Gene controls whether fear is a factor
In the Nov. 18 issue of Cell, researchers report the discovery of a gene that controls the ability to react with appropriate fear to impending danger. As a result, mice lacking the gene stathmin become daredevils of a sort, the researchers report. The basic findings may have general implications for the study of anxiety disorders and potential anti-anxiety drugs, according to researchers....Human preference for other species could determine whether they survive
As humans exert ever-greater influence on the Earth, their preferences will play a substantial role in determining which other species survive. New research shows that, in some cases, those preferences could be governed by factors as subtle as small color highlights a creature displays. In the case of penguins, mostly black-and-white flightless birds that live predominantly in the Southern...Racing neurons control whether we stop or go
In the children’s game "red light green light," winners are able to stop, and take off running again, more quickly than their comrades. New research reveals that a similar race goes on in our brains, with impulse control being the big winner. "The research provides new insights into how the brain controls movements, which helps explain the impulsivity of people with attention deficit and h...Experts Question Whether Expert Patient Programmes Cut Healthcare Use
The expert patient programme has been heavily promoted by the UK government as part of a drive to reduce use of acute health care and deliver long term cost savings . But researchers in this weeks BMJ examine the evidence and question whether expert patients consume fewer health resources. In 2001, the chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, concluded that self management program...US Court Asked to Decide Whether Childhood Vaccines can Cause Autism
Wearing noise-canceling headphones, Michelle, of Yuma, Arizona, was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair at the start of the proceedings before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. She stayed only a short time. Her parents, Theresa and Michael Cedillo, allege that a preservative called thimerosal that had been used in vaccines weakened their daughter's immune system and prevented h...Researchers To Test Whether ADHD Medication Helps Young Adults While Driving
When a song on the radio or the cell phone on the car seat next to a young driver beckon, she may not resist the temptation to turn up the dial or take a call while maneuvering in traffic. Such distractions could lead to a car crash, especially for young drivers with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). As a group, young ADHD drivers are two to four times more likely t...