Brain scans gauge horror flick fear factor Sep 30, 2009
During Katz's experiment, researchers analyzed scans to identify the exact moment during each film scene that the viewer's amygdala -- the part of the brain linked to several emotions, including fear -- was activated, and to what degree. Watch Katz explain the experiment in a YouTube video. (CNN -- Tech)
Depression linked to Alzheimer's Sep 21, 2009
One theory is that depression leads to the loss of cells in two areas of the brain, the hippocampus and the amygdala, which then contributes to Alzheimer's disease. However, the latest study found no difference in the size of these two brain areas in people with depression and people who had never developed the condition. (BBC News -- Health)
Scary Music Is Scarier With Your Eyes Shut Sep 16, 2009
Hendler's research suggests that, when our eyes are closed, a region in our brain called the amygdala is fired up ... The amygdala, the region of the brain in which emotions are located, was significantly more active when the subjects' eyes were closed. (Science Daily)
Soon, drug to wipe out bad memories Sep 14, 2009
They had been given a drug that dissolves a sheath around the amygdala, an organ in the brain where mammals store memories of fear. Joseph LeDoux of New York University said human brains had similar sheaths and that drug treatment and therapy could help human sufferers overwrite memories with cheerier thoughts. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Rats With Part of Brain Deactivated Move Toward Food But Do Not Eat Sep 10, 2009
Using an animal model of binge eating, University of Missouri researchers discovered that deactivating the basolateral amygdala, a brain region involved in regulating emotion, specifically blocked consumption of a fatty diet ... Will and his team of researchers determined that deactivating the basolateral amygdala blocked this type of binge eating ... Deactivating the basolateral amygdala had no effect on feeding in rats that were simply deprived of food for 24 hours. (Science Daily)
Mass. meditation center draws overstressed young adults Sep 8, 2009
The results showed that in most participants, the portion of the brain that responds to fear, anger, and stress - the amygdala - became smaller. In animals, the amygdala has been shown to get larger in stressful situations, Lazar said. (Boston Globe)
'Feel Good' Spray from Nature Reduc... Sep 4, 2009
Plant Aromas Work on Amygdala and Hippocampus ... In particular, they acted on the emotional and memory parts known as the amygdala and the hippocampus ... Other projects are looking at the effects of Serenascent and stress on the immune system, the action of the spray on the hippocampus and amygdala, and what effect it has on oxidant levels in the blood. (Suite101.com)
Functional MRI Forecasts Which Soldiers Might Be Vulnerable To Suicide Sep 4, 2009
"Looking at the part of the brain called the amygdala, we were able to predict how many stress symptoms of PTSD an individual soldier would develop," says Prof. Hendler. (Science Daily)
Seizure makes lady think shes a dude Sep 4, 2009
The tumor is located in the right amygdala, with irregular activity seen in the surrounding right temporal lobe. The amygdala seems to play an important role in processing , including aspects like familiarity, emotional state, and sex, and past studies revealed that electrical stimulation of the temporal lobe triggered doubt about sexual identity. (MSNBC -- Health)
Problem With Close-Talking? Blame the Brain Sep 3, 2009
It's your amygdalae that keep you from getting so close to another person that he could easily reach out, gouge an eye, and then drag your woman off by her hair. So what happens if you disable the amygdalae ... This is not something you could (ethically) do to a research subject, but scientists have been studying a 42-year-old woman who has such severe damage to her amygdalae due to a rare genetic condition called Urbach-Wiethe disease, which causes calcification in the temporal lobes that they... (Time.com)
Newsweek: The role of 'police intuition' Sep 2, 2009
"It happens so rapidly that you're not even able to consciously articulate why [a new] course of action is necessary." Neurologically, research from the past five years has shown intuitive decision to be correlated with increased blood flow to the amygdala, an area of the brain known to regulate emotions. Our intuitions can be disarmingly accurate. (MSNBC -- Crime)
Caltech neuroscientists find brain region responsible for our sense of personal space Aug 31, 2009
Patient SM, a woman with complete bilateral amygdala lesions (red), preferred to stand close to the experimenter (black) ... The structure, the amygdalaa pair of almond-shaped regions located in the medial temporal lobeswas previously known to process strong negative emotions, such as anger and fear, and is considered the seat of emotion in the brain ... The scientists, led by Ralph Adolphs, Bren Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and professor of biology and postdoctoral scholar Daniel... (EurekAlert!)
