Neuroscience posts
- February 26, 2013
- 02:15 PM
- 153 views
From the words of an albino, a brilliant blend of color
by Maria Konnikova in Literally Psyched
The first synesthete known to scientific literature... Read more »
Jewanski, J., Day, S., & Ward, J. (2009) A Colorful Albino: The First Documented Case of Synaesthesia, by Georg Tobias Ludwig Sachs in 1812. Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 18(3), 293-303. DOI: 10.1080/09647040802431946
Simner, J. (2012) Defining synaesthesia. British Journal of Psychology, 103(1), 1-15. DOI: 10.1348/000712610X528305
- February 26, 2013
- 11:20 AM
- 110 views
A Healthy Serotonin Syndrome?: Dr. Oz Says Natural Serotonin Precursor and Anti-Depressant 5-HTP May Aide Weight Loss
by Steven Talmadge in Life Mental Health
Serotonin syndrome – having too much serotonin in your system — conjures images of Serotonin syndrome symptoms–agitation, loss of coordination, nausea and vomiting as well as many other symptoms. But what if another type of Serotonin syndrome existed—one that, rather than hindering your health, helped you shed pounds while feeling happier and getting more restful [...]The post A Healthy Serotonin Syndrome?: Dr. Oz Says Natural Serotonin Precursor and Anti-Depressant 5-HTP May ........ Read more »
A Healthy Serotonin Syndrome?: Natural Serotonin Precursor and Anti-Depressant 5-HTP May Aide Weight Loss. (2013) serotonin syndrome. LifeMentalHealth. DOI: 10.1007/SpringerReference_184450
- February 25, 2013
- 10:50 PM
- 243 views
The Neurotransmitter Dopamine May Be A Key Mediator Of The “Superiority Illusion”
by Jalees Rehman in Fragments of Truth
The concept “superiority illusion” refers to the fact that people tend to judge themselves as being superior to the average person when it comes to positive traits such as intelligence, desirability or other personality traits. This is mathematically not possible, because in a normally distributed population, most people cannot be above average. The “superiority illusion” belongs to a family of positive illusions, such as the “optimism bias”, which is characte........ Read more »
Yamada, M., Uddin, L., Takahashi, H., Kimura, Y., Takahata, K., Kousa, R., Ikoma, Y., Eguchi, Y., Takano, H., Ito, H.... (2013) Superiority illusion arises from resting-state brain networks modulated by dopamine. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1221681110
- February 24, 2013
- 05:23 PM
- 210 views
Drugs, Dopamine and Drosophila: A Fly Model for ADHD?
by Vivek Misra in Beautiful Mind
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE ... Read more »
Lebestky T, Chang JS, Dankert H, Zelnik L, Kim YC, Han KA, Wolf FW, Perona P, & Anderson DJ. (2009) Two different forms of arousal in Drosophila are oppositely regulated by the dopamine D1 receptor ortholog DopR via distinct neural circuits. Neuron, 64(4), 522-36. PMID: 19945394
Wang L, & Anderson DJ. (2010) Identification of an aggression-promoting pheromone and its receptor neurons in Drosophila. Nature, 463(7278), 227-31. PMID: 19966787
- February 24, 2013
- 01:00 PM
- 243 views
Scientizing Art
by TheCellularScale in The Cellular Scale
I've always been fascinated with the way the eye moves around a piece of art. Andrew Wyeth's "Christina's World" (or as I looked up "that painting of a girl in a field looking at a house")This piece by Andrew Wyeth is an obvious example of an artist completely controlling your gaze. There are pretty much no options here. You look at the girl and then you follow her gaze to the house. You probably then take a quick glance at that other house/barn to the left, and then maybe follow the edge of the........ Read more »
