Scientists Find Fever Trigger in Mice

(NEWSER) - Scientists are taking a new approach to autism research using magnetic field generators that test the brain’s reflexes, the Boston Globe reports. Much like tapping a patient on the knee to gauge a physical reaction, trans-cranial magnetic stimulation triggers activity in specific areas of the brain through a charged paddle applied to the head. Researchers hope patients' reactions will offer new clues about the disease. More»

Diagnosis could allow for treatment to slow disease's progression

(AP) - A research institute devoted to Alzheimer's and related diseases has teamed up with a major maker of diagnostic tests to speed development of what could be the first test to detect Alzheimer's in its early stages. If all goes well, the first commercial version of the test could be available in 12 to 18 months, possibly enabling patients to try to slow progression of the disease. More»

Case brings hope, raises questions

(NEWSER) - Electric stimulation may help improve the brain function of patients in a minimally conscious state, a case study reported in Nature reveals. A 38-year-old man who was mute and barely conscious for nearly 6 years is able to name objects, perform precise movements, and eat without the aid of a feeding tube after doctors used electrodes implanted in his brain to stimulate what's called the central thalamus. More»

High-pressure jet designed for those who hate needles

(NEWSER) - It's like something out of Star Trek: a needleless injection that can deliver medicine painlessly (well, nearly painlessly). Researchers at MIT have unveiled a high-pressure jet for delivering medicines to a range of depths beneath the skin, reports the Daily Mail . "We think this kind of technology ... gets around some of the phobias that people may have about needles," said a member of the team that developed the jet-injection system. More»

Analytical thought tends to drown out faith, researcher finds

(NEWSER) - People prone to analytical thinking are less prone to religious faith, a new study has concluded. Scientists have long believed that analytical thinking can override one's intuitive responses, and studies have shown that religion is rooted in intuitive thought. So Canadian researcher Will Gervais set out to see if analytical thought could override religion, the LA Times reports. First he gave a group of students a test whose questions were designed to have an intuitive-but-wrong answer and a correct one requiring more thought to arrive at. More»