tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26781241835042761152024-03-13T16:21:16.043-07:00Sheffield NeuroGirls - What we REALLY think.We are the three NeuroGirls from University of Sheffield. We want to make neuroscience fun for everyone. We try to relate topical news events to what is really going on inside our heads! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-67817640962493146162015-04-11T21:04:00.002-07:002015-04-11T21:18:06.629-07:00Brain of Thrones: A brains-eye view of your favourite Game of Throne CharactersSuper fans across the globe have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new series of “A Game of Thrones” (adapted from the George RR Martin novels of the same name). The focus of the story is on a civil war in which several noble houses are battling over who should rule the kingdom. Whilst the premise might sound relatively simple to those who’re unfamiliar with the show, in fact it is littered with a wealth of complicated and well-developed characters. The personas range from the stoic and loyal Eddard Stark, through to the manipulative and villainous Joffrey Baratheon, and the witty and intelligent Tyrion Lannister. These multi-dimensional characters can be extreme and vastly different, meaning that their brains may provide a wealth of interesting information about personality development. What drives a person to be sadistic and evil like Joffrey? Why is Eddard devoted almost to the point of naivety? Why is Arya Stark so fiercely independent? This article aims to explore the role of neuroscience in shaping the way in which these characters have developed and how they interact with one another.<br />
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<b>House Stark</b><br />
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<u>Eddard Stark</u><br />
Eddard, fondly referred to as Ned, is the head of House Stark and serves as the Warden of the North from his seat at Winterfell. He is a lifelong friend of Robert Baratheon, ruler of the seven kingdoms, and so obligingly follows Robert’s orders to move to King’s landing and serve him as the King’s Hand. Ned is a devoted husband and father, and a strikingly loyal friend. He has little regard for his own well-being, but will do almost anything to protect the people he loves. For example Ned falsely admits to treason against Joffrey because of his own desires to seize the throne in order to protect his daughters from harm. Ned is an altruistic person, and it is possible that there are underlying differences in his brain structure which result in him acting this way.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Researchers from Georgetown recently studied the brains of kidney donors (altruists) and non-organ donors (control) whilst viewing a range of emotional expressions [1]. Altruists displayed greater neural activity in the right amygdala (a brain region associated with emotion) whilst viewing fearful expressions compared to controls; and further the volume of the right amygdala was larger in altruists. Altruists were also seen to identify expressions of fear quicker than control subjects. Altruists showed clear structural and functional brain differences which made them more sensitive to other people’s distress. Ned may have this increased volume and activity in his right amygdala when interacting with other people, which may explain his tendencies toward loyalty, devotion and protection.<br />
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<u>Arya Stark</u><br />
Arya is the younger daughter of Eddard Stark. She is extremely headstrong and independent, resenting traditional female pursuits and typically preferring to engage in sword-fighting and training her direwolf. Arya is in total contrast to her sister Sansa who is regarded as feminine and cooperative. Arya’s preferences for such typically male-oriented recreations lead to the regular mistaking of her as a boy. She eventually uses this misconception to her advantage in order to escape King’s Landing disguised as ‘Arry, an orphan boy. It is possible that Arya’s tomboy nature can actually be explained by brain differences which developed as a result of higher than normal levels of testosterone present in the womb when her mother Catelyn was pregnant.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Researchers in Washington measured pregnant women’s levels of testosterone and later evaluated the behaviour of their children at age 3.5 [2]. The greater the maternal testosterone level was, then the more likely the girls were to engage in “masculine-typical” gender-role behaviour. As the pregnancy hormones influenced basic processes of brain development in the womb, they were also able to exert permanent influences on later behaviour. These findings have also been replicated in rats and rhesus monkeys who showed male-typical play behaviour as juveniles when exposed to increased testosterone levels when in the womb. It seems likely that Arya’s developing brain was exposed to high levels of testosterone, meaning she prefers wielding her sword ‘needle’ to knitting with Sansa.<br />
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<b>House Lannister</b><br />
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<u>Tyrion Lannister</u><br />
Tyrion is the youngest son of Lord Tywin Lannister and was born a dwarf. To compensate for his small stature and the prejudice he faces Tyrion regularly employs his wit and intellect. An example of Tyrion engaging his wit is during the Battle of Blackwater in which plays an essential role in the defeat of Stannis Baratheon’s forces because of his well-thought out strategies. It is his idea to utilise the power of fire that helps to wipe out a large proportion of the opposition, although he is seldom thanked for his services. It is possible that Tyrion’s intelligence is not only a result of his environment and attempts to curb prejudice, but also because of his brain.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Human intelligence is not confined to a single area of the brain, but is the result of several brain areas working together [3]. A large review of 37 brain imaging studies suggests intelligence is not a result of brain size, but rather how efficiently information travels through the brain. The Parieto-Frontal Integration Theory (P-FIT) suggests that intelligence levels are based on how efficiently the brain areas clustered within the frontal and parietal lobes communicate with one another. Unsurprisingly some of these areas are related to attention, memory and language skills. It seems that whilst Tyrion may be small, his brain is a very efficient and communicative machine.<br />
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<u>Joffrey Baratheon </u><br />
Joffrey claims the Iron Throne to rule over the Seven Kingdoms after his legal father King Robert Baratheon dies. Unbeknownst to some of the characters he is actually the bastard son of Cersei and Jamie Lannister, the product of an incestuous relationship between the pair. Joffrey is known for being sadistic and manipulative, and he particularly delights in tormenting Sansa Stark during their betrothal. A particularly striking example of his torturing of Sansa is when he refuses to show mercy to her father Ned after his betrayal, and orders his beheading, before proceeding to parade the severed head in front of a distressed Sansa. It is possible that Joffrey’s lack of empathy towards the feelings of others actually has a neural basis.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A recent study has shown that when those with psychopathic tendencies are shown images which typically evoke empathy there are weaker connections between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and other parts of the brain including the amygdala as compared to individuals with a psychopath diagnosis [4]. The amygdala is associated with emotion, memory and fear; and interactions between the vmPFC and amygdala are thought to underlie emotional regulation. In Joffrey’s case these two brain regions may not be communicating efficiently, meaning he is less likely to show heightened emotions towards others or appropriate social behaviour. <br />
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<b>House Targaryen</b><br />
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<u>Daenerys Targaryen</u><br />
Daenerys is the sole surviving heir of King Aerys II Targaryen, who was exiled from the Iron Throne by Robert Baratheon. As Daenerys is the last Targaryen she intends to claim the Iron Throne as her birth right. She is often referred to as the “Mother of Dragons” as she is raising three young dragons to aid in her quest to return the Targaryens to the throne. Throughout her quest to build an army she regularly shows compassion, mercy and understanding towards those who need her help. Compassion is defined as having an emotional response when perceiving suffering, and then harbouring a genuine desire to help. She is regularly appalled by the mistreatment of slaves which she witnesses on travels. Eventually she makes her way to Slaver’s Bay where she observes thousands of slaves being horribly abused. Daenerys endeavours to break their chains and then asks them to follow her freely. It is likely that Daenerys’ heightened level of compassion actually stems from inherent differences in her brain.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Research has shown that those trained in compassion showed differing brain activations compared to a control group when viewing images of human suffering. The compassionate group had increased activity in their inferior parietal cortex, which is a region involved with empathy and understanding others. They also showed increased activity in their dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the extent to which is communicated with the nucleus accumbens. These brains are heavily involved in emotion regulation and the experience of positive emotions. It appears that Daenerys’ compassion towards others, particularly when viewing them suffering, is a result of such increased brain activity.<br />
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It seems that Westeros is full strange and interesting characters with complex and beautiful brains. If only the MRI scanner had been developed in this fantastical and primitive realm…<br />
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<b>References</b>:<br />
[1] http://www.georgetown.edu/news/abigail-marsh-brain-altruism-study.html<br />
[2] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/11/021112075626.htm<br />
[3] http://www.livescience.com/1863-theory-intelligence-works.html<br />
[4] http://www.livescience.com/17159-psychopath-brain-abnormalities.html<br />
[5] http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/05/20/0956797612469537.abstractAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-54215583739079107582014-11-05T00:49:00.003-08:002014-11-05T00:52:37.837-08:00How neuroscience can teach children about mental health<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #383838; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.6666679382324px; line-height: 29.3333339691162px; margin-bottom: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
At a recent talk I gave as a Sheffield NeuroGirl, a group of three female PhD students who aim to bring interesting and exciting research on the brain to the public, I carried out a little experiment. I asked everyone to get to their feet and then for everyone who either had, or knew someone with a mental illness to sit back down again. Amazingly, only two people were left standing.</div>
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This is by no means an unusual state of affairs. <a href="http://www.who.int/whr/2001/media_centre/press_release/en/" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">One in four</a> people will experience some kind of mental health problem, including 10% of all children. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds across the globe, with depression <a href="https://theconversation.com/who-suicide-report-shows-we-must-stop-seeing-depression-as-a-disorder-of-developed-world-30846" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">a major risk factor</a>. And a breakdown in a healthy brain is indiscriminate in who it targets: rich, poor, all races and both sexes.</div>
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Yet negative attitudes from the stigma of mental health problems are still very prevalent, and the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2008.tb00491.x/abstract" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">perception of those</a> that seek help for mental ill health is <a href="http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0963823031000118230" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">that they are</a> “crazy”, “weak”, “flawed” or “dangerous”.</div>
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<a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10964-006-9091-0#page-1" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">A 2007 study</a> found that anticipated negative attitudes – from peers, family members and even school staff – were crucial to whether they sought help for mental health problems. So why is there still so little education on the brain and how it works in schools? Lessons could teach children what our brains do and why they might go wrong. If mental health will likely touch us all at some point throughout our lives, can we not begin to understand it earlier?</div>
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If a child breaks their arm, everyone talks about it; from how it was broken, why it hurts, how it will mend, potential complications. No-one bats an eyelid about seeing a cast. However, if a child becomes depressed, there is usually no frank discussion about what might be wrong with their brain and why they could be feeling down. Although there are treatments available, there may be a big gap in explaining the processes happening in the brain.</div>
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Neuroscience, which investigates how the central nervous system and the brain functions in health and in disease, can inform education and reduce stigma. Those of us who study or work in neuroscience are aware of the many problems the brain can face throughout its lifetime.</div>