9Need to Unwind? Study Says Mowing the Lawn Will Calm You Down, Boost Your Memory» Aug 31, 2009
Lavidis said the aroma regulates the part of the brain known as the amygdala and the hippocampus, which are responsible for the flight or fight response and the endocrine system, respectively. FOX NEWS VIDEOS. (Fox News)
Web + Print: A Powerful Combo Aug 25, 2009
Now, let's be honest: every blogger wishes, deep inside his/her brain amygdala to be published on print - not giving up the the blog, of course, for all the reasons mentioned above, but they would be thrilled to have some kind of column on pulp. I have seen it many, many times. (CBS News -- Opinion)
Sweating? You could be stressing others out Aug 20, 2009
The amygdala, a brain area involved in emotion regulation, was more active ... Imaging results indicated that the amygdala, an area of the brain associated with emotion, was more active when exposed to the skydivers' sweat than to the runners' sweat ... The results suggested that more activity in the amygdala is associated with more awareness of possible threats, Mujica-Parodi said. (CNN)
Faith Rites Boost Brain, Even for Atheists Aug 19, 2009
" Instead, religious experiences fire neurons in several different parts of the brain, just like other events do. Locating them does not explain them, but gives pointers to how these phenomena occur and what they might mean. In their book, Newberg and Waldman sketch out some of the "God circuits" in the brain and their effects, especially if trained through meditation as muscles are through exercise. Meditation both activates the frontal lobe, which "creates and integrates all of your ideas... (Newsmax)
Future Angst? Brain Scans Show Uncertainty Fuels Anxiety Aug 19, 2009
The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to chart the reaction in two parts of the brain important for emotional responding: the insula and the amygdala ... The insula and the amygdala both responded more strongly to the actual aversive picture if it was preceded by the question mark ... Sarinopoulos et al. Uncertainty during Anticipation Modulates Neural Responses to Aversion in Human Insula and Amygdala. (Science Daily)
Impact Of Cannabis On Bones Changes With Age, Study Finds Aug 17, 2009
16, 2009) Scientists investigating the effects of cannabis on bone health have found that its impact varies dramatically with age. The study has found that although cannabis could reduce bone strength in young people, it may protect against osteoporosis, a weakening of the bones, in later life. (Science Daily)
Boozing Blunts Ability to Read Faces Aug 15, 2009
The brain scans revealed decreased activation in the amygdala and hippocampus, regions of the brain used for processing facial emotions ... The study also found that the brains of the alcoholics recruited the prefrontal cortex while processing facial emotions, perhaps compensating for the reduced activation of the amygdala and hippocampus ... Previous studies found that reduced amygdala activity occurs in psychopaths and in people with a family history of alcoholism. (MEDLINEplus)
Why Alcoholics Have Trouble Recognizing Emotions Aug 13, 2009
Patients without a history of alcoholism had different responses -- shown by activity in the area of the brain known as the amygdala -- based on whether the picture showed a positive, negative or neutral expression. In those with a history of alcoholism, however, researchers saw no such differences. (ABC News)
Excessive Drinking Can Damage Brain Regions Used For Processing Facial Emotions Aug 13, 2009
Findings from a recent study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) suggest that diminished activity of the amygdala and hippocampus underlie emotional impairments observed in abstinent long-term alcoholics ... In parts of the temporal lobes of the brain called the amygdala and hippocampus, faces evoked stronger activation than words, especially in the deep encoding testing ... "The amygdala normally responds to face expressions, and the hippocampus is involved in remembering them.... (Science Daily)
Chinese Acupuncture Affects Brain's Ability To Regulate Pain, UM Study Shows Aug 12, 2009
In the study, researchers at the U-M Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center showed acupuncture increased the binding availability of mu-opoid receptors (MOR) in regions of the brain that process and dampen pain signals specifically the cingulate, insula, caudate, thalamus and amygdala. Opioid painkillers, such as morphine, codeine and other medications, are thought to work by binding to these opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. (Science Daily)
Psychopaths have faulty brain connections Aug 8, 2009
The study used a new brain imaging technology to further analyze psychopaths' brains after previous studies found that the amygdala part of the brain, which processes emotions, and orbitofrontal cortex, which handles impulses and decisions, are structurally and functionally different in psychopaths. Also in msnbc. (MSNBC -- Health)
