ScienceDaily: Mind & Brain NewsPsychology news from leading research institutes around the world. Research on relationships, new treatments for mental health conditions, and more. Updated daily.Spiritual Effects Of Hallucinogens Persist, Researchers Report- July 2, 2008 In a follow-up to research showing that psilocybin, a substance contained in "sacred mushrooms," produces substantial spiritual effects, scientists report that those beneficial effects appear to last more than a year.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080701083522.htm To Sing Like Shakira, Press '1' Now- July 2, 2008 Scientists have developed an electronic ear to judge and coach vibrato technique. Vibrato -- the pulsating change of pitch in a singers voice -- is an important aspect of a singers expression, used extensively by both classical opera singers and pop stars like Shakira. Usually, the quality of a vibrato can only be judged subjectively by voice experts.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080630170405.htm Resuscitation Technique After Brain Injury May Do More Harm Than Good- July 2, 2008 The current standard practice of giving infants and children 100 percent oxygen to prevent brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation may actually inflict additional harm, researchers have found.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080701083506.htm Violence Declines With Medication Use In Some With Schizophrenia- July 2, 2008 Some schizophrenia patients become less prone to violence when taking medication, but those with a history of childhood conduct problems continue to pose a higher risk even with treatment, according to a new study.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080701083527.htm Life-extending Protein Can Also Have Damaging Effects On Brain Cells- July 2, 2008 Proteins widely believed to protect against aging can actually cause oxidative damage in mammalian brain cells, according to a new report in Cell Metabolism. The findings suggest that the proteins can have both proaging and protective functions, depending on the circumstances, the researchers said.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080701125905.htm Toys And Technology For Rehabilitation In Cerebral Palsy Patients- July 2, 2008 What began as a college course project to design therapeutic toys has resulted in the first toys of their kind, designed as therapy for children with cerebral palsy.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080701104347.htm New 'Everyday Cognition' Scale Tracks How Older Adults Function In Daily Life- July 2, 2008 As more adults age into the high-risk period for cognitive impairment, clinicians need simple and reliable methods to identify where they may have problems in everyday life that reveal underlying changes in the brain. A new, carefully validated questionnaire called Everyday Cognition, when filled out by someone who knows an older adult well, can sensitively evaluate the performance of everyday activities that reflect basic mental functioning, according to a report in Neuropsychology.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080701083544.htm Love Thy Neighbor States That Lower Drinking Age Hurt Others- July 2, 2008 States currently considering reducing the drinking age aren't doing their neighbors any favors. While opponents contend that dropping the minimum legal drinking age from 21 to 18 or 19 will lead to more alcohol-related teen traffic deaths in those affected states, a University of Michigan researcher says that lowering the age requirement will cause fatal crash rates to increase in neighboring states, as well.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080630111816.htm Researchers Link Early Stem Cell Mutation To Autism- July 1, 2008 In a breakthrough scientific study, scientists have shown that neural stem cell development may be linked to Autism. The study demonstrated that mice lacking the myocyte enhancer factor 2C protein in neural stem cells had smaller brains, fewer nerve cells and showed behaviors similar to those seen in humans with a form of autism known as Rett syndrome.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080630173926.htm The Perils Of Overconfidence- July 1, 2008 Overestimating one's abilities can have hazardous consequences. Research has backed up this notion but with one glaring problem: it relies on participants to give accurate reports of their own confidence.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080630155818.htm |