By ERICA GOODE Kahnemanandtversky." Everybody said it that way. As if the Israeli psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky were a single person, and their work, which challenged long-held views of how people formed judgments and made choices, was the product of a single mind. Last month, Dr. Kahneman, a professor at Princeton, was awarded the Nobel in economics science, sharing the prize with Vernon L. Smith of George Mason University. But Dr. Kahneman said the Nobel, which the committee does not award posthumously, belongs equally to Dr. Tversky, who died of cancer in 1996 at 59. Copyright The New York Times Company

Keyword: Intelligence
Link ID: 2944 - Posted: 11.06.2002

Excitement helps our recall of unrelated events. HELEN PEARSON Watching a gory tooth extraction helps people remember unrelated facts, brain researchers have shown. Excitement, they suggest, aids memory formation - students or the elderly could capitalize on this to improve their recall. Psychologists have long known that emotionally charged events are easier to remember than boring ones. They thought that this was because we mull over poignant moments, strengthening the memory. Not so, says Kristy Nielson of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A flood of emotion boosts people's memories for totally unrelated events, she revealed yesterday at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Orlando, Florida. © Nature News Service / Macmillan Magazines Ltd 2002

Keyword: Learning & Memory; Emotions
Link ID: 2943 - Posted: 06.24.2010

Metabolic clock mutants give up food and siestas. HELEN PEARSON Researchers have created a mouse that lacks the drive to eat or siesta. The findings hint at the existence of a controversial body clock driven by metabolism. Night and day are thought to keep our bodies ticking to a 24-hour beat. But Steven McKnight, of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and his group have evidence that a second, fuel-driven timer may be just as critical. Mice that are modified to lack a gene in the proposed metabolic clock simply starve to death when their mealtimes are altered, he told the Society for Neuroscience meeting 2002, this week in Orlando, Florida. Rodents normally feed at night, but change their activity if food is only available during daylight. © Nature News Service / Macmillan Magazines Ltd 2002

Keyword: Obesity; Biological Rhythms
Link ID: 2942 - Posted: 06.24.2010

Communication between cells seems abnormal in troubled brains. HELEN PEARSON Schizophrenics' brain cells may form deviant connections during life, neuroscientists have revealed. The finding adds to clues that the disease, which affects roughly 1 in every 100 people, changes brain structure fundamentally. Most schizophrenia drugs attempt to quell overactive brain chemicals suspected of triggering hallucinations and withdrawal from the outside world. But recent studies have hinted that the size of brain regions - or the nerves themselves - may actually be abnormal. Indeed, nerve cells in the brain's cortex sprout peculiar connections towards their neighbours, William Greenough of the University of Illinois in Urbana and his colleagues told the Society for Neuroscience 2002 meeting in Orlando, Florida, yesterday. © Nature News Service / Macmillan Magazines Ltd 2002

Keyword: Schizophrenia
Link ID: 2941 - Posted: 06.24.2010

(Kingston, ON) -- New research from investigators in the Centre for Neuroscience Studies at Queen’s University and the Centre for Brain and Mind at The University of Western Ontario has provided the first neuro-imaging evidence that the brain's frontal lobes play a critical role in planning and choosing actions. Their study is published today in the journal Nature Neuroscience. The research team has found that a small region in the frontal lobe of the human brain is selectively activated when an individual intends to make a particular action and not another. These findings help explain why individuals with frontal lobe damage sometimes act impulsively and often have problems making decisions.

Keyword: Intelligence
Link ID: 2940 - Posted: 06.24.2010

Will allow non-invasive study of neurochemistry, behavior, and disease progression UPTON, NY -- Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have demonstrated that a miniature positron emission tomography (PET) scanner, known as microPET, and the chemical markers used in traditional PET scanning are sensitive enough to pick up subtle differences in neurochemistry between known genetic variants of mice. This "proof-of-principle" experiment, described in the November issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, "opens up a whole new, non-invasive way to study and follow transgenic or genetically engineered strains of mice that serve as animal models for human neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease or psychiatric diseases such as substance abuse, depression, and anxiety disorders," said Panayotis (Peter) Thanos, lead author of the paper. Studying animal models may help scientists better understand and develop treatments for the human diseases. Thanos and his team used microPET to measure the level of "D2" receptors for dopamine -- a brain chemical associated with feelings of reward and pleasure, which has been found to play a role in drug addiction -- in the brains of normal mice and so-called knockout mice, which had been genetically engineered to lack the gene for D2.

