■ Do you love doing crossword puzzles or playing sudoku because you think it keeps your mind sharp? Well, think again. “Most of those things... »
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Neuroplasticity
The brain is without doubt our most fascinating organ. Parents, educators, and society as a whole have a tremendous power to shape the wrinkly universe inside each child’s head, and, with it, the kind of person he or she will turn out to be. We owe it to our children to help them grow the best brains possible. —Lise Eliot, What... »
Good Day, Sunshine, or SAD
■ Since she was a child, “Francine,” a 35-year-old lawyer, knew that she craved sunshine but she never knew why. She was a fair-skinned, blue-eyed blonde who realized that sun exposure could be dangerous and promote melanomas. But there was never enough light in the winter for her, and it made her feel out of sorts. She and her family lived... »
Fighting Epilepsy
■ Two million people have it. Eleven million will have it. It’s slightly more common in males than females, and although 70% of children will outgrow it, it can affect people of any age, starting in infancy or in middle age. It can be hereditary — even if no family members have it — or it can come from a... »
Sex and the Human Brain
■ Do women think differently than men? From the battle of the sexes to clashes between cultures, it’s always been a politically explosive topic. Only very recently, however, have we begun to understand that there are important sex distinctions in the brain. Investigating these differences could lead to more effective wellness care for women, as well as an increase in... »
Personalities: Memory Man
An Interview with Eric Kandel ■ Eric Kandel was attracted to the science of the human brain due to his interest in psychotherapy. Where, he wondered, are the Freudian id, ego, and superego located? He soon discovered that even the simplest mental processes were mysteries at the time. So he scaled back his ambitions and began studying the Aplysia, a species... »
Silent Strokes
■ When the elderly decline mentally—they complain of slowing down or lose interest in their bridge club, for example—family, friends and even their doctors may blame it on the natural effects of aging. Indeed, many of the most common ailments of the elderly are written off as signs of getting old, including urinary incontinence, poor balance, depression, apathy and confusion.... »
Is a virus the culprit in cases of chronic fatigue?
■ “X-associated neuroimmune disease” — this is the name given to chronic fatigue syndrome by Dr. Judy Mikovits, whose recent findings suggest a link between the oft-stigmatized illness, certain types of lymphomas and leukemias, and a recentl y identified virus called xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus, or XMRV. __ XMRV, discovered in 2006 during a study of prostate tumors, is a... »
Catch as Catch Can
■ War is hell. The extreme nature of live-combat situations can leave a lasting, detrimental impression on the mind. According to a recent Washington Post study, approximately 20% of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are psychologically damaged. The U.S. Army Medical Command Suicide Prevention Action Plan reports that in 2008 about 2,100 soldiers suffered self-inflicted injuries or attempted... »
Catch a (Brain) Wave
■ What is a Brain Wave? Our brain is composed of neurons, which deliver information to other neurons. In the process, they generate electrical changes, which gather and generate brain waves. Their frequency is a reflection of our brain activities, which can be measured by an electroencephalogram (EEG). Generally, there are four types of brain waves. Beta waves (15–30 Hz). This is... »
Lighting Up the Brain
■ Abnormal behavior is the common denominator of a great variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. Bipolar and obsessive/compulsive disorders, ADHD, anxiety and depression are just some of the myriad conditions of behavior dysfunction that can disrupt a person’s life. Fortunately, modern physicians who evaluate such patients today have access to new technologies that provide functional images of the brain. These images... »