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Brain continues learning while asleep, scientists find
The Telegraph: Even after people have gone to bed for the night their brains can carry on processing information according to the study by researchers at Michigan State University in the US. The findings are highlighted in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. "We speculate that we may be investigating a separate form of memory, distinct from traditional memory systems," said Kimberly Fenn, assistant professor of psychology and lead researcher on the project. "There is substantial evidence that during sleep, your brain is processing information without your awareness and this ability may contribute to memory in a waking state." Read the whole story: The Telegraph
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Domestic violence gets evolutionary explanation
NewScientist: What can evolution tell us about domestic violence? Two researchers in the US suggest such violence has ancient origins and that establishing evolution's role could help to better identify those at risk. Others argue that the research makes simplistic assumptions, and warn that some people will interpret the research as an excuse for violence. Each year more than 500,000 women in the US alone report to the police violent attacks by current or former male partners. There is a reason why domestic violence is so widespread, says David Buss, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Texas in Austin: it carries a selective advantage, tied with reproductive success.
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«Mi distraggo o ci ragiono?» Come si affrontano le emozioni negative
Corriere della Serra: A volte la miglior difesa è la fuga, e in questo caso si scappa un po' da se stessi. Quando siamo travolti da un'emozione molto negativa, la reazione spontanea è cercare di distrarci, non pensarci; se invece l'emozione è meno forte scegliamo di affrontarla in maniera più razionale, riflettendoci e trovando un modo per sostenerla. Siamo umani, e ci comportiamo proprio così: lo ha dimostrato una ricerca sulla rivista Psychological Science, condotta da un gruppo di psicologi dell'università di Stanford.
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Les SMS ont-ils contaminé votre cerveau ?
Slate France: Selon ABI Research, un cabinet d’études spécialisé dans les nouvelles technologies, ils’enverra plus de 7 000 milliards de SMS dans le monde au cours de l’année 2011. Etant donné que la population de la Terre aura, d’ici au 31 décembre, passé la barre des 7 milliards d’individus, cela fera une moyenne de 1 000 SMS par personne. Même s’il existe encore bien des récalcitrants (comme l’auteur de ces lignes…), il est indéniable que la pratique du texto se répand de plus en plus. Mais jusqu’où ?
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fMRIs Show That Dyslexia Isn’t A Matter of IQ
A brain-imaging study challenges a common understanding of dyslexia, showing that the reading difficulties associated with dyslexia are not related to IQ.
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How a Mother’s Love May Counter the Negative Health Effects of Poverty
TIME: Being raised in poverty can have lifelong negative effects on children's health, increasing their risk of chronic disease in adulthood. But new research suggests one factor that may help protect poor kids from later illness: having a nurturing mother. Growing up poor is stressful, and chronic stress is known to impact physical health long term. Research finds that poor kids are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome — a collection of risk factors that may lead to Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke — compared with their wealthier peers, for example. Read the full story: TIME
