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learning

·March 20, 2013·6 min read

Humanoid Robot Helps Train Children with Autism

Vanderbilt researchers develop a humanoid robotic system to help teach autistic children to coordinate their attention with objects and other people in their environment.

The image shows a diagram of the brain with specific regions of the dopamine and serotonin pathways mapped out.

Featured Psychology

·March 15, 2013·2 min read

Discovery Could Yield Treatment for Cocaine Addicts

Researchers discovered cocaine causes cells within the nucleus accumbens to boost the production of two specific proteins linked to addition and learning. Understanding addiction on a molecular level could lead to future developments for new treatments.

The image is a diagram comparing the difference between neuron damage and associated damage in alzheimer's disease with normal neurons.

Featured Neurology

·March 8, 2013·2 min read

Buphenyl Identified as a Possible Drug for Alzheimer’s Disease

Buphenyl (sodium phenylbutyrate), a medication approved for the treatment of hyperammonemia, could help prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease, a new study finds.

The image shows cultured neurons with projecting dendrites highlighted in green.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 6, 2013·2 min read

Flip of a Single Molecular Switch Makes an Old Brain Young

Monitoring the synapses of living mice, researchers discover an important genetic switch for brain maturation. Mice without the Nogo Receptor 1 gene have persistent levels of juvenile brain plasticity through adulthood.

The image shows a drawing of the brain with the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) highlighted in red.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 6, 2013·4 min read

One Region, Two Functions: Brain Cells’ Multitasking Could be a Key to Understanding Overall Brain Function

The lateral intraparietal area (LIP), a region of the brain known to play a vital role in spatial and visual processing also has a parallel function, categorizing visual information, a new study suggests.

The image shows a structural diagram of rapamycin.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 4, 2013·2 min read

Protein Synthesis Blocker Could Help Reduce Effects of Traumatic Events

Researchers note reduced fear and stress responses following a mildly traumatic event when rapamycin, a protein synthesis blocker, is administered.

The image shows two big garden spiders on a wall.

Featured Psychology

·February 26, 2013·4 min read

Persistent Negative Attitude Can Undo Effectiveness of Exposure Therapy for Phobias

In order to recover from phobias, researchers suggest people must alter memory driven negative attitudes about their feared object.

The image shows a computer chip with a built in memristor the researchers used during their research.

Featured

·February 26, 2013·3 min read

Blueprint For an Artificial Brain

Researchers are using memristors, electronic microcomponents which imitate natural nerves, as key components to create a blueprint for an artificial brain.

The image shows a computerized flight time table with numerous cities and flight times.

Featured Psychology

·February 21, 2013·2 min read

Scientists Make Older Adults Less Forgetful in Memory Tests

Researchers have found compelling evidence that older adults can eliminate forgetfulness and perform as well as younger adults on memory tests. The findings have intriguing implications for designing learning strategies for older adults.

The image shows a comparative brain PET scan of a person with alzheimer's and one without the disease.

Featured Genetics

·February 20, 2013·6 min read

Genome-Wide Imaging Study Identifies New Gene Associated with Alzheimer’s Plaques

Researchers combined genetic data with neuroimaging in order to identify genes associated with amyloid plaque deposits in Alzheimer's disease patients. The study is believed to be the first genome-wide association study of plaque deposits using a specialized PET scan tracer that binds to amyloid.

The image shows an obesity table with height and associated weight compared.

Featured Psychology

·February 19, 2013·3 min read

Is There a Link Between Childhood Obesity and ADHD?

New research has established a possible link between high-fat diets and such childhood brain-based conditions as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and memory-dependent learning disabilities.