Neuroscience – Lifeboat News: The Blog

Determinants of escapism in adult video gamers with autism spectrum conditions: The role of affect, autistic burnout, and gaming motivation

Posted by Saúl Morales Rodriguéz in biotech/medical, entertainment, neuroscience

Jan 29
2023

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Persons with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) often engage in video gaming, one of the most common leisure activity in this population. Escapism, aimed at the avoidance of negative experiences or self-development, is considered as one of the main gaming motivations. Furthermore, escapism is a self-regulatory strategy used while suffering from autistic burnout, consisting of exhaustion, reduced social skills, anhedonia, and withdrawal. The goal of the current study was to determine predictors of escapism in video gaming among adult gamers with ASC. It was hypothesized that two types of escapism – self-suppression and self-expansion – would differentiate gaming motivations, affective outcomes, anhedonia, and autistic burnout rates. A total of 189 persons participated in the study (M_age = 27.52, SD_age = 7.25), including 105 females. The results obtained indicated that self-suppression escapism was predicted by introjected regulation, positive and negative affect, and hedonic tone (F = 8.760, p < .001), while self-expansion was predicted by identified and integrated gaming motivations, hedonic tone, and positive affect (F = 23.066, p < .001). PLS-SEM analysis revealed good fit of the model with autistic burnout predicting self-suppression escapism. These results acknowledge the two-dimensional approach to escapism and highlight potential risk factors of self-suppression, especially among persons presenting symptoms of autistic burnout. Future research and clinical application directions are outlined.

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Why can’t we say what cognition is (at least for the time being)

Posted by Dan Breeden in neuroscience

Jan 28
2023

Some philosophers search for the mark of the cognitive: a set of individually necessary and jointly suΜcient conditions identifying all and only the instances of cognition. They claim the mark is necessary to answer diΜcult questions concerning the nature and distribution of cognition.

Here, I will argue that, as things stand, given the current landscape of cognitive science, we are not able to identify a mark of the cognitive. I proceed as follows. First, I clarify some factors motivating the search for the mark of the cognitive, thereby highlighting the desiderata the mark is supposed to satisfy. Then, I highlight a tension in the literature over the mark. Given the literature, it is not clear whether the search aims for a mark capturing the intuitive notion of cognition or a genuine scientiΞc kind.

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Network Neuroscience Theory — The Best Predictor of Intelligence

Posted by Jose Ruben Rodriguez Fuentes in bioengineering, neuroscience, robotics/AI

Jan 28
2023

Researchers have been working for many years to comprehend the relationship between brain structure, functional connectivity, and intelligence. A recent study provides the most comprehensive understanding to date of how different regions of the brain and neural networks contribute to a person’s problem-solving ability in a variety of contexts, a trait known as general intelligence.

The researchers recently published their findings in the journal Human Brain Mapping.

The research, led by Aron Barbey, a professor of psychology, bioengineering, and neuroscience at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and first author Evan Anderson, a researcher for Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. working at the Air Force Research Laboratory, employed the technique of “connectome-based predictive modeling” to evaluate five theories on how the brain leads to intelligence.

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Tiny brain implant allows you to use social media with your mind

Posted by Paul Battista in computing, Elon Musk, neuroscience

Jan 28
2023

Scientists have developed a minuscule brain implant smaller than a human hair which allows people to control computers with their minds. The chip is developed by Precision Neuroscience and works along similar principles to those of Elon Musk’s Neuralink company, though the Precision chip sits on the brain rather than in the tissue.

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How a Brain Molecule Could Halt Multiple Sclerosis

Posted by Quinn Sena in biotech/medical, neuroscience

Jan 28
2023

Summary: Injecting the brain molecule into mouse models of multiple sclerosis increased the number of oligodendrocytes. The findings suggest fractalkine may help to slow the progression, or potentially halt multiple sclerosis.

Source: University of Alberta.