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We know for, example, that you can’t just “snap out” of deep depression, because many brain imaging studies have shown there are abnormalities in the way that the depressed brain works. <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0032508" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">A study</a> by Andrew Leuchter and colleagues at UCLA used EEG to measure brain signals and found that the limbic region, an area involved in processing emotion, and cortical brain regions such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is involved in the regulation of thinking and action, sent many more messages back and forth in participants suffering from major depressive disorder compared to those with healthy brains.</div>
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Neuroscience can also convey to a child the underlying issue beneath their problem. For example, the role of an area buried deep in the brain called the caudate putamen, which helps to control voluntary movement but is also believed to play a role in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In people with OCD, problems with the caudate putamen can mean an inability to stop worrying or stop having anxious thoughts.</div>
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Although environment and life circumstances play their part in depression, it is also a physical manifestation. And understanding this can help move a narrative from blaming the sufferer for being crazy, or weak, to acknowledging that part of the brain is no longer healthy. Just as you can become sick with a cold, your brain can also become sick. This is an important message that we could teach much more.</div>
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Ignorance about mental health can lead to bullying, prejudice, fear and heartache. It can lead to resistance in those suffering to seek the help and support for those around them, unnecessary fear and worry. For children especially, not understanding mental illness could potentially also lead to guilt that they have somehow caused it.</div>
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A simple programme of education in schools could help to bring about a real change in society. It could help to provide a long-term solution to the problem of ignorance about mental health and bring more discussion about mental illness into the open. While some of this work could be done by people going into schools, a better solution would be to add the brain itself into the national curriculum.</div>
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Originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-neuroscience-can-teach-children-about-mental-health-31713" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-36558020461887556782014-11-05T00:48:00.000-08:002014-11-05T00:52:04.095-08:00Brain scans show who’s likely to trust strangers – something conmen can only dream about<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #383838; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.6666679382324px; line-height: 29.3333339691162px; margin-bottom: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
How do you decide if you can trust someone? Is it based on their handshake, the way they look you in the eye, or perhaps their body language?</div>
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We know that what someone wears has an effect on our trust in them. If you happen to be a doctor, 76% of us will favour you <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002934305003517" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">if you wear the white coat</a>, compared to only 10% if you happen to just pop out in your surgical scrubs. Labels matter too. In one test, four times as many people were willing to stop and answer a survey on one day compared to another. The difference? Whether or not the interviewer had a <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090513810001455" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">designer label on their sweatshirt</a>. But what if you had to decide whether or not to trust someone without knowing the gear they were togged up in? Without knowing anything about them at all?</div>
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When people fall victim to fraud, often it is because they have decided to trust a stranger. In mass-marketing fraud (known widely as the 419 scam or <a href="http://content.met.police.uk/Article/Advance-fee-fraud--paying-money-for-a-promise-of-wealth-419-Fraud/1400010731444/1400010731444" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">advance fee fraud</a>, an unsolicited e-mail contact offers false promises or information designed to con you out of money. You may have already received an e-mail from, for example, a Nigerian prince who desperately needs your bank details in order to move some money out of the country fast. Phishing fraud, where links in carefully crafted, apparently legitimate emails redirect users to a different server, into which they are persuaded to enter usernames, passwords or bank account details, cost the UK <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/feb/27/uk-most-phishing-attacks-worldwide" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">£405.8m in 2012</a>, according to RSA Security.</div>
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But what makes some people laugh and delete immediately, while others are curious enough to find out more?</div>
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Playing games</h2>
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A <a href="http://scan.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/09/30/scan.nsu122.abstract" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">recent study</a> led by <a href="http://www1.uni-frankfurt.de/fb/fb05/psychologie/abteilungen_und_bereiche/allgemeine_psychologie_II/team/Tim/index.html" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">Tim Hahn</a> from Goethe University in Frankfurt examined people’s initial levels of trust when co-operating with an unknown partner.</div>
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Sixty participants were asked to play <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899825685710275" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">the trust game</a>, an extension of an experimental economics game called the dictator game for which the participants were put into pairs. Player one was given an initial amount of hypothetical “money” that they could choose whether or not to gamble with. The gamble was this: they could give their money to the stranger they were paired with, player two, and anything they gave would be tripled. Player two could then choose to give some of this money back to Player one, and again, anything they returned would be tripled – or player two could choose to keep it all.</div>
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In theory then, the more generous you are in the beginning, the richer you could become by the end. To make it more exciting, the players were told that at the end of the trust game, this notional money would be converted into real hard cash.</div>
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As player one, how much would you give away to a complete stranger? Well if you happen to have an electroencephalograph (EEG) handy, you can find out without ever needing to play. An EEG records your brain activity by measuring the electrical pulses generated by the brain’s cells through a series of electrodes placed on your scalp. In this study, the researchers found that they could predict the amount of money the initial player would trust to the stranger purely based on the activity recorded by the EEG.</div>
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A state of trust</h2>
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But what makes this finding even more interesting is that the EEG recording was taken several minutes before the trust game began. At this point, the staff running the experiment had not asked the participants to think about the game of trust. What the EEG recorded was the resting state of the participants' brains when not involved in tasks – relatively calm – rather than the heightened activity associated with performing mental or physical tasks.</div>
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Resting state brain activity is thought to be <a href="http://www.brainm.com/software/pubs/dg/Hubs-Networks/van%20den%20Heuval%20Functionally%20Linked%20Networks%20of%20the%20Brain.pdf" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">relatively stable over time</a>. So the fact that the experimenters were able to predict the investment that player one would make to the stranger, player two, was purely based on this resting state activity. And it shows that initial levels of trust may be determined by an underlying pattern of brain activity.</div>
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So, returning to those who have unfortunately answered our Nigerian prince, or foreign businessman, or even opened the door to a man “from the electricity board”, what this study perhaps indicates is that, regardless of the contents of the email or how convincing the con is, we are already subject to an unconscious bias as to whether or not we will trust that stranger.</div>
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Not only are some of us physically more inclined to trust strangers than others, but that susceptibility can be determined by any unscrupulous character who happens to have an EEG scanner to hand.<br />
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Originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com/brain-scans-show-whos-likely-to-trust-strangers-something-conmen-can-only-dream-about-32767" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-46328067028370565432014-11-05T00:46:00.002-08:002014-11-05T00:51:24.191-08:00Why losing weight is hard – but not impossible<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #383838; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.6666679382324px; line-height: 29.3333339691162px; margin-bottom: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Seeing pictures of preened celebrities, or even slimmer friends, makes many wish that their arms were that little bit thinner or abs more tightly toned. Most of us have an existing desire to be a normal healthy weight, but not everyone seems able to achieve this goal.</div>
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A government report on obesity, recently <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/reducing-obesity-and-improving-diet" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">published by the Department of Health</a>, states that in England most people can be classified as being overweight or obese – 61.9% of adults and 28% of children currently have an unhealthy body mass index (BMI). The government is calling these increasing national obesity levels an “epidemic”, issuing policy changes at an individual, group and societal level. But just how is it that the nation is getting so much rounder?</div>
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Addicted to calories</h2>
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Take a trip to your local supermarket and you will instantly be overwhelmed with the abundance of highly-processed junk food which lines the shelves. This widespread availability of unhealthy treats means there is a constant temptation to overindulge.</div>
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This contemporary taste for junk food is not exactly a modern phenomenon, and can be traced back two million years. Our ancestors, the first in the <em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 16.6666679382324px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Homo</em> genus, developed a taste for high-calorie foods in order to satisfy the energy demands of their burgeoning brains. The 21st-century person has retained these fatty-food cravings, as well as the highly developed large brain. While resisting these high-calorie temptations may fall to the individual, some people may show more addictive behaviours than others.</div>
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<figure class="align-center" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #383838; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.6666679382324px; line-height: 29.3333339691162px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/61280/width668/59kz999h-1412860608.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 16.6666679382324px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 667.986145019531px;" /><figcaption style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="caption" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 11.1111116409302px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Too tempting to not have it all.</span> <span class="attribution" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #cccccc; font-size: 11.1111116409302px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ChameleonsEye</span></figcaption></figure><br />
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The brain’s limbic system is responsible for falling to these temptations. The limbic system is made up of a collection of brain structures, including the <a href="http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_04/i_04_cr/i_04_cr_peu/i_04_cr_peu.html" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">amygdala</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-happens-in-the-hippocampus-32589" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">hippocampus</a> and <a href="http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_03/i_03_cr/i_03_cr_par/i_03_cr_par.html" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">nucleus accumbens</a>. It rewards us for performing behaviours which aid our survival, like eating or exercising, through the release of the chemical dopamine.</div>
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Dopamine makes you feel happy and positive, meaning we are much more likely to repeat the behaviour which led to its release. Engaging with recreational drugs can initially cause the brain to release much higher levels of dopamine than normal. In those with a well-developed substance-dependency, the brain lowers the levels of naturally produced dopamine in an attempt to regain some chemical balance. This leads to a vicious cycle of addiction in which the addict needs more of the substance just to achieve normal levels of dopamine.</div>
