Human communication is one of the most fascinating problems our species faces. People from varied cultures, ethnicity and socioeconomic backgrounds all find ways to converse and express. In the modern world technology allows translations to break down the language barrier in seconds. Even with all our tools, humans always manage to surpass barriers in language. Is there some underlying principle to the communicative process? What aspects of language are universal? The answer may be unveiled with further study of the budding mind. Formative Years The human brain is … Continue reading →

Mar
29
2012

by James
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Learning is affected by timing of sleep.

The ability to retain knowledge correlates directly with how soon you get some shuteye after learning. 200 test subjects were asked to remember pairs of related and unrelated words. Sleep had little effect on subjects’ ability to recall related words. Our brain is pretty good at recognizing patterns, even without sleep. Subjects who slept between testing were significantly better at remembering the unrelated words than those who got no shuteye. During sleep, your brain processes information learned during the day and transfers it into long term memory. Looks … Continue reading →

Dec
20
2011

by James
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Super memory pill, the cure for degenerative brain diseases.

An exicting article on Yahoo news today about a memory enhancer which is in the works. Researchers are experimenting with gene therapy on mice in order to reverse degenerative memory disorders such as Alzheimers. “The brains of both mice and humans release a gene known as PKR, which is triggered by the onset of Alzheimer’s. But the newly discovered gene can apparently block PKR’s release–a development that not only can reverse the course of degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, but induces a state of “super memory” in … Continue reading →