Poor cerebral cortex functions leads to more impulsive behavior

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
ScienceDaily (Oct. 21, 2011) — If the front part of the cerebral cortex is less active then people have less control over their social behaviour and automatically follow their inclinations more. This emerged from a study by Inge Volman that will be published on 25 October in the Journal Current Biology. The research was the first to make use of magnetic stimulation (TMS) to suppress this part at the front of the prefrontal cortex. During TMS a changing magnetic field on the head temporarily influences the activity of the underlying part of the brain.

Study subjects in whom the activity of the prefrontal cortex was temporarily suppressed could control their emotional impulses less well than normal. Their amygdala deep in the brain that is responsible for emotional reactions then becomes extra active. This emerged from the study by Inge Volman and her colleagues from the Behavioural Science Institute and the Donders Institute of Radboud University Nijmegen. This study is important for a good understanding of the role played by various parts of the brain and could in the future contribute to the treatment of aggression and social anxiety disorders.

Social-emotional behaviour

Neuroscientist Inge Volman investigates the regulation of social behaviour and emotions. She is particularly interested in how exactly that works in the brain and the factors affecting this. For example, she has previously published a study which revealed that men with more testosterone have a less active prefrontal cortex if they have to control their behaviour. Yet what exactly happens if your prefrontal cortex is less active? Are you then less capable of managing your behaviour adequately and does that make you more impulsive? Now TMS can be used investigate what happens if the prefrontal cortex in the same study subjects is made more or less active.

Disrupting brain function

TMS is the acronym for transcranial (through the skull) magnetic stimulation. A brief magnetic pulse can temporarily stimulate or suppress brain activity in a small area. Previous experiments used TMS more on top of the head and could therefore influence the movement centres, for example. Volman is the first to have used the technique on the front of the head. She placed the equipment just above the eyelashes as the area she is interested in is located directly underneath these: the foremost part of the cerebral cortex. By doing this she could control and temporarily suppress the activity of the anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC). At the Donders Institute the TMS equipment is situated next to the brain scanner. This allows the direct measurement of changes in the brain activity as a result of TMS. Many other TMS studies only examine changes in behaviour.

Approach versus avoidance

Volman allowed the study subjects to perform a so-called approach-avoidance task in which they were shown emotional faces. Normally we withdraw when we see an angry face and try to come closer if we see a happy person. The study subjects were asked to respond in exactly the opposite manner. Using a joystick study subjects had to approach angry faces and push away happy faces. They were significantly worse at doing this after disruption of the aPFC. The emotion area -- the amygdala -- of the study subjects became extra active. 'This ties in with what we already knew from animal and patient studies. Instead of just measuring and observing behaviour we can also directly influence brain activity with the help of TMS. Furthermore, combining TMS with fMRI makes the design of this study extra special, as then we can observe the effects in both the behaviour and the brain,' says Volman.

Therapeutic application

Even though we do not know exactly how it works, TMS is already used commercially for the treatment of depression. Based on this study are there possible therapeutic applications of TMS in people who have a disrupted control system?

'The effect of TMS is temporary and that makes it difficult to apply therapeutically. A possible application could be helping people to overcome a certain behaviour. For example, people suffering from a social anxiety disorder have a strong urge to avoid social situations, such as a party. They are often stuck in a vicious circle: as a result of this avoidance they never learn that they can cope with the situation and so the anxiety increases. This avoidance tendency could possibly be reduced with the help of TMS. Then after a treatment the patient might dare go to a party and discover that it was quite an enjoyable experience. He or she might then dare to go to another party without the need for TMS first.'

Recommend this story on Facebook, Twitter,
and Google +1:

Other bookmarking and sharing tools:

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Radboud University Nijmegen.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Inge Volman, Karin Roelofs, Saskia Koch, Lennart Verhagen, Ivan Toni. Anterior Prefrontal Cortex Inhibition Impairs Control over Social Emotional Actions. Current Biology, 2011; DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.08.050

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here

Psychologists defend the importance of general abilities

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
ScienceDaily (Oct. 21, 2011) — What makes a great violinist, physicist, or crossword puzzle solver? Are experts born or made? The question has intrigued psychologists since psychology was born -- and the rest of us, too, who may secretly fantasize playing duets with Yo Yo Ma or winning a Nobel Prize in science. It's no wonder Malcolm Gladwell stayed atop the bestseller lists by popularizing the "10,000-hour rule" of Florida State University psychologist K. Anders Ericsson. Using Ericsson's pioneering work -- but omitting equally prominent, contradictory, research -- Gladwell's book Outliers argued that given a certain level of intelligence and a bit of luck, virtually anybody can get to Carnegie Hall -- provided they practice, practice, practice.