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Scientists have begun to apply what they know about the brain and addiction to study the relationship between overweight individuals and overeating. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23803881" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">Research</a> done by the Harvard Medical School found that processed food with a high glycemic index led to increased activations in the nucleus accumbens of overweight participants.</div>
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As part of the limbic reward system, the nucleus accumbens has been linked with chronic drug use and addiction. These findings provide some support for the possibility of real physical addiction to food and overeating. Eating sugary, fatty foods which you enjoy may lead to the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, motivating you to repeat these particular eating patterns.</div>
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Negative attitudes to weight gain</h2>
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It is the hope that such research may aid the government and the individual in their mission to tackle that pesky inflated BMI. Perhaps if we understand more about influencing factors on chronic overeating, we can better target effective treatment avenues.</div>
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That, though, hasn’t stopped people with negative attitudes. Recently, a former Apprentice contestant Katie Hopkins <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/25/katie-hopkins-apprentice-fat-shaming" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">came under fire</a> for “fat-shaming”. She is working on a documentary for American TV in which, having gained about 25kg earlier this year, she is hoping to show how easy it is to lose weight.</div>
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Hopkins and many others place the blame of obesity on idleness, a negative attitude which can be damaging and counterproductive. Shaming people is never a useful way to bring about change. In fact, these sorts of attitudes can <a href="http://hsb.sagepub.com/content/46/3/244.short" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">prove more detrimental</a> in the quest for weight loss.</div>
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It’s not just about fat</h2>
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In some cases these negative beliefs about oneself can lead to a lowered self-esteem, a lack of confidence and even depressive episodes. As with most addictions, depression and depressive thoughts are much more common among the overweight population. The label of “depression” however can attract more unwanted stigma and criticism, despite the fact that <a href="http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/fundamental-facts/" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">one in four people</a> a year will experience some kind of mental health problem.</div>
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Mental health issues are physical problems which a person cannot just ignore or snap out of. Mental illness <a href="ttp://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">cause</a> physiological changes to the brain. The “feel-good” chemical serotonin is diminished in the depressed brain, leading to intense sadness and a low mood.</div>
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Drug treatments for depression aim to increase the levels of serotonin in the brain. However, it is a more complex picture than a simple chemical imbalance. If we look at the brain of a depressed person, there are certain structures which are smaller than average and have fewer neural connections. The hippocampus in particular is affected, the area associated with controlling memory. There is also increased activity in certain regions of the brain, for instance the amygdala, which has been linked with the experience of emotions.</div>
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The hippocampus has a critical role in the processing of long-term memory and memory recollection. Increased exposure to the stress hormone cortisol during episodes of depression can <a href="http://paincenter.wustl.edu/c/BasicResearch/documents/Shelinebiopsy2000.pdf" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">impair</a> the growth of nerve cells in this region of the brain, leading to a significantly smaller hippocampus.</div>
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The amygdala is another part of the limbic system, and is comprised of a group of structures in the brain which are associated with emotions such as anger, pleasure and fear. Activity in the amygdala is higher when a person is sad or clinically depressed. This increased activity means that a depressed person may feel the emotion of sadness more strongly and consistently.</div>
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Tailoring treatments</h2>
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In light of the physiological changes which can occur in the brain of the overweight individual, it seems some acknowledgement is in order. Losing weight is not easy. It isn’t as simple as “eat less” or “stop being lazy”. What is required is some sensitivity, some patience and better treatment options. Most people know from experience that eating less or more healthily is hard. If you decided to lose weight, you must first motivate yourself to overcome negative mood or lowered self-esteem, and then overcome the addiction to the food.</div>
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It is not all doom and gloom. While losing weight is difficult, it isn’t impossible. It may be possible to train your brain to prefer healthier food. In a recent <a href="http://www.nature.com/nutd/journal/v4/n9/full/nutd201426a.html" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">study</a>, a group of overweight individuals were enrolled on a weight-loss programme designed by researchers, in which they were given portion-controlled menus and recipe plans. Brain scans were taken of the individuals enrolled in the programme and compared to overweight people in a group that didn’t participate in the programme.</div>
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When presented with images of low-calorie food, those in the weight-loss condition showed significantly more activity in the reward centres of the brain. The programme was successfully able to reverse the addictive power of unhealthy foods.</div>
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Addiction can also be targeted through behavioural treatments. In more difficult cases cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) may be useful to help patients recognise, avoid and cope with situations in which they are most likely to over-indulge. However, an excellent, fun and successful alternative to CBT could be to join a local weight loss group. Weight loss groups provide social support, proven to be an <a href="http://www.apa.org/monitor/jan04/teaming.aspx" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">effective and economical tool</a> in tackling obesity. Group support and discussion provides the opportunity to share diet and exercise tips, receive encouragement and set realistic weight-loss goals.</div>
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Education about the plight of weight loss is essential. Words of judgement may be better replaced with words of encouragement. There are obstacles which stand in the way of weight loss, but by learning about these obstacles we are better equipped to tackle them.</div>
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Originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-losing-weight-is-hard-but-not-impossible-32229" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-11015456515809269362014-11-05T00:45:00.003-08:002014-11-05T00:50:55.367-08:00How your brain decides who to make friends with when you start university<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #383838; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.6666679382324px; line-height: 29.3333339691162px; margin-bottom: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Every year there are many nervous people across the country ready to embark upon a new chapter in life: university. For many young people going to university means moving away from home for the first time. Relinquishing the comfort blanket of the friendship group you’ve formed throughout your school years and heading out into the big bad world on your own.</div>
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I remember my first day moving into student halls of residence. I had a fleeting moment as the door closed behind my parents in which I felt timid and alone. This quickly passed when I heard a rapping on my bedroom door and four friendly faces greeted me. With a matter of minutes to collect my thoughts, I was introduced to the people who would be my friends for the next three years and beyond.</div>
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Human beings are intensely social creatures. This social cohesion lies at the heart of our success as a species. We have evolved, much like primates, to find acceptance and belonging in social groups <a href="http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2096892?uid=3738032&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21104686379377" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">so we may pass on our genetic material</a> to future generations. Humans have been seeking inter-group acceptance for millions of years and this emphasis on social alliances throughout our evolutionary history has helped to shape our brains.</div>
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First impressions matter</h2>
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A 2009 study sought to investigate the <a href="http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v12/n4/full/nn.2278.html" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">brain mechanisms behind first impressions</a>. They found activity in the brain involving ancient neural circuits – the amygdala and posterior cingulate cortex – which have evolved to help us make snap decisions about people. The amygdala has been linked with emotional regulation, and the posterior cingulate cortex is active when assigning value to situations.</div>
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With the help of these two brain regions, we really do form our first impressions well within 30 seconds of meeting. You’ll make your conclusions about the person you sit next to on the first day of lectures almost immediately.</div>
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Who to make friends with</h2>
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So your brain is designed to help you quickly target desirable friendships, but how exactly do we form social groups?</div>
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Humans have an innate drive to gravitate towards others. This desire is so strong in fact, that social groups can be formed for arbitrary reasons. <a href="http://dtserv2.compsy.uni-jena.de/__C1257B41003BBFE2.nsf/0/645311AE2DAD10EFC1257B49004183D0/%24FILE/Tajfel%201971%20MGP.pdf" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">Experiments conducted at Bristol University</a> in the 1970s split strangers into two groups based on which one of two paintings they preferred. The participants didn’t meet each other, but were asked to distribute virtual money to members of both groups.</div>
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Despite no contact, the participants favoured members of their own group. Why did this happen when they had nothing to gain through favouritism? In short, people form their own identities based on which groups they belong to socially. By favouring their own, this meant their group had a higher status.</div>
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The simple fact is this: group membership is important to us as human beings. Our brains have actually developed to drive us to seek social interaction, and we can gain real physiological pleasure from the formation of social groups.</div>
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Search for social acceptance</h2>
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An area of the brain called the ventral tegmental area has been implicated in facilitating such social interactions. Karl Deisseroth’s team at Stanford University <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v493/n7433/full/nature11713.html" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">has recently shown</a> that by increasing activity in this area of the brain, subjects are more inclined to engage in social behaviours and to approach newcomers.</div>
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Specifically, they used a technique called <a href="https://theconversation.com/fake-memory-implanted-in-mice-with-a-beam-of-light-16292" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">optogenetics</a>, in which light was used to stimulate neuronal populations in this brain circuit in mice. Stimulating the ventral tegmental area led to an increase in social interactions, whereas inhibiting activity led to a decrease in social interactions.</div>
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The ventral tegmental area is a part of our brain’s reward system. It communicates with other brain regions through the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is responsible for feelings of pleasure. This pleasurable feeling we enjoy when conversing with people at the student union bar isn’t just attributable to that second pint of cider and black, but is motivation from your brain to pursue social acceptance.</div>
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So we know that it is a profound aspect of human nature to seek group membership and approval. Moving to university will provide you with ample opportunity to form new social circles. Perhaps it’ll be your neighbours, your course mates, or even a fellow society member. But are there certain circumstances in which we’ll favour joining one group over another?</div>
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The closer, the better</h2>
