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+20 +1
Physical exertion increases men's responses to sexual stimuli
A new study in Germany found that men who performed 3 minutes of a physically demanding exercise had more intense reactions to pictures with sexual contents compared to a control group. However, responses to non-sexual pictures were not affected. The study was published in Psychophysiology.
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+22 +1
Brain activity decoder can reveal stories in people's minds
A new artificial intelligence system called a semantic decoder can translate a person's brain activity—while listening to a story or silently imagining telling a story—into a continuous stream of text. The system developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin might help people who are mentally conscious yet unable to physically speak, such as those debilitated by strokes, to communicate intelligibly again.
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+15 +1
You Are Not Free, But Who Cares?
Most of us have the deeply felt sense that if given the chance, we could have done differently. “If I had a time machine,” we say, “I would go back and start everything over.” This belief influences how we perceive both others and ourselves.
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+30 +1
How Psilocybin Mushrooms Can Be Used to Treat Depression
Depression is becoming increasingly prevalent, with an estimated 5% of adults suffering from this mental health condition globally. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) sets out multiple criteria for clinical depression. These include persistent low mood nearly every day for a period longer than 2 weeks and diminished ability to concentrate.
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+2 +1
Neuroimaging study reveals anxious dogs have different brains to normal dogs
Dog ownership is a lot of furry companionship, tail wags and chasing balls, and ample unconditional love. However, some dog owners are also managing canine pals struggling with mental illness.
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+18 +1
The Quest for Injectable Brain Implants Has Begun
OUR WORLD IS populated by hundreds of thousands of cyborgs. Some are Parkinson’s patients, who can shut off their tremors by activating metal electrodes implanted deep within their brains. Others—albeit far fewer—are completely paralyzed people who can move robotic limbs with their minds, thanks to their own implants. Such technologies can radically improve someone’s quality of life. But they have a major problem: Metal and the brain get along very, very poorly.
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+13 +1
Poor sleep can impact brain health
Poor sleep in middle age can have a negative impact on brain health, according to a study by researchers at The Australian National University. The study looked at the sleep habits of over 29,000 people aged between 37 and 73 and could provide the basis for helping to combat major diseases like dementia.
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+15 +1
Breakthrough study discovers that psychedelics breach our neurons
Researchers have discovered that psychedelics can activate 5-HT2A receptors inside of cortical neurons, a possible cause of their therapeutic effects.
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+25 +1
Tech Companies Are Getting Into Neuroscience. Should We Worry?
The past few decades of neuroscience research have produced a wide array of technologies capable of measuring human brain activity. Functional magnetic resonance imaging, implanted electrode systems, and electroencephalograms, or EEGs, among other techniques, have helped researchers better understand how our brains respond to and control our bodies’ interactions with the world around us.
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+4 +1
Exercising in nature produces psychological benefits and measurable changes in brain activity
An experimental study found that exercising in the presence of nature — even virtual nature — offers psychological benefits compared to exercising without. The study, published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology, further pinpointed areas of the brain that may be responsible for these effects.
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+22 +1
A neuroscientist shares the 4 ‘highly coveted’ skills that set introverts apart: ‘Their brains work differently’
Being the most talkative person in the room may be a good way to get people’s attention, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have the best ideas. As a neuroscientist, I’ve worked with large companies like Google and Deloitte on how to attract and retain top talent, and I’ve found that employers tend to favor extroverts.
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+12 +1
The Persistent Problem of Consciousness
This is the first in a series of essays on consciousness & how it is fundamental to our understanding of reality. Make no mistake, reality is strange. Consciousness research, although in its infancy, is attempting to make sense of it. Something so fundamental can hopefully put the whole calamitous shit show into some kind of graspable order. So, consider this part 1.
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+24 +1
What causes your brain to procrastinate and how to face it
A study shows that two actions may help in tackling procrastination — setting reminders and envisioning your future self.
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+13 +1
A Link Between Schizophrenia and Vascular Alterations in the Brain
A new study uncovers a link between astrocytes derived from patients with schizophrenia and the formation of narrower blood vessels in the brain. Findings suggest the astrocytes from those with schizophrenia promote less vascularization.
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+17 +1
Programming and its positive impacts on brain functioning
Learning to program can accelerate knowledge acquisition by developing cognitive skills. As a result, we remember the information much better, and the brain subjected to constant exercise is much healthier.
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+4 +1
Some People Who Appear to Be in a Coma May Actually Be Conscious
Brain scans reveal that some people who can’t speak or move are aware of the world around them.
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+16 +1
Playing Competitive Video Games Helps the Brain & the Soul
Yes, “try-harding” in Mortal Kombat or Call of Duty will improve your mental functions and values in life. Even if you do not play video games, this post will show you how impactful video games, but even more specifically, competitive video games are to your well-being.
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+20 +1
A low-dose of caffeine suppresses alpha brain waves and improves executive functioning
A study in Thailand using electroencephalography (EEG) and cognitive tests showed that working memory improved after drinking a caffeinated drink in the morning. Additionally, EEG recordings showed a reduction of alpha wave activity, a type of brain activity often associated with drowsiness, after drinking the caffeinated drink compared to the activity level before. The study was published in Physiology & Behavior.
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+7 +1
How Do Placebos Work?
There’s a reason eating your grandmother’s chicken soup or dabbing your temples with essential oil of peppermint might make you feel better if you’re sick, and it’s probably not because they're truly curative. Your relief is likely the result of the placebo effect.
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+16 +1
New study links suffering from long-lasting severe depression to reduction in brain volume
A study on a large sample of patients found chronic, long-lasting depression to be associated with reduced brain volume. The reduced volume was found in brain regions relevant for planning one’s behavior, focusing attention, thinking, learning and remembering and also in regions relevant for regulating emotions. The study was published in Neurobiology and Treatment of Depression.
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