omnibrain

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April 30, 2007
Last week Migraines were good for fending off memory loss in middle age people. Now this week migraines are causing brain damage that potentially can lead to strokes. Pretty fair trade off eh?! Better memory for a horribly disabling stroke that might destroy your memory anyway (well... or kill…
April 26, 2007
source Skull #11 ('80s Metal), 2006. by Brian Dettmer Currently on display at the International Museum of Surgical Science, Chicago. And of course a video ;) Brain Surgery - Scrubs Style
April 26, 2007
It looks like Slate, over the next few days, is going to have a series of articles on some yummy looking neuroscience! Here's a few details: Welcome to "Brains!", Slate's special issue on mind science and the state of neuro-culture. Over the next few days, we'll present a series of articles about…
April 25, 2007
Overall people with higher IQ's tend to earn a bit more income (1 IQ pt. = $202-$616 more per year) but when you factor in total wealth (I believe that how much bling you have was the measure) and how likely people were to have financial difficulties the correlations fell apart. The smart and the…
April 24, 2007
We all know the basic characteristics of a happy dog (well at least pizza guys and mail men know), Ears close to the head, tense posture, and tail straight out from the body means "don't mess with me." Ears perked up, wriggly body and vigorously wagging tail means "I am sooo happy to see you!" An…
April 20, 2007
A list of the top most satisfying jobs was just released by the General Social Survey (GSS) at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. It seems that Psychologists have made it into the top ten - although I don't think they're talking about my field of psychology (not…
April 20, 2007
Freaking hilarious! Nothing to do with the brain though - ohh well. Don't play this out loud at work - it's a bit potty mouthed. (Sorry for the autostart - I can't figure out how to not let it automatically start). And if you have thoughts about which dirty words are appropriate and which are not…
April 19, 2007
Does anyone have any suggestions for tomorrows Multimedia Friday? It can be reader request day or something like that ;) And in thanks for your input I leave you with this completely unconfirmed set of results from a website reporting about a publication on nose picking: * 8.7% claim that they…
April 19, 2007
Ok... not really but there is a great article in The Onion about some out of work scientists. Here's a snippet: The team recently managed to secure a New Jersey state research subsidy of $2.55 by returning the empties. McCarthy provided his Shar-Pei, Wrinkles, to serve as a control. Wrinkles was…
April 19, 2007
Usually we feature visual illusions since they seem to be the easiest to make and of course nearly a third to a half of our brain is dedicated to vision so we may just be more interested. In any case here are three auditory illusions from Mighty Optical Illusions. Shepard's ascending tones (MP3…
April 17, 2007
People like Dr. Phil and Jack Thompson feel the need to put themselves in the public eye by espousing ridiculous opinions meant to inflame people and get support for their money making endeavors. I have NO idea where these con artists get the idea that if there weren't violent video games and…
April 17, 2007
Dr. Janet Hall of Melbourne Australia has found a number of new ways to use hypnosis to 'cure' her patients phobias. These phobias are completely new to me ;) She said one Indian woman with a sperm phobia overcame her fear in three sessions and was now pregnant. Another woman used the therapy to…
April 12, 2007
Art Week (Ok...so its retroactive art week) continues with this strange little commercial with Salvador Dali pimping Alka Seltzer. Enjoy,
April 12, 2007
Researchers in at the University of New Hampshire discovered something very important recently. The show COPS is actually useful for something besides freaking out stoned kids who accidentally flip to FOX when it's on. By watching many many many episodes of COPS Mardi Kidwell, assistant…
April 12, 2007
In honor of the Magic of Consciousness Symposium coming up (See below the fold for details) here's a video of Penn and Teller explaining the art of Sleight of Hand tricks. The Magic of Consciousness Symposium The ASSC11 Co-Chairs are happy to announce a Special Symposium that promises to showcase…
April 12, 2007
This story is almost useless without video - which Is why I'm posting it. Can anyone get a video of an Orangutan playing a video game? In any case... Here's the basic story: In one game, orangutans choose identical photographs or match orangutan sounds with photos of the animals -- correct…
April 11, 2007
Since I seem to be on an art and music kick today I thought I'd highlight a pretty darn cool thing Joshua Bell did. Cognitive Daily and The Washington Post have the real stories, but here's a little snippet: Leonard Slatkin, music director of the National Symphony Orchestra, was asked the same…
April 11, 2007
Many famous artists and musicians have had the perception of their own art altered by abnormal physical or mental changes. Critics and historians have often credited these changes as major sources of creativity. Insanity and Drugs seem to usually be the most cited and obvious candidates but very…
April 9, 2007
Some interesting findings have popped up in the most recent issue of the Archives of Neurology. It seems that when comparing individuals who have developed Parkinson Disease with family members who have not - the people with PD are less likely to have smoked or drank coffee on a daily basis. Check…
April 7, 2007
Ok, I'm not really sure if kids get it right, but after all - they do have all sorts of experience with school buses. Perhaps they do get it right more than adults, after all - experience will trump age and straight up smarts most days of the week. Here's the test: Look at the images carefully.…
April 6, 2007
techno Magnetic Resonance Imaging...aka tMRI
April 6, 2007
Actually, more appropriately, "Hey do you believe in past lives, aliens or CIA mind control?" "yes!" "Do get the feeling that you owe someone money?" "yes!" "Yeah, you owe me some money" There's an interesting article in the March issue of Consciousness and Cognition about the link between false…
April 5, 2007
Click on the picture for the full size one.
April 4, 2007
This topic usually falls into the realm of ESP and parapsychology but there is no reason that it has to. For starters check out this snippet from a Wired article: "It was slightly strange at first," Wächter says, "though on the bike, it was great." He started to become more aware of the…
April 3, 2007
I'm sad to report today that watching panda pornography didn't excite the two pandas enough for them to engage in kinky panda sex. Perhaps the porn built unrealistic expectations for the male panda and the girl panda didn't match his kinky panda fantasies?! Maybe they should have given the girl…
April 3, 2007
I've been waiting for a long time for major press to finally come around and start telling people how Baby Einstein videos or listening to Mozart isn't going to make your baby into a genius. If you have a baby and are wondering whether a certain product will help your baby become smarter, there is…
April 2, 2007
Is this an April Fools Joke?! Here's a challenge for everyone - see how many you can debunk! 1. Men's brains are larger, but as they age, they also shrink faster than women's brains. 2. Women's brains operate at a higher temperature, due to burning more glucose. 3. Women use more of their brains…
March 30, 2007
Here's some entertainment from Big Bend. This is my friend Gary who has to be the worst yodeler - ever.