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<a href="http://www.psychologyconcepts.com/propinquity-effect/" style="color: #557585; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">One study sought to examine</a> the choice of friends among university students living in the same apartment block. This research showed that the formation of social ties was predicted by the physical and functional proximity between where the students lived. Put simply, people befriended their direct neighbours.</div>
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This effect was stronger than friendships forming between two people with similar beliefs or interests. It seems convenience is best when making friends. So those who have rooms near yours or who you see every day in lectures will likely be the people you bond with.</div>
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While moving to university for the first time can be a daunting prospect, remember the human brain has been dealing with social pressures for many years. University is a time when you will meet lots of friendly faces from a variety of backgrounds. Trust in your brain, and you’ll navigate these daunting social scenarios like a pro.</div>
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Originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-your-brain-decides-who-to-make-friends-with-when-you-start-university-32306" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-11963169211890083262014-11-05T00:44:00.000-08:002014-11-05T00:50:21.620-08:00Scared out your mind: Halloween, fear and the brain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Children and adults alike are digging out those spooky costumes ready for a celebration. We’ve reached that time of year again: Halloween. October 31 is dedicated to remembering the dead.</span></div>
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We’ve all experienced fear, but Halloween is the particular time of year when we look for that rush that usually accompanies feeling scared. Are you in need of a “scare-specialist” for this year’s Halloween celebrations? Then you need not look further than your very own brain.</div>
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Perhaps you’ll be spending Halloween watching A Nightmare on Elm Street with your hands over your eyes? Or maybe you’d rather wander around a haunted house waiting for ghouls and critters to pop out of unseen annexes? Whatever your tastes may be, when faced with such spine-tingling situations your brain enters into fight-or-flight mode. This mode is a primitive survival mechanism in which your body undergoes a stress response to a perceived threat in your surrounding environment.</div>
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<strong>Mental threat</strong></div>
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While this reaction originally developed to help our ancestors circumvent predators in a world filled with danger, it is more common today for us to experience such feelings in response to mental threats. Mental threats are threats which are unlikely to harm us physically, but those which are more likely to cause some psychological distress.</div>
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The fight-or-flight response is handled by your amygdala – the part of your brain involved in the experience of emotion. This ancient brain system is an integral part of fear processing, but it is unable to distinguish between a physical or a mental threat. So while sweaty palms and anxiety may make more sense in the presence of a hungry bear, they also manifest in undesirable scenarios such as during job interviews or scary films.</div>
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There is plenty of evidence to support the involvement of the amygdala with fear processing. Impressively, when this brain region <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/com/81/2/281/" style="color: #666666;">was completely removed in rats</a> they no longer displayed fearful or avoidance behaviours towards their sworn mortal enemy – the cat.</div>
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So when that creepy atmospheric music in your horror movie starts to get louder and louder, and the sudden appearance of the masked murderer makes you jump, this will act as a stimulus which will trigger a signal in your amygdala. In response to a perceived threat, it releases a brain chemical called glutamate, which acts on two other regions of your brain. The first signal is sent deep into the base of the brain, into an area called the mid-brain, which we have little control over. This makes us freeze or involuntarily jump, which isn’t great if you’ve got a box of popcorn in your lap.</div>
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The second signal is sent to the hypothalamus, a section of the brain responsible for producing hormones. The hypothalamus <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/content/270/5236/644.short" style="color: #666666;">triggers our autonomic nervous system</a> – which is how our fight or flight instinct starts to kick in. The heart rate and blood pressure go up, and adrenaline and dopamine (the brain’s “reward hormone”) are pumped throughout the body. This helps our bodies to prepare for deadly combat or for the run of our lives, and it is why you feel such a rush whenever you’re scared.</div>
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<strong>Why some people like it</strong></div>
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Some people actually enjoy these experiences of fear and the accompanying rush more than others. Perhaps you’re one of those individuals who watches terrifying films throughout the year or seeks out extreme sports or risky activities.</div>
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There is emerging evidence that our underlying brain chemistry may also be responsible for individual differences in the enjoyment of being afraid. David Zald and colleagues from Vanderbilt University showed that <a href="http://www.vanderbilt.edu/psychological_sciences/bio/david-zald" style="color: #666666;">people differed in their chemical responses</a> to thrilling situations.</div>
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We know that dopamine is released in response to scary and thrilling situations, but in those who reported enjoying such terrifying situations, their brain lacks a “brake” on the dopamine release and re-uptake in the brain. This means that they experience more pleasure and reward in spooky or risky situations from even higher levels of dopamine in the brain. While some of you may cower at the mere mention of Freddy Krueger, others will feel the bubbles of excitement beginning to brew.</div>
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So if you get your kicks from ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night, this is probably why.</div>
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<em>Kira Shaw is one of the Sheffield NeuroGirls @Shef_NeuroGirls</em></div>
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This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com/" style="color: #666666;">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="http://theconversation.com/scared-out-of-your-mind-halloween-fear-and-the-brain-33261" style="color: #666666;">original article</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-30029534921407316472014-08-27T12:57:00.003-07:002014-08-27T13:18:44.938-07:00Why I believe there should be mental health education in schools<div class="MsoNormal">
by NeuroGirl Rebecca<o:p></o:p></div>
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Recently, I was asked
to give a talk at a University of Sheffield summer conference on public
engagement as part of my work as a Sheffield NeuroGirl. </div>
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I began my talk by asking everyone to get to their feet.
With some muttered confusion, everyone did as they were asked (I still love how
that works!). I then asked anyone who either had, or knew someone with a mental
illness to sit back down again. Amazingly, only two people were left
standing. This is by no means an unusual
state of affairs. <a href="http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/mental-health-statistics/">We know that one in four people will experience some kind ofmental health problem in this year alone including 10% of all children.</a> A
breakdown in a healthy brain is also indiscriminate in who it targets too,
mental health problems can affect rich and poor, all races and both sexes. The
sad case of the recent suicide of Robin Williams shows that even celebrities,
who have tangible proof of how their lives touch so many and give much joy, can
take their own life when struggling with ill mental health. </div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07sfmahyoIXh3OqJ0iQyKkJj-vfSEtkwDdxjtYtEdykoFkal1rUIaXT77Y99jWdRjyPZy0rmhuIGp1thRsbJNlXrBYao7uJU6m7l_18gnTeeyYRih2tajeOavB5zaU_PnklNKlKhLi-ub/s1600/blog+pic+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07sfmahyoIXh3OqJ0iQyKkJj-vfSEtkwDdxjtYtEdykoFkal1rUIaXT77Y99jWdRjyPZy0rmhuIGp1thRsbJNlXrBYao7uJU6m7l_18gnTeeyYRih2tajeOavB5zaU_PnklNKlKhLi-ub/s1600/blog+pic+3.jpg" /></a>Why then, is there still so little education on the brain
and how it works in schools? Why are there not lessons that teach children what
our brains do and why they might go wrong? Surely, if mental health is going to
be an issue that will touch us all at some point throughout our lives it
behoves the government to educate the future generations that will have to deal
with this on this problem? That way, they will have the
best chance and the best tools for being able to cope with the issues they will
almost certainly face. As a
neuroscientist, I’m only too aware of all the problems a brain can face
throughout its lifetime, but along with that awareness comes a sense of
normality about mental ill health. I <i>know</i>
that depression could be caused by a deficit in a neurotransmitter called
serotonin. I <i>know</i> that problems with
an area of the brain called the caudate putamen can cause OCD. I also know that
these failures are biological failures that can be caused by a wide variety of
factors, psychological and physical. But the main point is, many people and
many children do not know. Believe it or not, some people still believe that
ill mental health is a punishment from God. Or that if ‘they’ just tried hard
enough, ‘they’ could snap out of it. And ignorance about mental health can lead
to bullying, prejudice, fear and heartache. It can lead to resistance in those
suffering to seek the help that can be given and to those around the sufferer
feeling scared and worried about talking about the problems that they see. <!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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A simple program of education in schools could help to bring
about a real change in society. It could help to provide a long term solution
to the problem of ignorance about mental health. I will continue to go into
local schools and talk to children about the brain and mental health but unless
I can crack time travel once and for all, a better national solution is
required. It’s time for the brain itself
to go on the curriculum.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Find out more about the Sheffield NeuroGirls by visiting our website:<br />
<a href="http://www.sheffieldneurogirls.com/" target="_blank">www.sheffieldneurogirls.com</a><br />
<br />
or following us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Shef_NeuroGirls" target="_blank">@Shef_NeuroGirls</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-61805883359440501322014-08-22T04:40:00.002-07:002014-08-22T04:41:49.868-07:00The Ice Bucket Challenge: Just The Cold Water Therapy We Needed<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>What is it about this charity stunt that has gotten everyone from
billionaires to pop stars and even a former president wanting to get drenched
by a bucket of freezing water? This blog discusses the challenge, the charity,
and how it can be good for your brain. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>The Ice Bucket
Challenge<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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What could possibly be the link between
George W Bush, Justin Bieber, David Beckham and Oprah Winfrey? These are just
some of the high profile faces that have gotten their cameras at the ready and taken
time out of their busy schedules to take on the ice bucket challenge. This
daring feat was pioneered by the late Corey Griffin who created this innovative
way to raise money after discovering his friend had been diagnosed with amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS). What started off as an ordinary fund raising idea has taken
social media by storm. Now hundreds, if not thousands, have been inspired to
dump a bucket of cold water over their heads and donate some of their hard
earned cash to this charitable cause. So far the trend has resulted in £25.2
million ($41.8m) being raised: proof of the power and influence of social media
and celebrity. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlUHioPvxBen3rTMeJumOY3qTlLiRzjdRB9XTI_wovLC-gCnqWy7Yq1XAV_L3VQTPjqmwvoh8uWOyDtguA50SyZMCz6Y8jqIstQ1dQAraFH9EUw_oDZ7Q7YWYDuv03NBKAzxVy7PfRwtg/s1600/db.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlUHioPvxBen3rTMeJumOY3qTlLiRzjdRB9XTI_wovLC-gCnqWy7Yq1XAV_L3VQTPjqmwvoh8uWOyDtguA50SyZMCz6Y8jqIstQ1dQAraFH9EUw_oDZ7Q7YWYDuv03NBKAzxVy7PfRwtg/s1600/db.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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What is it about this charity
that has inspired so many people to subject themselves to an ice cold
drenching? ALS (also referred to as motor neuron or Lou Gehrig’s disease) is a
neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal
cord. Approximately one person per 50,000 people have been diagnosed with ALS,
meaning 30,000 people living in America alone may have the disease at any given
time. ALS affects a type of neuron called the ‘motor neuron’, which connects
the central nervous system to our muscles. Progressive degeneration of these motor
neurons eventually leads to neuron death. Following this neuronal death, the
ability for the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. The
exact cause of ALS is still not completely known. ALS, like any other
neurodegenerative disease, affects many people lives. Donating money to this
cause helps to fund research which is crucial to exploring new treatment avenues.
