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Archive for the ‘neuroscience’ category: Page 258

Nov 29, 2017

Eye contact with your baby helps synchronise your brainwaves

Posted by in category: neuroscience

Making eye contact with an infant makes adults’ and babies’ brainwaves ‘get in sync’ with each other – which is likely to support communication and learning – according to researchers at the University of Cambridge.

When a parent and infant interact, various aspects of their behaviour can synchronise, including their gaze, emotions and heartrate, but little is known about whether their also synchronises – and what the consequences of this might be.

Brainwaves reflect the group-level activity of millions of neurons and are involved in information transfer between brain regions. Previous studies have shown that when two adults are talking to each other, communication is more successful if their brainwaves are in synchrony.

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Nov 29, 2017

In autism, too many brain connections may be at root of condition

Posted by in categories: genetics, neuroscience

Mutations in a gene linked to autism in people causes neurons to form too many connections in rodents, according to a new study. The findings suggest that malfunctions in communication between brain cells could be at the root of autism.

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Nov 26, 2017

What if consciousness is not what drives the human mind?

Posted by in category: neuroscience

See if you can get your head around this.

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Nov 24, 2017

“The Number of Teens who Are Depressed is Soaring — and All Signs Point to Smartphones”

Posted by in categories: mobile phones, neuroscience

LTRP Note: The following news story is posted for informational purposes.

By Jean Twenge Business Insider

Around 2012, something started going wrong in the lives of teens.

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Nov 24, 2017

How Alzheimer’s emerged from the shadows

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

A new movement aims to break the silence over a little-understood disease.

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Nov 23, 2017

Smart people have better connected brains

Posted by in category: neuroscience

Die Goethe-Universität ist eine forschungsstarke Hochschule in der europäischen Finanzmetropole Frankfurt. Lebendig, urban und weltoffen besitzt sie als Stiftungsuniversität ein einzigartiges Maß an Eigenständigkeit.

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Nov 20, 2017

The Policy Prognosis for AI: Winner of the SSUNS 2017 Essay Contest

Posted by in categories: economics, education, Elon Musk, employment, health, neuroscience, policy, quantum physics, robotics/AI, transhumanism

Furthermore, with advancements in quantum computing and machine learning, many notable public figures, including Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk, have indicated a growing concern with the imminent threat of AI surpassing human intelligence (Gosset, 2017). For instance, Darrell M. West, a political scientist, has proposed a protectionist framework that appeals to transhumanism, in which he restructures socioeconomic policy to account for changes in technology-induced unemployment. In particular, he posits that “Separating the dispersion of health care, disability, and pension benefits outside of employment offers workers with limited skills social benefits on a universal basis” (West, 2015). Expounding upon this equivocation, a more viable solution to potential unemployment is the realization of a multi-faceted policy which advocates the improvement of STEM-related education on a broad economic base, with habituation programs for the unskilled workforce. That is, with the implementation of appropriate and reformatory policies concerning the future development of AI technologies, this sector provides an economic incentive for new job creation, compatible with industrial development.


Prompt: What are the political implications of artificial intelligence technology and how should policy makers ensure this technology will benefit diverse sectors of society?

In recent years, the rapid development and mass proliferation of artificial intelligence have had various sociopolitical implications. It is a commonly held belief that the emergence of this technology will have an unprecedented impact on policies and political agendas. However, such discourse often lacks a geopolitical and social dimension, which limits the breadth of analysis. Further, little consideration has been given to potential employment and public policy reform. Growing concerns have been raised regarding the potential risk inherent in the evolution of strong AI, which provides the basis for transhumanism, whereby it is conjectured that AI will eventually be able to surpass human intelligence. As such, it is incumbent upon the upcoming generation of policymakers to implement and adopt necessary measures, which will provide a careful, multilateral framework, ultimately achieving market-oriented technological advancement with respect to employment and public policy.

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Nov 19, 2017

Why I’m Digging Deep Into Alzheimer’s

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

This effects whole families and their emotional well being!


Bill Gates shares his thoughts on Alzheimer’s disease and his hopes for accelerating progress to find a breakthrough.

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Nov 18, 2017

Neuroscience Is Helping Us Build a Machine With Consciousness

Posted by in category: neuroscience

I always wondered if this was possible.


In a paper published, Science describes a team of neuroscientists striving to grasp the computational aspect of consciousness, and port it to a machine.

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Nov 15, 2017

Doctors are gene editing inside the body of a living human for the first time

Posted by in categories: bioengineering, biotech/medical, genetics, neuroscience

He is the first patient to receive an experimental gene therapy as part of a clinical trial. Earlier this week, Sangamo Therapeutics injected Madeux with viruses containing a package of gene-editing material, according to the AP. The hope is that these viruses will enter Madeux’s cells, specifically liver cells, inject the missing gene at the right place in his DNA. Only about 1% of the liver’s cells need to be fixed, and give his liver the ability to produce the enzyme he has been missing all his life.


Brian Madeux’s life hasn’t been easy. So far, he’s had 26 operations to fix problems in everything from hernias to eyes. He has a rare disease called Hunter syndrome, which is caused by the lack of a gene that’s used to produce an enzyme that breaks down certain carbohydrates. As a result, the carbohydrates build up in his body’s cells causing all sorts of problems.

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