Science on Wednesday
Neuroscience has led to marvelous and groundbreaking discoveries. It leads us into the puzzling world of the brain. It helps to prevent and treat brain disorders. But neuroscience is also beautiful in itself.
Science on Wednesdays shows the beauty of neuroscience
Students of Art Academy Minerva created artworks to accompany neuroscientific findings which were provided by neuroscientists of the University of Groningen and the University Medical Centre Groningen. Their translation makes the dusty science lively and appealing. Science on Wednesday aims to marvel you, to learn and fascinate you about the beauty of neuroscience.
Science on Wednesday is a collaboration between the University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Academy Minerva, and the University Museum Groningen. The project is funded by the Gewaardeerd! Fund of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
People who have a more positive self-image are more resilient against stress and depression
People who have experienced depression and undergo psychotherapy for it have a lower risk of a recurrence of symptoms. This is partly because a preventive treatment helps them develop a more positive self-image, as discovered by brain researchers at the UMCG.
The pill does not cause depression
When women start using birth control pills, they are often still in their puberty. That is a vulnerable period in which sometimes the first signs of depression emerge. Researchers do not attribute the depressive feelings to the pill, but instead to their age.
The cortex of women contains 16% fewer brain cells
Yet women are not less intelligent. On average, their brain cells have more connections to each other. Also, their brain tissue has a higher metabolism. Look at it as an enging running at higher speeds.
Those who wake up frequently during the night, hallucinate more often
People who sleep fragmented are at a higher risk of experiencing hallucinations. These hallucinations are not limited to nighttime but also happen during the day. This result was presented by an online study involving a large group of the Dutch population.
Speak multiple languages and lower the risk of dementia
Speaking multiple languages can help protect the brain from diseases like Alzheimer's. Research showed that multilingual people develop dementia about 4.5 years later than those who speak only one language.
Left-handers sometimes use an extra half of their brains
Recognizing faces typically happens in the right half of the brain. But for left-handers, things ofter work a bit differently. Research shows that some left-handed people do not use just one, but both brain hemispheres when they view a face.
What is good for your heart, is good for your brain
People with cardiovascular diseased are at a higher risk of dementia and cognitive problems. That is why a healthy heart likely contributes to a healthy brain.
Deep brain stimulation makes poor swimmers
Some people with muscle spasms or Parkinson's disease find significant relief through electrodes in the brain. Deep brain stimulation improves motor skills. They are walking faster, but swimming can become particularly difficult.
References
People who have a more positive self-image are more resilient against stress and depression
Tol, M., van Kleef, R. S., Eike, R. M., van Valen, E., Marsman, J., Renken, R., … Bockting, C. (2021, October 30). Neurocognitive mechanisms of change following Preventive Cognitive Therapy for preventing relapse in depression: a randomized controlled trial. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/n8tvx
The pill does not cause depression
de Wit AE, Booij SH, Giltay EJ, Joffe H, Schoevers RA, Oldehinkel AJ. Association of Use of Oral Contraceptives With Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents and Young Women. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020 Jan 1;77(1):52-59. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.2838. PMID: 31577333; PMCID: PMC6777223.
The cortex of women contains 16% fewer brain cells
Pakkenberg B, Gundersen HJ. Neocortical neuron number in humans: effect of sex and age. J Comp Neurol. 1997 Jul 28;384(2):312-20. PMID: 9215725.
Those who wake up frequently during the night, hallucinate more often
Brederoo SG, de Boer JN, de Vries J, Linszen MMJ, Sommer IEC. Fragmented sleep relates to hallucinations across perceptual modalities in the general population. Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 8;11(1):7735. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-87318-4. PMID: 33833310; PMCID: PMC8032808.
Speak multiple languages and lower the risk of dementia
Bialystok E, Craik FI, Freedman M. Bilingualism as a protection against the onset of symptoms of dementia. Neuropsychologia. 2007 Jan 28;45(2):459-64. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2006.10.009. Epub 2006 Nov 27. PMID: 17125807.
Left-handers sometimes use an extra half of their brains
Brederoo SG, Van der Haegen L, Brysbaert M, Nieuwenstein MR, Cornelissen FW, Lorist MM. Towards a unified understanding of lateralized vision: A large-scale study investigating principles governing patterns of lateralization using a heterogeneous sample. Cortex. 2020 Dec;133:201-214. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.08.029. Epub 2020 Sep 29. PMID: 33130426.
What is good for your heart, is good for your brain
Marcolini S, Mondragón JD, Bron EE, Biessels GJ, Claassen JAHR, Papma JM, Middelkoop H, Dierckx RAJO, Borra RJH, Ramakers IHGB, van der Flier WM, Maurits NM, De Deyn PP. Small vessel disease burden and functional brain connectivity in mild cognitive impairment. Cereb Circ Cogn Behav. 2023 Dec 3;6:100192. doi: 10.1016/j.cccb.2023.100192. PMID: 38174052; PMCID: PMC10758699.
Deep brain stimulation makes poor swimmers
Lagerweij SAJEA, van Wieren T, van Beveren M, Tijssen MAJ, van Egmond ME. DBS for dystonia: Should we take our patients to the swimming pool? Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2022 Mar;96:36-37. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2022.01.023. Epub 2022 Feb 5. PMID: 35149358.
Wetenschap op Woensdag is financed by 'Gewaardeerd!' of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
| Last modified: | 01 May 2024 1.14 p.m. |