Depression can cause a lot of changes to a victim who is suffering from the ailment. It can change their personality, their emotions, and their general feelings towards the world they live in. However, now research has shown that depression can even change the way a person physically perceives the world by dimming the world of it's beautiful color.
Researchers at the University of Freiburg in Germany have found that people who suffer from depression have a difficult time seeing the differences between the contrasts of black and white. Why this is happening in depressed individuals is still hard to figure out but many feel it has to do with the chemical composition of the brain. Others place the blame on the lack of focus that an individual who is depressed has and even feel that the subconscious mind can be at fault.
The study was conducted by having 40 depression victims and 40 healthy subjects go through various vision tests that had them view flickering black and white checkerboards. While this was happening the researchers tested the retina of the eye using an ECG (electrocardiogram). This showed that the depressed subjects had a much lower retinal response to the varying level of the black and white contrast pictures then the healthy subjects and helped the researchers come up with this theory.
This research can likely help medical professional treat other ailments of a depressed individual by unlocking new ways to bring the color back into a dreary world.
Showing posts with label Research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Research. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Connection Between Cell Phone Use And Brain Cancer Hard To Find
When cell phones were first introduced there was a big fear that excessive use would cause brain tumors and cancers for cell phone users. Nowadays, millions are using some sort of cell phone, so the risk of getting some form of cancer is still prevalent. This is why there was a major international study to see if there was a connection between brain cancer and cell phone use. The findings were positive considering that a link was found to be inconclusive, however there is a lot left to find out about what the effects of excessive cell use has on the biological nature of the brain.
A decade long survey was taken to test the validity of cell phone use causing cancer. Almost 13,000 people participated in the study and over the decade the study found that two types of brain cancer, meningioma and glioma (the first being more frequent but less dangerous while the latter being rarer but more dangerous) were not increased by cell phone use for long periods of time. This is a big blow to many theorists who always felt that there was a distinct connection between the two.
Yet, even though the study showed that the link between brain cancer and using your cell phone was transparent to say the least, the researchers who held the study admitted that there were some inconsistencies within the study. For example, the study didn't take into account were effects of the use of hands free cell phone headsets, the effect of having the cell phone being close to the body but not using it, and general human error within the decade long span study.
Whatever the case may be, the study has made steps in the direction of showing that there is no direct connection between being on your cell phone and brain cancer. Yet, just to be safe it's probably best to not be on your cell phone 24/7.
A decade long survey was taken to test the validity of cell phone use causing cancer. Almost 13,000 people participated in the study and over the decade the study found that two types of brain cancer, meningioma and glioma (the first being more frequent but less dangerous while the latter being rarer but more dangerous) were not increased by cell phone use for long periods of time. This is a big blow to many theorists who always felt that there was a distinct connection between the two.
Yet, even though the study showed that the link between brain cancer and using your cell phone was transparent to say the least, the researchers who held the study admitted that there were some inconsistencies within the study. For example, the study didn't take into account were effects of the use of hands free cell phone headsets, the effect of having the cell phone being close to the body but not using it, and general human error within the decade long span study.
Whatever the case may be, the study has made steps in the direction of showing that there is no direct connection between being on your cell phone and brain cancer. Yet, just to be safe it's probably best to not be on your cell phone 24/7.
Friday, April 23, 2010
London Study Suggests Brainteasers Have No Effect On Making Brain Smarter
Who doesn't love a good brainteaser? A fun game that is fun to play and makes you smarter at the same time is a great way to pass the time while improving your mind. We've all played these type of games and have done brainteasers that we all thought were making us smarter, but a new study shows that these games may be nothing more than just, well, games.
A London study has shown that people who play games on the computer that are said to make you smarter don't make you any smarter. In fact, they don't do anything at all. Over 8,500 people from the ages of 18 to 60 took part in the study by playing online games that told them would increase their intelligence, memory, and other cognitive aspects of their brains. They were told to play these games for about 10 minutes a day and to do this for three weeks. These numbers were then contrasted with over 2,000 other test subjects who acted as a control group by not playing the games at all. This group just went on the Internet the same amount of time that the other group was playing the brain games. Each set of test subjects were given I.Q. tests before the study to see if their brains improved over time.
What the results showed was that the subjects that played the online games and brainteasers didn't perform any better on I.Q. tests compared to the control group that simply went online. Even in some areas of the test, the people who didn't play the games scored higher. This goes to show that brain games could really just be a waste of time if they don't in fact make you any smarter. However, just with any exercise regime, it would be interesting to see how brain teaser exercises effect the brain over a much longer period of time, as three weeks isn't usually a sufficient amount of time to see significant results from any exercise routine.