Keyword: Brain imaging
Link ID: 2939 - Posted: 11.06.2002

PITTSBURGH,– For estrogen to enhance learning and memory, nerve cells in the brain called cholinergic neurons are essential to the process, suggest animal studies performed by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and reported in the November issue of Hormones and Behavior, the official journal of the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. "Estrogen replacement in postmenopausal women has important effects on mood and cognition. This research was focused on trying to understand what estrogen does in the brain to reduce the effects on brain aging and cognitive decline," stated Robert Gibbs, Pharm.D., associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. In the study, rats had their ovaries removed and some of the animals had specific cholinergic neurons destroyed. A few weeks after surgery, most of the animals were put on estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), while some were not.

Keyword: Hormones & Behavior; Learning & Memory
Link ID: 2938 - Posted: 06.24.2010

MRI used in a breakthrough study to explore how we gather information - Bethesda, MD – How do we learn? At the same time, when learning is conscious, does the brain engage in learning based on experience? Many scientists have believed that the two processes are independent of each other. Now, new research findings published in the current edition of the Journal of Neurophysiology, suggest otherwise. Procedural learning, such as perceptual-motor sequence learning, is thought to be an obligatory consequence of practiced performance and to reflect adaptive plasticity in the neural systems mediating performance. Prior neuroimaging studies, however, have found that sequence learning accompanied with awareness (declarative learning) of the sequence activates entirely different brain regions than learning without awareness of the sequence (procedural learning). However, conflicts between imaging and behavioral studies have not resolved whether true independence exists between the two brain functions.

Keyword: Learning & Memory; Brain imaging
Link ID: 2937 - Posted: 06.24.2010

By Ed Susman UPI Science News From the Science & Technology Desk ORLANDO, Fla., (UPI) -- Scientists have achieved success in manipulating primitive cells to become nervous system cells, which, in some cases, restored leg function to laboratory animals with spinal cord injuries, they reported Tuesday. However, they cautioned, translating the promising animal work to people could take years. "These things are not impossible," said Dr. Mark Tuszynski, associate professor of neuroscience at the University of California, San Diego. "But we are looking at a time frame of several years, if everything goes well -- which it rarely does." Copyright © 2002 United Press International

Keyword: Stem Cells; Regeneration
Link ID: 2936 - Posted: 06.24.2010

Replacement therapy appeared to halve risk among aged Utah women By Jonathan Bor Sun Staff Women who recently learned that hormone therapy can raise their risk of heart disease and other ailments might someday have to consider a potential benefit: that hormones protect against Alzheimer's disease. Scientists studying elderly women in a Utah county found that those who took the hormones had lower risk of developing the brain disease, which wipes out memory and the ability to carry out simple tasks. The findings "provide new evidence to suggest a protective effect" of hormone replacement therapy, according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health whose study appears in today's Journal of the American Medical Association. Copyright © 2002, The Baltimore Sun

Keyword: Alzheimers; Hormones & Behavior
Link ID: 2935 - Posted: 06.24.2010

Taking aim at addiction Investigators: Anthony Basile and Eric Nestler Surprising findings from a knockout mouse have added another molecule to the growing list of compounds implicated in addiction. Mice lacking a novel receptor, called muscarinic receptor 5 or M5, showed much less of a preference for morphine, and once addicted, had milder withdrawal symptoms, than did wild-type mice. The receptor may make a useful target for drug therapies attempting to intevene in addiction.
Can Alzheimer's be stopped outside the brain? Investigators: Blas Frangione, Cynthia Lemere and Tom Wisniewski Learning from the failure of the Alzheimer's vaccine trial earlier this year, researchers are now devising safer variations of the immunization approach as a means to treat the disease. The key, they say, is to develop drugs that stay clear of the blood-brain barrier.
The great vesicle controversy Investigators: William Mobley, Bob Campenot and David Ginty No one doubts that information travels from the axon tip to the cell body in neurons. But just how it happens is an open question and was the subject of a well-mannered but lively session today.
Is addiction literally a bad habit? Investigator: Barry Everitt New insights into the behavioral and molecular aspects of addiction are helping to bridge the gap between genes and behavior. As drug use progresses to abuse, drug-seeking behaviors become more habitual and compulsive. Underlying neurological changes may help explain this transition to addiction.
Schizophrenia as an anatomical disorder Investigators: William Greenough and Mriganka Sur Neurons in the brains of schizophrenic patients are structurally different, US researchers have found for the first time. The finding suggests that schizophrenia is more than a disorder of neurotransmitters, and may involve abnormal synaptic transmission.
Epilepsy genes do the same damage in mouse and man Investigator: Miriam Meisler Mutations in sodium channel genes cause epilepsy, but just how these DNA changes induce seizures is unclear. However, data from a mouse model and in vitro experiments with human mutant channels show striking similarity, and may provide important clues.

