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A Map for the Future of Neuroscience
The New Yorker: On Monday, the National Institutes of Health released a fifty-eight-page report on the future of neuroscience—the first substantive step in developing President Obama’s BRAIN Initiative, which seeks to “revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and uncover new ways to treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders like Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.” Assembled by an advisory panel of fifteen scientists led by Cori Bargmann, of Rockefeller University, and William Newsome, of Stanford, the report assesses the state of neuroscience and offers a vision for the field’s future. ...
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Elderly Acting Just Might Improve … Line, Please!
The New York Times: As a 65-year-old working actor who wants to continue working, Lynn Ann Leveridge relies on her experience, her reputation and, above all, her memory. “It’s imperative,” says Ms. Leveridge, who lives in Los Angeles. “Although an audition doesn’t have to be memorized, you need to be as familiar with the material as possible to audition well, particularly if it’s an on-camera audition.” A native of Riverdale in the Bronx, she made her Broadway debut in 1975 playing Hadass in the musical “Yentl” (the role played by Amy Irving in the film version).
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After the Storms, A Different Opinion on Climate Change
Hurricanes and other traumatic weather events may have the power to shift people’s instincts about the need for policies that address the threats of climate change, a study indicates.
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Can You Detect Your Partner’s Feelings Without Seeing His Or Her Face?
The Huffington Post: Younger adults are more adept at reading emotion in their partner's face than older adults. But when the partner isn't present, older and younger adults are equally able to detect their significant others' moods. Or so suggests a new study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Germany. "When judging others' emotions in real life, people do not exclusively rely on emotional expressions," said lead researcher Antje Rauers in a press release.
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Study: Deep down, we love our parents’ music
Pacific Standard: Pretty much everyone has a soft spot for particular pop songs from the past, however cheesy they may seem today. These tunes, which trigger positive memories and produce warm feelings, tend to be hits from our adolescence and early adulthood. You never forget what was playing when you enjoyed your first kiss. But here’s a surprise: We respond with similar pleasure to the much older songs that served as background music to our parents’ first kiss. And possibly their parents’ as well. Newly published research suggests musical nostalgia is a multigenerational phenomenon.
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Study Says Yelling Is As Hurtful as Hitting
The Wall Street Journal: Parents who yell at their adolescent children for misbehaving can cause some of the same problems as hitting them would, including increased risk of depression and aggressive behavior, according to a new study. A good, warm relationship with Mom and Dad doesn't protect teens from the negative effects of parents' yelling, cursing or lobbing insults, such as calling teens "lazy" or "stupid," the study found. Conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Michigan, the study was published Wednesday on the journal Child Development's website. ...
