neuroBLOGical

Smell and memory: old feelings in a new place - Comment by Sneha Mokashi

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:08:11 -0500

Your blog is perhaps one of the best pieces of science writings I have recently come across! Brilliant work ! I have been meaning to start something similar..now am inspired :) By the way- do read the "Tell tale Brain" by Dr. Ramachandran. U might like it. . . .

How stores trick our senses to make us buy more (Part 2 of 5: Sight) - Comment by jimbot

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 19:14:51 -0600

When you get to smell, I have some burning questions. What's the scoop on that new car smell, and why does it make you want to buy? :) . . .

How stores trick our senses to make us buy more (Part 1 of 5: Taste) - Comment by Brian Krueger, PhD

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:46:47 -0600

Coolest series ever! I can't wait for the next one. . . .

"neuroBLOGical" turns 1! - Comment by Brian Krueger, PhD

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 07:20:51 -0600

I'm starting as the Associate Director of the Genomic Analysis Facility at Duke University in two weeks! Hopefully once things settle down I'll actually be able to write again and start recruiting more people to join us! Keep up the great posts. I always look forward to reading them when you post them at the end of the week :) . . .

"neuroBLOGical" turns 1! - Comment by Jordan Gaines

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:37:04 -0600

Excellent! What's the new job? . . .

"neuroBLOGical" turns 1! - Comment by Brian Krueger, PhD

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:10:22 -0600

Happy blogiversary! Sorry I've kind of been a terrible landlord lately. I've been super busy working on finishing stuff up here at my old job and preparing for my new job. I should do a post on the search process . . .

John Edward: my interview with a psychic medium - Comment by Robin Stettnisch

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 09:33:48 -0500

Google "Proof of Life After Death Yorktown" to read about my experience with medium John Edward. . . .

Turning trauma into story: the benefits of journaling - Comment by jamie

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:49:36 -0500

Nice one . . .

Narcolepsy: more than just falling asleep on the job - Comment by Sisu

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 09:12:58 -0500

Actually, I expect that there will be a huge boom in the study of various treatments, not because narcolepsy is a hot subject, but because finding ways to treat it may also find ways to make fat people thin. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21982708

Catnip fever: why your cat acts high - Comment by Jordan Gaines

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:27:06 -0500

YES! I love Zabu's face. . . .

Catnip fever: why your cat acts high - Comment by Brian Krueger, PhD

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:03:24 -0500

Reminds me of this: [YStart]420[YHeight]315[YMiddle1]http://www.youtube.com/v/tklx3j7kgJY[YMiddle2]http://www.youtube.com/v/tklx3j7kgJY[YEndW]420[YEndH]315[YouTube/] . . .

Superhero science: tapping into our super-strength with adrenaline - Comment by Doctor Zen

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 10:16:32 -0500

Reposting my comment from the Gaines on Brains version of this article: “Lifting cars” is the sort of story that is likely to be exagerrated. Cecil Adams on this story, from 2006 (http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2636/. . .

Superhero science: tapping into our super-strength with adrenaline - Comment by Anna

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 01:39:06 -0500

I have read about hythalamus in my school days. It is a sudden response to something unsudden if you get burnt then you immediatley remove your hand without waiting for the brain to respond. . . .

Superhero science: tapping into our super-strength with adrenaline - Comment by Nikademus

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:04:51 -0500

This kind of story has happend more than once, from little old ladies lifting a car off someone to Teens doing the same thing. The body is capable of a lot more than we normally use it for. But as said, to much of this would be a bad thing for the body in the long run. . . .

Superhero science: tapping into our super-strength with adrenaline - Comment by yannisguerra

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:51:28 -0500

Another reason that we are not able to do super heroics all the time is that...we don't really want to. Our brains have behavioural, cultural, instintive mechanisms that do not let us reach the maximum effort capacity except in very exceptional situations where the brain limits are out (drugs/alcohol/sleep deprivation). We probably evolved them to make sure we do not harm ourselves. So . . .