Autism Study Finds Visual Processing 'Hinders Ability' To Read Body Language Aug 6, 2009
(May 7, 2009) Toddlers with autism appear more likely to have an enlarged amygdala, a brain area associated with numerous functions, including the processing of faces and emotion, according to a new article. In. (Science Daily)
Brain Difference In Psychopaths Identified Aug 5, 2009
There is a white matter tract that connects the amygdala and OFC, which is called the uncinate fasciculus (UF). However, nobody had ever studied the UF in psychopaths. (Science Daily)
Sleep deprivation and negative emotions Aug 3, 2009
When viewing the upsetting pictures, those who were sleep-deprived showed much more activation of the amygdala, a primitive part of the brain that governs emotional arousal, especially responses to fear. At the same time, the sleep-deprived folks showed less activation of the medial-prefrontal cortex, the front part of the brain that puts a brake on amygdala activity, than the control group. (Boston Globe)
Psychopaths' brains are differently wired: Study Aug 3, 2009
The team found that a white-matter tract called the uncinate fasciculus (UF), which connects parts of the brain called the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), differed significantly between the psychopaths and the control group ... The amygdala is involved in emotional responses such as fear, disgust and pleasure, while the OFC is involved in higher decision-making. (India Times, India)
Why do people like to scare themselves by watching horror movies or going on thrill rides? Aug 2, 2009
But those who do may be seeking thrills provided by the amygdala, a brain region that controls our emotional responses to salient objects and events. The amygdala kicks in when we encounter something scary, for instance, such a menacing stranger ... And once turned on, the amygdala triggers a host of other responses in the brain and body that contribute to our excitement. (Why Files)
Scary music? Better keep your eyes open Jul 31, 2009
Brain scans revealed that activity ramped up in the amygdala, a primary center for. In turn, the amygdala fired up brain regions linked with vigilance to the environment and regulation of emotion ... Although the amygdala is known to be more sensitive to negative emotions than positive ones, Hender expected very similar results with as well. (MSNBC -- Health)
Why does it seem women like chocolate so much more than men do? Jul 28, 2009
The study also found decreased activity in the amygdala, a key emotional center in the brain. Im intrigued, says Auger, because the amygdala not only regulates positive and negative emotions, but also sexual behavior and desire. (Why Files)
Fear Factor: How Herd Mentality Drives Us Jul 27, 2009
It comes from a part of the brain that's called the amygdala, the seat of the fear response. That is what kicks into overdrive when your 401(k) tanks. (CBS News)
Gov. Sanford: God Will Make Me Better Jul 20, 2009
Men are abusive to too many women who 'commit crimes" and so too, women may be the force between reason and action that lead men to 'stray", in which case their innner brain Amygdala defines action and unlike women not discussion. by erasmus111 July 20, 2009 3:47 AM EDT. (CBS News)
In Adolescence, Girls React Differently Than Boys To Peers' Judgments Jul 18, 2009
The study found that in older girls (as compared to younger girls), brain regions (the nucleus accumbens, insula, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala) associated with social rewards and motivation, processing emotions, hormonal changes, and social memory responded differently when they thought about being judged by their peers, especially peers with whom they wanted to interact. These differences were not evident between younger and older boys. (Science Daily)
Brain Emotion Circuit Sparks As Teen Girls Size Up Peers Jul 16, 2009
"In females, absence of activation in areas associated with mood and anxiety disorders, such as the amygdala, suggests that emotional responses to peers may be driven more by a brain network related to approach than to one related to fear and withdrawal," said Pine. "This reflects resilience to psychosocial stress among healthy female adolescents during this vulnerable period.". (Science Daily)
Brain imaging and proteins in spinal fluid may improve Alzheimer's prediction and diagnosis Jul 14, 2009
Regions included left and right hippocampi (HIP), amygdala, posterior cingulate cortex, inferior parietal lobes, medial, lateral, and superior temporal lobes, normalized to the cerebellum and age-corrected. Subjects were stratified into 7 subgroups across normal (NL), MCI, and AD categories, based upon initial diagnosis and progressive CDR, GDS scale, and MMSE scores. (EurekAlert!)
