Videos
Podcasts
Blogs
Quizzes
GamesPosts Tagged: ‘depression’
If nothing else, this article makes you think about the way Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other psychological diseases develop in patients. It seems straightforward to believe that the traumatic event occurs and then PTSD develops – this kind of direct cause-effect chain is how most war injuries occur. But it now appears that [...]
Two million more Americans fell into the abyss that follows unemployment. Congress did not extend Federal unemployment benefits, so two million more Americans lose their only source of income: Last unemployment check is in the mail About 2 million people are expected to stop receiving checks in December. Though President Obama on Tuesday called on [...]
Public Service Announcement – Exercise is even more valuable than we thought
by Marshall Brain | November 19, 2010
You always hear that it is good to exercise. But why? And how good is it? A new study shows that exercise is incredibly valuable to human beings: Regular Exercise Reduces Large Number of Health Risks Including Dementia and Some Cancers, Study Finds People who take regular exercise could reduce their risk of developing around [...]
Antidepressant Roboxetine Giving Real Scientists the Blues
by Josh Clark | October 16, 2010
One of the most vitally important parts of any prescription drug regimen for treating depression is that the prescription drug actually work. Becasue of this maxim, clinically depressed patients who are taking the drug reboxetine are going to have trouble getting to well.
Would you like to be unhappy? Choose a neurotic partner
by Marshall Brain | October 15, 2010
This is an article on happiness, but it also lists a “surefire way to be unhappy”: German study finds happiness is based on choices, not genes Here’s the quote: Relationships are very important, but according to Wagner and his colleagues choosing a neurotic partner is a surefire way to be unhappy. This brings up the [...]
You have probably heard about, or personally experienced, people with amazing mental capabilities. They are frequently referred to as savants, and they can do things that “normal” human beings cannot. And then there are abilities that, while not particularly unusual, are rare. For example, the ability to draw a good portrait of another person. It [...]
Depression is a big problem in the United States. There is Major Depression…
Major depression is when five or more symptoms of depression are present for at least 2 weeks. These symptoms include feeling sad, hopeless, worthless, or pessimistic. In addition, people with major depression often have behavior changes, such as new eating and sleeping patterns. Major depression increases a person’s risk of suicide.
…which affects about 8 percent of the U.S. population ages 18 and older in a given year. That’s 20 million or so people. And then there are less severe forms of depression that affect many more. Triggers for depression can include…
Invention – Boosting memory with electricity on the scalp
by Marshall Brain | August 13, 2010
This article claims that, by placing electrodes on the scalp and adding a little electricity, people can boost their memories:
Skull electrodes give memory a boost
The technique uses transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), in which weak electrical currents are applied to the scalp using electrodes. The method can temporarily increase or decrease activity in a specific brain region and has already been shown to boost verbal and motor skills in volunteers.
The results of the tests? “Those in the first group more than doubled their scores after receiving tDCS, experiencing a 110 per cent improvement in visual memory.”
This morning, Chuck Bryant of Stuff You Should Know e-mailed some of us a link to CNN’s article on people being depressed after seeing “Avatar.” To sum it up, some people are sad that Pandora isn’t real and are turning to Web sites and forum threads to deal with their grief.
I hadn’t heard of this before: anxiety sensitivity. I also can’t think of too many worse conditions that don’t involve substantial wounds. Anxiety sensitivity is a clinical condition where an individual suffers anxiety about anxiety. More succinctly, it’s the fear of fear. Well you’ve pretty much lost at the start, haven’t you?
Recent Postings by Category
BrainStuff
- Thank You and Best Wishes to Marshall Brain
- Contest – Design a $300 house and win $25,000
- How the Philtrum works – the place under your nose where your face comes together
The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
- Traveling on the Orient Express
- Deep-fried Goodness at Carnival
- The Colors of the Running of the Bulls
Keep Asking
- Why can a 5 foot 8 inch man dunk a basketball on a 10 foot rim while some people of taller stature can’t?
- What happens to our sun once it runs out of fuel?
- How do we know the age of the universe?
Stuff Mom Never Told You
- Who invented the Christmas card?
- How the Kinsey Report Fueled Whiskey Sales
- How to Get Your Wedding Announcement into The New York Times
Stuff to Blow Your Mind
- Blow Your Mind: In the Lair of the Rat King
- Mandala: Memory Palace, Inception and Simulated Worlds
- Virgin Galactic: $200,000 Ticket to Ride
Stuff You Should Know
- The Southern Death Cult, the Maya and Georgia
- Deformed Baby Spider Brains
- Amazing Medical Conditions: Maple Syrup Urine Disorder
The Stuff of Genius
CarStuff
- Was Chrysler’s “It’s Halftime in America” Super Bowl commercial a little too political?
- Why is NASA studying car safety?
- Tips for in-car Navigation Systems
How-to Stuff
- How to Make the Most of a Gallery Crawl (When You’re on a Shoestring Budget)
- How to Swim with Dolphins (When Deep Water Terrifies You)
- How to Cure a Homemade Cookie Craving Without Turning on the Oven
PopStuff
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 40: Did movies ruin love?
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 39: Urban Legends
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 38: Defending Disney Princesses?
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
Stuff to Change the World
- Who will own the Arctic?
- Obesity: The New Global Crisis
- Bill Gates Makes For A Pretty Decent Cartoon
Stuff You Missed in History Class
- Butch Cassidy: Should we read between the lines?
- Are we rooting for D.B. Cooper?
- Party Time: A Look at Unconventional Politics
