Finding the point at which babies’ reactions change from being purely reflexive to reflecting more intention is leading researches to focus on the first glimmers of conscious thought in infants as young as 5 months old.
Mental Health
Depressive Thinking Can Be Contagious
We don’t think of emotional states as passing from one person to another, but a new study suggests some depressive thoughts can go viral.
U.S. Panel Finds Little Evidence to Support Universal Screening For Suicide
Experts say that existing screening methods can identify at-risk individuals, but such tools may not help to prevent suicides.
Drug Czar: Pot Legalization Won’t Change Mission
President Barack Obama’s new strategy for fighting the nation’s drug problem will include a greater emphasis on using public health tools to battle addiction
Q&A: Criminologist Adrian Raine on The Biology of Violence
Violent behavior is a complex product of biology and upbringing, and when that violence involves murder and destruction to the extent that erupted at the Boston Marathon, the questions about what drives such aggression become all …
Your Brain on Math
Among the 100 million or so nerve cells in the brain, it turns out there is a group dedicated to making sense of numbers.
Understanding How the Brain Speaks Two Languages
Hablan dos idiomas? You should, if you know what’s good for you
Can Tylenol Dissolve Feelings of Dread?
Thinking about death, fearing the unknown and worrying about the future aren’t traditionally considered sources of physical pain, but they may be susceptible to the same pain-killing treatments.
How Exercise Can Moderate Brain Damage Caused By Drinking
Aging and drinking result in similar changes in the brain, and if aerobic exercise can alleviate the age-based damage, could it do the same for alcohol-related harm?
How Terror Hijacks the Brain
Beer’s Taste Alone Can Trigger Desire for Drink
The latest research shows that even the taste of beer is sufficient to activate the brain‘s pleasure circuits.
Boston Marathon Tragedy: How To Locate Friends and Family and Donate Blood
Explosions near the Boston Marathon finish line have killed at least two and injured at least 23.
Brain Exercises Better than Drugs in Preventing Cognitive Decline
With an aging population, rates of dementia will only climb, yet doctors have few effective strategies for addressing the worst symptoms.