Keyword: Miscellaneous
Link ID: 2934 - Posted: 11.06.2002

Day 1: Saturday Nov 8th, 2003
How histocompatibility builds the brain Investigator: Carla Shatz In the opening public lecture of the 32nd annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Carla Shatz not only described how the visual system is established, she discussed her latest revelation: Molecules best known in immune recognition are involved in building the neural connection system.
Chain non-reaction sets the stage for Parkinson's Investigators: Ted Dawson and Mel Feany Mutations in the parkin protein interfere with protein degradation and lead to the formation of protein aggregates associated with Parkinson's disease, according to unpublished results presented today.
CA3 region of hippocampus required for fast learning Investigator: Susumu Tonegawa Using targeted genetic knockout mice, which lack an NMDA receptor gene in a narrow group of cells, researchers find that it is the CA3 region of the hippocampus that is required for fast learning, the type of learning that allows us to remember our daily experiences.
New buzz about addiction Investigator: Ulrike Herberlein Fruit flies - and their predilection for fermented fruits - are offering a novel way to study genetic factors implicated in alcoholism. Though fruit flies themselves don't seem to get addicted to alcohol, inebriated flies and drunken people share similar behaviors. Researchers have created fruit fly mutants resistant to the effects of alcohol. Now, they're teasing out the genes behind these mutations.
Spouses and chronic pain: Linked in the brain Investigator: Herta Flor Research shows that your spouse's behavior trains your brain. And if your spouse is too solicitous about your chronic pain, your brain will react more strongly to the pain itself.
Nose news for new nerves Investigator: Hans Keirstead A unique group of human cells, isolated from the nasal epithelium, can help rats with injured spinal cords recover their ability to walk, US researchers reported today. The approach is one of several in the revitalized field of nerve regeneration.
Genes shown to trigger response to social cues Investigator: Donald Pfaff New research suggests that gene variations in mice affect not only estrogen-related mating behavior but also the social cues that predispose mice to sexual behaviors. Among other findings, scientists report that mice lacking a version of a protein that recognizes estrogen, called estrogen receptor beta or ER-beta, are inept at recognizing familiar animals. The animals may also have trouble with other social cues important in mating behaviors.

Keyword: Miscellaneous
Link ID: 2933 - Posted: 11.05.2002

Research helps explain physiological basis of mate choice PORTLAND, Ore. ­ – Research conducted at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has demonstrated structural brain differences associated with naturally occurring variations in sexual partner preferences. These are the first findings to demonstrate such a correlation in research animals, ­ in this case sheep. The researchers’ results confirm and expand upon human studies that compared morphological brain differences between heterosexual men, homosexual men and women. Scientists at Oregon State University and the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho, collaborated with OHSU on the research. The investigators’ results are being presented on Nov. 4 during the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Orlando, Fla. Domestic rams were used as an animal model for this research because they display distinct, natural variations in sexual attraction, making them valuable in studying the biological basis for sexual partner preference. Previous studies documented that approximately 6 percent to 8 percent of domestic rams court and mate with other rams exclusively. Sheep selected for this research were chosen after their sexual partner preference and mating habits were studied for two years. A total of 27 sheep were studied: nine rams that preferred to mate with males, eight rams that preferred to mate with females, and ten ewes. When researchers compared brains among the three groups, they recorded marked differences.

Keyword: Sexual Behavior
Link ID: 2932 - Posted: 06.24.2010

Biologist links pesticides to amphibian deformities Carl T. Hall, Chronicle Science Writer Tyrone Hayes may not fit the stereotype of the big-time scientist. But he figures it doesn't hurt that he sometimes stands out in a crowd of his peers. "I give a talk at a meeting, and everybody remembers the black guy in the braids," he said. "They may not remember what I said, but they tend to remember me." Now, it's not his braids but his work that is starting to draw most of the attention. ©2002 San Francisco Chronicle.

