Column
by Guy McKhann, M.D.
Brain in the News
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July 2008
New research is causing scientists to rethink the aging brain. Also, one scientist-musician looks at the brains of jazz players.
Column
July 2008
This month’s links include a neuroscience blog, a series of newspaper articles about mental illness and a resource from the Society for Neuroscience.
by Natalie Angier
Several studies point to the power of the nose, which, unlike the circuitous connections of some of our other senses, connects directly to the appropriate cortex in the brain.
by Jia-Rui Chong
For war vets suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, the prospect of sleep can be a nightmare unto itself.
by Benedict Carey
Scientists have begun to piece together what goes on in your head when you think you're merely "zoning out."
by Drake Bennett
Neuroscientists are no match for magicians when it comes to manipulating our senses. But researchers are excited to use those age-old tricks to increase our understanding of human perception.
by Lawrence K. Altman
A medical doctor looks at the unusual meeting of minds that led to Sen. Edward Kennedy's decision to have his brain tumor operated on.
by Adina Roskies and Walter Sinnott-Armstrong
Psychologists at Harvard University are trying to figure out how we make moral judgments. By running a series of tests in which participants are forced to make difficult decisions about the lives of others, they have discovered dual pathways used in ethical deliberation.
by Rob Waters
New technology that permits scientists to create potentially healthy nerve cells has raised the hopes of those with the neuromuscular disease ALS.
by Michael Lee
A researcher explains how our nervous system perceives pain and what may occur when pain outlasts physical injury.
by Shari Roan
Clinical trials of potential drugs to treat Alzheimer's are offering disappointing results, but researchers say they are still making progress.
by Gloria Troyer
An in-depth article focuses on various types of seizures and their causes, with a particularly close look at treating epilepsy in children.
by Mary Brophy Marcus
Not only can MRIs help scientists see the early signs of Alzheimer's, but the tests can also teach researchers more about the brain as the disease progresses. Early diagnosis can help patients try a variety of drugs and therapies to slow the process.
by Justin Berton
Brain scans of recently returned soldiers reveal atrophy of the hippocampus, an area of the brain vital for short-term memory and emotions, and a loss of gray matter. Though research on post-traumatic stress disorder is still young, there is also evidence that PTSD leads to other brain maladies such as Alzheimer's.
by John Fauber
Scientists hypothesize that high levels of fitness can help patients with early stages of Alzheimer's keep their mental edge. But since previous studies have only considered fitness levels, not exercise, it is not yet known if being active can prevent brain atrophy.
by Stephanie Ramage
While previous attempts to alleviate depression involved cutting holes in the brain, a new method that shocks the relevent areas instead is being explored. Deep brain stimulation has been shown to quickly and safely create dramatic improvement in some people.
by Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
A new path between the brain and the spleen, where immune cells are created, has been discovered, which may help lead to new treatments for fighting infection.
by Belle Elving
It's fairly common for people to get left and right confused. Researchers are now asking why that doesn't occur with up and down.