The Brain In A Bucket
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Mass media coverage of flu-related topics such as vaccine shortages and delays appears to boost overall vaccination rates and prompt people to get their shots earlier in the flu season. A study published online today in the journal Health Service Research shows that, on average, national news reports involving the flu are estimated to increase annual [...]
You might want to avoid food shopping right after a heavy workout or drinking after an intense day of high-powered negotiations, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. In three studies, the authors found that arousal interfered with the effects of positive mood to influence resistance to tempting food. Bookmark on [...]
Imagine an exceedingly complex circuit board. Wires often split – seemingly at random – and connect in strange and unexpected ways. This is how Princeton University researchers developing a new method for studying brain connectivity see the brain. Included in this report is a link to the original press release that has several cool videos [...]
A nose job to treat a mental health problem? Teeth whitening to overcome a severe anxiety disorder? These are just two procedures that people with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) have traditionally turned to in order to deal with body-related concerns. The excessive use of (and dissatisfaction with) cosmetic treatments, along with obsessive rituals and social [...]
Patients admitted to a teaching hospital for an end-of-life illness generally receive high-quality medical care, but there is a need for better communication about family expectations and for timely efforts to keep patients comfortable, according to a new study. The project examined the care provided to patients who died over a one-year period at Ronald [...]
Astrocytes are the most common type of cell in the brain and play an important role in the function of neurons – nerve cells. New research from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows that they are also directly involved in the regulation of signaling between neurons. “Our results contribute to the insight that astrocytes can [...]
Hoarding friends on Facebook – or followers on Twitter – will not do much to stave off loneliness if those relationships lack any kind of strong connection, new research finds. Two newly published University of Arizona studies suggest that superficial relationships can not only result in feelings of detachment, but also contribute to certain health-related [...]
Contrary to popular belief, the ups and downs of romantic relationships have a greater effect on the mental health of young men than women, according to a new study by a Wake Forest University sociology professor. Simon’s research is published in the June issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior. Anne Barrett, associate [...]
Resveratrol – found in red wine, grapes, blueberries, peanuts and other plants – stops out-of-control blood vessel growth in the eye, according to vision researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The discovery has implications for preserving vision in blinding eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, the leading [...]
Researchers investigated immune function and health outcomes in women with depression, as compared with a non-depressed control group. Depression is a biological, psychological, and social illness that affects roughly 15 million American adults in any given year. Depression costs billions of dollars in lost time, productivity, personnel replacement, medical care and, tragically, loss of life. [...]
