The A&P Professor Science & Education Updates - Issue #153

Life Science

When genes mutate, it can result in severe diseases of the human nervous system. Neuroscientists at Leipzig University and the University of Würzburg have now used fruit flies to demonstrate how, apart from the negative effect, the mutation of a neuronal gene can have a positive effect – namely higher IQ in humans. They have published their findings in the prestigious journal Brain.

Statins reduced negative emotional bias in people with depression. The findings suggest statins may provide protection against depression.

Blood-CSF barrier may play a role in Alzheimer's pathogenesis

Performance on 6-minute walk doesn't match self-reports of improved health

FGF signals from young cerebrospinal fluid rejuvenate ageing brains.

Researchers used optogenetics techniques to stimulate specific brain areas to increase neurogenesis and the production of neural stem cells to improve memory, cognition, and emotional processing in animal models.

Agency cites concern over Omicron, long COVID in its reasoning

A protein called IL-13 mounts defenses that include virus-trapping mucus and armor that shields airway cells from infection.

Teaching & Learning

Research shows that people can’t reliably rate the performance of others: More than 50% of your rating of someone reflects your characteristics, not hers. Second, neuroscience reveals that criticism provokes the brain’s “fight or flight” response and inhibits learning. Last, excellence looks different for each individual, so it can’t be defined in advance and transferred from one person to another. It’s also not the opposite of failure.

Neuroscience shows that we grow most when people focus on our strengths. Learning rests on our grasp of what we’re doing well, not what we’re doing poorly, and certainly not on someone else’s sense of what we’re doing poorly.

This article takes a business perspective but applies to many types of feedback practiced in academia.

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