ISNR Calls For Research Papers On PTSD, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Combat Operational Stress, and Terrorism Trauma Syndrome

On February 8, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Neurofeedback, News / No Comments

The International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR) called for researchers to submit papers on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), combat operational stress (COS), and terrorism trauma syndrome (TTS) for possible inclusion in the Journal of Neurotherapy. The target research population is soldiers and veterans. Check the end of this review to read the original announcement. (continue reading)

Whole-Head Normalization Using Live Z-Scores For Connectivity Training (Part 1)

On February 8, 2010 / By Thomas Collura / In Neurofeedback / No Comments

This article relates some of our last 2 years of work with Live Z-score Training (LZT), and how the methods and clinical experience have evolved.  Starting with the simple use of live Z-scores to view EEG parameters and do simple training, we have evolved the practice into a comprehensive multichannel whole-head approach with an underlying rationale and a growing set of advanced protocols. Readers not familiar with Z-score neurofeedback may first want to read the article “Z-Score EEG Biofeedback: Conceptual Foundations” for an excellent introduction to this complex topic. (continue reading)

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Researchers Discover Method To Objectively Identify Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

On February 7, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Brain Imaging, PTSD / No Comments

Researchers at the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis VA Medical Center have identified a biological marker in the brains of those exhibiting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A group of 74 United States veterans were involved in the study, which for the first time objectively diagnoses PTSD using magnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive measurement of magnetic fields in the brain. It is something conventional brain scans such as an X-ray, CT, or MRI have failed to do. (continue reading)

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Fast Food Menus With Calorie Information Lead To Lower Calorie Selections For Young Children

On February 7, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Obesity, Public Health / No Comments

In a new study, the amount of calories selected by parents for their child’s hypothetical meal at McDonald’s restaurants were reduced by an average of 102 calories when the menus clearly showed the calories for each item. This is the first study to suggest that labeled menus may lead to significantly reduced calorie intake in fast food restaurant meals purchased for children. (continue reading)

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UCLA Researchers Image Earliest Signs Of Alzheimer’s Disease – Even Before Symptoms Appear

On February 7, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Brain Imaging / No Comments

Estimates are that some 10 percent of people over the age of 65 will develop Alzheimer’s disease, the scourge that robs people of their memories and, ultimately, their lives. While researchers race to find both the cause and the cure, others are moving just as fast to find the earliest signs that will predict an eventual onset of the disease, well before any outward symptoms. The reason is simple: The earlier the diagnosis, the earlier treatments can be applied. Now, through the use of sophisticated brain-imaging techniques, researchers at UCLA have been able to predict a brain’s progression to Alzheimer’s by measuring subtle changes in brain structure over time, changes that occur long before symptoms can be seen. (continue reading)

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Deficits In Brain’s Reward System Observed In ADHD Patients

On February 6, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD, Brain Imaging / No Comments

A brain-imaging study conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory provides the first definitive evidence that patients suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have lower-than-normal levels of certain proteins essential for experiencing reward and motivation. “These deficits in the brain’s reward system may help explain clinical symptoms of ADHD, including inattention and reduced motivation, as well as the propensity for complications such as drug abuse and obesity among ADHD patients,” said lead author Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and a long-time collaborator on neuroimaging research at Brookhaven Lab. (continue reading)

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Autism Speaks Responds To Recent Publications Citing Autism Clusters In California

On February 6, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Autism / No Comments

Two recent, separate publications identified regions with higher than expected numbers of autism cases – or clusters – in California. Using data collected by the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) on 2.5 million births including almost 10,000 autism cases from 1996-2000, investigators at UC Davis uncovered several clusters of elevated risk for autism. Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, reviewed these studies. (continue reading)

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Animal Behavioral Studies Can Mimic Human Behavior

On February 6, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Neuroscience / No Comments

Studying animals in behavioral experiments has been a cornerstone of psychological research, but whether the observations are relevant for human behavior has been unclear. Weill Cornell Medical College researchers have identified an alteration to the DNA of a gene that imparts similar anxiety-related behavior in both humans and mice, demonstrating that laboratory animals can be accurately used to study these human behaviors. (continue reading)

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Losing Sleep, Losing Brain?

