Early detection of Alzheimer's or dementia is just as important as it is for any health malady: catching symptoms as early as possible means These findings were published Oct. 7 in Radiology in a study entitled Arterial Spin Labeling May Contribute to the Cognitive Deterioration in Healthy Elderly Individuals. The study found that individuals whose [...]
Do you tweet while you watch TV? Surf the net while you Skype? Work on multiple screens simultaneously? If the answer is yes, you may want to consider a device detox--new MRI research has shown lowered gray-matter volume in such multi-taskers. The study, entitled Higher Media Multi-Tasking Activity is Associated with Smaller Gray-Matter Density in [...]
In a scientific landscape where "Survival of the fittest" is as accepted as biological fact, a certain group of humans behaving benevolently--altruists--has puzzled scientists for years. An altruist will go so far as to endanger their own self to help another, even a complete stranger. A new study called Neural and cognitive characteristics of extraordinary [...]
The term 'neurocinematics', coined by Princeton psychology professor Uri Hasson, refers to the effects that movies have on the human brain. For his 2004 paper entitled Intersubject Synchronization of Cortical Activity During Natural Vision, Hasson found that the MRI brain scans of cinema-goers watching a clip of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly showed that [...]
"Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own," said Goethe. A bold statement, but there may be some truth to it: A new Swedish study has found that when learning a new language, certain areas of the brain literally grow. The study, entitled Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language [...]
Experts have long debated the possibility of food addiction; many believe that a substance necessary for survival cannot be classified addictive. But with the proliferation of 24-hour grocery stores, tasty but nutritionally void convenience foods and even a "foodie" culture, it can be argued that the general attitude towards food in developed countries extends far beyond [...]
Have you ever wondered why some people you know crumple when faced with a stressful situation, while others appear invigorated by it? Opinions differ on the old saying "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger," and for good reason: A new MRI brain study suggests genetics play a large role in human responses to stressful [...]
In 1959, British physicist and novelist C.P. Snow delivered a lecture called The Two Cultures, an influential think piece in which he outlined how many of the western world's problems were the result of an intellectual barrier that exists between scientific and literary thinkers. Snow wrote: "A good many times I have been present at [...]
Have you ever opted to walk or bike to work instead of driving and noticed increased alertness and overall performance? A University of Illinois Study, led by Dr. Chuck Hillman, found that as little as 20 minutes of exercise can lead to better cognition and memory, and higher scores on tests and examinations. Using MRI, [...]
A new Hungarian study published in the journal Current Biology has discovered through MRI that brains of dogs and humans respond similarly upon hearing vocal cues such as crying and laughter. To produce a quality MR image, the person (or animal!) must be able to lie completely still within the scanner. 11 pet dogs participated in [...]