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Herbal Extract May Curb Binge Drinking
Source: Medical News TodayAn extract of the Chinese herb kudzu dramatically reduces drinking and may be useful in the treatment of alcoholism and curbing binge drinking, according to a new study by McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School researchers. "Our study is further evidence that components found in kudzu root can reduce alcohol consumption and do so without adverse side effects," said David Penetar, PhD, of the Behavioral Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory...
In Study of Sexual Images, Women Are Seen As Objects, Not As People
Source: Medical News TodayPerfume ads, beer billboards, movie posters: everywhere you look, women's sexualized bodies are on display. A new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, finds that both men and women see images of sexy women's bodies as objects, while they see sexy-looking men as people. Sexual objectification has been well studied, but most of the research is about looking at the effects of this...
Virtual Exercise Partner Can Boost Motivation and Performance
Source: Medical News TodayA new study, testing the benefits of a virtual exercise partner, shows that the presence of a moderately more capable cycling partner boosts motivation to stick to an exercise program. The work by Brandon Irwin and colleagues, from Michigan State University in the US, is published online in Springer's journal, Annals of Behavioral Medicine. For many people, lack of motivation is a barrier to achieving both the recommended amount and intensity of...
Iran Persecutes Gay Community, Report Concludes
Source: The GuardianLifestyles of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people exposes them to horrific punishment, a study has found The lifestyles of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Iran are comprehensively and systematically denied by the Islamic regime, which exposes them to horrific punishment, bullying and risk of suicide, a study has found. The first detailed report on Iran's LGBT community has found that its members live under social and...
Pain Relief Through Distraction: It's Not All in Your Head
Source: ScienceDailyMental distractions make pain easier to take, and those pain-relieving effects aren't just in your head, according to a new report.
New York Police Plan Changes to "Stop and Frisk"
Source: Reuters - US NewsNEW YORK - The New York Police Department announced changes on Thursday to its controversial crime-fighting tactic known as "stop and frisk," saying it would revise the way it trains officers and make clear to them that its policy prohibits racial profiling.
Religion Deserves More Study by Scientists, Say Researchers
Source: ABC News - Science and TechnologyReligion is not something that scientists study very deeply, say anthropologist Scott Atran and social psychologist Jeremy Ginges in the journal Science. There is sort of an agreement between science and religion to remain separate, they say, and that has not been a good thing.
Why Are Some Men Afraid of Vegetarian Options?
Source: ScienceDailyWhy are men generally more reluctant to try vegetarian products? According to a new study consumers are influenced by a strong association of meat with masculinity.
Under Fire, South Africa's Former President Condemns Apartheid
Source: CNN - WorldUnder fire for his comments on apartheid, former South African President F.W. de Klerk clarified his position again Wednesday, saying that he repudiates the system of racial segregation as unacceptable.
Paralysed Woman with Brain Implant Controls Robot Using Her Thoughts
Source: The GuardianThe BrainGate implant can decode a patient's brain signals and instruct a robotic arm to reach and grasp objects A woman who lost the use of her limbs after a devastating stroke nearly 15 years ago has taken a sip of coffee by guiding a robotic arm with her thoughts. The 58-year-old used a brain implant to control the robot and bring a flask of the coffee to her lips, the first time she had picked up anything since she was paralysed and left...
Simple "Head Lag" Test May Help Diagnose Autism
Source: CBS News - HealthwatchResearchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore looked at delays in motor development, as opposed to behavioral or communication delays as is typical.
Canadians to Get Opt-Out Tool for Web Behavioural Advertising
Source: Globe and Mail - TechnologyIAB Canada in negotiations with Digital Advertising Alliance in U.S. to adopt its self-regulating program.
Internet Usage Pattern Can Indicate Depression
Source: LiveScienceBeware of big brother: Your internet use could indicate your mental state.
Cannes Film Festival Opens Amid Charges of Sexism
Source: BBC News - Top HeadlinesThe 65th Cannes Film Festival is to open in France later, amid criticism that no female directors will be in competition.
Transgender TV Ad Ruled "Offensive" and Banned in UK
Source: BBC News - UK NewsComplaints about an advert for bookmaker Paddy Power featuring transgender people are upheld by the industry watchdog.
10-Year Roadmap to Prevent, Fight Depression
Source: Medical News TodayMajor depressive episodes can be prevented, and to help ensure that they are, the health care system should provide routine access to depression-prevention interventions, just as patients receive standard vaccines, according to a new article co-authored by UCSF researcher Ricardo F. Munoz, PhD. The article builds on a 2009 Institute of Medicine report on prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders, which provided presented evidence...
Why Does One Person Become Anorexic and Another Obese?
Source: ScienceDailyWhy does one person become anorexic and another obese? Researchers have now shown that reward circuits in the brain are sensitized in anorexic women and desensitized in obese women.
A Walk in the Park Gives Mental Boost to People with Depression
Source: ScienceDailyIn one of the first studies to examine the effect of nature walks on cognition and mood in people with major depression, researchers in Canada and the US have found promising evidence that a walk in the park may provide some cognitive benefits.
Too Much or Too Little Noise Turns Off Creativity
Source: ScienceDailyAmbient background noise turns out to be an important factor affecting creative cognition among consumers, according to new research.
Sleepwalking More Common Than Many People Think
Source: USA Today - Top StoriesAbout 8.5 million U.S. adults have experienced nighttime wanderings and those with sleep apneas and psychiatric disorders are at higher risk.

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