A London study has shown that people who play games on the computer that are said to make you smarter don't make you any smarter. In fact, they don't do anything at all. Over 8,500 people from the ages of 18 to 60 took part in the study by playing online games that told them would increase their intelligence, memory, and other cognitive aspects of their brains. They were told to play these games for about 10 minutes a day and to do this for three weeks. These numbers were then contrasted with over 2,000 other test subjects who acted as a control group by not playing the games at all. This group just went on the Internet the same amount of time that the other group was playing the brain games. Each set of test subjects were given I.Q. tests before the study to see if their brains improved over time.
What the results showed was that the subjects that played the online games and brainteasers didn't perform any better on I.Q. tests compared to the control group that simply went online. Even in some areas of the test, the people who didn't play the games scored higher. This goes to show that brain games could really just be a waste of time if they don't in fact make you any smarter. However, just with any exercise regime, it would be interesting to see how brain teaser exercises effect the brain over a much longer period of time, as three weeks isn't usually a sufficient amount of time to see significant results from any exercise routine.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
New Research Shows That Relaxation May Be The Key To Improving Memory
Everyone knows that being relaxed clears the head, but scientists have shown that there's a certain link behind being relaxed and having good memory. Having good memory can be a fickle thing, but scientist have found that people who are relaxed have brain waves that easily link up with memory related brain functions and neurons. This shows that cognitive aspects of the brain are associated with the emotional and behavioral aspects of it. As stated before, research has already showed that a relaxed mind works more efficiently than a stressed one, but now science has shown where those connections are.
Research showed that the more stressed an individual was the less memory they could maintain during certain learning processes and objectives. This was caused by brain waves being unable to sync up with memory related neurons in the brain with the right timing. Using an EEG, it was found that, once the brain was put into a relaxed state, memory improved. The emotional reaction of relaxing helped the brain function at a greater rate, which brought on improved recall and memories showing a clear connection between emotions and functions of the brain.
While the research showed improved memory resulting from a clear connection between the behavioral areas of the brain and cognitive areas, this research can do the most good helping people with learning disabilities. The studies showed that many learning disabilities could be based off bad timing in the brain brought on by harmful emotional responses like stress. All of these can now be treated with new therapies from the research. At the very least, the study should remind us to take it easy so we can improve our memory.
Research showed that the more stressed an individual was the less memory they could maintain during certain learning processes and objectives. This was caused by brain waves being unable to sync up with memory related neurons in the brain with the right timing. Using an EEG, it was found that, once the brain was put into a relaxed state, memory improved. The emotional reaction of relaxing helped the brain function at a greater rate, which brought on improved recall and memories showing a clear connection between emotions and functions of the brain.
While the research showed improved memory resulting from a clear connection between the behavioral areas of the brain and cognitive areas, this research can do the most good helping people with learning disabilities. The studies showed that many learning disabilities could be based off bad timing in the brain brought on by harmful emotional responses like stress. All of these can now be treated with new therapies from the research. At the very least, the study should remind us to take it easy so we can improve our memory.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Cutting Calories May Help Maintain Memory
Cutting calories is a great way to keep the body in shape, but research has now shown that it may also be a way to improve memory and mental health. Cutting down on calories and having a healthier diet has always been seen as a way to help the brain function more efficiently, but what researchers found through a study was a possible connection between dieting and improved memory. A study was conducted with three different groups of individuals with an average age of around 60. The first group cut their daily intake of calories by 30%, the second group increased their calorie intake day to day, and the third group acted as a control and didn’t change anything regarding their diets.
Participants had their memories tested before changing their diets and then again months after completing the study. The research showed that the seniors who cut down on their calorie intake had higher scores regarding verbal memory than the other groups. This presents and interesting link between a good diet and improved memory, but some scientists are still skeptical. Many argue that the testing group was still too small and that the testing didn’t show if the memory improvement lasted over time or just day to day. However, aside from this study, cutting down on calories is generally linked with a higher level of physical fitness and ultimately a healthier lifestyle which includes a healthy brain.
Participants had their memories tested before changing their diets and then again months after completing the study. The research showed that the seniors who cut down on their calorie intake had higher scores regarding verbal memory than the other groups. This presents and interesting link between a good diet and improved memory, but some scientists are still skeptical. Many argue that the testing group was still too small and that the testing didn’t show if the memory improvement lasted over time or just day to day. However, aside from this study, cutting down on calories is generally linked with a higher level of physical fitness and ultimately a healthier lifestyle which includes a healthy brain.
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