Ecstasy: "safe"? - Comment by Sean Garvin

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 10:23:21 -0500

hi, i think the point of arguing as to the context of the word "safe" is fairly pointless regarding drugs. there are far more pressing issues that need to be dealt with, rather than focussing on the ethical point of whether an illegal substance should be referred to as safe or not. there are far more damaging substances available that are legal and in everyday use, and are also consider. . .

Narcolepsy: more than just falling asleep on the job - Comment by Tina

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 08:46:19 -0500

This is interesting [YStart]420[YHeight]315[YMiddle1]http://www.youtube.com/v/NdiEBl6HdJ0[YMiddle2]http://www.youtube.com/v/NdiEBl6HdJ0[YEndW]420[YEndH]315[YouTube/] . . .

Ecstasy: "safe"? - Comment by Jordan Gaines

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 17:50:57 -0500

FriedZombie, Thanks for reading. As you say, results are inconclusive. Different dosages, different dosing schedules, and different methods of recording results all certainly turn up with different stories. It's hard to say with certainty which is the "right" method or which is the "right" conclusion. I was a bit unclear as to why (in the study Daniel posted) their PET analyses . . .

Ecstasy: "safe"? - Comment by FriedZombie

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 10:27:56 -0500

Hello Ms. Gaines, I read both your and Daniel's link post which pretty much make me think the results still are inconclusive. The biggest hurdle seeming to be the type of MDMA used in previous studies as well as the recommended dosage and periods of time when results were recorded. They really should have tests that can record resusts in multiple timelines that don't harm the animals. The artic. . .

Ecstasy: "safe"? - Comment by Lori

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 19:37:40 -0500

In context he said "can be safe" not "is safe". I liked your article, but I disagree that his was irresponsible. On the contrary, he raises some good points as well. . . .

Ecstasy: "safe"? - Comment by Jordan Gaines

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 22:43:16 -0500

Hi Sethers McGee, Thanks for giving me a chance to be a big girl. I have read what Daniel posted several times now and have talked to a number of drug researchers and drug policy reformers since writing this post. I maintain my "opinion" which is simply: the data are the data. When you say that Hatzidimitriou's study has been "exposed as complete nonsense," are you referring to. . .

Ecstasy: "safe"? - Comment by Sethers McGee

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 20:20:12 -0500

Ms. Gaines, I like how you simply skipped right over Daniel's comment and link at the top and responded only to Cynthia's comment! Great dodge there! Care to be a big girl instead? Here I'll give you another chance and ask you directly: in light of the fact that the study you cited has been exposed as complete non-sense, is there any evidence at all to suggest that pure . . .

Ecstasy: "safe"? - Comment by Jordan Gaines

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 08:22:51 -0500

Hey Cynthia, I think this would be a great idea and I'd love to hear your perspective! I'm actually guest-blogging at Scientopia this week. I cross-posted this blog on Tuesday, and it's received some insightful comments. You might find it interesting: http://scientopia.org/blogs/guestblog/2012/06/26/ecstasy-safe/ . . .

Ecstasy: "safe"? - Comment by Cynthia McKelvey

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:26:42 -0500

Great article, Jordan! I think you raised a really good point. Simply declaring any drug "safe [in moderation]" isn't very helpful to the public. Knowledge is power, and you really put the facts out there. On the other hand, I do raise issue with the study's definition of "moderation." I don't believe most people would consider a three doses of ecstasy within a weekend to be moderation. It soun. . .

Ecstasy: "safe"? - Comment by Daniel

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:37:26 -0500

Study Questions Toxic Effects of MDMA in MonkeysNew findings suggest that when use patterns are more similar to humans, brain toxicity no longer detectable http://www.maps.org/sys/w3pb.pl?mode=show&type=review&r_id=1 . . .

Psychics, mediums, clairvoyants, and...neuroscience? - Comment by Steph Daily

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 08:47:52 -0500

I found you article very interesting, I have never used a medium before but after doing some research in to what they can I am very tempted to give them a go and see what they can do for me. If it helps me with grieving for the loss of my partner then it is worth trying. . . .