Why the #$%! Do We Swear? For Pain Relief Jul 12, 2009
One such structure is the amygdala, an almond-shaped group of neurons that can trigger a fight-or-flight response in which our heart rate climbs and we become less sensitive to pain. Indeed, the students' heart rates rose when they swore, a fact the researchers say suggests that the amygdala was activated. (Scientific American)
Map Of Your Brain May Reveal Early Mental Illness Jul 11, 2009
The green and blue colors represent shrinkage in such brain structures as the thalamus, caudate and amygdala. Blue areas represent the greatest amount of shrinkage. (Science Daily)
Finding Fear: Neuroscientists Locate Where It Is Stored In The Brain Jul 9, 2009
Using an imaging technique that enabled them to trace the process of neural activation in the brains of rats, University of Washington researchers have pinpointed the basolateral nucleus in the region of the brain called the of amygdala as the place where fear conditioning is encoded. Neuroscientists previously suspected that both the amygdala and another brain region, the dorsal hippocampus, were where cues get associated when fear memories are formed ... But the new work indicates that the... (Science Daily)
Do you smile when you walk in your door? Jul 3, 2009
" Better yet is a kitchen in which you have a view of the door where people enter, a window onto a landscape and a fireplace. Windows A yard is nice, but if you don't have one, big windows or a balcony also offer an emotional lift. "Just being able to see how the weather is and knowing what's out there relaxes people and makes them feel more in control," says Zeisel. 'Soft geometry' Grey suggests the use of curves instead of hard edges on counters, furniture, and cabinets to help nurture... (CNN)
She searches for cause of bipolar disorder Jun 29, 2009
Her study focused on a bundle of fibers known as the uncinate fasciculus, which connects an emotion-processing area known as the amygdala, at the bottom of the brain, with a regulatory area known as the orbital prefrontal cortex, at the front of the brain. Simply put, she said, the amygdala "allows us to perceive the emotional salience" of things we experience, while the orbital prefrontal cortex areas on either side of the brain "act like brakes on the amygdala.". (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Dreaming of Nonsense: The Evolutionary Enigma of Dream Content Jun 26, 2009
And specific anatomical regions of the brain, too, were especially busy during REM sleep (especially the amygdala), whereas others showed a pattern of reduced activity compared to waking (the prefrontal lobes, parietal cortex and posterior cingulate). Finally, thermoregulation is turned off during REM sleep. (Scientific American)
* [HEALTH] An emotional hair trigger thats often misread Jun 23, 2009
Brain studies have indicated that the emotional center of the nervous system X the amygdala X may be overly reactive, while the part that reins in emotional reactions may be underactive. As children, people who will develop the disorder are often hyperreactive, hypervigilant and supersensitive, Valerie Porr, a therapist in New York, said in an interview. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
Measuring brain atrophy in patients with mild cognitive impairment Jun 17, 2009
The extent to which volumes of the amygdala the section of the brain associated with emotions and the nearby temporal horn could predict cognitive decline was unknown ... Baseline volume measurements of the hippocampus, amygdala and temporal horn were evaluated as predictors of cognitive change as measured by two commonly used instruments for screening cognitive function and dementia ... Patients with smaller volumes of the hippocampus and amygdala showed more rapid clinical decline on these... (EurekAlert!)