Massaro D, Savazzi F, Di Dio C, Freedberg D, Gallese V, Gilli G, & Marchetti A. (2012) When art moves the eyes: a behavioral and eye-tracking study. PloS one, 7(5). PMID: 22624007
- February 24, 2013
- 09:55 AM
- 166 views
Finding the Treasure: A practical view on where the Brain Activity Map project will lead us
by Grace Lindsay in Neurdiness
Since the vague reference to it in the State of the Union and the subsequent report by the New York Times, the neuro-sphere has been abuzz with debate recently over the proposed Brain Activity Map (BAM) project put forth by the Obama administration. While the details have not been formally announced yet, it is generally [...]... Read more »
A. Paul Alivisatos, Miyoung Chun, George M. Church, Ralph J. Greenspan, Michael L. Roukes, Rafael Yuste. (2012) The Brain Activity Map Project and the Challenge of Functional Connectomics. Neuron. info:/
- February 24, 2013
- 08:21 AM
- 192 views
“Know Thyself” Is A Lot To Ask
by Neuroskeptic in Neuroskeptic_Discover
I’ve written before about the limitations of self-report measures in psychiatry. It’s an issue that’s been recognized for decades but, unfortunately, self-report seems to be more popular than ever. I suspect that this is because it’s far and away the easiest and cheapest way of getting data, and hence publications, in a great many fields [...]... Read more »
Miller RM, Haws NA, Murphy-Tafiti JL, Hubner CD, Curtis TD, Rupp ZW, Smart TA, & Thompson LM. (2013) Are Self-Ratings of Functional Difficulties Objective or Subjective?. Applied neuropsychology. Adult. PMID: 23383984
- February 23, 2013
- 03:39 PM
- 201 views
The brain race: can giant computers map the mind?
by Perikis Livas in Tracing Knowledge
The fact the Blue Brain project has not produced any significant breakthroughs in recent years does not seem to have worried the European funding agencies. Apparently they like the idea of Markram building a monster computer to lead Europe into the future of brain research.... Read more »
Charles Watson. (2013) The brain race: can giant computers map the mind?. The Conversation. info:/
- February 22, 2013
- 11:50 PM
- 151 views
The complicated science of a simple pleasure (omnomnomnom)
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
Karen K. Ryan and Randy J. Seeley. Food as a Hormone. Science 22 February 2013: 918-919. In an opinion piece in the February 22 issue of Science, KK Ryan and RJ Seeley argue for an alternative approach to look at diet and food – not in terms of nutritional epidemiology (“this is what healthy people [...]... Read more »
Ryan, K., & Seeley, R. (2013) Food as a Hormone. Science, 339(6122), 918-919. DOI: 10.1126/science.1234062
- February 22, 2013
- 11:30 AM
- 107 views
Prozac and Alcohol: Linked to Violence, Mom Decapitates Two Year-Old
by Steven Talmadge in Life Mental Health
Prozac and alcohol are generally not considered to be a good mix, but relatively few patients take this warning seriously. A large-scale study published by the Research Institute of Addictions in Buffalo, NY, demonstrated that regular drinkers are almost completely unlikely to decrease their alcohol intake after going on Prozac or other psychiatric medications. Although [...]The post Prozac and Alcohol: Linked to Violence, Mom Decapitates Two Year-Old appeared first on Life Mental Health.