It is clear that this charity is a very worthy cause; however this trend has
also left us wondering how such a simple idea can achieve such a high profile
within such a short amount of time. What is it about following the latest fad
that resonates with so many people? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Why do we follow
the latest trends?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Perhaps it’s because we would
like to know that our celebrities are just like us. Celebrities are talented
individuals who are accomplished in their particular field. Usually these
accomplishments result in thousands of adoring fans who are able to follow
their every move on social media outlets such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The growing popularity of social media means fans are now given an inside view
into the previously mysterious private lives of their favourite star. What is
it about our minds that fuel this desire to find out what your favourite
celebrity has had for breakfast every morning? Why do we gain pleasure from
knowing these peculiar tit-bits? And what do we really gain from having this
knowledge? Maybe by emulating our favourite celeb we can feel closer to them
and we might inherit some of their good fortune. The latest trend in celeb
land: the ice bucket challenge! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2kn-fwwD1Bs9wk5_-oS3cyHTxh9Zc0Y6aQGEp6e25YMkjXIJqJ7TP_NaJAEOBJDle2aQEEvXKvDxIkak7NUqjQ-LKhA3PIx2NWhL1T-e1jnBMFEZ3YXD1DTJ_JJImhPUHhaPzBYyFVJR/s1600/vta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2kn-fwwD1Bs9wk5_-oS3cyHTxh9Zc0Y6aQGEp6e25YMkjXIJqJ7TP_NaJAEOBJDle2aQEEvXKvDxIkak7NUqjQ-LKhA3PIx2NWhL1T-e1jnBMFEZ3YXD1DTJ_JJImhPUHhaPzBYyFVJR/s1600/vta.jpg" height="206" width="320" /></a></div>
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Humans are social beings who
enjoy interaction at many different levels and in many different ways; whether
that be by sending a text, meeting up for a coffee, or by reading about David
Beckham in a magazine. The reason humans gain such pleasure from social
interaction is because of the reward pathway set up in our brains. Social
interaction has been linked to an area of the brain called the ventral
tegmental area (VTA), which is located in the brain stem. This area is where
dopamine is created. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter linked with natural reward
and feeling happy. This means that whenever we experience a positive social
interaction our brain is flushed with dopamine. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>So remember if you do decide to take on the ice bucket challenge, know
that you’ll be activating your VTA and getting that vital dopamine hit! Get
closer to your favourite celeb, donate to a great cause, and get those buckets
out. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Read more about ALS by
following this link: <a href="http://www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html">http://www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-22710273403973745952014-07-16T09:59:00.003-07:002014-08-22T04:42:36.737-07:00"The One With All The Brains" - A Brain's-Eye View of the Friends Characters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYn8iZaMjg1tHvR44mtKuTVyC9BLJx7hltUl5OZrAEAY66hlTdoSsrQMneZQWfZ_2C1Diozfo4fYRqf6hmPkmH4ag7UYWIBYA_8YZrwjPb4TMDp5ueH31F4soHzMw-yOp4zajtkSX79y3/s1600/friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYn8iZaMjg1tHvR44mtKuTVyC9BLJx7hltUl5OZrAEAY66hlTdoSsrQMneZQWfZ_2C1Diozfo4fYRqf6hmPkmH4ag7UYWIBYA_8YZrwjPb4TMDp5ueH31F4soHzMw-yOp4zajtkSX79y3/s1600/friends.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Boys</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Joey Tribbiani</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“Speak First, Think Later”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are many examples of Joey behaving impulsively and “without thinking” throughout the series. Joey is a very lovable and loyal character, although he is portrayed as rather dim-witted and unintelligent. <span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">He often behaves</span> </span>with no reservations, ignoring typical social conventions and just reacting impulsively. The classic example is “Joey doesn’t share food!” Joey goes on a dinner date with one of Phoebe’s friends, who reaches to take some of his meal; ignoring social standards which demand we remain polite, Joey proceeds to shout at his date for “trying to take food off his plate”.</div>
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Joey may naturally react more impulsively than other people as his brain may have to work harder to rein in his inappropriate behaviour. This reputation for speaking before thinking and poor decision-making is often attributed to immaturity, however there is also a neural explanation for Joey’s lack of impulse control. He may have reduced activity in his ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). The vmPFC is involved in the top-down control of behaviour, meaning it can act as a brake to stop a person acting on their rapid initial thoughts, allowing them to behave in a more socially appropriate manner. If a person has reduced activity in this area of the brain, then they’re unable to “turn on the brake” to stop themselves behaving in line with their first instinct, meaning they can act impulsively and without thinking.</div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ross Geller</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“The Romantic”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Three marriages and counting… Ross is an optimist and a perpetual romantic. He is the smartest of the group, and is also known for his misfortune in the dating department. Ross goes through a series of doomed relationships throughout the show: divorcing his first wife when she reveals she is a lesbian and has had an affair with another woman; sabotaging his love-affair with Rachel over the confusion surrounding their decision to “take a break”; and humiliating Emily when he refers to her as “Rachel” during their wedding vows. Ross is a serial monogamist, and flits through romantic relationship after romantic relationship, constantly searching for “the one”.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is possible that Ross has this obsession with love and finding his ideal match because he has certain brain differences which lead him to behave this way. Romantic love can affect the brain in the same way as drugs, targeting the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is involved in the reward pathway of the brain. In this sense, perhaps love is as addictive as drug taking, and Ross has an addictive personality? It is also possible that Ross has reduced activity in his amygdala, an area of the brain associated with fear and aversive learning. If activity in this area is diminished, then Ross will not be able to learn from his past mistakes. Consequently, he will continue to make the same errors in his romantic relationships over and over again.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Chandler Bing</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“Could he BE anymore sarcastic!?”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Chandler prides himself on his good sense of humour, and he is well known for his sarcasm. He is frequently the friend cracking jokes and mocking others. The show is filled with hundreds of classic examples of Chandler being sarcastic. In Series 3 (“The One with All the Football”) Joey chastises Chandler for “never wanting to do anything” since he and Janice broke up, and Chandler is quick to quip “I wanted to wear my bathrobe and eat peanut clusters all day. I wanted to start drinking in the morning. Don’t say that I don’t have goals!”</div>
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Chandler is funny, intelligent and witty, all traits which compliment his sarcastic nature. However, there is also a neural explanation behind Chandler’s passion for sarcastic humour. This can be attributed to increased activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). The language areas which are located on the left side of the brain are equipped to interpret the literal meaning of words; however it is the vmPFC which is involved when understanding the social and emotional context behind words and phrases. This means that someone with increased activity in their vmPFC may be much more attuned to sarcasm, as they are able to distinguish easily between the literal and intended meanings of sentences.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Girls</span></b><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rachel Green</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“The Egotistical One”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rachel has a passion for clothes, accessories and make-up. This focus on vanity often comes at the expense of the development of her domestic skills and her general knowledge. Particularly in the early series, Rachel is portrayed as a spoilt daddy’s girl, who is substantially self-centred. One example which highlights Rachel’s vanity is the storyline surrounding the plastic surgery she had on her nose for a supposed ‘deviated septum’. In the flashback episodes Rachel can be seen sporting a much larger nose; and following the birth of her daughter, her sister Amy even asked her “Do you ever worry that Emma’s going to get your real nose?” Whilst Rachel does develop throughout the later series into a much more likeable and caring character, she perpetually remains concerned with fashion and looking good.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is possible that Rachel has an innate drive to be concerned with her appearance due to certain structural abnormalities in a region of the brain previously linked with feelings of empathy. Rachel may have less grey matter in her left anterior insula, as a reduction in the number of brain cells in this area have been found in individuals with narcissistic personalities. The insula is known to influence emotion regulation and the control of social emotions. This reduced activity in the left anterior insula may therefore lead Rachel to experience feelings of low self-esteem and inferiority, whilst also displaying the traits of arrogance and vanity.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Monica Geller</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“The Clean Freak”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Monica is the mother-hen of the group. She is a neat-freak who loves to clean and organise her belongings. Her obsessive cleanliness becomes more exaggerated throughout the series, for instance in the episode “The One with the Embryos” Monica decides to stack her towels into eleven categories (including “Everyday use”, “Fancy”, “Guest”, and “Fancy Guest”). Monica becomes so manic over her cleaning rituals in fact, that she even fantasises about cleaning her cleaning supplies – using a smaller vacuum to clean her regular-sized vacuum.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It’s possible that Monica suffers from a form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, which can again be attributed to certain functional brain differences. A person who suffers from OCD becomes trapped in a cycle of repetitive thoughts and behaviours. Obsessive thoughts can include the ever-present fear of germs, and compulsive behaviours may include the rituals employed to tackle these fears, like excessive cleaning. It is likely that Monica has increased activity levels in her anterior cingulate, nucleus caudate, and orbital frontal cortex. These three regions work alongside the thalamus to create a “worry circuit”. This means that these areas are responsible for detecting threats in our environment (e.g. “germs”) and sending a worry signal to the thalamus. Once this worry signal has been sent typically a “brake” will be applied to stop the worry re-circulating. In OCD this “brake” does not work efficiently, and the worry signal will continue to fire repeatedly, meaning the person is continually aware of the external threat.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Phoebe Buffay</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“The Musician”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Phoebe is the kooky, eccentric friend. She is passionate about animals, her friends, and art. Music is one of her great loves, and she can often be spotted singing and/or playing her guitar. One of Phoebe’s more popular songs is “Smelly Cat”, which she regularly performs at Central Perk. The song is about a lonely cat shunned from society due to its stench (“smelly cat, smelly cat, what are they feeding you?”) Phoebe’s penchant for music can be explained by her ‘musical brain’.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The brain structure between musicians and non-musicians is distinctly different. It is likely that Phoebe has more grey matter volume in her motor, auditory, and visual-spatial brain regions. This means that through all her repetitive rehearsals in which she practised the guitar and her vocal scales, Phoebe was physically able to change the structure of her brain. Her motor cortex will thus be more adept to perform the fine motor skills needed to form chords and strum on the strings; her auditory cortex will be more attuned to hear harmonious musical notes; and her visual-spatial regions will allow Phoebe to integrate all her musical skills together to sing and play the guitar concurrently. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-90684943099969744712014-04-21T12:11:00.000-07:002014-08-22T04:43:11.002-07:00Heckles, Dolphins and Quizzes - The NeuroGirls venture into community schools<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I’ll admit it, of all the things I thought might happen
during my illustrious and highly glamorous career as a neuroscience PhD
student, being heckled by a thirteen year old shouting “GABA”, was not on my
list. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
It all began when bright eyed and bushy tailed in my first
year, I turned to the other girls in my office. “Hey! They want speakers for
schools, maybe we should do a brain talk together?” The other girls agreed and
the NeuroGirls were born. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Our first talk that first year was dreadful in a
feeling-sick, scared-of-thousands-of-tiny-possibly-mean-children kind of way.