John Edward: my interview with a psychic medium - Comment by Suzanne

Sat, 09 Jun 2012 22:18:58 -0500

Nice job and really cool that John reached out to you for an interview. I find this subject area fascinating as well. . . .

Narcolepsy: more than just falling asleep on the job - Comment by Jordan Gaines

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:42:34 -0500

Hi Moshe, Thanks for your insights and corrections. You certainly taught me a great deal in your comment. I apologize for skipping over the treatments—I didn't really intend to go into great detail about treatment, but I did want to bring up the orexin neuron study. You're right, 2004 was certainly a long time ago in the big world of research, but the fact that it was a land. . .

Narcolepsy: more than just falling asleep on the job - Comment by Moshe Turner

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:51:00 -0500

Thanks for he article on Narcolepsy. I have a few comments. You write: “Imagine feelings of exhaustion at all times…..”. Now please hear me, this is NOT nitpicking or semantics; it is a very important point. Narcoleptics do not have this experience of exhaustion. Narcoleptics (or PWN [persons with narcolepsy] as the boards have it) make a very clear d. . .

John Edward: my interview with a psychic medium - Comment by Jordan Gaines

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 21:04:40 -0500

Hi Yannis, I hesitated posting my interview here for my more "sciencey" readers—I originally did the interview for my local news (as Edward is bringing his show here in late June), but I thought it'd be interesting to post here as a follow-up to see what everyone has to say. So you're right—the questions are a bit biased toward him. I've spent the week reading. . .

John Edward: my interview with a psychic medium - Comment by yannisguerra

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:59:51 -0500

Psychic abilities have been making some returns to the mainstream recently (while being disproved in replication studies http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1699970 and

My MRI experience - Comment by SiO2lungs

Sun, 27 May 2012 20:36:48 -0500

I also had a couple MRI sessions while watching a video of someone throwing a tennis ball in different ways. I was so boring (and noisy!!!). The other part of the study involved me throwint a tennis ball in the same way. I think the best of that experience is that I got a picture of my brain!! plus I got paid :) . . .

My MRI experience - Comment by yannisguerra

Sat, 26 May 2012 00:03:00 -0500

Yes. Although I would describe it more as empty space. Your brain looks a lot more "plump". . . .

My MRI experience - Comment by Jordan Gaines

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:02:52 -0500

Thanks! What do you typically see in the elderly/sick...lots of gaps? . . .

My MRI experience - Comment by yannisguerra

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:16:21 -0500

It is interesting the internal bias that I have. Seeing mostly elderly patients or sick people, I looked at your MRI and said to myself Why does it look weird? Then I realized that it looks weird because you are young and healthy. Thanks for sharing! . . .

Science: why I do it AND write it - Comment by Mohammadbagher

Sun, 20 May 2012 03:36:51 -0500

New Reader ! Amazing ,they always scared me! A research assistant . . .

Clothes make the man—literally - Comment by jimbot

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:07:37 -0500

35 years after "Dress for Success" was published, someone finally decided to do some research on why? This has been known for centuries in some circles, ie the military. The uniforms are selected to do exactly what was described in the article. It is a very important part of the culture of the military and society. But why clothes effect us this way? My WAG is that after years of dillig. . .

Science: why I do it AND write it - Comment by Jordan Gaines

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:15:27 -0500

Thank you Mickey! And thanks for reading! . . .

Science: why I do it AND write it - Comment by Mickey Schafer

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:22:58 -0500

Long time reader, first time commenter -- thank you for writing this. And Happy Birthday!! . . .

Clothes make the man—literally - Comment by Michael Rawlins

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 22:04:27 -0500

Being fashionable even at work can improve personality as it affects how others perceive us. Wearing decent medical outfit whether it is a surgery or consultation lab coats will symbolizes diligent and prominent medical professional. So, being fashionable even with uniforms can greatly affect performance. . . .