Neuroscience In The News On Feb 29

These are articles that I found of interest relating to news about Neuroscience.  In this issue, I have highlighted articles about all-nighters and negative consequences, some of the neuroscience myths that are debunked and a glowing red tool to help in brain mapping.

Please check out the article links below and feel free to comment with other information related to these subjects.  I enjoy learning as much as I can about the brain and passing this information on to everyone else that shares these passions.

This is for the week beginning February 29, 2016.

Please come back each week and hopefully I will have some more highlights.  Feel free to share with me ones that you have found and I may highlight those as well.

Feel free to check out the highlighted articles from February 22, 2016

All-Nighters Have Negative Consequences

Dr. Lydic explained that it was only recently that the great power of sleep to alter human physiology and biology was understood.

"You need sleep,” Lydic said. “Without sleep, you die.”

Sleep disorders, Lydic said, have high comorbidity with other diseases and disorders. He listed diabetes, stroke, anxiety, hypertension and other disorders as conditions whose likelihood increases with the presence of a sleep disorder.

Article Link:

• Study Proves All-Nighters Can Have Negative Consequences
• Dr. Ralph Lydic, University Of Tennessee

Four Neuromyths Debunked

Many “neuromyths” are rampant in our classrooms, and research suggests that people are often seduced by neuroscientific explanations, even if these are not accurate or even relevant. Research also shows that explanations accompanied by images of the brain also persuade people to believe in their validity, however random the illustration.

Article Link:

• Four Neuromyths That Are Still Prevalent In Schools - Debunked
• By Bradley Busch, Psychologist

Glowing Red Tool For Brain Mapping

University of Alberta chemists have built a molecule that will shed new light on brain disease research — red, flashing light, specifically.

Combining proteins from red-glowing coral and the sac-like sea squirt, PhD student Ahmed Abdelfattah constructed a new tool called FlicR1 for scientists to see messages move through brain tissue.

Article Link:

• Chemists Build Glowing Red Tool For Brain Mapping
• University Of Alberta, PhD Student - Ahmed Abdelfattah