About 6000 years ago we invented writing. Probably evolved to commercial transactions or to assess taxes and other state records, once created agriculture and livestock and food surpluses. Since then we have had the lives of Gilgamesh, Oedipus or Hamlet, we have reported real or imagined adventures of Hatshepsut, Marco Polo, Columbus, Humboldt, Darwin, Amundsen or Nemo, we have enacted the Code Hammurabi, Declarations of Independence proclaimed the United States or the United Nations Charter, we wrote the Elements of Euclid, Newton’s Principia, the 23 problems of Hilbert, transfinite numbers of Cantor, Einstein’s relativity, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle or Godel’s incompleteness theorem.

We have also written novels that have allowed us to fabulous with our imagination to travel to other worlds, other minds and other times, we could well feel the pain, passion, shame, power, victory and defeat a few characters from the mind of a man who may no longer be among us. We have also written the finest verses, and have even written books on sacred that have risen the most diverse religions, from the rarest and the most abundant peaceful and violent.

We have read since then, including past and future systems on clay tablets, scrolls, birch bark, DIN A4, electronic ink or LCD screens. Technology has evolved, but our brains have not done.
For Biology 6000 years very few years from the evolutionary standpoint. The friend who reads this text right now using the same neural mechanisms than an apprentice type used for thousands of years to read, on the banks of the Nile, a papyrus with prayers for a dark god.

If we have the ability to read is because our brain is flexible enough to devote some parts of it, which is normally dedicated to other tasks, to serve the reading. But, what parts are these?
To investigate this issue Stanislas Dehaene, along with other French compatriots and colleagues from Belgium, Portugal and Brazil, has studied the brain activity of 63 volunteers including 31 who had learned to read small, 22 they learned from adults and 10 were illiterate.
Those who read, regardless of when they learned to do, exhibited a stronger response to words written in several brain regions responsible for visual processing.

Based on previous work, these researchers argue that one of these regions, the union of the occipital and temporal lobes is especially important in reading. Furthermore, people who could read (but not in others), the words written fired brain activity in the temporal lobe is responsible for language. This suggests that reading-related brain circuits used spoken language, a much older innovation in human communication than writing.

According to Dehaene makes sense that reading rest in brain regions that originally evolved to process vision and speech. But in return, this achievement comes at a cost. The researchers found that in people who learned to read small, the occipital temporal cortex devoted to face recognition is smaller than the illiterate. Dehaene suggests that reading must compete for access to this part of the brain with other tasks, such as facial perception. If so that reading can make people worse recognize faces. These same researchers are already experimenting in this regard.

The findings support the idea that Dehaene occipital temporal cortex is a region where the brain undergoes significant adjustments to process written language.
According to Brian Wandell, Stanford University and not involved in this study, the brain becomes more flexible with age, so it would be interesting to know whether this region changes when people learn to read as adults.

In any case, I hope the dear reader may have to travel a little with your imagination, thanks to this text, the intricacies of our brain.

Describe a given situation. You come home late after a miserable workday in which he hated, again, their work. Comes stressed and, despite his usual occupation is rather sedentary and does not consume many calories, prepare a nice dinner. But after a while can not remove the concerns of the head and, although not hungry, going to the kitchen to eat a pudding, ice cream or anything else you like. Perhaps at that time as well to realize that all work is physical and mental prison, be aware that you are using food like a tranquilizer, spoiling, again, your diet.
Turns out, according to a study, this behavior has a biological basis. An activity that provides pleasure as food or sex (we are still very basic animals) reduces stress by inhibiting anxiety responses in the brain. Moreover, this reduction of the effect of stress is extended over several days, suggesting a long term benefit. At least that stated in this study.
The discovery was made by Yvonne Ulrich-Lai of the University of Cincinnati and colleagues and was published in PNAS last week.

In the experiments, rats administered a sugar solution (sucrose) twice daily for two weeks and study their behavior and stress response. Compared with control group rats, which were not given this solution, exhibited a lower heart rate and stress hormone levels were also lower. They were also more willing to explore unfamiliar environments and interact socially with other rats.
The induced stress situation was achieved by introducing to the rats in “restriction tubes”, although that is not vented to choked.

In the rats were administered a solution of saccharin instead of sugar showed a similar behavior, while those given a sugar solution directly into the stomach showed no such responses. This would mean that the conduct would depend on the feeling of pleasure derived and not derived calories or nutrition achieved.
This point was confirmed with a group of rats were given access to receptive sex partners. In this case also had a reduced response to stress.
The psychological response to stress includes the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA), which is regulated by a brain structure called the amygdala basolateral. The researchers found that rats exposed to pleasurable activities, such as a tasty food or sex, experience a weaker response of the HPA axis to stress.

They also found a lesion on the basolateral amygdala (presumably caused by the researchers) prevents a reduction in stress due to sugar, which suggests that there must be neural activity in this brain region is given to the effect described.
According to Ulrich-Lai research would have identified key neural circuits underlying the effect of providing comfort food.

