Addicts' cravings have different roots in men and women

[Bill Hathaway] When it comes to addiction, sex matters. 1 Feb 2012 15:20

Government departments (and Cope) get attachment orders

The Gauteng government has denied that a sheriff was detained when she arrived at the offices of Gauteng Premier, Nomvula Mokonyane's office with an attachment order to remove furniture from the premises. 23 Jan 2012 09:00

Autism redefined: Yale researchers study impact of proposed diagnostic criteria

Getting an autism diagnosis could be more difficult in 2013 when a revised diagnostic definition goes into effect. The proposed changes may affect the proportion of individuals who qualify for a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, according to preliminary data presented by Yale School of Medicine researchers at a meeting of the Icelandic Medical Association. 20 Jan 2012 16:43

Even in the healthy, stress causes brain to shrink, Yale study shows

[Bill Hathaway] Experiencing stressful life events, such as a divorce or job loss, can reduce gray matter in critical regions of the brain that regulate emotion and important physiological functions - even in healthy individuals, Yale researchers report in a study published online the week of 9 January in the journal Biological Psychiatry. 9 Jan 2012 16:13

Study looks at impact of cell phone base station on body's adrenergic system

Changes of clinically important neurotransmitters from electromagnetic radiation. 9 Jan 2012 13:31

Agent shows ability to suppress brain metastasis and related damage

Scientists are one step closer to repairing the damage caused by brain metastasis, a major challenge in cancer treatment, according to data published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. 3 Jan 2012 13:34

Timing is key in the proper wiring of the brain, Yale researchers find

[Bill Hathaway] After birth, the developing brain is largely shaped by experiences in the environment. However, neurobiologists at Yale and elsewhere have also shown that for many functions the successful wiring of neural circuits depends upon spontaneous activity in the brain that arises before birth independent of external influences. 23 Dec 2011 10:42

Alzheimer's vaccine cures memory of mice

A vaccine that slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia has been developed by researchers at the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI). 11 Dec 2011 13:21

Scientists identify area that could sever communication between brain and heart in disease

A team of neuroscientists and anaesthetists, who have been using pioneering techniques to study how the brain regulates the heart, has identified a crucial part of the nervous system whose malfunction may account for an increased risk of death from heart failure. The findings, published online (ahead of print) in the Journal of Physiology, could lead to more targeted therapies to help reduce serious illness and death in cardiovascular disease. 28 Nov 2011 13:30

Scientist discovers why drug boosts memory in Down syndrome mice

COLORADO, USA: A University of Colorado School of Medicine researcher who found a drug that improved memory in mice with Down syndrome has unlocked the mystery of how it works. 24 Nov 2011 16:23

Synaesthesia linked to a hyper-excitable brain

'Hyper-excitability' in regions of the brain may underlie synaesthesia, an unusual condition where some people experience a 'blending of the senses', Oxford University researchers suggest. 22 Nov 2011 16:46

Yale researchers find genetic link between heart disease and brain aneurysms

[Bill Hathaway] Yale School of Medicine researchers have discovered that a variant of a gene linked to heart disease also increases the risk of deadly aneurysms of blood vessels in the brain. The discovery of this link raises hopes for new treatments for intracranial aneurysms, which affect more than a half million people worldwide annually. 22 Nov 2011 13:24

Brain tumor group narrows search for genetic susceptibility

[Michael Greenwood] An international consortium of researchers, including members from the Yale School of Public Health, has narrowed the search for the gene or genes associated with inherited susceptibility to a malignant brain cancer to a region on chromosome 17. 16 Nov 2011 17:19