Brain imaging studies investigate pain reduction by hypnosis. In this groundbreaking foray toward a scientific explanation for hypnosis' pain-reducing effects, researchers at the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine and the Technical University of Aachen, Germany, used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to find out if hypnosis alters brain activity. ... [CogNews]000000comment []


Surprisingly complex behaviors appear to be inherited by primates. According to the article, complex patterns of movement appear to be hard-wired into the brains of primates (including humans), just as many of the behaviors of other organisms (like insects or birds) are innate. These are "biologically significant" behaviors that appear likely to improve the primate's ability to survive and reproduce. Researchers elicited them by stimulating specific areas in the brain. ... [CogNews]000000comment []


Primitive Brain Is 'Smarter' Than We Think, MIT Study Shows. The cortex --the "thinking" part of the brain-- is highly developed in humans. This is especially true for the prefrontal cortex. Common wisdom suggests that when we learn new things, the prefrontal cortex figures things out first. Then, as our behaviors become familiar and habitual, the more primitive, subcortical basal ganglia take over so that the now-familiar routines can be run off automatically and occupy less of our thoughts. ... [CogNews]000000comment []


Messing with the mind. Just why are we suddenly spending so much money on studying the brain? Is science making its final push to crack the riddle of human consciousness? Or is there also a more sinister addition, as in profit and "psychocivilizing" human behavior? John McCrone's review of The 21st Century Brain: Explaining, Mending and Manipulating the Mind says that author Steven Rose wonders if we are funding "interesting" research for which there will be consequences later. ... [CogNews]000000comment []


Forgive to Live. Let go of that grudge for your own well-being. [Psychology Today]000000comment []


Study of Social Interactions Starts With a Test of Trust. Scientists are reporting that they have succeeded in visualizing feelings of trust developing in a specific region of the brain. By By HENRY FOUNTAIN. [NYT > Science]000000comment []