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Crowdsourcing a valid option for gathering speech ratings

A study by New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development found that crowdsourcing using Amazon Mechanical Turk can produce high levels of agreement among listeners, even when individual responses are not highly accurate. With samples of nine or more AMT users, performance converges with that of ex...

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of Communication Disorders·DateFeb 17, 2015

Climate affects the development of human speech

Researchers discovered a correlation between climate and language evolution, finding that complex tones occur more frequently in tropical regions. The study suggests that inhaling dry air can cause vocal fold dehydration, making it harder to achieve complex tones.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 22, 2015

Early parental program improves long-term childhood outcomes

A Penn State study found that a prenatal program aimed at enhancing couples' co-parenting relationship improved children's adjustment and school engagement at age seven. The intervention focused on fostering positive co-parenting, leading to better emotional security and well-being for the child.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Family Psychology·DateJan 19, 2015

Future family and career goals evident in teenage years

Researchers found that teenagers who placed high importance on both work and family goals, as well as having confidence in achieving them, were more likely to report feeling successful in their careers and families later in life. These individuals also reached higher education levels than those with only family-oriented goals.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Vocational Behavior·DateNov 4, 2014

Neglected boys may turn into violent adolescents

Physical neglect during childhood is a stronger predictor of male adolescent violence than physical abuse, according to Penn State researchers. The study suggests that understanding neglect's role in influencing violent behavior can lead to better education and care for at-risk youths.

Help wanted: Principals who love change

US Department of Education reforms place demands on principals' expertise and time; new report recommends coaching teachers, redesigning job descriptions, and university partnerships to support principals. Effective principal training is crucial to implementing stronger teacher evaluation systems, according to researchers.

A new twist on neuro disease: Discovery could aid people with dystonia, Parkinson's and more

Researchers at Michigan Medicine have created a new mouse model of primary dystonia, which closely mimics the human form of the disease. The discovery could aid people with dystonia, Parkinson's and more, providing new insights into the basic biology of the disease and potentially leading to better treatments.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJun 17, 2014

Brain on autopilot

Researchers analyzed 1.6 billion connections within the brain and found highest agreement between structure and information flow in the default mode network, responsible for inward-focused thinking. The study suggests that the structural architecture of the brain ensures automatic switching to something useful when not being used.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNeuroImage·DateJan 16, 2014

Newborn babies have built-in body awareness ability

Researchers found that newborn babies show signs of body awareness by differentiating their own bodies from others. They exhibit interest in looking at another baby's face when it is stroked synchronously with their own, suggesting a mechanism for self-perception already in place.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 21, 2013

Brain regions can be specifically trained

A study found that playing video games like Super Mario 64 increases grey matter in the brain's spatial orientation, memory formation, and strategic planning centers. This plasticity may prove therapeutic for patients with mental health issues, such as schizophrenia or post-traumatic stress disorder.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateOct 30, 2013

Virtually numbed: Immersive video gaming alters real-life experience

A study published in Psychonomic Bulletin & Review found that spending time immersed as a virtual character in role-playing video games can numb people to realizing important body signals in real life. Participants who played immersive video games showed reduced sensitivity to pain and were more indifferent to others' displeasure.

SourceSpringer·JournalPsychonomic Bulletin & Review·DateOct 28, 2013

As chimpanzees grow, so does yawn contagion

As chimpanzees grow from infant to juvenile, they develop increased susceptibility to human yawn contagion. Researchers found that yawning but not nose-wiping was contagious for juvenile chimpanzees, while infants found neither contagious. The results suggest a general developmental pattern shared by humans and other animals.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 16, 2013

McMaster researchers 'fish new pond' for antibiotics

Researchers at McMaster University have developed a novel approach to find new antibiotics by targeting the processes that bacteria use to produce essential vitamins and amino acids. The study identifies chemical compounds that block these processes, potentially providing much-needed therapies to address antibiotic drug resistance.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateOct 13, 2013