If you’re stressed out and hopped up on caffeine — and who isn’t these days — you might be prone to hallucinating, namely hearing snatches of the tune “White Christmas” in white noise, according to a recent study by …
Brain
The Criminal Mind: How Drugs and Violence May Affect the Brain
Brain imaging studies of violent criminals are difficult to interpret because the most persistent among them — those who are responsible for a disproportionate amount of all crime — are not only violent but also …
Monkeys, Like Humans, Make Bad Choices and Regret Them, Too
We humans tend to think of ourselves as the only sentient beings capable of regret, a key emotion that helps keep us from making the same mistakes over and over. Now a new study shows that rhesus monkeys may be saddled with the …
How Fear Changes What We Hear
How does fear alter memory? A new study reveals that it can literally change our perception, a process that may help researchers better understand post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other anxiety disorders and possibly …
Drinking Coffee, Having Sex, Blowing Nose: Among 8 Potential Stroke Triggers
It’s hard to believe that blowing your nose or drinking coffee could be deadly. But for those who — perhaps unknowingly — have an untreated brain aneurysm, these everyday actions could trigger a life-threatening stroke, a new …
The Shuttle Didn’t Fly, But Giffords’ Trip Was Still a Victory
(Updated) Perhaps no one was more disappointed to hear that the shuttle Endeavour‘s launch was scrubbed on Friday than Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Despite the fact that she was hidden in the Kennedy Space Center away from …
For Parkinson’s Patients, Better Care Comes in Groups
One-on-one doctor-patient visits are a staple of our health care system, giving patients with chronic disease valuable time with their physicians to ask critical questions and learn more about their condition and, hopefully, …
Rep. Giffords’ Recovery Goal: To Watch Her Husband’s Shuttle Launch
Ever since she began the long and often painful process of recovering from a gunshot to the head, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has been focused on one thing — getting well enough to watch her husband, Capt. Mark Kelly, launch into …
Failure to Detect Sarcasm or Lies: A Sign of a Rare Dementia
It could be argued that a life free of lies and sarcasm would be a happier one. But the inability to recognize others’ insincerity can also be hazardous — and a warning sign of a form of dementia.
Can You Multitask? It’ll Get Tougher With Age
As I write this, I am listening to KCRW streaming radio, eavesdropping on my deskmate’s phone interview, keeping an eye on breaking news and chatting with my editor on Instant Messenger. That’s a pretty typical moment in my …
Liberal vs. Conservative: Does the Difference Lie in the Brain?
The differences between liberals and conservatives run wide and deep, and a new study suggests they may even be reflected in the very structure of their brains.
Serene Branson: It Was Migraine with Aura
Soon after CBS reporter Serene Branson’s on-air verbal meltdown last Sunday, speculation about its cause began flowing. Many experts reviewing the footage said Branson had demonstrated classic symptoms of stroke or some other …
Study: Why Language Has More to Do with Math than You Think
A study of deaf people in Nicaragua offers fascinating insights into the link between language acquisition and the understanding of numbers.