We narrowly escaped the teachers ditching us with the children and skiving off
for a cup of tea and a natter with the librarian! Although we’d had some
training and were covered by <a href="http://www.stemnet.org.uk/topboxes/stem-ambassadors/">STEM ambassador</a> insurance, we explained that as we were not trained teachers we therefore
should not be left alone with the many many (ok probably about 30)
kiddies… <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq47MhR_2qgtINCEOQ_nTQRfxm4kagtqtCfO4RqOKnBkg2m5djRB4Xkfobs4NGH7Q96xZYwfX54aPxolU3y1R7Q2OQ_8b7DRd-7DVb2bxVG_8A5CDnfopVnqh4wrOPBQ50S9Q0N1O8ebrk/s1600/dolphin+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq47MhR_2qgtINCEOQ_nTQRfxm4kagtqtCfO4RqOKnBkg2m5djRB4Xkfobs4NGH7Q96xZYwfX54aPxolU3y1R7Q2OQ_8b7DRd-7DVb2bxVG_8A5CDnfopVnqh4wrOPBQ50S9Q0N1O8ebrk/s1600/dolphin+fire.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #646464; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 10px;">Credit: </span></i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2678124183504276115" style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #647cd4; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 10px;">Robert Harding Picture Library</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #646464; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 10px;"> </span></i></span><i style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #646464; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 10px;">/ SuperStock<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That first moment before you launch into your talk is scary
no matter what you are speaking about and who you are speaking to. We had a sea
of bright young faces, mostly looking interested and ready to be entertained! I
gulped, wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans and launched forth about the
mysteries of the wonderful cerebellum and why exactly it enabled David Beckham
to score all his goals and allowed dolphins to jump through hoops of burning
fire. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #646464; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The kiddies were entranced. Ok, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY9GBl7UmVs">squirrel video</a> might have helped. But having enthusiasm for your subject helps bucket loads too. This year, we
set ourselves a tougher goal. Seven talks instead of four. Year 9-11s instead
of lovely year 7s. Gulp.</div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2S1_ovC3MvSrSFZFjh-7Dr4NrXdesvYii0u6Ke1DFO2vQyQ3HBwWWzwcrLsIfGwnY7WmrvR_CpHhnghLme7Qtro5CRa2aku-W-fOSQ-YWC7ZwIR-HgP2lReuaW7JdBpYYXJu3B5LZgyk/s1600/neurogirlspost.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2S1_ovC3MvSrSFZFjh-7Dr4NrXdesvYii0u6Ke1DFO2vQyQ3HBwWWzwcrLsIfGwnY7WmrvR_CpHhnghLme7Qtro5CRa2aku-W-fOSQ-YWC7ZwIR-HgP2lReuaW7JdBpYYXJu3B5LZgyk/s1600/neurogirlspost.png" height="320" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: right;">So, we decided to provide a little incentive for our audience. We made a quiz! A lovely brain quiz with, and this is important to those teenage blighters, prizes. We each talked for about 10 minutes, then did 5 questions on what we’d spoken about. It worked like a charm, even the sulkiest of adolencents perked up! However, one of my questions was “Name a neurotransmitter”. And so, back to the heckling! And, dear reader, it didn’t just happen the once. I was heckled with GABA on multiple occasions. After the first time, I could hear the other two girls cracking up behind me. Charming…</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I must say though, the heckling hasn’t put me off the talks
at all. All three of us are keener than ever to go back again next year. Maybe
we’ll do nine schools this year, who knows?? Because engaging with kids,
telling them about what you do and why you love it is one of the favourite parts of my job. And
if I help even one of those students <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">NeuroGirls at Birley Community College </span></i> with a decision about what to study in the
future, it’s worth it. </div>
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Being positive female role models in science
doesn’t hurt either. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-26129587452551900802013-07-17T14:36:00.000-07:002014-08-22T04:44:34.611-07:00End of the first PhD year - should I switch careers to Lion Taming?<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m picking another career. Surely it’s not too late to
change? I’ll just do something low key and not stressful, like lion taming or
mountain climbing. SURELY anything must be better than this???!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQL0fN_g-dGsG2PcHuMN8TNiel2Rd6tJOTQHcpJPxdoVqzr_nHO" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQL0fN_g-dGsG2PcHuMN8TNiel2Rd6tJOTQHcpJPxdoVqzr_nHO" /></a>These thoughts were running through my head like a
roller coaster train last week. AGAIN. If you've studied for a PhD and are not
hugely organised AND overly smart AND very lucky and therefore very successful,
they’ll probably be fairly familiar to you. Last week saw two VERY long days in
the lab, gathering data that turned out to not be very useful. Gathering data
for me involves some pretty intricate micro surgery that it has taken me a
rather long time to get my head around. I remember the first time I attempted
to cannulate. The post-doc training me was kind, helpful and gave a clear
demonstration of how to slide the tube into the vessel. It took all of 2 minutes
for him. When, two hours later, with shaking hands and a sweaty brow, I likened
the chance of me getting the cannula in, to Narnia really existing out the back
of the lab cupboard, he gently took the cannula and just finished the job
himself. I’m never going to get this, I thought miserably. Five months on from
that, I face different challenges. Today, I thought about throttling my
computer when my code failed to produce the desired result, yet again, despite
no errors or warnings appearing on the screen. To be perfectly honest, there
are days when I wonder if I’ll ever discover anything of any use to anyone
during the course of my PhD.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://goeshealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/when-stress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://goeshealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/when-stress.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a><br />
I know I'm not alone. A quick Google search reveals that there's actually a site entitled 'I did a PhD and did NOT go mad', a Facebook group called 'PhD stress' where the header says "How's my research going? F*** you, that's how', numerous websites offering ways to manage PhD stress and of course, chats to my lovely, and importantly, honest, fellow PhD sufferers. It seems to be fairly par for the course to be feeling this way. I can also, although I prefer not to, recall several friends with PhDs (who made their minds up career wise rather sooner than I did) who advised me not to do a PhD, due to the severe and debilitating stress that came with one. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
But I read up on other jobs to see if perhaps the rational idea
of switching career yet again at almost thirty could be the right one and I
just can’t seem to get excited about any of them. None of them offer the
opportunity to roll five career paths into one. To spend my days, teaching,
writing, learning new incredible skills, to attempt to pick apart the brain,
the most fascinating organ I have ever come across. To program, to present and
to discuss ideas with some clever and interesting colleagues. Whilst I remember
the first time I ever tried and failed to cannulate with abject misery, I also remember
the first time I succeeded as well. The rush of elation that comes when your
body achieves something you thought impossible is outstanding. I remember the
feeling of pride I felt when I first saw my name on an academic poster and when
I gave my first talk to a group of my peers at a conference. And funnily
enough, despite the fact that I have no guarantees on where my research is
headed, I’m gaining so much just from the journey that most of the time I feel
like this is the best job in the world.<br />
<br />
PS If I'm going to believe everything a Google search tells me, I have to concede that actually, a PhD may not be the best job in the world, and in fact, caretaker of the island below, is.<br />
<br />
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<img src="http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/interactive/2009/3/best-job-in-the-world.jpg" /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-43838103848516619822013-07-12T03:58:00.000-07:002014-08-22T04:44:55.813-07:00The Modern Day Caveman; #moderndayproblems<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i>By NeuroGirl Kira Shaw</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I hold a
personal fascination with evolution and have often found myself wondering “<i>how
can the modern man be related back to our ancestral forefathers?”</i> Man has walked the earth for over 30,000
years. During this period, time has ensured many characteristics have been
passed forward onto modern man. In this context I opted to select
new-world problems and relate them back to life-or-death survival skills which
have been honed and refined across our evolutionary development. The
experiences of our pre-historic relatives have shaped the way the “modern
caveman” reacts in 21<sup>st</sup> century situations, including challenges
such as crossing busy roads, navigating the supermarket and attracting sexual
partners. <span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Crossing a busy
road can<span style="color: red;"> </span>be related to dodging and out-witting
potential predators stalking the savannah. Cars, vans and buses can out-muscle
and out-run us, much like a hungry sabre-toothed tiger hunting for food. Humans
can use their advanced visual cortex and frontal lobes to spot oncoming
vehicles and formulate a plan to avoid a collision. Whilst previous predatory
encounters have aided in the development of our visual and planning systems,
being in close proximity with large vehicles rarely elicits the fight/flight
response in contemporary Homo sapiens. An example of a present day problem that
does cause a rush of adrenaline to kick-in is public speaking. Your ‘average
Joe’ has few ravenous predators eyeing up his limbs, but instead fears the
ridicule of a peer or competitor following public humiliation. Everyone has
experienced those butterflies in their stomach as they step up in front of the
judging eyes; the shaky hands as they try to hold their notes steady,<span style="color: red;"> </span>and the lump in their throat as they utter their
first sentence. Public speaking presents no danger to our immediate survival,
yet our survival systems go into overdrive. In environments where humans can
flourish, social standing grows increasingly important, meaning our most basic
drives and instincts can be applied to ensuring the protection of our
popularity, rather than the protection of our life. <span style="color: #0070c0;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Not only have
our survival priorities changed over time, but our modern day mating ground has
also been transformed. The nightclub is an ideal venue for single individuals
to gather and compete. Sexual prowess is demonstrated via rhythmic and
sensual dance moves, and societal status and worth can be exaggerated with a
rather large bar tab. Now let’s compare the successful singletons in the
nightclub to our sexually successful forefathers. Our ancestors valued male
breadwinners who could hunt and provide, and women who could gather berries and
bear strong children. In keeping with these traditions females may demonstrate
their sexual worth by wearing tight clothes that highlight their youthful and
ample assets. Rather than the old practice of clubbing the female over the head,
the male flirting tactic has evolved overtime with the offering of a Jägerbomb (though
arguably, the two tactics have the same after-effect of an aching head in the
morning!). The acceptance of this gift of a drink is a positive sign, and hence
the modern day couple is born. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Once things
have become more serious between our modern couple, one particular challenge
they will face when feeding the family is where the next meal might come from.
