Making decisions is such a regular activity that it is mostly taken for granted. However, damage or abnormality in the areas of the brain involved in decision-making can severely affect personality and the ability to manage even simple tasks. Here, Barbara Sahakian and Jamie Nicole LaBuzetta discuss the process of normal decision making - our strategies for making decisions, biases that affect us, and influential factors - and then describe the abnormal patterns found in patients with conditions such as severe depression, Alzheimer's, and accidental brain damage. Using striking examples and case studies from their own research to show the impact of abnormal decision making, they introduce the concept of 'hot' and 'cold' decision making based on the level of emotions involved, showing that in various psychiatric conditions extreme emotions alter the pattern of decision making. Looking at the ways in which the brain can be manipulated to improve cognitive function in these patients, they consider the use of 'smart drugs' that alleviate these problems. The realization that smart drugs can improve cognitive abilities in healthy people has led to growing general use, with drugs easily available via the Internet. They raise ethical questions about the availability of these drugs for cognitive enhancement, in the hope of informing public debate about an increasingly important issue.
The recent explosion of neuroscience techniques has proved to be game changing in terms of understanding the healthy brain, and in the development of neuropsychiatric treatments. One of the key techniques available to us is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which allows us to examine the human brain non-invasively, and observe brain activity in real time. Through fMRI, we are beginning to build a deeper understanding of our thoughts, motivations, and behaviours. Recent reports that some patients who have all indications of being in a persistent vegetative state actually show conscious awareness, and were able to communicate with researchers, demonstrate perhaps the most remarkable and dramatic use of fMRI. But this is just the most striking of a number of areas in which fMRI is being used to 'read minds', albeit in a very limited way. As neuroscientists unravel the regions of the brain involved in reward and motivation, and in romantic love, we are likely to develop the capacity to influence responses such as love using drugs. fMRI studies have also been used to indicate that many people who would not regard themselves as racist show a racial bias in their emotional responses to faces of another racial group. Meanwhile, the reliability of fMRI as a lie detector in murder cases is being debated - what if the individual simply believes, falsely, that he or she committed a murder? Sex, Lies, and Brain Scans takes readers beyond the media headlines. Barbara J. Sahakian and Julia Gottwald consider what the technique of fMRI entails, and what information it can give us, showing which applications are possible today, and which ones are science fiction. They also consider the important ethical questions these techniques raise. Should individuals applying for jobs as teachers or judges be screened for unconscious racial bias? What if the manipulation of love using 'love potions' was misused for economic or military ends? How far will we allow neuroscience to go? It is time to make up our minds.
This major new reference presents The Foresight MentalCapital and Wellbeing Project (a UK Government project in theGovernment Office for Science). It offers a comprehensiveexploration of how mental capital and wellbeing operate over thelifespan; how experiences in the family, in school, at work andfollowing retirement augment or reduce mental capital andwellbeing, and the impact that this has for the individual and forthe welfare and economic progress of the nation. Mental Capital and Wellbeingcomprises a series ofscientific reviews written by leading international scientists andsocial scientists in the field. The reviews undertake systematicanalyses of the evidence base surrounding five key themes, on whichthey propose future policies will have to be based. Aninternationally renowned team of Editors introduce each theme anddraw together conclusions in terms of both policy andpractice. Section 1 (Mental Capital and Wellbeing Through Life)– Mental capital refers to the totality of anindividual’s cognitive and emotional resources, includingtheir cognitive capability, flexibility and efficiency of learning,emotional intelligence and resilience in the face of stress. Theextent of an individual’s resources reflects his or her basicendowment (e.g. genes and early biological programming), motivationand experiences (e.g. education) which take place throughout thelife course. This section presents the very latest on the scienceof mental capital throughout life. Section 2 (Learning Through Life) provides a coherentoverview of a fast-moving and complex field of policy and practice.Educational attainment has a considerable impact on physical andmental wellbeing, both directly and indirectly, by enabling peoplebetter to achieve their goals. The ability to continue learningthroughout the lifespan is critical to a successful and rewardinglife in contemporary societies. Section 3 (Mental Health and Ill-Health) draws together themost recent evidence about positive mental health as well as arange of mental disorders to consider their importance to thepopulation and economy in terms of prevalence and disability andthe wider burden on society. Section 4 (Wellbeing and Work) – It is estimated that13 million working days are lost through stress each year, costingthe economy over £3.7 billion per annum. This theme exploresthose drivers that influence the nature and structure of work andthe impact this has on employee wellbeing. Section 5 (Learning Difficulties) – This theme providesa cutting-edge picture of how recent insights from genetics,cognitive and neuroscience improve our understanding of learningdifficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia andattention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Reviews focus on howcurrent research can contribute to early diagnosis and improvedintervention.
