Tag: Psychology

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Ask the Brain: Why Do We Crave Sugar When We’re Stressed?

In America, uncontrolled sugar consumption is a concern because of its contributions to obesity and diabetes. A recent study investigated the psychological basis of sugar cravings during times of stress. Researchers proposed that sugar turns down the stress response in the human brain. As a result, we may be consuming sugar as a quick way to hold back feelings of stress. To test this hypothesis, … Continue reading Ask the Brain: Why Do We Crave Sugar When We’re Stressed?

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Sparking Scientific Curiosity: (R)evolutions in the way we teach and learn

Presented by Kevin Harlen, Greg Kestin, Katie Dagon, and Ben Morris Science education is a hot topic many of us have heard discussed widely in the media, by politicians and in America’s school systems. This talk will shed light on the different aspects of science education, why they are important and how they will impact us today and in the future. Our presentation will open … Continue reading Sparking Scientific Curiosity: (R)evolutions in the way we teach and learn

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Born to be Bad? The Biological Basis of Criminal Behavior

Presented by Clare Malone Is there a biological reason why some people become violent offenders? This is an area of biology with many legal, ethical, and societal implications. Tonight we will focus on what the biology can, and cannot, tell us about the causes of violent behavior. We will talk about the studies that have been done, their results, and their limitations. Along the way … Continue reading Born to be Bad? The Biological Basis of Criminal Behavior

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Mindfulness meditation: A mental workout to benefit the brain

Meditation has ancient, religious roots, but it has also become a secular practice, implemented to promote wellbeing and to treat depression and anxiety. Skeptics might be wary of this jump from spiritual origins to medical treatment, but mounting evidence suggests that meditation can have tangible effects on the brain. In a practice called mindfulness meditation, people concentrate on the present moment: on breathing, physical sensations, … Continue reading Mindfulness meditation: A mental workout to benefit the brain

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Mind control: mapping motivation with light

— It has been estimated that around 20 percent of people suffer from major depression. In addition to symptoms such as persistent negative feelings, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating, depression can be marked by a debilitating lack of motivation. Unfortunately, very little is known about the biological causes of depression, much less how it affects motivation. In a paper recently published in Nature, however, Professor Karl Deisseroth and his team have begun unraveling the dynamics behind motivation—and the lack thereof experienced in people with depression. Continue reading Mind control: mapping motivation with light

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Seminars

Thinking About Thinking: the science of decision-making from an economics and neurobiology perspective

Presented by Jessica Laird, Brenna Krieger, and Philip Shiu Decision-making is part of our daily routine, but what is really going on in our heads? This lecture will explore the science of decision-making from the perspectives of Economics and Neurobiology. First, we’ll learn how economists examine decision-making when there is a tradeoff between immediate and future happiness. For example, how do people compare the present … Continue reading Thinking About Thinking: the science of decision-making from an economics and neurobiology perspective

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Transplantation Redux: Advances in Face Transplantation

— According to Max Eastman, “a smile is the universal welcome.” For individuals whose faces are severely disfigured due to trauma, burns or disease, a smile may be difficult, or even impossible, to express. Facial deformities may impair daily activities, such as eating, swallowing, breathing, and talking. Consequently, these individuals may hide from the public in an attempt to avoid curious stares from strangers. For those patients who have exhausted all conventional means of facial reconstruction, face transplantation offers the possibility of regaining muscle movement and sensory control in the face. For example, doctors hope that the surgical procedure will help patients to prevent drooling, display various emotions, and speak and eat more easily. Continue reading Transplantation Redux: Advances in Face Transplantation

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Sleep clears the mind: How sleep prepares the brain for new learning

— Despite the fact that sleep is essential to our health, its function and what makes it necessary have remained mysterious. Over the years, scientists have accumulated data showing that sleep, or the lack thereof, affects the brain. Most of this work focused on the idea that sleep is important for consolidating newly formed memories. However, evidence is now building that sleep also makes room for the formation of new memories, acting as a sort of “spring cleaning” for the brain. The idea that sleep may help balance brain resources and space is known as the homeostatic theory of sleep. Continue reading Sleep clears the mind: How sleep prepares the brain for new learning

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Obesity and the Brain: New Findings from Nicotine?

— Obesity and smoking are the two largest causes of premature death in the United States. Obesity causes over 160,000 preventable deaths per year, while cigarette smoking causes over 440,000. The list of diseases caused by obesity and smoking are myriad. To name a few, obesity increases the risk of type II diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, while smoking leads to respiratory problems, heart ailments, and lung cancer. Unfortunately, the rate of obesity is on the rise and has become a national epidemic. What an irony, then, that smoking decreases appetite and weight, a fact that has been long known by scientists and smokers alike. With recent headlines like “Nicotine treatment ‘could control obesity,’” does this mean that smokers should not quit, or that obese individuals should take up smoking? Absolutely not! Continue reading Obesity and the Brain: New Findings from Nicotine?

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Can you maintain mental stability and health as you age?

–Eventually, everyone experiences “senior moments.” You may forget where you left your keys, or walk into a room only to realize that you can’t recall why you entered in the first place. As we get older, the physical signs of slowing down also become increasingly apparent, whether it’s getting a little slower on your daily run, or becoming more easily fatigued in a basketball game with your kids. The gradual appearance of these signs of mental and physical decline is a normal part of aging. Continue reading Can you maintain mental stability and health as you age?

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