Blogging on the Brain: 6/08

Recent highlights from the best in brain blogging:

"Brain training" games that are actually fun! Also check out the Lumosity blog. It seems like they understand the reward structure of good games.

Tonal similarities between music and language.

Genetic differences between speakers of tonal and non-tonal languages - critique at the excellent Language Log, including a response by the authors!

A cynic's guide to publishing scientific articles.

Reference management tools - but don't forget about CiteULike!

An architectural illusion?

A seminar at UVA on "robotic architecture" taught by Jason Johnson, who has some pretty amazing work

Artificial cerebellum: the BBC covers a project to "make robots less clumsy." This is apparently part of a larger project called SENSOPAC between University of Cambridge, SONY, Umea University Sweden, and others.

Implanting memory on a cultured neural network.

The fluidity of neural networks: more evidence for the dynamic coding hypothesis.

A role for Bayesian networks in motor control?

A new genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's.

Does Bush suffer from presenile dementia? Anecdotal evidence that the US president is NOT OK.

PsyBlog takes a skeptical look at the utility of cognitive neuroscience.

Neuroscience and its potential educational implications.

Can children discover symbolic mathematical processing on their own?

The role of executive function in math - here's the original article (subscription required).

How long is your ring finger? It might predict your mathematical ability, according to an article at Science.

Chronic pain affects short-term memory and attention (as anyone who has experienced substantial pain could tell you!)

A new genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's.

And some compelling if anecdotal video evidence that President Bush is suffering from presenile dementia.

Decreasing numbers of boys are being born - in the US and Japan. Strange.

Robotic pet therapy.

New spatial memories without hippocampal neurogenesis - in bats!

Probability computation in the lateral intraparietal area - in monkeys!

And finally, a video: shark vs. octopus! (Not gruesome).

Blogroll additions:
Providentia
Lumosity
Direct Neural Interface
Not Exactly Rocket Science

Have a nice weekend!

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