Disorders and Syndromes – Page 2 – PossibleThreat Articles

Escapism: A powerful predictor of internet gaming disorder among video gamers

October 22, 2019 0 Comments Communications, Depression, Disorders and Syndromes, Educational Technology, Math Puzzles, Mental Health, Psychiatry, video games

A new study is the first to compare professional electronic sport (esport) players with recreational video game players and explores the similarities and differences between what motivates each group. While the two groups are psychosocially different, they found that both esport and recreational gamers run the risk of developing internet gaming disorder when their intense immersion in the activity is tied to escapism.

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Unique brain cells linked to OCD and anxiety

October 22, 2019 0 Comments Anxiety, Disorders and Syndromes, Erectile Dysfunction, Gender Difference, Psychiatry, Psychology Research, Sexual Health, Women's Health

Scientists have discovered a new lineage of specialized brain cells, called Hoxb8-lineage microglia, and established a link between the lineage and OCD and anxiety in mice. Their experiments proved that Hoxb8-lineage microglia prevent mice from displaying OCD behaviors. Additionally, they found that female sex hormones caused more severe OCD behaviors and induced added anxiety in the mice.

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How the brain dials up the volume to hear someone in a crowd

October 21, 2019 0 Comments Brain Injury, Brain-Computer Interfaces, Disorders and Syndromes, Intelligence, Language Acquisition, Learning Disorders, neuroscience, Perception

Our brains have a remarkable ability to pick out one voice from among many. Now, a team has uncovered the steps that take place in the brain to make this feat possible. Today's discovery helps to solve a long-standing scientific question as to how the brain's listening center can decode and amplify one voice over others. It also stands to spur development of hearing-aid technologies and brain-computer interfaces that more closely resemble the brain.

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Gene variants influence size of brainstem, other structures

October 21, 2019 0 Comments Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's Research, Dementia, Diseases and Conditions, Disorders and Syndromes, Healthy Aging, Intelligence, Parkinson's Research

Three-hundred researchers have identified 48 common genetic variants that are associated with the size of the brainstem and other subcortical structures deep within the brain. This is the first step toward understanding how to devise treatments for disorders affecting these structures.

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Twin study shows what's good for the heart is good for the brain

October 21, 2019 0 Comments Behavior, Cholesterol, Dementia, Diseases and Conditions, Disorders and Syndromes, Heart Disease, Intelligence, Workplace Health

Researchers are giving us double the reasons to pay attention to our cardiovascular health – showing in a recent study that good heart health can equal good brain health.

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Unique brain changes in people with Huntington's disease

October 21, 2019 0 Comments Birth Defects, Brain-Computer Interfaces, Disorders and Syndromes, Healthy Aging, Huntington's Disease, Nervous System, neuroscience, Psychology Research

The part of the brain that selectively degenerates in people with Huntington's disease (HD), called the striatum, is almost entirely destroyed in the late stages of the disease. Brain samples from mutant HD gene positive individuals who had not yet developed symptoms by time of death are extremely rare. As a consequence, very little is known about the active disease process that causes the devastating symptoms of HD.

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The night gardeners: Immune cells rewire, repair brain while we sleep

October 21, 2019 0 Comments Brain Injury, Brain Tumor, Brain-Computer Interfaces, Disorders and Syndromes, Insomnia Research, Nervous System, neuroscience, Sleep Disorder Research

Science tells us that a lot of good things happen in our brains while we sleep — learning and memories are consolidated and waste is removed, among other things. New research shows for the first time that important immune cells called microglia — which play an important role in reorganizing the connections between nerve cells, fighting infections, and repairing damage — are also primarily active while we sleep.

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Your healthcare provider's expectations on whether a treatment works may impact its effectiveness

October 21, 2019 0 Comments Brain-Computer Interfaces, Caregiving, Diseases and Conditions, Disorders and Syndromes, Joint Pain, Patient Education and Counseling, Relationships, Today's Healthcare

If a doctor expects a treatment to be successful, a patient may experience less pain and have better outcomes, according to a new study. The findings reveal how social interactions between hypothetical healthcare providers and patients have the power to influence how patients perceive the effectiveness of a treatment, even when it is a placebo.

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Make some noise: How background noise affects brain activity

October 21, 2019 0 Comments Brain Injury, Brain-Computer Interfaces, Disorders and Syndromes, Intelligence, Language Acquisition, neuroscience, Perception, Psychology

Have you ever found it difficult to focus on a task due to background noise? Scientists are studying just how these sounds impact our brain activity — and what that impact means for designing neurotechnology.

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Young adults with PTSD may have a higher risk of stroke in middle age

October 19, 2019 0 Comments Caregiving, Disorders and Syndromes, Elder Care, Heart Disease, Mental Health Research, PTSD, Stroke, Stroke Prevention

Young adults who develop PTSD after a traumatic event (e.g., gun violence, sexual assault, military combat or natural disaster) may be more likely to experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or major stroke event by middle age. This nationwide study of more than 1.1 million adults showed that PTSD may be a potent risk factor for developing stroke at a young age.