StockTrader/neuroscience

Why sleep? UCLA&scientist&delves into&one of sciences...

Rated Aug 20 • 7 reviews • neuroscience, sleep • ucla.edu

• Share

Learn To Read Through Sound -- Cognitive Neuroscientists...

Rated Jun 28 • 2 reviews • neuroscience • sciencedaily.com

• Share

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=...

Rated Jun 21 • 1 review • neuroscience, cognition, alzheimer s disease, hippocampus • sciencedirect.com

From the page: "Although the systematic study of meditation is still in its infancy, research has provided evidence for meditation-induced improvements in psychological and physiological well-being. Moreover, meditation practice has been shown not only to benefit higher-order cognitive functions but also to alter brain activity. Nevertheless, little is known about possible links to brain structure. Using high-resolution MRI data of 44 subjects, we set out to examine the underlying anatomical correlates of long-term meditation with different regional specificity (i.e., global, regional, and local). For this purpose, we applied voxel-based morphometry in association with a recently validated automated parcellation approach. We detected significantly larger gray matter volumes in meditators in the right orbito-frontal cortex (as well as in the right thalamus and left inferior temporal gyrus when co-varying for age and/or lowering applied statistical thresholds). In addition, meditators showed significantly larger volumes of the right hippocampus. Both orbito-frontal and hippocampal regions have been implicated in emotional regulation and response control. Thus, larger volumes in these regions might account for meditators' singular abilities and habits to cultivate positive emotions, retain emotional stability, and engage in mindful behavior. We further suggest that these regional alterations in brain structures constitute part of the underlying neurological correlate of long-term meditation independent of a specific style and practice. Future longitudinal analyses are necessary to establish the presence and direction of a causal link between meditation practice and brain anatomy."

• Share

Navigation-related structural change in the hippocampi of...

Rated Jun 21 • 2 reviews • neuroscience, cognition, alzheimer s disease, hippocampus • nih.gov

From the page: "One important role of the hippocampus is to facilitate spatial memory in the form of navigation (1). Increased hippocampal volume relative to brain and body size has been reported in small mammals and birds who engage in behavior requiring spatial memory, such as food storing (2). In some species, hippocampal volumes enlarge specifically during seasons when demand for spatial ability is greatest (2, 3). In the healthy human, structural brain differences between distinct groups of subjects (for example, males and females, ref. 4, or musicians and nonmusicians, ref. 5) have been documented. From existing studies, it is impossible to know whether differences in brain anatomy are predetermined or whether the brain is susceptible to plastic change in response to environmental stimulation. Furthermore, although lesion work (6, 7) and functional neuroimaging work (8) confirm the involvement of the human hippocampus in spatial memory and navigation, there is still debate about its precise role. Given the propensity of lower mammalian/avian hippocampi to undergo structural change in response to behavior requiring spatial memory (2, 3), the present study addressed whether morphological changes could be detected in the healthy human brain associated with extensive experience of spatial navigation. Our prediction was that the hippocampus would be the most likely brain region to show changes.

Taxi drivers in London must undergo extensive training, learning how to navigate between thousands of places in the city. This training is colloquially known as "being on The Knowledge" and takes about 2 years to acquire on average. To be licensed to operate, it is necessary to pass a very stringent set of police examinations. London taxi drivers are therefore ideally suited for the study of spatial navigation. The use of a group of taxi drivers with a wide range of navigating experience permitted an examination of the direct effect of spatial experience on brain structure. In the first instance, we used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to examine whether morphological changes associated with navigation experience were detectable anywhere in the healthy human brain. VBM is an objective and automatic procedure that identifies regional differences in relative gray matter density in structural MRI brain scans. It allows every point in the brain to be considered in an unbiased way, with no a priori regions of interest. The data were also analyzed by using a second and completely independent pixel-counting technique within the hippocampus proper. Comparisons were made between the brain scans of taxi drivers, who had all acquired a significant amount of large-scale spatial information (as evidenced by passing the licensing examinations), and those of a comparable group of control subjects who lacked such extensive navigation exposure."

• Share

Dual N-Back Training for Intelligence

Rated Mar 11 2009 • 5 reviews • cognitive science, neuroscience • soakyourhead.com

• Share

SARAH ILLENBERGER

Rated Jan 30 2009 • 48 reviews • knitting, neuroscience • sarahillenberger.com

• Share

Blood Sugar Control Linked to Memory Decline, Study Says...

Rated Jan 02 2009 • 1 review • aging, health, neuroscience, learning disorders, alzheimer s disease • nytimes.com

• Share

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sardine_diet

Rated Jan 01 2009 • 0 reviews • aging, nutrition, neuroscience • wikipedia.org

• Share