In a new paper in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal published by the Association for Psychological Science, psychologists David Z. Hambrick of Michigan State University and Elizabeth J. Meinz of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville disagree strongly. "We don't deny the importance of the knowledge and skill that accrue through practice," says Hambrick. " But, we think that for certain types of tasks, basic abilities and capacities -- ones that are general, stable across time, and substantially heritable -- play an important role in skilled performance. " Such basic capacities are a component of talent, Hambrick and Meinz believe.

The authors' work involves a particular basic measure of cognitive ability: working memory capacity, the ability to store and process information at the same time, which correlates with success in many cognitive tasks, from abstract reasoning to language learning. In one experiment Hambrick and Meinz tested 57 pianists with a wide range of deliberate practice under their belts, from 260 to more than 31,000 hours, to see how well they did on sight-reading -- playing a piece from a score they'd never seen before. Those who had practiced more did better. In fact, practice -- even specific sight-reading practice -- predicted nearly half of the differences in performance across the subjects. But working memory capacity still had a statistically significant impact on performance. In other words, regardless of amount of deliberate practice, working memory capacity still mattered for success in the task. The psychologists surmised that the capacity influences how many notes a player can look ahead as she plays, an important factor in sight-reading.

Challenging another "experts-are-made" contention -- that beyond a certain threshold, intelligence makes less and less of a difference in accomplishment -- the authors cite a study by Vanderbilt University researchers that looked at the math SAT scores of people with PhDs in science, technology, engineering, or math. Those who scored in the 99.9th percentile at age 13 were 18 times more likely to go on to earn a PhD than those who scored better than only 99.1 percent of their teenage peers. "Even at the highest end, the higher the intellectual ability -- and by extension, the higher the working memory capacity -- the better," says Hambrick.

"Some would consider this bad news. We'd all like to think that basic capacities and abilities are irrelevant -- it's the egalitarian view of expertise," Hambrick says. "We're not saying that limitations can't be overcome." Still, no matter how hard you work, it may be what you're born with or develop very early in life that "distinguishes the best from the rest."

Recommend this story on Facebook, Twitter,
and Google +1:

Other bookmarking and sharing tools:

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Association for Psychological Science.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

D. Z. Hambrick, E. J. Meinz. Limits on the Predictive Power of Domain-Specific Experience and Knowledge in Skilled Performance. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2011; 20 (5): 275 DOI: 10.1177/0963721411422061

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here

Baby Shower: The Welcoming Committe on Board

Finding out your pregnant is the best news of all. Well, second to hearing the grand proposal of a lifetime. After a successful wedding ceremony, hearing that your love has borne fruit is the icing on the cake. For first time expecting mothers, it is a difficult and herculean task to search and look for all the right stuff and equipment the baby will need. Moms-to-be need to list down all the things the baby would need at the soonest possible time so that little by little, each item can already be purchased and readied for the baby's arrival. But there is another easy way to almost have it all, without getting too much headache over it. The solution is to hold a baby shower party! The only headache mom-to-be would have is the menu she would have to prepare on that day and that is easier for her.



Now the burden of searching and looking for baby stuff is passed on to the invitees. But another concern is raised. How will the baby shower go about? The best answer there is, is to have a theme that would guide the flow of the baby shower. There are several ways of choosing and deciding on a theme. Do you want it to be based on color? In case you already know the gender of the baby, pink or blue is used to universally represent a baby girl or a baby boy. Or baby items such as a pacifier or a baby bottle? How about character-themed baby shower such as the Sesame Street, Power Puff Girls, Dexter's Laboratory or the Looney Tunes? It could also be a time-of-the-day baby shower whereby each invitee is tasked to bring something the baby would need or use during that time of the day.