A University of Alberta researcher is one step closer to demonstrating the potential of a brain molecule called fractalkine to halt and even reverse the effects of multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases.

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Special Vascular Cells Adjust Blood Flow in Brain Capillaries Based on Local Energy Needs

Posted by Raphael Ramos in biotech/medical, neuroscience

Jan 28
2023

Its impressive how adaptive the brain is to each situation. It can sense which portions of the brain need more blood flow depending on energy usage and makes the needed tiny adjustments.

Summary: Researchers identified a specific type of cell that sits on top of the brain’s smallest blood vessels that sense when their region of the brain is in need of energy.

Source: University of Maryland

When we smell hot dogs, it may trigger memories of backyard barbeques or attending baseball games during childhood. During this process, the areas of the brain that control smell and long-term memory are rapidly firing off impulses. To fuel these signals from neurons, the active brain regions need oxygen and energy in the form of blood sugar glucose, which is quickly delivered through blood vessels.

Now, University of Maryland School of Medicine’s researchers have discovered that a certain type of cell that sits on top of the brain’s smallest blood vessels senses when their brain region needs energy. When glucose levels are low, these cells signal blood vessels to dilate, increasing the blood flow regionally and allowing more energy to fuel that part of the brain.

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Even simple motions make ripples across brain, study finds

Posted by Shubham Ghosh Roy in neuroscience

Jan 27
2023

Even a simple movement like pushing a button sends ripples of activity throughout networks of neurons spanning across the brain, new University of Oregon research shows.

The finding highlights just how complex the human brain is, challenging the simplified textbook picture of distinct brain areas dedicated to specific functions.

“It’s really well known that that the primary motor cortex controls movement output,” said Alex Rockhill, a graduate student in the lab of human physiology professor Nicki Swann. “But there’s a lot more to movement than this one brain area.”

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A drug that increases dopamine can reverse the effects of inflammation on the brain in depression, Emory study shows

Posted by Nicholi Avery in biotech/medical, chemistry, neuroscience

Jan 27
2023

𝐀 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬

𝘼𝙣 𝙀𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙮 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙈𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙋𝙨𝙮𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙙𝙤𝙥𝙖, 𝙖 𝙙𝙧𝙪𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙘𝙞𝙧𝙘𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙧𝙮, 𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣.

Numerous labs across the world have shown that inflammation causes reduced motivation and anhedonia, a core symptom of depression, by affecting the brain’s reward pathways.

An Emory University study published in Nature’s Molecular Psychiatry shows levodopa, a drug that increases dopamine in the brain, has potential to reverse the effects of inflammation on brain reward circuitry, ultimately improving symptons of depression.

Past research conducted by the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine has linked the effects of inflammation on the brain to decreased release of dopamine, a chemical neurotransmitter that regulates motivation and motor activity, in the ventral striatum.

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Daniel C. Dennett — What is Consciousness?

Posted by Dan Breeden in neuroscience

Jan 27
2023

Consciousness is what we can know best and explain least. It is the inner subjective experience of what it feels like to see red or smell garlic or hear Beethoven. Consciousness has intrigued and baffled philosophers. To begin, we must define and describe consciousness. What to include in a complete definition and description of consciousness?

Free access to Closer to Truth’s library of 5,000 videos: http://bit.ly/376lkKN

Watch more interviews on consciousness: https://bit.ly/30umCPb.

Daniel Clement Dennett III is an American philosopher, writer and cognitive scientist and is currently the Co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies and Professor at Tufts University.

Closer to Truth presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

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Scientists find a drug that treats obesity, fatty liver, heart disease

Posted by Paul Battista in biotech/medical, food, neuroscience

Jan 27
2023

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40% of people living in the U.S. are obese; and 43% of American women over the age of 60—long past menopause—are considered obese. A recent Johns Hopkins study showed that a drug first developed to treat Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and sickle cell disease could treat obesity and fatty liver and improve heart function—without changes in food intake or daily activity.

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