Thinking with your gut

Via Science Daily: For the first time, researchers at McMaster University have conclusive evidence that bacteria residing in the gut influence brain chemistry and behaviour. The findings are important because several common types of gastrointestinal disease, including irritable bowel syndrome, are frequently associated with anxiety or depression. In addition there has been speculation that some [...]

Study claims testosterone dysfunction may cause autism, prevalence of ASD in males

There’s a lot of controversy on basically every aspect of autism research. Just 68 years ago, “autism” didn’t exist as a diagnosis. It would be another few decades before the condition was fully differentiated from schizophrenia. The full diversity of its expression and functionality was not be recognized until the 1980′s when Asperger syndrome was taxonomized. And ten years ago, it was believed [...]

Giffords’ prognosis

Via MSNBC’s  JoNel Aleccia: “She’s still critically ill,” said Dr. Alex Valadka, a neurosurgeon and spokesman for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. “We get excited when people hold up a couple of fingers, but that’s a long way from higher functioning.” Doctors at University Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz., said they were cautiously optimistic [...]

The body’s apprehension of music

The ear and the brain–specifically, the hypothalamus–are not the only parties involved. For some people, the skin is an active participant in appreciating music: Some of us get the chills when hearing Handel’s exultant “Messiah” this time of year. For others, it’s the simple, yet joyful opening strains of Vince Guaraldi’s music at the start [...]