Psychology news

• Muscular dystrophy-causing receptor has broader role in brain development

  12-09-2016 22:13
  Dystroglycan, a muscle cell receptor whose dysfunction causes muscular dystrophy, actually has a critical role in brain development, researchers have discovered.
  
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• Genetic causes of small head size share common mechanism

  12-09-2016 21:16
  Microcephaly is a rare disorder that stunts brain development in utero, resulting in babies with abnormally small heads. The Zika virus is one environmental cause of this devastating condition, but genetic defects can cause microcephaly, too. A new study examining three genetic causes of microcephaly in mice suggests one common mechanism through which the disorder could arise. The results could enhance understanding of microcephaly and other neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.
  
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• Weight loss drug's effect on the brain revealed in study

  12-09-2016 18:28
  A weight-loss drug dampened the response to food cues in regions of the brain associated with attention and emotion, leading to decreases in caloric intake, weight and body mass index (BMI), a team has reported. In the first study of the drug lorcaserin in the human brain, the research revealed the mechanism underlying the drug’s efficacy and provides insight into which individuals may benefit most from the medication.
  
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• Learning to turn down your amygdala can modify your emotions

  12-09-2016 18:26
  Training the brain to treat itself is a promising therapy for traumatic stress. The training uses an auditory or visual signal that corresponds to the activity of a particular brain region, called neurofeedback, which can guide people to regulate their own brain activity, say scientists.
  
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• The perils of being your own doctor – podcast

  12-09-2016 14:53
  
  When an experienced physician became convinced he had ALS, none of the specialists he consulted could persuade him he was perfectly healthy Continue reading...
  
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• Are Psychopaths Really Fearless Predators?

  12-09-2016 13:28 via counsellingresource.com
  
  Recent research suggests that psychopaths can indeed experience fear. What they appear to have more of a problem with, however, is adequately sensing danger and responding appropriately to dangerous situations. Tags: news and research, personality disorders
  
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• Shorter lifespan for WWI babies whose fathers were injured, killed

  12-09-2016 09:00
  
  Children born during World War I whose fathers were injured or killed in action were found to have shorter lifespans in a first-of-its-kind study.
  
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• Men's hidden body fat fears fueling gym attendance

  12-09-2016 09:00
  
  Men's hidden fears about body fat are fuelling gym attendance motivated by feelings of guilt and shame rather than a desire to build muscle, new research has shown.
  
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• Kill them with cuteness: The adorable thing bats do to catch prey

  12-09-2016 09:00
  
  A Johns Hopkins University researcher noticed the bats he works with cocked their heads to the side, just like his pet Pug.
  
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• 9/11 caused mental illness far beyond US borders

  12-09-2016 09:00
  
  This is the conclusion of a recent population-wide study from Denmark, which demonstrates a "significant and immediate" spike in the diagnoses of trauma and stressor related disorders (e.g.
  
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• Some hungry teens turn to crime, sex for food

  12-09-2016 06:41 via usatoday.com
  
  When hunger hits, some desperate teens in the U.S. are turning to extreme options to provide food for their families.
  
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