Watching the Grape vines start to bud!
Here is what I am reading today:
“Basketball superstar Michael Jordan wore his North Carolina shorts underneath his Chicago Bulls shorts in every game; Curtis Martin of the New York Jets reads Psalm 91 before every game. And Wade Boggs, former third baseman for the Boston Red Sox, woke up at the same time each day, ate chicken before each game, took exactly 117 ground balls in practice, took batting practice at 5:17, and ran sprints at 7:17. (Boggs also wrote the Hebrew word Chai (“living”) in the dirt before each at bat. Boggs was not Jewish.) Do rituals like these actually improve performance?”
have a second helping of insects!
“A new report from the U.N. says that eating insects (high in protein, low in fat) can help fight global warming, pollutions, and yes, hunger. And if the suggestion catches on, it could even be great for small businesses.
The concept of eating insects as part of a regular diet is known as entomophagy is already practiced by an estimated two billion people, according to the report, which was issued on Monday, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.
In 2012, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation named Dr. Aaron T. Dossey’s “All Things Bugs” company the winner of the foundation’s annual Grand Challenges Explorations contest. The group received a grant to pursue its project to come up with viable insect protein options to combat malnutrition in children.”
“”White matter integrity actually peaks around the same absolute age in both chimpanzees and humans, but humans may experience more degradation because they live longer. Perhaps the need to retain brain capacity late in life is one reason increased brain size was selected for in human evolution,” Preuss says. The senior author is James Rilling, PhD, Yerkes researcher, associate professor of anthropology at Emory and director of the Laboratory for Darwinian Neuroscience. Collaborators at the University of Oslo also contributed to the paper.”
“Led by Bing Ren of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Joseph Ecker of The Salk Institute for Biological Studies and James Thomson of the Morgridge Institute for Research, the scientists also describe novel genetic phenomena likely to play a pivotal role not only in the genesis of the embryo”
“A recent study led by Joseph Ferraro, Ph.D., assistant professor of anthropology at Baylor, offers new insight in this debate with a wealth of archaeological evidence from the two million-year-old site of Kanjera South (KJS), Kenya. The study’s findings were recently published in PLOS One.”
“The research was published May 8 in the open access journal PLOS ONEby Dirk Wildgruber and colleagues from the University of Tuebingen, Germany.
Laughter in animals is a form of social bonding based on a primordial reflex to tickling, but human laughter has come a long way from these playful roots.”
“Neuroprosthetics: Prosthetic arms are getting ever more sophisticated. Now they just need a sense of touch. The Modular Prosthetic Limb will help patients to feel and manipulate objects just as they would with a native hand. Nature Publishing Group”
16 Comments
mathesonbliss · May 16, 2013 at 10:54 am
I really enjoyed the article about mapping the embryonic epigenome. I find it fascinating that very diverse organisms can have almost all of the same genes in common but just differ in how and when the genes are turned on and off. Also, currently I am working with a genetics professor at Cal Poly on a project having to do with the histone modifications made to the single male X chromosome during meiosis in the microscopic nematode C. elegans. We are specifically looking at how H3K9me2 accumulation on the single X chromosome affects crossover formation but it has been shown that H3K9me2 accumulation regulates gene transcription from the single X chromosome during early meiosis. Indeed, epigenetics is a very interesting field of study.
ketom · May 17, 2013 at 8:12 am
“Why Rituals Work”
Yes! I should not feel like I am so weird after all! I have many rituals and superstitions possibly from playing sports for so many years. For example, before every test or quiz I close my eyes and repeat a short prayer 3 times. Every time, I feel a bit self conscious about others who might have noticed but based on this article I have a good reason for this process. I have always believed that these habits would not necessarily make me perform better but there is less disappointment feeling if I end up failing but still did the ritual beforehand. For years it has been difficult for me to identify exactly why I do the rituals but through this article I may have found my answer.
ketom · May 17, 2013 at 8:23 am
“Laughter perception”
I recently came across a website which claimed that laughter is another way to lose belly fat and maintain better health. From a physiological aspect of how the core muscles activate with the action of laughing, this makes complete sense. However, I did not think about different regions of the brain becoming active based on laughter from various responses. This may also provide some explanation for the suggestion stated by the website. Laughing flexes the core muscles but also exercises the brain which helps maintain greater overall health and longevity.
bmgibbs · May 17, 2013 at 3:55 pm
I was a little shocked after reading the insects as food article, but I guess I probably shouldn’t be. In many different parts of the world, eating insects and other interesting things is quite common, but just because I’m from America, I don’t think about it that often. And of course when I do, I definitely consider it strange. However, the United Nations does make some sense with their urging for more people to begin eating insects. Hunger and extreme starvation are terrible things and are still prevalent in many impoverished countries in the world. Finding alternative food sources could really benefit many of these people who are starving! I also found it interesting that even Bill and Melinda Gates were getting on board by helping to fund the “All Things Bugs” company to come up with ways to fight malnutrition in children with bugs as food. This makes it seem as though making insects more popular is actually a viable option. I’m intrigued, and I hope that something good really does come from this, in particular lowering starvation and hunger rates around the world.
