Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Your Brain on Google


"The future brain may be one that's seamlessly connected to technology"

This really cool video shows how the internet may effect brain functioning and what the future may hold for the human brain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhLnoZFCDBM&feature=related

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Current News


Howdy fellow brain enthusiasts,

Has your brain been out to lunch all summer? Here is a collection of related news articles to feast on from the New York Times in the past several months:

This a review of a new book on gender-related neuroscience research:
Peeling Away Theories on Gender and the Brain

Dr. Cushing's recently re-organized collection of brain specimens reminds us how far the field of neurosurgery has come:
Inside Neurosurgery's Rise

A well known researcher in animal behavior may have published invalid data:
Inquiry Into Harvard Lab Threatens Ripple Effect
Harvard Researcher May Have Fabricated Data

Discovery of tool marks on bone provide evidence that hominids used tools some 800,000 year earlier than previously thought:
Lucy’s Kin Carved Up a Meaty Meal, Scientists Say

Alzheimer's Research is a cutting edge field with many groundbreaking findings made this summer:
Doubt on Tactic in Alzheimer's Battle
Sharing of Data Leads to Progress on Alzheimer's
In Spinal-Fluid Test, An Early Warning on Alzheimer's
Finding Suggests New Aim for Alzheimer's Drugs

The widely accepted theory of kin selection is called into question:
Scientists Square Off on Evolutionary Value of Helping Relatives

Athletes diagnosed with Lu Gehrig's may actually be suffering from something else:
Study Says Brain Trauma Can Mimic A.L.S

Several scientists are interested in how the heavy use of technology impacts the brain:
Outdoors and Out of Reach; Studying the Brain

No matter what side you are on, the rise in frequency of drug prescription for psychiatric disorders is controversial and an important topic in today's society:
Child's Ordeal Shows Risks of Psychosis Drugs for Young

Drug abuse and addiction alter brain chemistry and psychology for years after drug abuse stops:
Lasting Pleasures, Robbed by Drug Abuse

Research shows that "common knowledge" in learning and studying habbits may be incorrect:

Forget What you Know About Good Study Habbits

Gene Imprinting means that alleles inherited from each parent can be differentially expressed. Notably, some of these genes are differentially expressed in the brain:
Tug of War Pits genes of Parents in the Fetus



We hope this keeps you thinking as the semester begins. If these articles interest you and you'd like to become more involved in the BBB society or with Brainstorm, come to the first general body meeting of the semester on Monday, September 27th at 9 pm. More information to follow.








Sunday, September 5, 2010

Brainstorm!

Welcome to Brainstorm, a new blog brought to you by students in the Biological Basis of Behavior Society at Penn, offering all things related to the biological basis of behavior. This is your daily source for insights into the major, faculty and student research, upcoming neuroscience events and opportunities and current popular news and articles. If you would like to become involved with Brainstorm please contact editor Rachel Gittelman (rachem@sas.upenn.edu) or Sam Liebeskind (samuelbl@sas.upenn.edu) for more information.

Brainstorm should be fully up and running soon, in the meantime browse the bbb society website (http://www.dolphin.upenn.edu/bbbsoc/) and the BBB department website (http://www.psych.upenn.edu/bbb/).