Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary psychologist at Oxford demonstrated that it is not the intellectual pleasure of cerebral humor, but the physical act of laughing: ...the simple muscular exertions involved in producing the familiar ha, ha, ha, ... trigger an increase in endorphins, the brain chemicals known for their feel-good effect...
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2011-09-08
Translational Research in Early Childhood Education
...Each year, it seems, brings another study on the dismal state of America's education system and a renewed debate about its causes and possible solutions. But lately there is something new -- or at least newish -- on the education scene: neuroscience. The mind, brain, and education (MBE) movement, also known as neuroeducation, is gaining momentum as a research field. Consider the recent formation of the International Mind, Brain, and Education Society and its journal Mind, Brain, and Education, which published its first issue in 2007. Also notable are the neuroeducation initiative led by former Society for Neuroscience President Tom Carew and the increasing visibility of research bridging neuroscience and education at scientific meetings, including the upcoming Aspen Brain Forum.
So what is MBE? You might say it's translational neuroscience research, applied to problems in education instead of medicine -- benchtop to blackboard, if you will. This week, Science Careers profiles two researchers who are working to span this neuroscience-education divide to help children with learning disorders...
So what is MBE? You might say it's translational neuroscience research, applied to problems in education instead of medicine -- benchtop to blackboard, if you will. This week, Science Careers profiles two researchers who are working to span this neuroscience-education divide to help children with learning disorders...
2011-08-04
Neuroscience in China: Growth factor
Mu-ming Poo is nurturing a Shanghai neuroscience institute that offers a glimpse of his country's future as a bioscience superpower. More
Read more: Chinese Cover of The Neuro Revolution
The Neuro Revolution Lands In China
Read more: Chinese Cover of The Neuro Revolution
The Neuro Revolution Lands In China
2011-07-31
2011-07-03
Dendritic Spines Respond to Stress
June 23, 2011 on 16th Annual International "Stress and Behavior" Neuroscience and Biopsychiatry Conference, R.F. Mervis, PhD, from the Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair at the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa, explained that dysmorphic alterations in various dendritic measures include both atrophic and neuroplastic changes that can influence the transfer of information, which in turn will be reflected by changes in learning, memory, or behavior.
The dendritic arbor of a typical neuron makes up over 95% of the volume of the neuron.
Most synapses are directly located on dendritic spines. Therefore, morphologic changes in dendritic branching and spines will sensitively reflect the earliest changes associated with alterations or disruptions of neural circuitry.
Golgi impregnation can evaluate neurons from cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, striatum and other regions. It yields a picture of dendritic branching (estimated total dendritic length, amount and distribution of dendritic arbor, and complexity of dendritic tree), determines dendritic spine density and configuration, and defines the total branching and spine microcircuitry network for a given cell population and brain region.
The dendritic arbor of a typical neuron makes up over 95% of the volume of the neuron.
Most synapses are directly located on dendritic spines. Therefore, morphologic changes in dendritic branching and spines will sensitively reflect the earliest changes associated with alterations or disruptions of neural circuitry.
Golgi impregnation can evaluate neurons from cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, striatum and other regions. It yields a picture of dendritic branching (estimated total dendritic length, amount and distribution of dendritic arbor, and complexity of dendritic tree), determines dendritic spine density and configuration, and defines the total branching and spine microcircuitry network for a given cell population and brain region.
2011-05-23
Paralyzed Man Stands and Steps With Epidural Stimulation
Continual direct epidural stimulation of the spinal cord and extensive task-specific locomotor training enabled a young man paralyzed below the waist to stand up from his wheelchair and bear his full weight with assistance provided only for balance.
With continuous epidural stimulation, the patient, Rob Summers, now 25 years old, also took a few assisted steps on a treadmill and has recovered some voluntary leg movement.
This approach, tested extensively in animal models of spinal cord injury, "might reactivate previously silent spared neural circuits or promote plasticity," investigators say in their report published online May 20 in The Lancet.
The 11-member research team was led by neuroscientists Susan Harkema, PhD, of the Kentucky Spinal Cord Research Center, University of Louisville, and V. Reggie Edgerton, PhD, of the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles.
"These interventions could be a viable clinical approach for functional recovery after severe paralysis," they conclude.
With continuous epidural stimulation, the patient, Rob Summers, now 25 years old, also took a few assisted steps on a treadmill and has recovered some voluntary leg movement.
This approach, tested extensively in animal models of spinal cord injury, "might reactivate previously silent spared neural circuits or promote plasticity," investigators say in their report published online May 20 in The Lancet.
The 11-member research team was led by neuroscientists Susan Harkema, PhD, of the Kentucky Spinal Cord Research Center, University of Louisville, and V. Reggie Edgerton, PhD, of the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles.
"These interventions could be a viable clinical approach for functional recovery after severe paralysis," they conclude.
2011-02-21
Animal intelligence: sheep are raising the baa
Monkeys are considered an intelligent species. However according, sheep can actually pass psychological tests that monkeys would fail...
Dr Laura Avanzo and Dr Jennifer Morton from University of Cambrdige Scientists, were studying neurodegeneration, focusing on Huntington’s disease, and as part of their research, they were testing a new breed of sheep that was genetically modified (by carrying a defective gene that causes Huntington’s disease in humans) and were comparing data with normal sheeps as a control.
The sheep learned to recognize different color patterns - food signals, and easily changed theirs
behavior according to the pattern that they looked at.
This type of behavior depends on prefrontal cortex, and only humans and other primates were supposed to be able to solve these kinds of tasks.
Dr Avanzo and Dr Morton believed that sheep, like humans, behave differently when in a flock compared to while they are alone, and this problem was underlying theirs research.
Dr Morton:...Sheep live in a flock, and in a flock they’re rather silly. When you work with them as individuals, they behave very differently...”
Dr Laura Avanzo and Dr Jennifer Morton from University of Cambrdige Scientists, were studying neurodegeneration, focusing on Huntington’s disease, and as part of their research, they were testing a new breed of sheep that was genetically modified (by carrying a defective gene that causes Huntington’s disease in humans) and were comparing data with normal sheeps as a control.
The sheep learned to recognize different color patterns - food signals, and easily changed theirs
behavior according to the pattern that they looked at.
This type of behavior depends on prefrontal cortex, and only humans and other primates were supposed to be able to solve these kinds of tasks.
Dr Avanzo and Dr Morton believed that sheep, like humans, behave differently when in a flock compared to while they are alone, and this problem was underlying theirs research.
Dr Morton:...Sheep live in a flock, and in a flock they’re rather silly. When you work with them as individuals, they behave very differently...”
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