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Teles JS, Fukuda EY, & Feder D. (2012) Warfarin: pharmacological profile and drug interactions with antidepressants. Einstein (Sao Paulo, Brazil), 10(1), 110-5. PMID: 23045839
- February 22, 2013
- 07:31 AM
- 208 views
Modeling Alzheimer's using induced pluripotent stem cells
by beredim in Stem Cells Freak
In a recent study, a collaborative team of scientists has successfully used induced pluripotent stem cells derived from Alzheimer's patients to model the disease. The team was comprised by researchers from the Nagasaki University, led by Nobuhisa Iwata, and researchers from the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), led by Haruhisa Inoue.Full Story... Read more »
Kondo, T., Asai, M., Tsukita, K., Kutoku, Y., Ohsawa, Y., Sunada, Y., Imamura, K., Egawa, N., Yahata, N., Okita, K.... (2013) Modeling Alzheimer’s Disease with iPSCs Reveals Stress Phenotypes Associated with Intracellular Aβ and Differential Drug Responsiveness. Cell Stem Cell. DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2013.01.009
- February 21, 2013
- 06:37 PM
- 199 views
Birthing new neurons at night
by TheCellularScale in The Cellular Scale
By now it's well established that adults can grow new neurons.Growing Neurons (source)But how, when and why these neurons grow is currently under investigation. A 2008 paper attempts to answer the 'when' of neurogenesis. They labeled (PH3) cells in the mouse hippocampus (dentate gyrus to be specific), and counted how many cells were currently going through mitosis at different times of day. They found that during the dark phase, more cells were PH3-positive, indicating that more cells were ........ Read more »
Tamai S, Sanada K, & Fukada Y. (2008) Time-of-day-dependent enhancement of adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus. PloS one, 3(12). PMID: 19048107
- February 21, 2013
- 11:55 AM
- 79 views
Prozac Withdrawal Symptoms – “Withdrawing From SSRI Antidepressants Kill People”?
by Steven Talmadge in Life Mental Health
Prozac withdrawal symptoms, and withdrawal from any antidepressant of the same class – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – by far the most prescribed group of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of depression today, are unpleasant. A name – SSRI Discontinuation (or withdrawal) Syndrome – has been designated by physicians to describe the symptoms experienced by those [...]The post Prozac Withdrawal Symptoms – “Withdrawing From SSRI Antidepressants Kill Peopl........ Read more »
Goeldner C, Lutz PE, Darcq E, Halter T, Clesse D, Ouagazzal AM, & Kieffer BL. (2011) Impaired emotional-like behavior and serotonergic function during protracted abstinence from chronic morphine. Biological psychiatry, 69(3), 236-44. PMID: 20947067
- February 21, 2013
- 12:41 AM
- 93 views
Resisting cocaine: when the tablet is not wiped clean.
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
Long post warning! This post covers some basics of epigenetics. For those that just want the gist, here’s the TLDR: Male rats that shoot up cocaine for 60days sire male (but not female) pups that are more resistant to cocaine addiction. This trait is probably passed through chemical changes to sperm DNA. I argue why [...]... Read more »
Vassoler, F., White, S., Schmidt, H., Sadri-Vakili, G., & Pierce, R. (2012) Epigenetic inheritance of a cocaine-resistance phenotype. Nature Neuroscience, 16(1), 42-47. DOI: 10.1038/nn.3280
- February 20, 2013
- 01:14 PM
- 173 views
Did that Rock Just Ink on Me? (A Guest Post)
by Miss Behavior in The Scorpion and the Frog
By Sam Brunner and Ian Straus Cephalopods, like octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish, are well known for their ability to alter the color and patterns on their bodies for better camouflage, mimicry, and even communication. By developing a unique set of camouflage tools, cephalopods excel at not being seen or being seen but not detected as a cephalopod. There are videos all over the internet showcasing how squid can terrify divers with their flashing red displays, or how some octopuses avoid their p........ Read more »
Froesch, D. (1973) Projection of chromatophore nerves on the body surface of Octopus vulgaris. Marine Biology, 19(2), 153-155. DOI: 10.1007/BF00353586
Messenger JB. (2001) Cephalopod chromatophores: neurobiology and natural history. Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, 76(4), 473-528. PMID: 11762491
- February 20, 2013
- 12:11 PM
- 79 views
Long-Term Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Lessens with New Real-Time Prescription Software Tracker
by Steven Talmadge in Life Mental Health
Because of a new computer prescription tracking system, addicts who abuse sedatives like Xanax have found it harder to acquire their drug of choice, often leading to short-term benzodiazepine withdrawal, yet better control of the addiction. Xanax belongs to a class of medicines called ‘benzodiazepines’, which physicians often prescribe for anxiety caused by stressful life [...]The post Long-Term Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Lessens with New Real-Time Prescription Software Tracker appeared first........ Read more »
LOPEZ, A., & REBOLLO, J. (1990) Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome after a benzodiazepine antagonist. Critical Care Medicine, 18(12), 1480. DOI: 10.1097/00003246-199012000-00032
- February 19, 2013
- 04:00 PM
- 91 views
The sense of the body in individuals with spinal cord injury
by Neuromancy in Neuromancy
How does spinal cord injury affect your sense of self?