From www.best-baby-gift-guide.com, it suggests wonderful baby shower gift ideas such as a baby gift basket, a layette gift set, vital baby equipment, beautiful baby linen, a baby massage set, or a baby gift certificate. Each gift idea is unique. For the baby gift basket, some ideas they suggest is to create your own baby gift basket or go for the classical clothing baby gift basket where you can never go wrong. You can also go for monogrammed baby gift baskets, fun baby basket, mother and baby basket, gift basket for twins, or a pampering baby gift basket. They also have different suggestions for baby girl and baby boys. For the complete descriptions for each item, just visit their website and read on to find fantastic baby gift ideas.



Once the baby shower is finished, take stock of what is already there and not. For those items still missing from your list, make the necessary arrangments to have it readily available once the baby arrives.



Just some last few tips for a successful baby shower: hold it four to six weeks before the due date, establish a theme, write down the guest list, set the tone and size of the baby shower, plan the games, plan the menu, create baby shower party favors, and last but not the least, set the time and location, if it will not be held in your residence. Remember, baby showers are a fun way to welcome the baby that would be coming soon enough.

Baby Game Shower: Baby games to play at the Baby Shower

Младенцы имеют столько удовольствия. Но baby душ игры являются гораздо больше удовольствия с мам предстоит, крестные, бабушек и дедушек и других приглашенных в baby душ можно получить по-детски игры снова. Некоторые из игр baby душ, которую могут играть включают петь его, Baby!, измерения вверх мама, здесь смотрит на тебя, малыш!, не говорите Baby, Baby истины или Dare, седьмой подарок и откопать булавки.



Эти детские игры являются общими baby игры дождь обычно играет. Они являются отличным способом, что позволит гостям пообщаться и узнать друг друга, если они еще не знакомы. Это также еще один отличный способ дать мама будет за что драгоценные baby на путь чести.



Как мы играем эти детские игры душ? Вот изношенном о том, как играть в игру baby душ и создать хорошие воспоминания о Великой baby душ.



В петь, детка!, гости участников образуют круг. Они могут сидеть или стоять. Затем каждый гость должен петь линии или два из песня, которая имеет слово «ребенок» в нем. По окончании первой игре игрок следующий человек, сидящий на ее право имеет десять секунд петь еще одну песню «baby». Песни «Baby», не могут повторяться, таким образом, участники, повторять песню или не могу думать о «baby» песня получает загрузились в игре. Последний человек, поет в этом baby душ игру выигрывает приз!



Насколько велика стал мама? Измерение мама это baby душ игры играть, как это дает гостям свободу для измерения размера мама. У пару туалетной бумаги рулоны готов и попросите каждого участника для оценки размера mommy обхват, перерезав туалетной бумаги их угадать размера. Затем каждый из них обертывания вокруг нового мама желудка туалетной бумаги, которую они вырезать. Ближайший длины, приближающихся к маме в живот выигрывает приз!



Помните, как вы смотрели когда вы были ребенком? Эта игра принимает вниз памяти полосу, как вам нужно разрыть эти детские фотографии твоего. Потому что вам нужно их играть здесь baby душ игры LOOKIN ' на тебя, малыш! Перед самой партии просим всех гостей, подходит для приведения cutest младенца картинки сами по себе. По их прибытии обеспечить каждую фотографию младенца и присваивает номер на картинке. Во время игры сложить все детские фотографии и дают каждый участник бумага и ручка и попросите их, чтобы определить как многие детские фотографии, как они могут. Гость с наибольшее количество правильные догадки является большим победителем.



Это baby душ игру делает вас не сказать вам предположим присутствовать на! Baby игры Don't говорить именно это! Не сказать, что "ребенок" в течение всей длине baby душ игру для пеленок ПИН, который был передан Вам по прибытии будут приниматься вдали от вас. Человек с наибольшее количество английские булавки собрал в конце душ сторона выигрывает приз.



Эта игра baby душ предназначен для тех, кто любит baby мелочи и т.п. Играть Baby истины или Dare, написав вниз некоторые мелочи младенца, некоторые исправления и другие намеренно написаны неправильно. В ходе игры baby душ спросите случайным образом если факты baby true или false. Те, кто правильно угадать получает приз в то время как те, кто не будет осмеливается выступать перед всем остальным.