Researchers identify the brains on-off switch for fear May 21, 2009
In the study, the researchers looked at the neurons in the amygdala of mice lacking the TRPC5 gene and discovered that they did not fire as well as those in the brains of normal mice ... According to Clapham, while the identified protein is found throughout the brain, it is highly concentrated in the amygdala, the region of the brain implicated in emotional responses ... Many of our emotional responses are integrated in, and emerge from the amygdala, including learned and innate fear, said... (Belmont Citizen Herald, MA)
A credit card as irresistible as you are May 21, 2009
Research into how this may happen is in its infancy, but recent work in neuroscience and economics has shown how various brain regions, such as the amygdala, the anterior insula, and the nucleus accumbens, encode decisions and behaviors that deviate from rational choice. It has been suggested that, if these brain regions are overactivated, then investors will display the irrational behavior often observed in real markets. (Salon)
much more. Wednesday, May 20, 2009 May 20, 2009
"I happen to agree with that statement. Through his reporting, Andrews definitively makes the case that Wall Street's insatiable hunger for mortgages of any quality -- in fact, the worse the better! -- that could be bundled up into securities and then resold, provided the critical incentive encouraging the subprime mortgage sector to explode to such huge dimensions. As individuals, we do not deserve all the blame for living beyond our means -- we were encouraged to do so and seduced into doing... (Salon)
Impaired Brain Plasticity Linked To Angelman Syndrome Learning Deficits May 20, 2009
A type of neuron found in the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus and amygdala. These are the primary excitation units of the prefrontal cortex and spinal tract in mammals. (Science Daily)
'Increasing help for the kids who need it' May 13, 2009
"Every trauma you experience in life is actually recorded in the amygdala of the brain, and it doesn't go away. A child doesn't remember something from age 6 months, but it's still there," Love said. In fact, Love is awaiting the day when mental and psychological diagnoses include brain scans, rather than just interviews. (Lodi News Sentinel, CA)
Brain Abnormalities Associated With Social Orienting Ability Found In Toddlers With Autism, According To Imaging Study May 8, 2009
ScienceDaily (May 7, 2009) Toddlers with autism appear more likely to have an enlarged amygdala, a brain area associated with numerous functions, including the processing of faces and emotion, according to a new report ... "Converging evidence from magnetic resonance imaging, head circumference and postmortem studies suggests that brain volume enlargement is a characteristic feature of autism, with its onset most likely occurring in the latter part of the first year of life." Based both on its... (Science Daily)
Genetics Linked to How Brain 'Frames' Choices May 7, 2009
In a previous study, the research team from University College London (UCL) found that an area of the brain called the amygdala -- involved in processing emotions -- becomes active when people are making decisions influenced by the framing effect. In this new study, the UCL researchers found that a person's genetic makeup appears to at least partly influence their susceptibility to the framing effect and their amygdala's response ... The gene has been shown to affect the response of the... (MEDLINEplus)
Study Finds Brain Abnormality in Autistic Toddlers May 6, 2009
Toddlers with autism appear more likely to have an enlarged amygdala, which is the part of the brain associated with processing faces and expressing key emotions, a study has found ... Researchers observed behaviors in the children with the enlarged amygdala thought to be key predictors of social and language issues often associated with autism later in life ... Because the amygdala has been identified as a brain area potentially associated with autism, Dr. Manny Alvarez, managing editor of... (Fox News)
Brain Anatomy Could Point to Autism May 6, 2009
These children tend to have larger amygdala, a neural center for emotion ... MONDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- Autistic toddlers seem more likely to have an enlarged amygdala, a brain area linked with facial recognition and emotions, University of North Carolina researchers report ... "We found enlargement of the amygdala in very young children with autism at 2 years of age, and followed up again at age 4. The enlargement was stable over the 2- to 4-year-old time interval," he said. (MEDLINEplus)
Brain abnormality found in autistic tots: report May 5, 2009
WASHINGTON (AFP) Young children with autism appear more likely to have enlarged amygdala -- the part of the brain associated with registering faces and with expressing key emotions, according to a study ... Compared to children from a control group who did not have autism, the autistic children were more likely to have enlarged amygdala ... "Amygdala growth trajectories are accelerated before age two years in autism and remain enlarged during early childhood," wrote lead author Matthew Mosconi... (Yahoo News -- Top Stories)