This major new reference presents The Foresight MentalCapital and Wellbeing Project (a UK Government project in theGovernment Office for Science). It offers a comprehensiveexploration of how mental capital and wellbeing operate over thelifespan; how experiences in the family, in school, at work andfollowing retirement augment or reduce mental capital andwellbeing, and the impact that this has for the individual and forthe welfare and economic progress of the nation. Mental Capital and Wellbeingcomprises a series ofscientific reviews written by leading international scientists andsocial scientists in the field. The reviews undertake systematicanalyses of the evidence base surrounding five key themes, on whichthey propose future policies will have to be based. Aninternationally renowned team of Editors introduce each theme anddraw together conclusions in terms of both policy andpractice. Section 1 (Mental Capital and Wellbeing Through Life)– Mental capital refers to the totality of anindividual’s cognitive and emotional resources, includingtheir cognitive capability, flexibility and efficiency of learning,emotional intelligence and resilience in the face of stress. Theextent of an individual’s resources reflects his or her basicendowment (e.g. genes and early biological programming), motivationand experiences (e.g. education) which take place throughout thelife course. This section presents the very latest on the scienceof mental capital throughout life. Section 2 (Learning Through Life) provides a coherentoverview of a fast-moving and complex field of policy and practice.Educational attainment has a considerable impact on physical andmental wellbeing, both directly and indirectly, by enabling peoplebetter to achieve their goals. The ability to continue learningthroughout the lifespan is critical to a successful and rewardinglife in contemporary societies. Section 3 (Mental Health and Ill-Health) draws together themost recent evidence about positive mental health as well as arange of mental disorders to consider their importance to thepopulation and economy in terms of prevalence and disability andthe wider burden on society. Section 4 (Wellbeing and Work) – It is estimated that13 million working days are lost through stress each year, costingthe economy over £3.7 billion per annum. This theme exploresthose drivers that influence the nature and structure of work andthe impact this has on employee wellbeing. Section 5 (Learning Difficulties) – This theme providesa cutting-edge picture of how recent insights from genetics,cognitive and neuroscience improve our understanding of learningdifficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia andattention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Reviews focus on howcurrent research can contribute to early diagnosis and improvedintervention.
The recent explosion of neuroscience techniques has proved to be game changing in terms of understanding the healthy brain, and in the development of neuropsychiatric treatments. One of the key techniques available to us is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which allows us to examine the human brain non-invasively, and observe brain activity in real time. Through fMRI, we are beginning to build a deeper understanding of our thoughts, motivations, and behaviours. Recent reports that some patients who have all indications of being in a persistent vegetative state actually show conscious awareness, and were able to communicate with researchers, demonstrate perhaps the most remarkable and dramatic use of fMRI. But this is just the most striking of a number of areas in which fMRI is being used to 'read minds', albeit in a very limited way. As neuroscientists unravel the regions of the brain involved in reward and motivation, and in romantic love, we are likely to develop the capacity to influence responses such as love using drugs. fMRI studies have also been used to indicate that many people who would not regard themselves as racist show a racial bias in their emotional responses to faces of another racial group. Meanwhile, the reliability of fMRI as a lie detector in murder cases is being debated - what if the individual simply believes, falsely, that he or she committed a murder? Sex, Lies, and Brain Scans takes readers beyond the media headlines. Barbara J. Sahakian and Julia Gottwald consider what the technique of fMRI entails, and what information it can give us, showing which applications are possible today, and which ones are science fiction. They also consider the important ethical questions these techniques raise. Should individuals applying for jobs as teachers or judges be screened for unconscious racial bias? What if the manipulation of love using 'love potions' was misused for economic or military ends? How far will we allow neuroscience to go? It is time to make up our minds.
Providing care for someone with a neurodegenerative condition such as Parkinson's disease requires an integrated approach, taking into account the needs of the person with the disorder and family members most closely involved in their care. This is only possible with an understanding of the complex nature of Parkinson's disease, extending beyond the management of the motor disorder. It also requires an appreciation of the significant neuropsychological changes accompanying the disease, which ...