bmgibbs · May 17, 2013 at 4:35 pm
The article on why rituals work actually made a lot of sense to me, although I don’t usually think about the rituals and psychology together. When I think of rituals, I usually imagine someone doing them before a sports game or before performing on stage. They want good luck and hope to do well in their particular activity! So if they do some sort of ritual that they think works, I definitely understand how that could bring them more confidence in their abilities, and therefore, leading to them performing better. I don’t participate in many rituals, but I remember some from high school lacrosse. My team always used to do the same chant before every game. We also always wore red bows in our hair and a certain type of lacrosse socks. We honestly thought that by doing all of these routines that we would have a better chance winning! Maybe just our way of thinking and believing helped us make that happen. We did win a lot of games, and were an excellent team!
deykholt · May 18, 2013 at 12:45 pm
“why having rituals work”
The reasoning presented in this article supports the concept of religion, where followers participate in a wide array of rituals together. The calming effect of rituals is most prevalent in situations where the outcome or circumstance is beyond an individual’s control, according to the article. In the lottery example, the control group consisted of the losers who drew how they felt. They were in control of their mourning. The experimental group was told to perform a ritual defined by completely arbitrary tasks. These instructions came from a position of authority, in relation to the individual. Like the initial situation (losing the lottery), it was just as beyond their control.
Pointing back to the assertion involving religion, the ceremonies and rituals of followers may seem calming and soothing for the exact same reason. Followers are trying to appease what is out of their control (God) by performing tasks that do not involve their control or thought.
deykholt · May 18, 2013 at 12:53 pm
“how we perceive laughter”
The points this article made did not surprise me. There are so many ways humans subconsciously communicate– body language, laughter, a sigh, etc. I wish the study could have gone more in-depth in exploring how different people may incorrectly interpret laughter. I remember being an adolescent and sometimes, during days of extreme self-consciousness, would automatically assume a group of people laughing near me must be laughing at me. Some days this still happens, if I’m worried about wearing a particular shirt or concerned about my hair. Hearing laughter behind me on the way to school may spark thoughts like “Is my backpack open? Is something stuck to my shirt?” along with other feelings of anxiety. However, if I am observing a group of people laughing in front of me, looking in a different direction, I am not triggered to have these thoughts and can accurately interpret their expression of joy. I wonder if these misinterpretations are skewed by a neurological difference or immaturity during adolescence, or just overall social anxiety.
mparisi · May 21, 2013 at 1:47 pm
“how we perceive laughter”
The article was interesting, but it seemed a little bit like common sense if you have a basic understanding of psychology. There wasn’t anything too shocking or unusual to read about. However, I have always been interested in body language and subconscious messages, so it was useful to read about. There are so many messages that we are not aware we send just by the way we stand, talk, the eye contact we make…everything we do gives a subtle message that may be interpreted differently. Laughing occurs in such a variety of contexts and is unique to each individual, so it seems to be no different in my opinion.
mparisi · May 21, 2013 at 1:54 pm
“why rituals work”
People find security and decrease anxiety in unusual ways, so if rituals do have any effect, I would believe that this would be the primary one. Confidence and self assurance can take you a long way, so rituals heightening performance based on these factors seems logical. Even though I think people falsely link rituals and improved abilities with luck, it is more attributed to the mindset and belief that they can do well.
christina.pschorr · May 21, 2013 at 6:39 pm
“how we perceive laughter”
I’ve heard so many benefits as to why laughter is good for our health, like how laughing keeps you young, how laughing is medicine for the soul, etc. It’s interesting to hear how laughing activates the part of the brain sensitive to processing complex social information. Laughter is a great way to provide positive feedback while you’re in conversation with another person, it let’s them know you’re actively listening to what they’re saying and quite frankly, just enjoying their company. I was reading an article a while back around how people with Asperger’s are less capable of processing non verbal cues like laughter and I cannot begin to think how difficult that is because I judge a lot of my relationships with people based on what their body language tells me and what non verbal cues they are expressing. It’d be interesting to possibly hear more about how individuals with Asperger’s do in fact respond to non verbal cues from others.
mrabie · May 22, 2013 at 3:18 pm
This article reminded me how people always tell others to smile whenever they’re sad. I had found it interesting when I had learned in my psychology course that there is a reason for smiling: it releases endorphins that improve your mood. For laughing, it makes sense that the brain would process complex social information. I think that “tickling laughter” would activate the brain to a higher degree because it is genuine and usually longer than the average laugh or smirk. Human expressions like speech and language have evolved over time in order to survive. As stated in the article, “Patterns of brain connectivity can impact cognitive function in health and disease”.
