Neuroscience Everywhere
More research from neuroscientists on the devastating impact of poverty on childhood brain development. USA Today reports on a forthcoming study finding that “certain brain functions of some low-income 9- and 10-year-olds pale in comparison with those of wealthy children and that the difference is almost equivalent to the damage from a stroke.” University of Pennsylvania professor and Science Progress adviser Martha Farah is an author of the research.
In an interesting move, the Associated Press picked up the Commentary feature in this week’s online edition of Nature on healthy people enhancing their brain power with pharmaceuticals (which is presently available without a subscription). The authors (who again include Farah) “propose actions that will help society accept the benefits of enhancement, given appropriate research and evolved regulation.” They go on: “Prescription drugs are regulated as such not for their enhancing properties but primarily for considerations of safety and potential abuse. Still, cognitive enhancement has much to offer individuals and society, and a proper societal response will involve making enhancements available while managing their risks.”
Michael Rugnetta reported on the success of the first meeting of the Neuroethics Society in November, and AAAS, which hosted the event, now has full coverage posted. The focus is on military and national security applications of neuroscience, an issue Jonathan Moreno (who sat on a panel at the meeting) tackled in a recent feature, “Intelligence on the Brain.”
The most famous patient in neuroscience research, Henry Molaison–formerly known to only as H.M.–passed away last week. In order to treat debilitating seizures, he underwent surgery to remove the site of the problem, the hippocampus, and subsequently lost all ability to form new episodal memories. NYT has a full report, and ScienceBloggers Jake Young, Mo, and Omnibrain offer thoughtful reflections on the man who helped scientists understand how human memory works. (Hat tip to Alta Charo.)
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