In the 14 years since the first edition of Addictions was published, a wealth of substantive and crucial new findings have been added to our knowledge of alcohol and other substance use disorders. This primary reference has now been updated and expanded to include 38 chapters, all completely rewritten to reflect new knowledge gained about the science of alcohol and other drugs, as well as new treatment approaches and research trends. Addictions: A Comprehensive Guidebook, Second Edition, features a roster of senior scientists covering the latest findings in the study of alcohol and other drug use, abuse, and dependence. Skillfully edited by Drs. Barbara S. McCrady and Elizabeth E. Epstein, the chapters primarily review the literature published in the last 14 years since the first edition. The volume covers seven different content areas: Section I addresses broad conceptual issues as well as information on the etiology, neuroscience, epidemiology and course of alcohol and other drug use, abuse, and dependence. Section II provides detailed pharmacological and clinical information on the major drugs of abuse, including alcohol. Sections III, IV, and V focus on knowledge of importance to clinical practice, including a section on assessment and treatment planning, information on a range of empirically supported treatments, and issues related to clinical practice. Section VI provides information about specific population groups, and Section VII addresses policy, prevention, and economic issues in the field. The book is appropriate for a wide variety of readers who are either treating, learning to treat, doing research on, or teaching about addictions. Comprehensive and succinct, it is written in a manner that is accessible and useful to practitioners, students, clinician trainees, and researchers. It is also an ideal textbook for graduate courses and training programs in psychology, psychiatry, social work, and addictions certifications, and for advanced undergraduate courses on alcohol and other substance use disorders
The guest editors have assembled expert authors to discuss issues in gastroenterology unique to female patients. After reading the articles in this issue, readers should be able to determine whether gender influences diagnosis and treatment of functional disorders; evaluate problems in the pregnant patient; explain immune diseases of the GI and discuss unique genetic aspects of Lynch Syndrome and IBD.
A leading science writer examines how the brain's capacity reaches its peak in middle age For many years, scientists thought that the human brain simply decayed over time and its dying cells led to memory slips, fuzzy logic, negative thinking, and even depression. But new research from neuroscientists and psychologists suggests that, in fact, the brain reorganizes, improves in important functions, and even helps us adopt a more optimistic outlook in middle age. Growth of white matter and brain connectors allow us to recognize patterns faster, make better judgments, and find unique solutions to problems. Scientists call these traits cognitive expertise and they reach their highest levels in middle age. In her impeccably researched book, science writer Barbara Strauch explores the latest findings that demonstrate, through the use of technology such as brain scans, that the middle-aged brain is more flexible and more capable than previously thought. For the first time, long-term studies show that our view of middle age has been misleading and incomplete. By detailing exactly the normal, healthy brain functions over time, Strauch also explains how its optimal processes can be maintained. Part scientific survey, part how-to guide, The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain is a fascinating glimpse at our surprisingly talented middle-aged minds.
In times of crisis, like the Covid-19 pandemic, nurse leaders must act immediately but also effectively. Previous disasters, emergencies, and healthcare concerns have taught us distinct lessons and forced managers to adapt—but how do you become a successful leader while battling an extreme crisis that brings fluctuating information every day? Nursing Leadership During Crisis guides nurse leaders from the Covid-19 pandemic to a mature perspective, integrating theoretical frameworks, ideals, processes, and reflections from those on the front lines. Drawing upon insights learned from the pandemic, authors Carolyn Miller Reilly, Barbara Kaplan, and Tim Porter-O’Grady provide tools for a lifelong journey of development and assimilation of attitudes, skills, and behaviors to help readers establish their own leadership persona and better prepare themselves for future crises. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Principles of Crisis Leadership Chapter 2: Re-Envisioning Leadership Through the Lens of Diversity Chapter 3: Development and Application of Emotional Intelligence Chapter 4: Adaptability and Decision-Making Chapter 5: Creativity and Innovation in a Time of Crisis Chapter 6: Multifaceted Communication Chapter 7: Teamwork and Collaboration Chapter 8: Ensuring Continuity and Standardization During Rapid Change Chapter 9: Coping, Resilience, and Posttraumatic Growth Chapter 10: New Beginnings Appendix A: Stories of Leadership in Crisis Appendix B: Oral Consent Script for a Research Study Appendix C: Questions for Mentor Interviews Regarding Crisis Leadership
Have you ever heard of a person who left you wondering, "How could someone be so twisted? So evil?" Prompted by clues in her sister’s diary after her mysterious death, author Barbara Oakley takes the reader inside the head of the kinds of malevolent people you know, perhaps all too well, but could never understand. Starting with psychology as a frame of reference, Oakley uses cutting-edge images of the working brain to provide startling support for the idea that "evil" people act the way they do mainly as the result of a dysfunction. In fact, some deceitful, manipulative, and even sadistic behavior appears to be programmed genetically—suggesting that some people really are born to be bad. Oakley links the latest findings of molecular research to a wide array of seemingly unrelated historical and current phenomena, from the harems of the Ottomans and the chummy jokes of "Uncle Joe" Stalin, to the remarkable memory of investor Warren Buffet. Throughout, she never loses sight of the personal cost of evil genes as she unravels the mystery surrounding her sister’s enigmatic life—and death. Evil Genes is a tour-de-force of popular science writing that brilliantly melds scientific research with intriguing family history and puts both a human and scientific face to evil.
