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My daughter Karla turns 29 today! Happy Birthday Karla

Here is what I am reading today:

Post-Doctoral Associate Position in EEG/ERP,
Post-Doctoral Researcher Position in EEG/ERP,

and many others!

“”These findings reinforce the importance of educating young and middle-aged individuals to take greater responsibility for their health — including memory — by practicing positive lifestyle behaviors earlier in life,” said the study’s first author, Dr. Gary Small, director of the UCLA Longevity Center and a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA who holds the Parlow-Solomon Chair on Aging.”

“Like some humans, chimpanzees and bonobos exhibit emotional responses to outcomes of their decisions by pouting or throwing angry tantrums when a risk-taking strategy fails to pay off, according to research published May 29 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Alexandra Rosati from Yale University and Brian Hare from Duke University.”

“Their findings were published today in The Journal of Neuroscience in a study titled, “The Brain’s Silent Messenger: Using Selective Attention to Decode Human Thought for Brain-Based Communication.” According to lead researcher Lorina Naci, the interpretation of human thought from brain activity – without depending on speech or action – is one of the most provoking and challenging frontiers of modern neuroscience. Specifically, patients who are fully conscious and awake, yet, due to brain damage, are unable to show any behavioral responsivity, expose the limits of the neuromuscular system and the necessity for alternate forms of communication.”

“”We hope that our findings will eventually be useful for understanding biological processes underlying learning, memory, reading disabilities and cognitive decline in the elderly,” said co-author Daniel Benjamin, a behavioral economist at Cornell who is a co-director of the SSGAC.

“Another contribution of our study is that it will strengthen the methodological foundations of social-science genetics,” said David Cesarini, an NYU assistant professor at the Center for Experimental Social Science and the Center for Neuroeconomics, who also co-directs the SSGAC.”

“Parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been reporting marked behavioral improvements due to diets eliminating artificial food coloring and other additives for decades now, but those reports have gained traction in the past decade, with recent studies suggesting that scientists may have been too quick to dismiss dietary triggers for ADHD in the 1980s and ’90s. In 2007, a landmark British study published in The Lancet medical journal found that artificial food colors and preservatives increase hyperactivity in children, leading the European Union to require warning labels on foods containing any of six specific food colors. This set off renewed debate in the U.S., but the Food and Drug Administration declined to take regulatory action.”

“In their paper, “Harry Potter’s Marauder’s Map: Localizing and Tracking Multiple Persons-of-Interest by Nonnegative Discretization,” authors Shoou-I Yu, Yi Yang, and Alexander Hauptmann noted that their algorithm’s advantage is its ability to track people not only in outdoor but also in complex indoor environments that may involve many walls and corridors.”


18 Comments

christina.pschorr · May 31, 2013 at 4:58 pm

Response to “lifestyle choices and memory”

I have heard before that if we exercised our brain through reading, learning, and just cognitive memory games, we can keep off memory loss until later in life. I guess in the same way we exercise and eat healthy to keep our bodies healthy. Use it or lose it yeah? This article explained how smoking, eating the recommended servings of fruits and veggies, and exercise in fact play an important role to prevent memory loss as well. I don’t know why I never thought these things not only helped us stay in shape but also are vital for brain heath as well. Good reminder! And also good mention of how technology is stirring us in the opposite direction.

mrabie · June 1, 2013 at 4:03 pm

“genetic factors and educational success”

I agree with the claim that education is influenced more by nurture. It is interesting that researchers are making progress as they look into the nature side of educational attainment. In my psychology course, we discussed studies that were associated with education and environmental influences. Students in lower socioeconomic location are less likely to go to college or be as educated as students in a higher socioeconomic location. As I was reading this article, I though about conducting this study with twin and non-twin siblings. The siblings could be examined to determine whether or not genetics influence educational attainment.

mrabie · June 1, 2013 at 5:49 pm

“lifestyle choices and memory”

I think some reasons that older adults tend to have healthier habits is from experience and from the fear of death. Having had people close to them pass away, the need to be healthy is more consistent than with the younger generation. I was still surprised to find that they were healthier than younger adults because younger individuals are more active. The way we treat our bodies will be reciprocated. It make sense that healthy habits improve memory; You are giving your body the nutrients its needs to function properly. This study is valid given that the sample size is large. Without the large sample size, it would be questionable whether the yielded results were a coincidence or accurate.

lcolon · June 1, 2013 at 6:02 pm

On lifestyle choices and memory:

While I was reading this article, I came to agree with the results of the study in which found memory-complaint differences, “the survey reinforces the importance, for all ages, of adopting a healthy lifestyle to help limit and forestall age-related cognitive decline and neurodegeneration.” Furthermore, along with the memory-complaint and people responding to memory issues the more they complained, it reminded me of catharsis we discussed in lecture this week. Could it be that those who complained about it more chose to accept they have memory issues and therefore it becomes part of their characteristic. I began to wonder if there is a link between those who complain about their memory and their receptiveness to illness (for example some people may complain more about a cold than others).

wendycalderon · June 1, 2013 at 7:10 pm

I have also heard that by reading and practicing puzzles keeps us from memory loss. My gandpa is in a alzhimers stage where he can remeber if he took his meds or not. He remembers certain thing he has always done such as watering the plant but taking his meds seems to be trouble. We have him do puzzels at home and we also have him read for 20 min a day to try and prevent memory loss.

wendycalderon · June 1, 2013 at 7:27 pm

It is amazing how smart chimpanzees and apes can be. When it comes to getting treated with something they seem to be pretty patient and wait to see whats more convenient for them. When they made the wrong decision they sometimes tried to go back and change their choice.