Though in modern times, this involves navigating the supermarket shelves, as
opposed to our ancestors’ long journey to find a water source. The water source
is entwined with an abundance of food and amenities conveniently situated in
one location. This wealth of resources must be processed carefully, and the
efficient Homo sapien will take only what they need and what they can carry. Upon
entering Tesco, most of you will find yourselves heading directly to your usual
purchases, filling the trolley with foods you know won’t go to waste. Your
advanced frontal lobes will be of use to you again as they aid you with
decision-making and forward planning: “<i>I won’t need as much salad this week
as we’re eating out on Tuesday”</i>. Once our couple do reach the salad aisle
those gathering skills, which have passed down through the generations, will
prove very useful. The efficient shopper is able to locate the greenest spinach
leaves and the lesser bruised banana skins. Our complex and perfect eye,
baffling to even Charles Darwin himself, is drawn to the brightest and clearest
colours, trained to pick out only the fruit and vegetables which fall into this
category. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Whilst it may
be difficult to imagine how our ancestors’ way of life has anything to do with
modern day survival,<span style="color: red;"> </span>their survival pressures
and the resultant brain development is entwined in everything we do! Our
evolutionary history has allowed us to overcome the challenges faced in night
clubs, busy roads and supermarkets. So next time you go to the shop and pick up
that loaf of bread, be sure to thank your great-great-great-(recurring) grandparents. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-77720345851623807582013-06-10T08:48:00.001-07:002014-08-22T04:45:18.188-07:00My Top 5 Presentation Tips for Beginners<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;">Know Your Audience<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt;">One
of the most important things you can consider when preparing your talk is “who
exactly is going to be listening?” There are few things worse than talking to a
room full of people who are either bored or cannot understand you. When
preparing my end of year conference talk recently I had to bear in mind that I
was talking to a room of Psychologists from all different disciplines – ranging
from social psychology, to robotics, through to computational modelling. With
such a broad audience it can be difficult to keep it engaging, but remember
no-one knows your work as well as you do, and it is your job to get across to
the audience exactly what it is you do and what results you have found. The
biggest mistake you can make is getting too bogged down in minor details that
will not appeal to your audience – if I had been presenting my work to
individuals’ that study neurovascular coupling then my talk would have been
very different. As I was presenting my work to a room of Psychologists I was
sure to fully explain exactly what neurovascular coupling is, and to break down
my experiment paradigm simply and clearly before discussing any results. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> 2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Keep Your Slides Simple</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt;">When
you are talking the audience will be switching between focusing on you and
reading the slides behind you. Presenting slides which are covered in text will
leave the audience feeling overwhelmed and may even lead to disengagement from
your talk. It is a good idea to only put your most important points in text –
in order to emphasize them. Using bullet points and tables to simplify and
separate your text can also help keep things clear. It is not just text which can
overload your slides however, there can also be an issue if you clutter the
space with too many pictures. As a rule with your pictures – the audience
should be able to discern some information about what you’re talking about by
looking at the images selected. Try to use diagrams and graphs were applicable
too rather than disseminating results via text. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFzgOTrlAHiySSyrDK45uAZUeH35q1VLooxYBLOL2pvfOuLXxmhJ_Lz4KhanqQQjP2u6NtwDVMYNJAy-iZ5HUGZRn8BY82nJ9GtWbAGCyouTZ1CY2Qp5W1tdKpQmZ-YbmFOAZrWl2IDSC/s1600/BAD+SLIDE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFzgOTrlAHiySSyrDK45uAZUeH35q1VLooxYBLOL2pvfOuLXxmhJ_Lz4KhanqQQjP2u6NtwDVMYNJAy-iZ5HUGZRn8BY82nJ9GtWbAGCyouTZ1CY2Qp5W1tdKpQmZ-YbmFOAZrWl2IDSC/s1600/BAD+SLIDE.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure 1: Example of a bad PowerPoint slide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOw8xytEgKOr6Roa7nufDyy8Nz-JWbepDXDpWk0H3OVh2rXxTFWl4clgIhUP2ZxjITjpreW-IPFX-hm0Hl2eIj1Txddb2DJqhFvh4pu-b60Ax7u5KBJCYpB8Zu7mYSpnzyg5UTTP3zada/s1600/GOOD+SLIDE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOw8xytEgKOr6Roa7nufDyy8Nz-JWbepDXDpWk0H3OVh2rXxTFWl4clgIhUP2ZxjITjpreW-IPFX-hm0Hl2eIj1Txddb2DJqhFvh4pu-b60Ax7u5KBJCYpB8Zu7mYSpnzyg5UTTP3zada/s1600/GOOD+SLIDE.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure 2: Example of a good PowerPoint slide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;">Practice Your Talk in Front of Others<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt;">Try
to avoid going into a talk without first practicing it in front of others. As
the writer of your talk you will find yourself too bogged down in the details
to see the presentation from an outside perspective. Presenting your talk for
friends, family or colleagues will mean you can see how an audience reacts to
your performance. Perhaps you will find you need to remove a bad joke, or that
you have not simplified a concept enough for the audience to understand –
either way you will receive constructive criticism so that on the day of your
presentation you appear polished and confident. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;">Prepare for Questions<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt;">If
you get nervous about the prospect of the unknown it may be a good idea to
think about what sort of questions your presentation may generate. Ask others
and think about it yourself as well – performing it for friends and colleagues
will also allow them to think of questions you may get asked following your
talk. Do take caution however, on the day you may get completely random
questions based in other people’s research interests; however preparation
cannot hurt and it will help you to feel calm and confident. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;">Get a Good Night’s Sleep Before Your Talk <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt;">It
is never a good idea to spend the night before a presentation drilling your
notes or worrying about the next day. You do not want to seem too rehearsed!
Perhaps go through your talk a couple of times in the evening before you get
ready for bed, but don’t overdo it. Use the late evening to unwind and calm
down. There is only so much you can take in on the last day, and hopefully
early preparation will mean that you are not cramming the night before. A good
night’s sleep will allow your brain to consolidate what you have learned, so
you may even find that you can run through the talk better and more confidently
following a night of restful slumber. If nothing else, conference days can be
long and tiring and so adding lack of sleep into the mix may be a lethal
combination! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>References</b></div>
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<b>Images taken from:<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
“Bad Slide”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.computerworlduk.com/slideshow/applications/3236618/the-worlds-worst-powerpoint-presentations/10/">http://www.computerworlduk.com/slideshow/applications/3236618/the-worlds-worst-powerpoint-presentations/10/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
“Good Slide”<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://lacstrainingblog.com/2012/04/26/presentations-tips-for-effective-powerpoint-design/">http://lacstrainingblog.com/2012/04/26/presentations-tips-for-effective-powerpoint-design/</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-65242480045391259132013-04-11T10:34:00.001-07:002014-08-22T04:45:32.001-07:00Heels, Naps and Eek Moments - BNA 2013!<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">NeuroGirl Kira writes on our first time experience of a
conference:</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrIxvwEadFOFu8d5HcLf7C14myW9Vl-7L61rzQX1vS1qAGdjHqVMOqwJFpeWxcxr6VcqjSHnjPWGHJDARBxeRb8xtd-C38RO5ymYupHvq3o1ZXJvhwQPBTGPBAi-y4WcPrRSQjtwxz0V6/s1600/brainBNA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrIxvwEadFOFu8d5HcLf7C14myW9Vl-7L61rzQX1vS1qAGdjHqVMOqwJFpeWxcxr6VcqjSHnjPWGHJDARBxeRb8xtd-C38RO5ymYupHvq3o1ZXJvhwQPBTGPBAi-y4WcPrRSQjtwxz0V6/s1600/brainBNA.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This week the NeuroGirls attended
their very first Neuroscience conference hosted in London, UK –the BNA 2013. We
thought it may be interesting to dissect our thoughts and experiences of a
conference as first-timers. The conference days were packed full of appealing
lectures and posters, with so much to see and do that there was barely a minute
to spare. The conference was set across a large space, the Barbican centre
being a maze in itself. Organisation was key! We found ourselves armed with
detailed itineraries to help keep our focus and direction. The topics covered
by the BNA conference spanned across the whole of neuroscience, from astrocytes
to autism. There were opportunities to attend relevant talks for your own
research area; as well as non-relevant areas which appeal to your own personal interests;
and even media-coveted topics (such as the talk on the use of psychedelic drugs
in depression by Professor David Nutt as commented on by the BBC). Set in the middle of the all the talks was
also the chance to browse posters with the opportunity to network with the
poster’s author and discuss research ideas. Whilst this experience may seem
daunting to any academically-young PhD student, all of the authors we met were
very friendly, helpful and clear. Although as a whole the conference seemed a
bit daunting and overwhelming at first (with so many intelligent scientists and
detailed research ideas) the overall experience was very valuable and the
people very welcoming! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">NeuroGirl Rebecca thinks the best part of the BNA was… the
academic posters:</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">The sights! The sounds! The colours! And that was just one particularly
interesting delegate presenting a poster with flaming red hair and amazing
spike heels. The BNA poster sessions were by far my favourite part of the
conference. The symposiums were interesting and informative, but quite often,
the quality and depth varied vastly from session to session, leaving me
floundering in one quarter of a 4-part session and tapping my nails in boredom
in the next. The academic posters on the other hand, gave me, as a naïve and
interested first year, the chance to peer into a wide range of topics,
explained to me by some very helpful presenters. My research interests are in
thalamocortical spindles and neurovascular coupling and I was lucky enough to
also find these well represented at the conference. What impressed me the most
however, was how enthusiastic everybody was to talk to me. I spoke with a young
and nervous medic, only in his fifth year, who charmingly explained what slow
oscillations had to do with declarative memory and naps – I’m now most
thoroughly in favour of a mid-afternoon nap, apparently it IS long enough to
see a positive correlation with memory performance, something I badly
need! I also spoke with lovely post-docs, seemingly stern group heads and
many excellent PhD students all of whom were happy to explain their work and
answer all questions that popped irreverently into my head. I would encourage
anyone, especially PhD students to go along to the poster sessions, they are
absolutely fab for improving your social and networking skills, but also for
gaining additional ideas about your own research. I left each session with my
head buzzing with new ideas, often ones that had been inspired by a quick chat
with someone with a poster seemingly irrelevant to my own work. You never know
what you will gain until you step up to that sea of ideas and plunge in!</span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">NeuroGirl Priya gives her take on the BNA experience:</span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4S0Zn8q4enIyP6UanhSCEnPhpSbKyll_KMz0Z258eI0MjPx4tfsUGRfON24rMmmFpIc8qxhHKRNiRjhRy7-nScTMZ0l0AypfMh1azmGlw1F8-IxyKtQ-KmF7QzIszVZiKNj8lu_Qvwxk/s1600/bnaoffic.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4S0Zn8q4enIyP6UanhSCEnPhpSbKyll_KMz0Z258eI0MjPx4tfsUGRfON24rMmmFpIc8qxhHKRNiRjhRy7-nScTMZ0l0AypfMh1azmGlw1F8-IxyKtQ-KmF7QzIszVZiKNj8lu_Qvwxk/s1600/bnaoffic.gif" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The BNA conference this year held at the Barbican saw the congregation
of many neuroscience researchers within the UK and abroad get together and
present months of hard work, to the wider neuroscience research community.
