Jul/090
The brains of men is different from that of women
The brains of women is different from that of men, the differences appear clearly in language skills.
And here that women show greater aptitude than the opposite sex. No one has yet provided a scientific answer to these differences.
For the first time researchers at Northwestern University were able to demonstrate that during linguistic tasks, the brain of women work more, and that men and women use different parts of the brain to perform the same functions.
Our discovery-said Douglas D. Burman, one of the managers of the research – could have important implications for teaching children to solve problems of disorder of language.
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the researchers measured the brain activity of 31 boys and 31 girls aged 9 to 15 years, while performing tasks of written language and oral
The tasks were assigned in two sensory modalities: visual and auditory.
It was asked children to read some words that they saw written, without feeling.
In the auditory mode rather have heard words aloud, without seeing them.
In the end, using a complex statistical model, the researchers accounted for differences based on age, sex and the different linguistic tasks, accuracy and performance, written or oral, in which words were presented.
They found that girls were more active areas of the brain function for language, and that their accuracy in performing tasks was precisely due to the strong involvement of the brain. For the women came into play during the language functions, the part of the brain that takes care to relate abstract thinking through language.
The same did not happen for the boys, to the amazement of scholars. While reading the words the males used the visual areas of the brain, while those drawing while listening to your hearing.
The men then used the sensory capacities, women also involve in the simplest functions of the brain areas related to reasoning. If these important discoveries were applied in the classroom should be taught with different methods students in male and female companions.
This research may have uncovered the mystery: not that men and women have different brains; it’s just using it differently! What underpins all the misunderstandings between men and women there is just that?
May/090
The brains of smokers behaves differently from that of non-smokers
Unpleasant and unflattering news coming for heavy smokers: after a few years ago, research conducted by scientists from the universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh who noted a correlation between smoking habits and progressive deterioration of intelligence, probably caused by stress Oxidative the brain, along with other organs, is submitted by the smoke, comes the news that the bad habit of smoking also harms the ability of decision making. This was stated by a group of neurologists at Baylor College in Houston, Texas, led by Read Montague expert studies on decision-making skills.
U.S. scientists have discovered that decision-making processes of smokers are different, and less effective than those of nonsmokers. Who smokes in fact, when presented with a number of alternatives among which to make a choice, do not evaluate the possible consequences of options rejected. The subjects of the study, published in Nature Neuroscience, and non-smokers, were involved in a game when he was asked to invest money (virtual), choosing between two types of investment. At the end of the game was told they had won thanks to their choice and they would have won if they had opted for the alternative investment.
The figure is quite extraordinary that when he was asked to repeat the experience of smokers, unlike non-smokers, they made their choices without taking into account the lessons learned in previous rounds. To find out how this is possible an MRI was performed during the execution of the game. This however did not detect any difference between the brain activities of two groups of subjects, not just the smokers were able to store or use the information received. Smoking therefore exposed not only to the risk of developing cancer and cardiovascular diseases, but also to show just … awake. I wonder if this, again, disheartening discovery on the damage caused by smoking cannot finally lead to the most die-hard smokers to quit or at least, to take refuge in the electronic cigarette.
Apr/090
Milk for infants. Important content of omega 3 and omega 6
Has been known for a long time all of the benefits from breast milk to the health of the newborn, because it contains nutrients essential for proper physical and psychological development. In particular, several studies and research have shown that omega 3 fatty acids DHA and AA omega 6, found naturally in breast milk are essential for the development of the visual system and brain structures not only of children but also the fetus.
For this reason, new guidelines published in the Journal of Perinatal Medicine and undertaken by experts from 11 countries with the approval of the World Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Child Health Foundation and the Early Nutrition Foundation, provide that infant formula is supplemented with these substances. When you cannot breastfeed then instructed to use milk that contains DHA omega 3 and AA omega-6 as a percentage of between 0.2 and 0.5%. Some studies have also shown that the brain development of infants who did not use these acids Piò be slow.
Moreover, since the benefits of these nutrients are already beginning in the prenatal stage even during pregnancy is appropriate to take an adequate amount of nourishing foods that are rich, like fish, rich in DHA (acid decosapentaenoico) and meat, eggs and milk rich in AA (arachidonic acid). DHA omega 3, as well as having a key role in brain development and the visual system is also important for the health of the heart, whereas AA omega-6 contributes to the formation of ecosanoidi agents acting at the level of the immune system. From now on it will be therefore appropriate for mothers who breast-feeding, take an adapted milk formula in which this is the right amount of these acids, and for nursing mothers is recommended that consumption of foods that contain or alternatively, the intake of food supplements.
Jan/090
Developing the mind for staying young: some exercise to remember better
Now that the technology provides us with the virtual memory of all kinds, that of the cell to the enormous amount of data that can be stored on personal computers and USB keys, to map out directions suggested by the GPS navigation, seems to have become useless to use our memory.
I know many people who are not able to even remember the number by telephone.
In reality, the human memory is to be developed and trained, even now that seems unnecessary, because it serves to strengthen the brain and keep young.
Memory is also about identity. We are what we remember: the places, people, the events and emotions experienced are our existence. To understand the importance of remembering, just think of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and any other disease that destroys memory. Also gradually lose their lives, memories and personal identity.
But how do you keep awake the brain and develop the ability to store data?
Here are some curiosity and some ploy to strengthen and expand your memory:
- How children are required to memorize the multiplication tables and tenses at school, so even adults can work with words and numbers to develop storage. Here is a simple exercise to do: write on a sheet a series of random numbers, starting with a series of five digits and gradually coming to nine. Repeat without looking at the number written to the rhythm of a number per second, until you can repeat without error all nine digits. Then move to a series of ten numbers, eleven numbers and so on, until you reach your personal limit of memory capacity. They repeat the same numbers, but this time in reverse. The exercise will then be repeated using words rather than numbers.
- Write four words on a sheet and devote to other activities for 5 minutes, after which the case if you remember the words written. Gradually increase the time interval to 10 minutes, then a quarter of an hour to arrive a half hour break. Gradually increase the list of words from 4 to 10. Another exercise is to watch a television program and then see how many scenes managed to replay in your mind.
- Do many games that stimulate your brain and logic, but not always on the same fixatives. As in the gym you never use the same tools so that you must train your memory with different instruments. Sudoku, crosswords, grids logical puzzles, anagrams, puzzles, memory enhancers are valid, just alternatives and not fixated on only one specific game.
- Be very physical activity, has recently been shown to stimulate the synapses in the brain. An hour of aerobic exercise per week can lead to produce new neurons in the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for memory.
- The leaves of Ginkgo biloba, a tree so old as to be one of the first living species, improve circulation and the influx of blood and thus also the memory. It might be worth trying, especially considering the fact that the flow of blood is a critical component for the optimal functioning of the brain and memory.
- Relieve aluminum: it has been associated with memory loss and premature senility.
- The nicotine helps the memory, far be it from me, pushing me to smoke, but soon will have a pill with the drug for people with Alzheimer’s, and beyond.