Мы все знаем, что единый дама, которая ловит Свадебный букет невесты говорит стать следующей невесты. В седьмом подарок это не столько игры душ младенца, а больше из басни, который говорит, что даритель седьмой подарок убрать будет следующей ожидали мать. Однако Избегайте «посадки» седьмой подарок.



Последнее, но не в последнюю очередь, копать, булавки является игра baby душ, который проверяет аджилити гостей, как они рыбы из наибольшее количество английские булавки с большой миске заполнены с сырого риса и пеленок контакты в возрасте до двух минут. Участник, который имеет наибольшее количество контактов приносит домой приз.

Blood-pressure-lowering drug after stroke aids recovery, study suggests

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
ScienceDaily (Oct. 21, 2011) — A commonly prescribed blood pressure-lowering medication appears to kick start recovery in the unaffected brain hemisphere after a stroke by boosting blood vessel growth, a new University of Georgia study has found.

The discovery, based on a study using rats and published recently in the online journal PLoS ONE, occurred only because the team, led by Susan Fagan, professor of clinical and administrative pharmacy at the UGA College of Pharmacy, struck a new path in stroke research by examining the healthy side of brain after the stroke occurred.

"I'm very excited because I think we can harness the restorative properties of the contralesional hemisphere-the other side of the brain-with drug therapies," Fagan said. "When most researchers study stroke they compare the animal's side of the brain that's damaged to the opposite side, assuming that that side is normal or not affected."

For the study, Fagan and her team induced strokes in two groups of male Wistar rats by blocking a major artery in the brain. A third group of placebo, or sham, animals did not experience strokes so that scientists could compare healthy brain hemispheres across all groups. One group received a single dose of saline solution; the other received a dose of the blood pressure drug candesartan. The placebo group received no treatment.

Animals treated with candesartan displayed higher levels of growth factors that aid with the formation of new blood vessels in the brain, a result that confirmed that of earlier studies from the lab. However, the study revealed a previously unobserved phenomenon: Different types of growth factors dominated different hemispheres in the brain, which suggests that candesartan could have healing properties beyond the area of damage.

Doctors and researchers have sought to settle a long-standing debate over whether elevated blood pressure should be lowered in stroke victims. Lowering blood pressure too soon after a stroke could lessen amounts of critical oxygen to the brain. Fagan cited a large clinical trial conducted earlier this year by Scandinavian researchers who concluded that using candesartan to lower blood pressure early after stroke produced no real benefit. In order to bypass the blood pressure debate, Fagan's lab plans to pursue future research with drugs and doses that provide protection to the brain's blood vessels without lowering blood pressure.

The study also found that animals treated with candesartan had increased levels of a "pro-survival" protein in both brain hemispheres. The protein is responsible for helping neurons in the brain survive insults-like a stroke-and promote longer life. Fagan said the study contributes to a body of literature that finds new potential for drug therapy.

"We tell patients the reason they go to rehab after they've had a stroke is to retrain and make new connections so that they can get function back. Maybe it's because the other hemisphere takes over," Fagan said. "If we could stimulate that with drug therapy and make it even more so, it would help lots of people."

Recommend this story on Facebook, Twitter,
and Google +1:

Other bookmarking and sharing tools:

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Georgia. The original article was written by Kathleen Raven.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Weihua Guan, Payaningal R. Somanath, Anna Koza, Anna Goc, Azza B. El-Remessy, Adviye Ergul, Maribeth H. Johnson, Ahmed Alhusban, Sahar Soliman, Susan C. Fagan. Vascular Protection by Angiotensin Receptor Antagonism Involves Differential VEGF Expression in Both Hemispheres after Experimental Stroke. PLoS ONE, 2011; 6 (9): e24551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024551

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here

Call baby bedding

The child is the most beautiful experience, a woman may have biological women in function. After the birth process begins the real work. Feeding bottles, diaper changes, immunization records are some of the things that new MOM must learn quickly. And something important to deal with the arrival of the baby is kind of baby bedding he or she will use. According to Dr. Mark Brandenburg (http://www.baby-place.com/crib_safety.html), a single rule to follow in choosing the right baby bedding for your precious baby is security. The second rule says security and third rule focuses on security. We want to conclude that this is not enough to say, it should be noted that the baby bedding is critical to comfort your baby.



