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Brain research: Study shows how brain stimulation can influence decisions

A new study by Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg found that brain stimulation can influence decisions, making choices faster with anodal stimulation and slower with cathodal stimulation. The research used transcranial direct current stimulation to activate or inhibit specific brain regions.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Cortex suppression resolves motivation conflict in favor of prosociality

Researchers suppressed cortical excitability to resolve self-interest vs. prosocial motivations in favor of cooperation, particularly in dictator games. In generosity games, no effect was observed. The study suggests the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays a key role in resolving conflicts between self-interest and prosociality.

Brain activity buffers against worsening anxiety

A new study by Duke University researchers found that people at-risk for anxiety were less likely to develop the disorder if they had higher activity in a region of the brain responsible for complex mental operations. Higher functioning dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may buffer against worsening anxiety.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Stanford study identifies brain areas altered during hypnotic trances

Researchers identified three key brain regions involved in hypnosis, including decreased activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate and increased connections between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the insula. These changes may help understand how hypnosis affects perception and body control.

Wired for gaming: Brain differences in compulsive video game players

Researchers found hyperconnectivity between brain networks in adolescent boys with Internet gaming disorder, which may help them respond to new information but also increase distractibility and poor impulse control. The study provides insights into the neural basis of compulsive video game play.

How your brain decides blame and punishment -- and how it can be changed

Researchers found that disrupting brain activity in a specific area can change punishment decisions without affecting blame judgments. This study suggests that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex integrates information from other parts of the brain to determine punishment and moral responsibility.

A 'cingular' strategy for attack and defense

The study found that two specific brain regions, the posterior cingulate cortex and rostral anterior cingulate cortex, are activated when making defensive or offensive strategies. This suggests that intuition plays a key role in rapid strategic decisions, rather than deliberate reasoning.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Training the brain to improve on new tasks

A new study found that training individuals on a working-memory task can improve their performance on various cognitive tasks, including problem-solving and attentional control. The training exercise increased connectivity between specific brain areas, particularly the parietal and frontal brain regions.

The art of mindreading -- empathy or rational inference?

Researchers found that the brain's dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays a key role in rational inference, but not emotions, in 'mindreading'. The study suggests that certain executive functions like cognitive flexibility may be important for processing what someone else is thinking.

Is there a seat of wisdom in the brain?

Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine have reviewed the neurobiology of wisdom, identifying key brain regions involved in its attributes such as empathy, compassion and emotional stability. The study suggests an optimal balance between primitive and pre-frontal cortex brain regions may enhance wisdom.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Emory study lights up the political brain

A recent Emory University study used fMRI to investigate how Democrats and Republicans process information during the 2004 US Presidential election. The researchers found that emotional circuits in the brain lit up when partisans held biased opinions, rather than rational reasoning.

Perceptual decision-making hub pinpointed in human brain

Researchers at NIMH identified a brain region in the frontal cortex as the site of perceptual decision-making, which weighs competing signals from specialized visual processing areas. The discovery could explain why harder-to-identify images evoke slower responses in this area.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

New U-M Analysis Of Brain At Work

Researchers found that verbal storage tasks activate left-hemisphere speech areas, while spatial storage tasks activate specific areas of the right cortex. The study provides strong evidence for a more precise understanding of how various regions of the frontal cortex are involved in specific mental activities.