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Scientists Link Brain Cell Types To Behavior
Date: May-29-2013You are sitting on your couch flipping through TV channels trying to decide whether to stay put or get up for a snack. Such everyday decisions about whether to "stay" or to "go" are supported by a brain region called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which is part of the prefrontal cortex. Neuroscientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have now identified key circuit elements that contribute to such decisions in the ACC...
Giant Synapses Discovered In The Brain That Allow Us To Efficiently Process Auditory Information
Date: May-29-2013Humans and most mammals can determine the spatial origin of sounds with remarkable acuity. We use this ability all the time - crossing the street; locating an invisible ringing cell phone in a cluttered bedroom. To accomplish this small daily miracle, the brain has developed a circuit that's rapid enough to detect the tiny lag that occurs between the moment the auditory information reaches one of our ears, and the moment it reaches the other. The mastermind of this circuit is the "Calyx of Held," the largest known synapse in the brain...
Exome Sequencing Technique Reveals Genetic Suspects In Sporadic Lou Gehrig's Disease
Date: May-29-2013Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified mutations in several new genes that might be associated with the development of spontaneously occurring cases of the neurodegenerative disease known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, the progressive, fatal condition, in which the motor neurons that control movement and breathing gradually cease to function, has no cure...
Developing Good Habits Is More Important Than Self-Control In Meeting Goals
Date: May-29-2013Stress and exhaustion may turn us into zombies, but a novel study shows that mindless behavior doesn't just lead to overeating and shopping sprees - it can also cause us to stick with behaviors that are good for us. Across five experiments appearing in the June issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association, the researchers provide an important new twist to the established idea that we have finite resources for self-regulation, meaning it's harder to take control of our actions when we're already stressed or tired...
Time From Prostate Cancer Diagnosis To Initiation Of Treatment Generally Seven Days Longer For African American Patients
Date: May-29-2013Among men with prostate cancer, African Americans experience longer treatment delays after being diagnosed than Caucasians. That is the finding of an analysis published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The study suggests that efforts are needed to reduce racial disparities in prostate cancer care in order to provide earlier treatment for African Americans...
Stress Can Encourage Good Habits Too
Date: May-28-2013Although stress can motivate some people to overeat or go on a shopping spree, it can also encourage them to stick to their good habits, such as eating healthily and exercising, according to a new study. The research, conducted by scientists from University of Southern California (USC) and published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, showed that when people are stressed and tired, they are just as likely to stick with positive habits as they are to self-sabotage...
Kids' Sleep Duration Influenced By Genes & Environment
Date: May-28-2013Genetics have a significant impact on how long kids sleep at night, however, environment may play a bigger role for naps in the afternoon, according to new research in the journal Pediatrics. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Montreal, found that half the variability in night-time sleep duration among children aged six months to 2 years was due to genetic influences. The investigators aimed to examine the relative impact of environmental and genetic factors on night-time and daytime sleep duration at 6, 18, 30, and 48 months of age...
Patients Should Be More Involved In Medical Decision Making
Date: May-28-2013A new study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that the level of shared decision making among adult patients who had discussed medical tests, medications and procedures with their doctors was not as high as expected. A national survey was conducted in 2011 by Floyd J. Fowler, Jr., Ph.D., from the Informed Medical Decisions Foundation and the University of Massachusetts, Boston. A cross section of American adults above the age of 40 were asked whether they had made 1 of 10 medical decisions and to describe how they discussed the issues with their health care providers...
Pesticide Exposure Tied To Parkinson's Risk
Date: May-28-2013Two researchers in Italy suggest exposure to pesticides, herbicides and solvents is linked to a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease. They came to this conclusion after analyzing over 100 studies from around the world. Parkinson's is a progressive degenerative disease that affects a person's ability to control and coordinate their muscle movement. What can begin as a tremor in a little finger eventually leads to problems with speech and writing, and one day, inability to walk without help...
Stroke Patients Show Signs Of Recovery Following Stem Cell Trial
Date: May-28-2013As one of the first ever trials to test the safety of stem cells as a treatment for stroke draws to a close, investigators report there appear to be no harmful side effects. Most patients have also shown modest improvements although it is too early to say if this is as a result of the treatment...
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