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Monday, August 5, 2013

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

ScienceDaily: Top Health News


Potential role of 'love hormone' oxytocin in brain function revealed

Posted: 04 Aug 2013 11:45 AM PDT

Researchers have deciphered how oxytocin, acting as a neurohormone in the brain, not only reduces background noise, but more importantly, increases the strength of desired signals. These findings may be relevant to autism, which affects one in 88 children in the United States.

Scientists discover potential new way to treat anxiety

Posted: 04 Aug 2013 11:45 AM PDT

Chemically modified inhibitors of the COX-2 enzyme relieve anxiety behaviors in mice by activating natural "endocannabinoids" without gastrointestinal side effects, scientists report. Endocannabinoids are natural signaling molecules that activate cannabinoid receptors in the brain, the same receptors turned on by the active ingredient in marijuana.

Scientists decipher structure of NatA, an enzyme complex that modifies most human proteins

Posted: 04 Aug 2013 11:45 AM PDT

Scientists have determined the structure of NatA, an enzyme complex that modifies one end of most human proteins and is made at elevated levels in numerous forms of cancer. Their findings, they believe, will allow them to create an inhibitor -- a potential drug -- that could knock out NatA in order to curb the growth of cancer cells.

Locating the brain's GPS: Human neurons link to navigation in open environments

Posted: 04 Aug 2013 11:44 AM PDT

Using direct human brain recordings, scientists have identified a new type of cell in the brain that helps people to keep track of their relative location while navigating an unfamiliar environment.

Video games boost visual attention but reduce impulse control

Posted: 04 Aug 2013 05:11 AM PDT

A person playing a first-person shooter video game like Halo or Unreal Tournament must make decisions quickly. That fast-paced decision-making, it turns out, boosts the player's visual skills but comes at a cost, according to new research: reducing the person's ability to inhibit impulsive behavior. This reduction in what is called "proactive executive control" appears to be yet another way that violent video games can increase aggressive behavior.

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