Having been the first scientific conference I have attended within my PhD, I
was very excited to be attending and to be honest had no expectations of how
this conference was to be. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived at the
Barbican as it was a very big venue and was completely packed with people - it was
really nice to see that the neuroscience community is a big and an inclusive
one. My itinerary was jam packed with all the important related lectures and posters I had previously highlighted. Conferences like these offer a great opportunity to be able to talk to a range of people, all of whom I spoke to were so evidently passionate about their research it truly was motivating for a first year to witness this and speaking to authors in person definitely helps in getting a greater understanding of the research carried out. In addition, the variety of lectures and talks meant that I could pick and chose the ones I found most interesting. Similar to the posters, I found going to the talks a good experience and opportunity to understand my field of research better and also think about when I would have to give presentations in the future (eek!).</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5u4M4gW7Lzi7VGoK1SMpwa8Z9vGYuSCkM7jivCSO3rqkngz4h5EcK_iQsCk3YhNIZPa0PzNTeB1oMAAGYot41cfGlZHJ9qwv48LBFOW1zJIuMUOLAR9xJmCDqTsr5AqSYhNVqD5ILjalo/s1600/barbicanBNA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5u4M4gW7Lzi7VGoK1SMpwa8Z9vGYuSCkM7jivCSO3rqkngz4h5EcK_iQsCk3YhNIZPa0PzNTeB1oMAAGYot41cfGlZHJ9qwv48LBFOW1zJIuMUOLAR9xJmCDqTsr5AqSYhNVqD5ILjalo/s1600/barbicanBNA.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The BNA was jam packed with things to do and this is congratulatory for all the organisers as they were able to simultaneously carry out poster sessions,
lectures, workshops, company stalls as well as have interactive stalls for the general
public to be apart of all at the same time and all with minimal glitches. It was evident that
months of planning and organising took place prior and with the number of
volunteers assisting, it was really nice to see this kind of involvement and
importance given to conferences, this definitely makes me feel proud to be a part of
the scientific community and the British Neuroscience Association. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the flip side, and I think this must be the case for most conferences
due to the sheer amount of researchers presenting, it was evident that it became hard to fit
everyone in to the timetable and this meant having many activities overlap so there were times were I had to miss out on some things. In addition, this also meant some talks started really early in the day and some talks went on until 8pm. This element of the conference definitely left me drained by the end of the day. A key thing to remember about conferences is that there is usually a plethora of information and sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming, in my case I found it hard to remember all the new information I was presented with throughout the day as well as taking part in all the </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">networking events added on to the end of each day as
well.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">The BNA was a great first conference for the
Neurogirls as we were able to find and interact with researchers carrying out similar research topics throughout the UK, proving to be an invaluable experience. We also feel that through this conference we have been able to understand and appreciate the research we carry out in the wider context and therefore apply this to our future work. We greatly look forward to
attending the next BNA conference, with more energy and having the privilege to attend
similarly interesting talks again, so watch this space neuroscience! </span></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-22543172231485406892013-01-15T07:48:00.002-08:002014-08-22T04:45:50.657-07:00Exercise and the Brain: Our Sporting Mission<br />
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Everyone knows that physical
exercise benefits the body. After all, that honed 6-pack doesn’t come from
sitting on the couch munching crisps. However, fewer people are aware that
regular physical exercise can have serious benefits for the brain! <o:p></o:p></div>
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There is a legion of
scientific evidence to support the idea that strenuous activity leads to the
release of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The
release of BDNF is known to promote healthy nerve cells, which are essential
for mental performance, memory and recall. Physical exercise has also been shown
to surpass mental exercise when combatting brain shrinkage (which occurs with
memory problems and even in Alzheimer’s disease). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Considering all of these
profound benefits for physical exercise on the brain the Sheffield NeuroGirls
made it their mission to promote a healthier lifestyle in aid of neuroscience! We
have vowed to take on new (and even dangerous) sporting activities at our own
peril, and then relate our performance to changes which may be happening in our
brain. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our first mission is to tackle
the world of rollerblading! Our first step was to fish-out some decent rollerblades
on eBay and then take them out for a spin. The Sheffield NeuroGirls have
currently been out for one (unstable) rollerblading session. We plan to track
our progress with videos and photos – before mapping our improvements
(hopefully) and relating these changes to the development of balance in the
cerebellum; and skill acquisition in the motor cortex. Here’s hoping that all
our practice means our frontal cortices can get a break when the skill
eventually becomes automated.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So watch this space… Videos
will be posted soon! (We just might have a particularly funny video of
NeuroGirl Priya falling over in her rollerblades).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678124183504276115.post-68251176268272753862012-11-13T03:04:00.006-08:002014-08-22T04:46:22.399-07:00America votes Obama “fit” for the job<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>When voting a leader into office what is it you look for in a candidate?
It is likely that you want someone with similar ideals to yourself, they should
possibly be an assertive talker, and a strong leader too. These and many other
factors play important roles in your decision-making but one may surprise you:
“which candidate is the most attractive”?</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Researchers at the University of Exeter have highlighted that
attractiveness could provide an advantage for candidates during a close race
for a hotly contested seat. Most recently this research may be applied to the
US presidential election. BBC News’ average of national opinion polls prior to
the final vote indicated a tight race, with Obama receiving 49% to Romney’s
48%. With such a close competition, small individual factors could give certain
candidates the edge. Dr Caitlin Milazzo is in the process of publishing a paper
which demonstrates that for hotly contested constituencies the more attractive
candidates wins almost 75% of the time. Dr Milazzo tested this work on 153 US
participants who were shown 75 pairs of British 2010 general election
contestants, and asked to vote which of the pair was the most attractive. The
results of these ratings were later matched up with the results from the actual
election, and a correlation was found between attractiveness and victory
(particularly in the marginal seats). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With Obama, arguably the more attractive candidate, eventually winning
the 2012 US Presidential election, it may prove interesting to speculate why
attractiveness might have played a role. The general American public could
regard Obama as the more attractive candidate as not only is he more youthful,
but he also has a certain “cool factor” - everyone remembers the “he’s a
jackass” Kanye West comment, or the swift swatting of a fly mid-interview.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So Obama may be the candidate deemed as the most attractive… but how
does this affect a person’s vote? It is possible that when a person is deemed the
more attractive then this may activate the reward centres of the brain. Dr Joel
Winston and colleagues from UCL have demonstrated that the amygdala and regions
of the frontal cortex were activated when volunteers processed faces rated as
attractive. The amygdala and frontal cortex regions are linked with the
processing of emotions and rewards, and so a person may associate the
attractive face with such positive feelings. It seems that facial beauty is not
only in the eye of the beholder, but also the brain! <span style="color: #00b050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is further demonstrable evidence of the more attractive candidate
winning in prior big elections. Obama beat John McCain, Tony Blair beat John Major,
and Gordon Brown lost his seat to a younger and fresher (albeit with the help
of Photoshop on his campaign posters) David Cameron. Perhaps the typical dusty
old man look previously synonymous with political leaders is a thing of the
past. In a world were celebrities and attractive individuals are idolised,
politics may also see a trend which favours the younger and ‘fitter’
candidates. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05381298989109472467noreply@blogger.com0