Section of brain larger in toddlers with autism, researchers find May 5, 2009
The UNC-CH scientists focused on the amygdala, a region deep in the brain that helps control emotions, regulate attention and read social cues from eye contact ... They found that the autistic children had enlarged amygdala, and the distinction persisted in a follow-up screening of the children two years later ... The scientists also noted that the severity of autism was less in children whose amygdala were largest. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Toddler brain difference linked to autism May 5, 2009
Study: The amygdala in toddlers with autism is 13 percent larger than unaffected kids ... The amygdala helps individuals process faces and emotions ... Using MRI brain scans, researchers found that the area of the brain called the amygdala was, on average, 13 percent larger in young children with compared with control group of children without autism. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- NFL)
Anger 'is down to genes' May 5, 2009
They also found that those who display more anger have less grey matter in the amygdala, a part of the brain that helps keep our emotions balanced. "In other words, they are not able to control their feelings as well as those without the mutation," the Telegraph quoted Martin Reuter, one of the researchers, as saying. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Schizophrenia And Manic-depressive Disorder: Genetic Variant Impairs Communication Within Brain May 2, 2009
Moreover, carriers of this high-risk gene also displayed an enhanced linkage between the amygdala and a number of other cerebral regions. The amygdala, also known as the "almond", plays an active role in the manner in which we cope with our emotions. (Science Daily)
Disrupting A Brain Protein Produces Antidepressant-like Effect In Mice May 2, 2009
Other research has suggested a strong relationship between anxiety, depression and the brain's fear circuitry, including the amygdala, where ASIC1a is abundant. In their latest study, Wemmie's team used experiments targeting the amygdala to show that this brain region is a key site of action for ASIC1a's antidepressant effect ... The results support the idea that depression may be caused, at least in part, by abnormal amygdala activity. (Science Daily)
Remembrance of Fat May Be at Root of Cravings May 1, 2009
OEA does this by activating memory-enhancing signals in the amygdala, the brain area that plays a role in retaining memories of emotional events. The study was published online in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (MEDLINEplus)
Soon, a pill that won't let you forget Apr 30, 2009
Daniele Piomelli, who led the team, said the pill works by activating memory-enhancing signals in amygdala the part of the brain involved in the consolidation of memories of the emotional events. Remembering the location and context of a fatty meal was probably an important survival mechanism for early humans. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Eating Fatty Foods May Give Memory Boost Apr 29, 2009
It does this, Piomelli said, by activating memory-enhancing signals in the amygdala, part of the brain involved in the consolidation of memories of emotional events. The researchers found that administering OEA to rodents improved memory retention in two different tests. (Newsmax)
Fatty foods 'offer memory boost' Apr 28, 2009
Dr Daniele Piomelli and his team discovered that OEA also causes memories to be laid down by activating memory-enhancing signals in the amygdala - the part of the brain involved with memories of emotional events. When they gave OEA to rats, it improved their memory retention in two different tests - running in a maze and avoiding an unpleasant experience. (BBC News -- Health)
The pain (and healing) of a broken heart Apr 20, 2009
Scanning with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has pinpointed two brain regions strongly associated with this hormone of horniness: the hypothalamus, deep in our ancient "reptilian" brain, and the nearby amygdala, a key to the processing and memory of strong emotions. How love can mess with your head. (MSNBC -- Health)
Why We're Attracted to Strangers Apr 11, 2009
Theodoridou's study did not examine how oxytocin could affect social judgements, but she speculates that the hormone dampens brain activity in a region involved in processing fearful emotions, called the amygdala. A previous study found that oxytocin tempered amygdala activation in volunteers who saw a face that had previously been paired with a slight shock. (ABC News)
A Wiring Diagram in the Brain for Depression Apr 7, 2009
They identified five connective tracts that run through this pea-size region, carrying neural traffic among five vital areas: the amygdala, a deep-brain area that mode-rates fear and other emotions; the orbi-tofrontal and medial frontal cortices, two poorly understood areas that ap-pear to be significant in expectation, reward processing, error assessment, learning and decision making; the hippocampus, vital to memory; and the hypothalamus, which helps to regulate and arousal. The refined... (Scientific American)
