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Auditory feedback pathway in the brain linked to learned vocal control identified

Scientists at Duke University Medical Center have identified neurons in the songbird brain that convey the auditory feedback needed to learn a song.

18 Jan 2010

Contentious party politics consume health care debate

The Wall Street Journal's Capital Journal details the tough choices facing Democrats. "At this stage in the sausage-making process that is writing legislation, nobody is under the illusion he or she is working on anything like the perfect health bill, or one that is growing in popularity. A series of recent polls shows the opposite -- that support is eroding the longer the bill hangs in the balance

15 Dec 2009

New evidence of a deep biological link between human music and speech

A pair of studies by Duke University neuroscientists shows powerful new evidence of a deep biological link between human music and speech.

4 Dec 2009

Music therapy can reduce pain and anxiety in hospice pateints

Add guitars and other musical instruments to the tools caregivers can use to help patients in hospice care. That's what University of Alabama senior Sarah Pitts found when she brought her music therapy skills to patients in Hospice of West Alabama.

1 Dec 2009

New research examines screen time in home-based and center-based child care settings

In a new study, the amount of television viewed by many young children in child care settings doubles the previous estimates of early childhood screen time, with those in home-based settings watching significantly more on average than those in center-based daycares.

23 Nov 2009

America's Got Talent Donald Braswell to participate in "Songs for Sara" Benefit Concert

Donald Braswell, 4th place winner from TV's "America's Got Talent" 2008 season, and William Stokking, retired principal cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, are featured in the "Songs for Sara" Benefit Concert for Sara Ann Kronrot, a six-year-old Collingswood girl with profound cerebral palsy.

21 Nov 2009

Perceptual Control Theory may soon revolutionize psychological and social sciences

Just as 400 years ago a correct explanation of the solar system set the stage for major progress in the physical sciences, so today a correct explanation of control is setting the stage for major progress in the life sciences.

17 Nov 2009

Marriott hotels continues to support Children’s Miracle Network hospitals, hosts benefit Torch Relay

Representatives from Marriott hotels throughout the Washington, DC, area, along with co-workers, customers friends and family, joined forces last week to participate in a Torch Relay to benefit Children’s Miracle Network.

6 Nov 2009

Walnut Village, a full-service retirement community, officially opens its door to Anaheim residents

Walnut Village, a new, full-service retirement community in the heart of Anaheim, Calif., officially opened to its first residents this month.

30 Oct 2009

Moderates will determine fate of public option in health bills

It's Sunday, and not surprisingly, the talk is about the public option - especially on what provisions some senators may be willing to accept in a final health bill.

26 Oct 2009

Scientists demonstrate how second set of cells carry signals from the inner ear to the brain

Deep in the ear, 95 percent of the cells that shuttle sound to the brain are big, boisterous neurons that, to date, have explained most of what scientists know about how hearing works. Whether a rare, whisper-small second set of cells also carry signals from the inner ear to the brain and have a real role in processing sound has been a matter of debate.

23 Oct 2009

Barbershop singing helps cancer-survivor

For Marguerite Paustenbach, her secret weapon in the fight against breast cancer turned out to be her strong faith and love for barbershop singing. Paustenbach is a member of Village Vocal Chords, a Chicago-based barbershop singing group that’s part of Harmony, Inc., an all women’s barbershop singing organization currently celebrating its 50th anniversary.

22 Sep 2009

Wash and dry hands to fight against H1N1

Countries around the world are trying to tackle the escalating H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic in different ways. Advice from all authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), remains the same: good hand hygiene, particularly in public places. Despite this, there are still too few people who know how to wash and dry their hands in the most hygienic way.

14 Sep 2009

Survey reveals that hand-washing behaviors are poor despite H1N1 swine flu

With the White House estimating that 30 to 50 percent of Americans will contract H1N1 flu this season, you’d think more people would be focused on prevention.

10 Sep 2009

As Kennedy is memorialized, talk turns to impact on health legislation

"The left claims the Senate's liberal champion would have settled for nothing less than universal care and a new government-run insurance option. Republican foes of those ideas say the Democrats should take a lesson from Kennedy's gift for cutting a pragmatic deal and sacrifice some of their priorities in the interest of a bargain the GOP could support."

30 Aug 2009

Aflac releases eighth new television commercial of 2009

Aflac today unveiled its eighth new television commercial of 2009, titled "Soccer." This commercial showcases the Aflac Duck as the web-footed star of the team, who helps provide a solid defense against unexpected medical bills. "Soccer" will debut on August 24, running nationally on CBS, ABC, FOX, NBC, CNN, CNBC, Discover Channel, USA, Headline News and the History Channel.

24 Aug 2009

Brain's motor and perception regions disconnected in tone-deaf people

Nerve fibers that link perception and motor regions of the brain are disconnected in tone-deaf people, according to new research in the August 19 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. Experts estimate that at least 10 percent of the population may be tone deaf - unable to sing in tune. The new finding identifies a particular brain circuit that appears to be absent in these individuals.

19 Aug 2009

Recruitment of new neurons slows when old brain cells kept from dying

Recruitment of new neurons slows when old brain cells kept from dying. Like clockwork, brain regions in many songbird species expand and shrink seasonally in response to hormones.

11 Aug 2009

Zara's Center at Bulawayo provides relief to AIDS orphaned children

Rachael Plutzik seems like an ordinary teenager and student growing up in New York City. She likes hanging out with her friends and family, singing in her a cappella group, playing the guitar, and reading Harry Potter books.

10 Aug 2009

The neurobiology of music perception and production related to the pathways affecting intrinsic attachment behavior?

Music is social communication between individuals - humming of lullabies attach infant to parent and singing or playing music adds croup cohesion. The neurobiology of music perception and production is likely to be related to the pathways affecting intrinsic attachment behavior, suggests a resent Finnish study. The study gives new information about genetic background of musical aptitude.

26 May 2009