Rewiring your brain to become fluent in math

brain

Basic, deep-seated fluency in math and science—not just an “understanding,” is critical.

By Barbara Oakley: I was a wayward kid who grew up on the literary side of life, treating math and science as if they were pustules from the plague. So it’s a little strange how I’ve ended up now—someone who dances daily with triple integrals, Fourier transforms, and that crown jewel of mathematics, Euler’s equation. It’s hard to believe I’ve flipped from a virtually congenital math-phobe to a professor of engineering.

 

 

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Novel treatment may reverse memory loss in Alzheimer’s patients

alzheimers

Nine out of ten patients with memory problems showed improvements with this novel multi-systems approach.

A small exploratory study has found that memory loss in patients with Alzheimer’s disease may be reversed — and the improvement sustained — using a novel treatment approach.

 

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Peering into the future of AI and robot brains

babyx

Baby X, a 3D-simulated human child.

Zoltan Istvan writes In Singularity or Transhumanism: What Word Should We Use to Discuss the Future? on Slate:

“The singularity people (many at Singularity University) don’t like the term transhumanism. Transhumanists don’t like posthumanism. Posthumanists don’t like cyborgism. And cyborgism advocates don’t like the life extension tag. If you arrange the groups in any order, the same enmity occurs.”

 

 

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A mouse with a human speech gene learns faster

mouse

The humanized gene actually improved the animal’s behavior rather than messing up the system.

According to a new study, mice that receive a human version of a speech and language gene display accelerated learning. Don’t expect these findings to lead to a rush of smarter, “uplifted” animals—though they might just reveal something new and fascinating about the evolution of human speech and language.

 

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Top 3 amazing ways 3D printing is already revolutionizing healthcare

printed version

The Simulator Program surpasses conventional systems with next-generation mannequins and 3D printing.

Gabriel Mandeville at five months old seemed like any other normal, healthy baby. Then he began having infantile spasms. The spasms became so frequent and severe that he had to undergo a hemispherectomy: a complicated surgical procedure that separates one side of the brain from another. Luckily, doctors at the Boston Children’s Hospital were able to use 3D printing technology to greatly increase the chances for a successful operation. (Video)

 

 

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Scientists demonstrate direct brain-to-brain communication across 5,000 miles

brain to brain

Sending messages to other people using our cell phones is pretty convenient method, but wouldn’t it be a lot easier to just think messages to them? Telepathy is still relegated to the realm of science fiction, but an international team of researchers have gotten one step closer to making it a reality. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), scientists have managed to transmit words from one person’s brain to another 5,000 miles away.

 

 

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DARPA ElectRx program explores new neuromodulation technology to help the body heal itself

ElectRx

The new Electrical Prescriptions (ElectRx)  (pronounced “electrics”) DARPA program aims to develop new high-precision, minimally invasive technologies for modulating nerve circuits to restore and maintain human health, initiated in support of the President’s brain initiative.

 

 

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Top 26 robotic innovations in healthcare

brain operated bionic arm

Brain-operated bionic hand.

We are living in a time where the concept of robotic healthcare isn’t as foreign as it might seem.  In regard to healthcare, the surge of innovation is supported by a strong attention to the world of technology and robotics. The evolution of the healthcare market is astonishing. We are becoming more accustom to the idea of automation and exploring the possibilities with open minds rather than anxiety. (Photos and videos)

 

 

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Will new technologies allow us to upgrade our brains in the not-so-distant future?

brain

It wouldn’t be surprising if  the 21st century became known for its expanded understanding of the human brain. From magnetic scans that pinpoint different brain regions to the discovery and treatment of neurological disorders, scientists have demonstrated that the brain is a highly plastic organ capable of learning new things well into the later stages of life.

 

 

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Future biotechnology could make prisoners think they are in jail for 1,000 years

prisoner

Manipulations of a neurotransmitter could give criminals more prison time within a shorter-length sentence.

Oxford University’s Rebecca Roache has some thoughts about how we could treat our criminals differently. She envisions a future where we can use chemicals to manipulate an inmates sense of time. Through these chemicals, a criminal could be made to feel like she or he is spending 1,000 years in jail, even though the person might only be in jail for days or months or a year.

 

 

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TrueNorth – A new computer chip that functions like the brain

truenorth

IBM’s new processor, TrueNorth.

Scientists have developed a new kind of computer chip that was inspired by the architecture of the brain.  The chip uses no more power than a hearing aid and may eventually excel at calculations that stump today’s supercomputers.

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Discover the Hidden Patterns of Tomorrow with Futurist Thomas Frey
Unlock Your Potential, Ignite Your Success.

By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.

Learn More about this exciting program.