Music and Emotion in Sound

Did you know that studying music can enhance your ability related to identify emotion in sound? According to a report in the European Journal of Neuroscience, researchers have discovered biological evidence that musical training enhances an individual's ability to recognize emotion in sound. The study, funded by the National Science Foundation, found that the more years of musical experience musicians possessed and the earlier the age the individuals began their music studies the better able they were to process emotion in sound. Being able to accurately identify emotion quickly in sound is a skill that translates across many different arenas.

Exercise and Aging Brain

Did you know that results from MRI studies at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill have correlated physical exercise with blood flow and vessel diameter in the brain? Exercise was found to be associated with an increase in the number of large-diameter vessels in the cerebral region of the brain and with an increase in blood flow in the three major cerebral arteries—in older individuals. The cerebral region is believed to control functions that include consciousness, memory, initiation of activity, emotional response, language,and word associations. Narrowing of and/or loss of small vessels may contribute to cognitive decline. (http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKTRE4B16SZ20081202?sp=true)

Rain Man and Savant Memory

Savant syndrome involves some exceptional abilities in areas of memory and/or other specialized areas (e.g., specific type of information, specific hobby or event. These abilities may be present even when the individual is not specifically trying to memorize autobiographical data. One of the best-known examples of savant memory is said to be that of the man on which the movie Rain Man was based. Kim Peek reportedly had savant memory for most information, not just specialized pieces. In addition, he was able to memorize large pieces of information from the age of 16 months.

Relationship Equality

Have you struggled with how to define equality in a relationship? According to Knudson-Martin and Mahoney (Will Old Gender Scripts Limit New Millennium Families' Ability to Thrive? 1996), a relationship that is equal encompasses six characteristics. Both partners:

1. Show their true selves to the other

2. Hold equal power

3. Take equal responsibility for the relationship

4. Accommodate equally to each others' needs

5. Pay attention to each other in a balanced way

6. Equally support each other's well-being.

Obesity and Brain Atrophy

Did you know that females who are obese throughout life are more likely to lose brain tissue and that loss of brain tissue has been linked to cognitive decline? Obesity is related to conditions that contribute to an unhealthy vascular system, and therefore, to a higher dementia risk (e.g., ischemia, hypertension, and cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases). Obesity may also increase the secretion of cortisol, which could lead to brain atrophy. http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/002482.html

New Neuroscience of "Choking"

Humans sometimes fail under pressurewitness the unexpected catastrophes in the Olympic trials and in almost any high-stakes sports eventalthough the reasons may be worlds apart. In “The Art of Failure,” Malcom Gladwell described the difference between panic (too little thinking and reverting to instinct) and choking (thinking too much and a loss of instinct). Although most people get nervous at times, not everyone chokes. A team of neuroscientist in London used fMRI studies to gain insight into choking. They found that activity in the ventral striatum (a subcortical brain region dense with dopamine neurons) tended to increase as people got more excited about potential rewards. In some, however, striatum activity was inversely related to the magnitude of the reward. Translated, this may mean that some individuals fall apart (choke) under the pressure of the moment because they care too much. The pleasure of the activity has vanished. What remains is the fear of losing, a fear of failure, which can trigger choking.

Neuronal Conversations

Did you know that neurons have “conversations” with each other? The conversations neurons have as they form and recall memories have been decoded by Medical College of Georgia scientists. For their studies, MCG scientists combined new technology and computational methods with century-old Pavlovian conditioning. In CA1 of the hippocampus, researchers used 128 electrodes capable of monitoring a handful of neurons each to simultaneously record the conversations of 200 to 300 neurons as mice learned to associate a certain tone with a mild foot shock 20 seconds later.(http://www.physorg.com/news180162150.html) And remember, my book "Age-Proofing Your Memory" (4 versions) is available on Amazon.com