brain Archives

The Neuropsychology of How Ritual Creates Religion

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Rituals are able to generate transcendental mental states.

The research of Dr James Jones, clinical psychologist and Emeritus Professor of Religion at Rutgers University in the U.S., exists on the border of religion and science. He fuses neuropsychology with philosophy of mind to discover scientific explanations for religion. In his most recent publication, Dr Jones specifically explores how bodily behaviours, such as religious ritual, can affect a person’s […]

Controlled cortical impact: The animal model that may change brain injury

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of disability and death around the world. To compound this problem, many patients go on to develop anxiety and with little known about the pathophysiology behind this complication, long-lasting and effective treatments are lacking. Using an animal model known as the controlled cortical impact (CCI) model, Dr Ann Marini and […]

Drosophila Fezf found to be essential in neural circuit formation

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Billions of neurons are wired up to into highly organised neural circuits in the brain. The creation of these circuits is a complex process and it is essential that neurons find the correct partners. Matt Pecot and colleagues from Harvard Medical School are interested in understanding this neural circuit formation. In their studies, by using Drosophila, they have identified the […]