Hannah · June 2, 2013 at 9:44 pm

On Carnegie Mellon:

My mind is blown! I am truly in awe that these researchers were able to come up with an algorithm to track humans. Although this technology is somewhat creepy if misused, it has great potential to protect those who are prone to dangerously wander (ie patients with dementia). Ever since Harry Potter first came out, I have noticed that things once thought to only be magic are being brought to life in the “real world.” For example, ten years ago, I never thought newspapers with moving pictures were possible. Now, I look at the LATimes app on an iPad or tablet and wonder what else from Harry Potter will come to life. JK Rowlings is brilliant.

mparisi · June 3, 2013 at 8:27 am

“Lifestyle choices and memory”

I thought this article was very interesting. In our modern world, our days revolve around technology, we eat processed food, use chemically altered products and are often sedentary for hours on end. It makes sense to me that healthy lifestyle improvements would make your memory better…as the article says even one healthy lifestyle change has a significant impact on your health.

bmgibbs · June 3, 2013 at 9:51 am

After reading the article about the ADHD Diet, I feel like there could very well possibly be a connection between diet and ADHD symptoms. It makes sense; especially because we already know that diet plays a significant role in other health aspects. I’m the type of person who would prefer the natural route over medication if it’s just as beneficial so if some families see changes in their child’s behavior, I don’t see a problem with following this Feingold diet. I understand that the FDA doesn’t want to place labels on food with food colorings and other additives in them at this time because they want more research to be done. However, I hope that they do end up following through as soon as possible. If they get research findings that are consistent with the 2007 British study, they should definitely take those into account and hopefully help to make people more aware of the Feingold diet. It could really make a lot of children’s’ and families’ lives easier.

bmgibbs · June 3, 2013 at 9:51 am

I found the article on apes and emotional responses really interesting especially because imagining apes and other animals throwing a temper tantrum is a bit funny to me. Today, we already know that apes are very similar to humans in a lot of ways, arguably more than any other animal species. Therefore, it makes sense that they would exhibit emotions in similar ways to humans when making decisions. People absolutely get frustrated when an outcome doesn’t go as expected. I picture a person who loves to gamble and places a lot of money on a bet. The gambler doesn’t win and loses a lot of money. This person will most likely express a lot of frustration and anger because of this; it would be a like an adult temper tantrum. It’s amazing that this ape study found the same kind of reaction when a gamble didn’t pay off! I’d be interested to hear more of apes and their emotional responses when more research is done in the future.

mathesonbliss · June 3, 2013 at 10:48 am

I enjoyed the article about ‘going APE’. I think we have all struggled with the dilemma of whether or not to take a certain risk to gain a greater reward, and we all probably know the feeling when we’ve made the wrong decision and are disappointed with the outcome. I know, as a kid, I was always super competitive and when I didn’t make the correct move in a game, or failed at a play in sports, I myself wanted to throw a tantrum. This is probably where our cerebral cortex comes in and squashes the urge to ‘go ape’ in front of others (well for most people anyways), and is one of those things that defines us from other primates. I would like to read up further on other studies that see if the apes’ past actions will change their risk-taking behavior in subsequent tasks.

mathesonbliss · June 3, 2013 at 10:58 am

I found the ‘What Carnegie Mellon learned from Harry Potter’ article a bit creepy. I know this new technology could be very useful for locating lost or kidnapped kids, as well as, help law enforcement track down potential suspects, but I couldn’t help but flashback to the eerie scenes described in George Orwell’s 1984. I feel like I would be constantly thinking Big Brother was watching me.

Hannah · June 3, 2013 at 6:13 pm

On Diet Changes and ADHD:

Although I am not very surprised that there are negative effects of food dyes and additives, I am still curious to know exactly how the artificial ingredients affect behavior. I have heard of a gluten-free diet helping people with ADHD and/or behavioral disorders, but have yet to hear about the color dyes. Over the past few decades, we have been polluting our food with chemicals that are bound to hurt our bodies one way or another. I am just shocked to hear of their behavioral repercussions.

deykholt · June 4, 2013 at 8:01 am

“Diet Changes and ADHD”

When people think of ADHD treatment, medication is what normally comes to mind. Although therapy is becoming more prevalent, diet is a lifestyle change that many people do not consider in treating ADHD. In recent years I have become more aware of how food affects how I feel, and I think that even my mind feels clearer when I am eating healthy and staying away from processed, modified foods. I can only imagine what effects the elimination of these foods would have on an individual who is cutting them completely out of their diet. Although the article is on ADHD, I think this diet would benefit anyone with milder attention issues and learning disabilities as well.

mparisi · June 4, 2013 at 8:22 am

“Genetic Factors and and Educational Success”

The comparison of “naturally smart” individuals and those who “work hard” to achieve a high level of education has always interested me. I’ve always attributed it to the work ethic of the individual. Even if you have the genetic marker that indicates educational success that the article talks about, you probably won’t successfully complete school unless you have discipline and work ethic as well.

ncamat · June 4, 2013 at 12:58 pm

Upon reading the food additive study, I found the finding very “out there”. Although there may be a correlation, I kind of doubt that food additives can significantly cause ADHD behavior.

ncamat · June 4, 2013 at 1:07 pm

I somewhat agree with the article that says healthy lifestyle choices should be enforced in early ages of life to improve memory. I can see that if one practices healthy lifestyle choices then they are more likely to be an educated person a therefore have a better memory, but I don’t know if it directly causes you to sustain a good memory.

Hannah · June 5, 2013 at 10:00 pm

On Genetic Factors and Educational Success:

Interesting that scientists are now looking into the biological, rather than environmental, conditions that affect educational success. It seems pretty common sensical that “smartness” runs in a family, but I do not know if that is more of a nature or nurture effect.

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