Easily digestible tech news... http://www.techdirt.com/ en-us http://www.techdirt.com/images/td-88x31.gifhttp://www.techdirt.com/ Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:00:00 PDT Michael Ho http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100321/2126118642/dailydirt-i-want-new-drug.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100321/2126118642/dailydirt-i-want-new-drug.shtml

A protein named the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) seems to be correlated with exercise and improved memory. But exercise is hard, so there'll be plenty of BDNF pills and 'Flowers for Algernon' situations to look forward to. [url]

Taking drugs like Ritalin and caffeine might provide a temporary boost to mental abilities, but R&D efforts to discover a pill that permanently improves brain function are likely futile. Pharmaceutical companies benefit more from treatments rather than cures, anyway. [url]

Air Force researchers have figured out a way to reduce training time by 50% -- using mild electrical currents delivered to pilots' heads. The technique uses transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS), and the treated pilots have been reported to say, "I know Kung Fu" in a Keanu-like way. [url]

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]]> urls-we-dig-up http://www.techdirt.com/comment_rss.php?sid=20100321/2126118642 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:00:00 PDT Michael Ho http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110818/04275815580/dailydirt-i-would-never-tell-lie.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110818/04275815580/dailydirt-i-would-never-tell-lie.shtml

Lie detectors made out of cameras with thermal imaging and facial analysis software could be available as smartphone apps someday. And an app to train you how to be a better liar will be sold immediately afterwards. [url]

Zapping your brain with magnetic pulses could prevent you from lying (as much as you normally would). In other news: tin foil hats sales are expected to grow exponentially through 2015. [url]

Truth serums generally don't work and were deemed unconstitutionally coercive in the 1960s. Putting terrorists' heads in a magnetic field seems a bit more friendly than waterboarding, though... [url]

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]]> urls-we-dig-up http://www.techdirt.com/comment_rss.php?sid=20110818/04275815580 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:00:00 PDT Michael Ho http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110215/19431113118/dailydirt-stuff-that-literally-changes-way-we-think.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110215/19431113118/dailydirt-stuff-that-literally-changes-way-we-think.shtml

Experiments with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) can turn people into Rain-Man-esque idiot savants. There's a new movie adaptation for Flowers for Algernon somewhere here.... [url]

Metaphors are influential to how we interpret and understand all kinds of concepts. Hopefully, the "planetary" description of atomic structures is being phased out in science. [url]

Monogamy in mammals could be turned on/off with some chemicals. Pharma labs are probably working on love potions that don't involve little blue pills. [url]

One of these "love" chemicals, oxytocin, can also make people more trusting and cooperative. Results may vary. If gullibility lasts more than 4 hours, consult a doctor. [url]

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