Does the absence of sensory and motor feedback from the limbs as a result of spinal cord injury (SCI) affects the body scheme. As well as measuring disruption of the body scheme and a sense of body ownership using the rubber hand illusion (RHI), Lenggenhager et al. also looked at whether SCI produces a sense of disembodiment and depersonalisation using the Cambridge Depersonalisation Scale (CDS), as the authors suggest there is increasing........ Read more »
Lenggenhager B, Pazzaglia M, Scivoletto G, Molinari M, & Aglioti SM. (2012) The sense of the body in individuals with spinal cord injury. PloS one, 7(11). PMID: 23209824
- February 19, 2013
- 12:21 PM
- 104 views
Prozac and Weight Loss: Prescription Drugs Added to Supplements and Weight Loss Regimes to Help You Ditch Those Extra Pounds May Pose Danger
by Steven Talmadge in Life Mental Health
By now, many have abandoned their New Year’s resolutions. If you’re like most, “weight loss” may have topped your list. Some enlist medications to shed pounds, and many wonder about Prozac and weight loss. We’ve witnessed Punxsutawney Phil escape seeing his shadow, and we’ve wined and dined on Valentine’s Day. Six weeks into the New Year, [...]The post Prozac and Weight Loss: Prescription Drugs Added to Supplements and Weight Loss Regimes to Help You Ditch Those Extra Pounds May........ Read more »
Dunn JD, Gryniewicz-Ruzicka CM, Mans DJ, Mecker-Pogue LC, Kauffman JF, Westenberger BJ, & Buhse LF. (2012) Qualitative screening for adulterants in weight-loss supplements by ion mobility spectrometry. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis, 18-26. PMID: 22902504
- February 18, 2013
- 09:33 PM
- 203 views
Memoquin – a novel multi-target therapeutic opportunity for Alzheimer’s disease
by Usman Paracha in SayPeople
Memoquin is a quinone-bearing polyamine compound that has been found to be effective against Alzheimer’s disease (AD) – a degenerative disorder affecting the brain and causing dementia especially in later life – due to its muti-target approach. Not only, it acts as an anti-AD compound but it can also work as anti-amyloid and anti-oxidant.
Mechanism of action:
Memoquin works as an acetylcholinesterase and β-secretase-1 inhibitor. It is found to be 10 times more potent........ Read more »
Capurro, V., Busquet, P., Lopes, J., Bertorelli, R., Tarozzo, G., Bolognesi, M., Piomelli, D., Reggiani, A., & Cavalli, A. (2013) Pharmacological Characterization of Memoquin, a Multi-Target Compound for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. PLoS ONE, 8(2). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056870
- February 18, 2013
- 10:17 AM
- 68 views
Is Alcohol Addictive? : Television and Celebrity Culture Skewing “Reality”
by Steven Talmadge in Life Mental Health
The question, “Is alcohol addictive??” is not taken very seriously in our society: drinking is part of our culture, and it is assumed by not only young people, but adults of all ages, that since alcohol is legal it is not as addictive or harmful to the body as illegal drugs are. This could not [...]The post Is Alcohol Addictive? : Television and Celebrity Culture Skewing “Reality” appeared first on Life Mental Health.
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Carpenter, K., & Hasin, D. (1998) Reasons for drinking alcohol: Relationships with DSM-IV alcohol diagnoses and alcohol consumption in a community sample. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 12(3), 168-184. DOI: 10.1037/0893-164X.12.3.168
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