On February 5, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Sleep / No Comments

Chronic and severely stressful situations, like those connected to depression and posttraumatic stress disorder, have been associated with smaller volumes in “stress sensitive” brain regions, such as the cingulate region of the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory formation. A new study, published by Elsevier in Biological Psychiatry, suggests that chronic insomnia may be another condition associated with reduced cortical volume. (continue reading)

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Study Shows Cigarette Smoking A Risk Factor For Alzheimer’s Disease

On February 5, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Public Health, Tobacco / No Comments

nasty ash trayI am pleased to present reason #1,555,233 not to smoke cigarettes (yes, I made that up, but the point hits home). A UCSF analysis of published studies on the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease and smoking indicates that smoking cigarettes is a significant risk factor for the disabling disease. After controlling for study design, quality of the journals, time of publication, and tobacco industry affiliation of the authors, the UCSF research team also found an association between tobacco industry affiliation and the conclusions of individual studies. Industry-affiliated studies indicated that smoking protects against the development of AD, while independent studies showed that smoking increased the risk of developing the disease. (continue reading)

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Physical Activity Associated With Healthier Aging

On February 5, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Public Health / No Comments

A series of studies in Archives of Internal Medicine detail associations between exercise and cognitive function, bone density, and overall health. Physical activity appears to be associated with a reduced risk or slower progression of several age-related conditions as well as improvements in overall health in older age, according to a commentary and four articles published in the January 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read on for a summary of the findings from all 4 articles. (continue reading)

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Antidepressant Medication May Result In Improved Cognitive Function After Stroke

On February 4, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Public Health / No Comments

Antidepressant medication has taken a beating in recent published scientific literature that examines its efficacy to treat depression. Now for some good news on antidepressant medication. Patients who received the antidepressant escitalopram following a stroke appeared to recover more of their thinking, learning, and memory skills than those taking placebo or participating in problem-solving therapy, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. (continue reading)

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Rejuvenating An Old Immune System

On February 4, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Immunology / No Comments

Researchers from Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres (HZI) are investigating the development of novel therapies to make the old immune system young again. By comparing the immune responses of both, young and old mice, to bacterial infection they found that the number of macrophages, one of the major cell populations involved in the elimination of infecting bacteria, decreases rapidly in aged mice. This decline in the number of fighters and the associated weakness of the immune defense may be responsible for the age-associated increase in susceptibility to infections. The HZI researchers have succeeded to enhance the resistance to an infection in aged mice by treating them with a macrophage-specific growth factor. This treatment increases the amount of macrophages in aged mice and improves their capacity to fight the infection. continue reading)

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Update on Medicare Payment Efforts (02-03-10)

On February 3, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In News / No Comments

us_capitolAs the fight for health care reform continues on Capitol Hill, we wanted to take a moment to update you on the APA Practice Organization’s efforts toward improving Medicare payments for practicing psychologists. At this time, the political situation on Capitol Hill remains very fluid. Following the loss of their super-majority in the Senate, Democratic leaders are reassessing their strategies on health care reform and a host of other issues. With much at stake for psychologists, their patients and their profession, we remain committed to health care reform. (continue reading)

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Common Plastic Chemicals Linked To ADHD Symptoms: Are Phthalates Really Safe For Children?

On February 3, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD / No Comments

Phthalates are important components of many consumer products, including toys, cleaning materials, plastics, and personal care items. Studies to date on phthalates have been inconsistent, with some linking exposure to these chemicals to hormone disruptions, birth defects, asthma, and reproductive problems, while others have found no significant association between exposure and adverse effects. A new report by Korean scientists, published by Elsevier in the November 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry, adds to the potentially alarming findings about phthalates. They measured urine phthalate concentrations and evaluated symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using teacher-reported symptoms and computerized tests that measured attention and impulsivity. (continue reading)

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