Hannah · May 22, 2013 at 5:12 pm
Neuroprosthetics: Once more, with feeling
I could not have read this article at a more appropriate time! I was just hired this week to be an aide for a quadriplegic man who has been quadriplegic for about 30 years. Last week, I shadowed one of his current aides to get an idea of what a day on the job entails. ALthough he is married and leads a seemingly happy life, he does not know what it feels like to hold his wife’s hand, pet his dog, or answer the phone.
Neuroprosthetics is a whole new era of technology, and scientists are make huge strides towards giving people a glimpse of their lives back. Even neuroprosthetics without sensing abilities give people the option to move on their own, which is a huge accomplishment. I understand that for many people, the idea of having a “robot” attached to you is a strange concept. Furthermore, not having accurate senses is frightening. But with each invention comes an improvement in the technology. I am very excited to see where this new prosthetic with sensing abilities will take science in the near future. Since I am looking into being a physical therapist, this could have a HUGE impact on my field.
Hannah · May 22, 2013 at 5:15 pm
Camaraderie of Sports Teams
As a kinesiology student, this article is interesting and incredibly relevant to my field of study. As kinesiologists discuss in social and psychological circles of physical activity, sports can have a range of positive and negative outcomes. Teams have the power to teach discipline, sportsmanship, camaraderie, healthy living, and dedication. If kids have a means of channeling energy and aggression in a controlled manner, then sports can be highly beneficial. However, sports can also encourage violence, aggression, demeaning and illegal behavior. Some coaches and parents even go as far as to promote this behavior just to win. Especially in men, whose testosterone levels rise just at the thought of competition, sports may have cause negative effect. As a exercise scientist, it is important for me to understand the psychological and social aspects of physical activity, and help athletes – particularly young ones – thrive from the camaraderie that sports teams offer.
bmgibbs · May 23, 2013 at 4:32 pm
After reading the article about the changing technology of prosthetics, I have to say that I am very impressed. The science and technology has definitely come a long way over the years, but there can always be improvements. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to lose a limb and have to learn how to use a prosthetic. But on top of that, it would be even more difficult and frustrating to have trouble with sensations of touch and not being able to feel the difference between items being picked up. What comes to mind for me are military veterans especially who lose limbs while fighting in a war. It’s terribly sad. Therefore, if neuroscientists could enhance prosthetics and their sensors, this could lead to better psychological and emotional well-being for people already struggling.
kylemcnulty23 · May 24, 2013 at 11:25 am
“Why Rituals Work”
Playing sports my entire life has exposed me to a huge amount of rituals performed by other people. Some wore the same socks for every soccer game, others wore their lucky undershirt, while some people would do or say the same things before every single game. Not having some sort of ritual in a competitive sporting environment, whether it be a pregame meal or performed action, is actually highly uncommon. I was one of the few who didn’t have a ritual, my only choice was to not eat things that would upset my stomach before a game or race.
I always found rituals to essentially be placebos. They don’t actually do anything for your physical or muscular ability to perform in the moment, however these rituals can make people less anxious before a crucial game or create the perception of luckiness to a person, and interestingly enough to the people I have talked to, and based on the article, it seems that this “tricking” of the brain can actually lead to better performance because of an increased sense of confidence in your abilities. After a win or good performance, it may be attributed to your ritual, and these combined wins can create a false correlation that wearing or performing a certain action gives you a better chance, or even will make you win. What I found interesting in the article is that this mindset can actually potentially lead to better results because of the ability for a repeated ritual to decrease anxiety or other detrimental feelings.
kylemcnulty23 · May 24, 2013 at 11:43 am
“White matter and aging”
The article was interesting because it deals with finding a way to gauge aging in two different species. Recently there have been a few theories dealing with aging becoming more popular, one of which is antioxidants. Antioxidants are now mass marketed to prevent aging by essentially taking up free electrons or reactive oxygen species in your body.
The article mentioned that humans may have greater white matter degradation because they live longer than chimpanzees. The article states they took many scans on chimps, and what I would have liked to see is the scans of old chimps and old humans compared. They said the equivalent of a 47 year old human is a 31 year old chimp, so it would be interesting to compare an old chimp and human such as 60 year old chimp and 82 year old human and look at the white matter presence. If they had comparable white matter degradation, then perhaps white matter and myelin degradation is a viable reason for aging. However, if the old human brain is much more degraded than the chimp brain, just from the fact that humans live longer, then maybe white matter can’t necessarily represent aging correctly. The model would have incorrectly assumed that the human was much older than the chimp, when according to their relative lifespans they were around the same age and should have the same white matter degradation.