Interdisciplinary Pediatric Palliative Care provides a uniquely integrated, comprehensive resource about palliative care for seriously ill children and their families. The field of palliative care is based on the fundamental principle that an interdisciplinary team is optimal in caring for patients and their families throughout the illness trajectory. The text integrates themes including goals of care, discipline-specific roles, cultural and spiritual considerations, evidence-based outcomes, and far more. It emphasizes the value of words and high-quality communication in palliative care. Importantly, content acknowledges challenging periods between team members, and how those can ultimately benefit team, patient, and family care outcomes. Each chapter includes the perspective of the family of a seriously ill child in the form of a vignette to promote care team understanding of this crucial perspective. This second edition is founded on a wealth of evidence that reflects the innovations in pediatric palliative care science over the past 10 years, including initiatives in clinical care, research, and education. Interdisciplinary Pediatric Palliative Care is appropriate for all pediatric palliative clinicians (PPC), including physicians, nurses, psychosocial clinicians, chaplains, and many others. All subspecialists who deliver care to seriously ill children, will find this book a must-have for their work. Advance Praise for Interdisciplinary Pediatric Palliative Care, Second Edition "This new edition is as much a testament to pediatric palliative care's remarkable evolution as a field as it is a quintessential playbook for providing the high-quality holistic and compassionate care that families with seriously ill children desperately want. Every page thoughtfully weaves together how interprofessional teams can contribute collaboratively to learning about and supporting the preferences, needs and priorities of the precious patients and families in their circle of care. It is a must read for all practitioners to enhance their palliative care understanding, appreciation and ability as a foundation for optimizing quality of life in practice." - Rebecca Kirch, JD, Executive Vice President of Policy and Programs, National Patient Advocate Foundation "This book offers a truly contemporary and comprehensive view of the entire field of pediatric palliative care. The focus on social determinants of health, cultural humility, and disparities in care could not be timelier, and the section highlighting conflict and conflict resolution should be required reading. The continued and purposeful inclusion of interdisciplinary clinicians in producing each chapter models the palliative care team itself-an approach in which all voices are necessary as we seek to provide the most compassionate care possible." - Rachel Thienprayoon, MD, MSCS, FAAP, FAAHPM, Associate Professor of Anesthesia, Medical Director, StarShine Hospice and Palliative Care, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Making decisions is such a regular activity that it is mostly taken for granted. However, damage or abnormality in the areas of the brain involved in decision-making can severely affect personality and the ability to manage even simple tasks. Here, Barbara Sahakian and Jamie Nicole LaBuzetta discuss the process of normal decision making - our strategies for making decisions, biases that affect us, and influential factors - and then describe the abnormal patterns found in patients with conditions such as severe depression, Alzheimer's, and accidental brain damage. Using striking examples and case studies from their own research to show the impact of abnormal decision making, they introduce the concept of 'hot' and 'cold' decision making based on the level of emotions involved, showing that in various psychiatric conditions extreme emotions alter the pattern of decision making. Looking at the ways in which the brain can be manipulated to improve cognitive function in these patients, they consider the use of 'smart drugs' that alleviate these problems. The realization that smart drugs can improve cognitive abilities in healthy people has led to growing general use, with drugs easily available via the Internet. They raise ethical questions about the availability of these drugs for cognitive enhancement, in the hope of informing public debate about an increasingly important issue.
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