Keyword: Hormones & Behavior; Sexual Behavior
Link ID: 2931 - Posted: 06.24.2010

Scientists go beyond physical causes Carl T. Hall, Chronicle Science Writer Orlando, Fla. -- Brain researchers revealed some surprising new clues about the nature of chronic pain Sunday, suggesting that subtle changes in nerve endings, early life experiences and social factors -- even the mere presence of an overly solicitous spouse -- can make the problem worse. Chronic inflammation, migraines and other pain syndromes afflict as many as 97 million people in America, making chronic pain by far the most widespread disorder of the brain and nervous system. Some of the most provocative findings from the frontiers of pain research kicked off the annual meeting of the 31,000-member Society for Neuroscience, the world's largest gathering of scientists who study the brain and nervous system. ©2002 San Francisco Chronicle.

Keyword: Pain & Touch
Link ID: 2930 - Posted: 06.24.2010

By Cheryl Clark UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER Schizophrenia is among the most severe and mysterious of mental disorders, affecting up to 1 percent of the population with symptoms that are difficult to treat. How do various regions of the brain in patients who experience hallucinations compare with those who are plagued by disorganized speech and behavior? Why do some sufferers experience paranoia while others don't? And what groups of brain cells are helped by drugs? Psychiatric researchers at UCSD's Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center in La Jolla, along with scientists at nine other academic research institutions, are trying to find out under a new $10.9 million federal grant. © Copyright 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.

Keyword: Schizophrenia; Brain imaging
Link ID: 2929 - Posted: 06.24.2010

May Increase Susceptibility To Inflammatory Diseases Such As Allergic, Autoimmune Or Cardiovascular Diseases WASHINGTON - Chronic stress not only makes people more vulnerable to catching illnesses but can also impair their immune system's ability to respond to its own anti-inflammatory signals that are triggered by certain hormones, say researchers, possibly altering the course of an inflammatory disease. This finding is reported on in the November issue of Health Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association (APA). Chronic stress seems to impair the immune system's capacity to respond to glucocorticoid hormones that normally are responsible for terminating an inflammatory response following infection and/or injury, according to researchers Gregory E. Miller, Ph.D., of Washington University at St. Louis and colleagues. To examine what happens to people's immune systems during on-going stressful situations, the researchers compared 25 healthy parents with children undergoing treatment for pediatric cancer with 25 healthy parents with healthy children on measures of mental health, effects of social support and certain immune system responses. All the parents had blood drawn at the initial session and salivary cortisol samples taken at intermittent times over two days. © PsycNET 2002 American Psychological Association

Keyword: Neuroimmunology; Stress
Link ID: 2928 - Posted: 06.24.2010

Exclusive from New Scientist Print Edition The mystery of how social wasps, not terribly smart as individuals, build and maintain a complex nest that lasts many generations may have been solved. A new mathematical model suggests that one key factor drives their behaviour: the amount of water in the nest. Social wasps cannot learn from one another - unlike bees, which use a complex dance to tell nest mates where sources of nectar are. Nor do they use pheromones the way ants do to lead other ants to food. Robert Jeanne of the University of Wisconsin-Madison proposed that wasps set up a demand-driven chain of information. At the end of the chain, builder wasps monitor the nest and, when necessary, request pulp from pulp forager wasps. They in turn demand water from water foragers in order to make the pulp. © Copyright Reed Business Information Ltd.

Keyword: Animal Communication; Learning & Memory
Link ID: 2927 - Posted: 06.24.2010

Everyone knows that if you eat a plate of beans or a bowl of bran cereal, you're likely to get full pretty quickly. UC Davis nutrition researchers now have a better idea why. A UC Davis study, published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, indicates that increased fiber content in a meal boosts feelings of fullness in women and increases levels of a certain hormone associated with satiety. Previous research has shown that the hormone cholecystokinin is released from the small intestine when a fat-containing food is eaten. It's thought that this hormone may be the chemical messenger that acts in response to fat to notify the brain that the body is getting full. Copyright © 1995-2002 ScienceDaily Magazine

Keyword: Obesity
Link ID: 2926 - Posted: 06.24.2010

By Daniel Q. Haney | The Associated Press Maybe it would be going a bit far to suggest that reading this article will keep you from getting Alzheimer's disease. But why take a chance? Keep going, and you will encounter the latest ideas about Alzheimer's prevention. You will absorb a few unfamiliar words. You will follow the back-and-forth about what experts know and wish they knew. In short, you will probably learn something. In theory, learning is good for the brain, especially old brains, although of course it is no guarantee, because plenty of newspaper readers get Alzheimer's. But staying mentally active, whether working a crossword puzzle or composing a symphony, might help forestall the worst by building up a reserve of mental circuits that keep thoughts flowing smoothly even when this awful disease takes root. Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel

Keyword: Alzheimers
Link ID: 2925 - Posted: 06.24.2010