In his article on how to find the perfect baby bedding should not be too hard, not too soft. In the past, the sudden death of the infant or SID was due to the very sweet baby bedding. This happened when baby mattress too soft as his nose and mouth, receives, and the air he exhales the air it breathes. It is dangerous for him, since he is breathing carbon dioxide, rather than oxygen and can cause drowsiness, coma or even death.



There are many styles and fact by choosing baby bed. And with that, it should be noted, that baby bedding should be a perfect with selected equipment fit. Three main elements: bed, crib, bed or a cradle. What distinguishes one from the other? The crèche is basket-shaped oblong, which serves as a bed for baby. But sometimes, round bassinets are also available. Bed cradle, flanked by of high lateral bands for a baby or young children. Cribs are generally more economical, because the child can use early childhood for two years. While the cradle is that a small low bed uses baby rockers on their stand. In all these materials used for material should notify and report the MOM, how many safety precautions.



Cradles is usually Lacy and full suspension. Bedding bed baby must meet, in a way the child space enough for him or it to roll from one side to the other. Cribs are typically square, so the mattress can be set to the size of the crèche. Baby bedding is usually a set of small pillows and bedspread. Hot dog cushions can also be placed inside. However pillows should more than two or three, if not the child may be placed on them and may fall. The cradle can be forms and different sizes. Some mothers prefer cradle so that when a cranky child, he or she may have shaken be calmed down. Bed baby to bed linen must follow the form thereof. Not much can be placed in what it is primarily used for the baby to sleep in rock. However, do not not three child safe, warm and safe. We are going to do, and it will depend on the parent of the preference item. Most favorite cribs because it can be used for a long time.



Now, when we have revised the basic equipment, as present us it with baby bedding? We have found that baby bedding should be sleeping equipment to prevent accidents and other incidents. Is the material more appropriate to use cotton, absorbent and cool the skin of the child. The various constructions should be used to promote its recognition of color and pattern. Baby bedding is therefore an essential factor in maintaining healthy and happy baby.

Toques for baby: toys of children all the time?

Toques baby was not around that much, as they are "born" as in 1994, when Ty Warner introduced the first baby market toques. Few people know that baby or more officially known as the baby Bonnet Bonnet made first their. He made the baby Bonnet to be more realistic, giving him more air. In other words there is less stuffing inside each baby Bonnet. The usual baby stuffed with the handle, toys, and they were difficult. While you're on the baby Bonnet was half filled with stuffing and half full of beans. Therefore, the name of the baby Bonnet. Other competitors are s″ehidničal and said that its toys lasted not long. But what happened exactly the opposite!



Now the "original 9" as they are formally transferred to the first toques nine baby Ty Warner has done. This spot the dog, Squealer the pig, Patti the Platypus, Cubbie Bear chocolate Moose, pliers rig lobster, Orcs, legs the Frog Splash and Flash the dolphin. The collectors as such called him when the first baby Beanies are available, selling for less than $5.00 each. Each baby Bonnet comes with a short poem for children. This was written on the red heart in the form of tag that is attached to the ear of the animal.



Not much is known as toques baby in existence because there are lines fully developed to create a family baby Beanies. The best known is a Bonnet bear plush baby, which has been implemented. The main model was just several times and different colors were used to create a family. Several names each received a bear stuffed in the tradition of having a name. Some toques baby bears are generally used to use commemmorative, that both in fourth of July or Diana, Princess of Wales have been made as an element in the commemmorative variety.



However, the official baby Beanies were primarily forms animal, such as hippos and pigs, dogs and cats. They are usually brightly colored and stylized to make it pleasant to the eye. Official bonnet baby comes with his name. It has its own date of birth. And the most important of all, a short poem, which describes his personality.



Crack baby bonnet took place at the end of 1996, when I started the toques to baby frenzied collection. This Warner prompted Ty resigned from some of the toques to baby to announce the side even more sales and marketing of its products. There are people who have purchased in bulk for a possible future values of the Bonnet a baby. However, as for other modes which are easy to mount and can be easily forgotten, baby Bonnet craze was simply an another fad that quickly have fizzled out. Or this expectation for the "investor" did not happen at all.



Despite that Beanies occurred, baby here to stay with babies usually prefer the soft toys that they can shake in his arms and bite and easily in their hands. Baby Beanies are not required to be in the same child family toques have been assessed. Collection of baby Beanies show kind person is a child or a contributor of the person said.