Social Animal

I know this article may be a little bit long but if you read one thing all day, it should be this. It is incredibly well written and ties tidbits of science research to everyday life. The author tells a story that I think everyone can relate to in some ways..

Anyways, its titled "Social Animal- How the new sciences of human nature can help make sense of a life" and is written by David Brooks.

Here's one of my favorite (though not necessarily characteristic) quotes from the piece:

"...We inherit a great river of knowledge, a flow of patterns coming from many sources. The information that comes from deep in the evolutionary past we call genetics. The information passed along from hundreds of years ago we call culture. The information passed along from decades ago we call family, and the information offered months ago we call education. But it is all information that flows through us."

Why Babies Are Better Than You (and me)

Sitting in front of your potential future boss, staring attentively into his (or her) eyes, nodding with affirmation--look at you Ms. (or Mr., or Mrs....Mz.?) Hotshot, putting this interview to shame. You are Michael Jordan in the 90's.

Wait. No. No, no no. Stop it. Do NOT open your mouth and yawn. Deep breaths, eyes watering, can't focus and...you give up. Surreptitiously covering your mouth with your hand, you attempt a pose reminiscent of Rodin's Thinking Man (you sly fox, you) and suffer the blow to which so many of us succumb.

Alright, so that was probably a bit (or, you know, a lot) overdramatic, but we've all been there. That moment when a yawn sneaks up on you, and you simply can't suppress it. Whether it was sparked by the sight of someone else yawning, hearing the word 'yawn,' a lack of oxygen or fatigue, all of us experience the phenomenon that is yawning on a daily basis.

Though scientists are still uncertain about the origin of this mysterious biological behavior, a recent study by Ailsa Millen and James Anderson posited that, before age five, we are not susceptible to what scientists call 'contagious yawning.' (the yawns that happen when you hear the word 'yawn' and then yawn--try reading that five times without yawning. Sucker.)

The infants and toddlers tested still experienced a normal pattern of yawning: an increase in the morning, decrease in the afternoon and then another increase just before bedtime. However, when exposed to videos of other people yawning, or when in the presence of their yawning parents, these infants and toddlers did not spontaneously yawn, as many of us would.

So why are adults, but not children, able to catch these allegedly 'contagious' yawns? James Anderson (the same James Anderson referenced above, no less) was quoted by The Telegraph saying this on the subject:

"People who score highly for empathy are significantly more likely to show contagious yawning. What we know from other research is that one part of the brain that continues to develop throughout childhood is the frontal cortex and that the frontal lobe plays a role in social decision making and the ability to empathise...That would tie in with the gradual development of contagious yawning during childhood."

Are you an empathetic victim to this harmless monster? Let us know!

Revenge of the...Jocks?

We've all witnessed it: that meathead football player you surreptitiously despised in high school pushing the door that says 'pull,' smashing those tiny cardboard cafeteria milk cartons against his forehead, ending his sentences with prepositions...I digress. But is there actually any truth to the long-standing stereotype that associates athleticism with stupidity?

Apparently, not anymore.

A study conducted by Laura Chaddock et al. and published by Brain Research found a positive correlation between preadolescent fitness and relational memory, which deals with visual and spatial retention. Fitness levels were measured objectively using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment to assess how efficiently children used oxygen while exercising on a treadmill.

One important aspect to note, however, is that the kids who were deemed 'fitter' than their age-related counterparts had, on average, larger (in volume) hippocampi. Considering that larger hippocampi are associated with better cognitive performance, a causal relationship between preadolescent fitness and superior relational memory skills may not be entirely accurate.

Of course, this doesn't mean that the dreams of all those pee wee football prodigies should be crushed quite yet--but it is something to consider before you start making your little brother run sprints in the backyard while simultaneously reciting his times tables.

Click here to judge for yourself.