More research is needed, but identification of these circuits could provide potential strategies to prevent obesity and other metabolic disorders, according to Ulrich-Lai.
Perhaps the obesity epidemic we face in the “civilized world” is due in part to this effect and stressful life that we (or the lack of receptive sex partners).

The trouble is that knowing all this and continue using food as a tranquilizer probably cause some stress due to guilt complex about ingesting calories do not need.
Perhaps the best way to be thin is simply happier.

Imagine a group of schoolchildren riding their bikes acrobatic somersault trying to make more risky. Maybe some of them even risk your physical integrity to try the ultimate. As we can see the situation is quite common.
A study by the University of Southern California explains why people do stupid things when their friends are watching, things would never do in their absence. According to this study, the human brain is more valuable win in a social environment than done when you are alone.
Georgio Coricelli has led an international team of researchers who have measured the activity of certain brain regions associated with reward and social reasoning about volunteers as they participate in a lottery game. They published their findings in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers found that the striatum, a part of the brain associated with reward mechanism, showed increased activity when participants earned an equal in the lottery game that when played alone. The medial prefrontal cortex, a part associated with social reasoning, also became active. In addition, those participants who earned a social disposition tended to fall into more competitive and risky behaviors.
According to Coricelli, this finding suggests that the brain is equipped with the ability to detect and encode social cues, social signaling, output and use these signals to optimize their future behavior.

According to this researcher, lost in a private setting fálcilmente may represent a threat. Without the support of the social network in place, a bad bet can be a conviction. While in a group, on the other hand, the “reward” tends to be the winner takes all. Nowhere is this clearer than in sexual competition, in which the second corresponds to the first loser.
“Among animals there are strong incentives to wait and see if it can be on top of the social scale,” says Coricelli. “Animals use their dominant status to ensure privileged access to resources such as food or female to be covered,” he adds.

It has been speculated, for example, our ability to metaphors comes from a residue of this synesthesia and when infants are neural circuits are still forming and senses are mixed. Lose capacity after a set time once these circuits. Good, except in the few instances where it has synaesthesia adult.

For Itzhak Perlman played the note of the G string of his Stradivarius is green, while the note played on the E string is red. The famous violinist has synesthesia and this association is more than a metaphor. When you play a note see the corresponding color in the same way that others see that the sky is blue when we look at it.
Synesthesia is not limited to music or colors. The scientific community has been able to identify 50 types. One can experience each letter of the alphabet with a distinctive color. In another day of the month and week have personalities.

According to Maureen Seaberg, author of “Tasting the Universe” and has this rare condition, synesthesia is not based on an addition, but sensory experience two at a time. Seaberg recalls that she asked her mother why the letter A was always yellow and she replied that perhaps memorized well in school, an explanation that seemed good at the time. However, I could not help some perplexity when he saw the day of the month and a week in color. When you go asking other adults on the subject ended learning not to do it and spent most of his life with the secret.
Seaberg discovered the name of your condition in a bookstore when he saw a copy of colorful cover of Richard Cytowic “The Man Who Tasted Shapes”. In reading the inside cover finally learned to name what he had spent his entire life.

For the actress Tilda Swinton and words have taste, for example, the word “tomato” has a lemony aftertaste, while “table” tastes like cake. According to Seaberg people like Swinton are the only ones that have expressed some discomfort with his condition, since not all the words they know well.
For James Wannerton words have flavor. For example, the name “Derek” tastes like ear wax. It has generally suffers a conflict between the real taste of food and the taste of their names.
But John Fullwood see colors in a few words. For him the word “car” is white or “four” is red. Above this man is blind.

Synaesthesia has been known for thousands of years. Already in ancient Greece there was speculation about it and so did Newton. The first medical article on the subject appeared 200 years ago and was studied extensively during the next 100 years. The rise of behaviorism in psychology, which emphasized the study of measurable behavior rather than personal experiences, ended with these studies.

Then in the eighties of last century, Richard Cytowic began to study this condition with people who had. He predicted that a stimulus might activate sensory path in the brain to do that two brain areas were activated in both synaesthetes. That prediction was demonstrated successfully in the nineties.

Although only 1% or 2% experience these feelings, most researchers in the field believe that all babies are synesthetes. These neurons begin to proliferate as soon as they are born and form random connections. In a few months, babies begin to recognize shapes, sounds and tastes and in brain connections are removed that are not needed. It has been hypothesized that synaesthetes retain some of those connections early.
But this hypothesis is not easy to prove, because babies can not be directly ask and expect an answer. Karen Dobkins, University of California at San Diego, has tried to demonstrate this hypothesis through an experiment.

In a first step she and Katie Wagner created two black and white images of triangles and assumed that if babies are synesthetes associate colors should then automatically these triangles similar to how some adults synesthetes associate colors to letters.
Then put two pictures next to each other one on a red background and the other on a green background. Showed those pictures to 15 babies two months and measured the time they looked at each picture. Performed the same experiment using circles instead of triangles.
If the shape does not matter one would expect that the eyes of these babies were the same time looking at both images. But instead the time varied between 12% and 14% depending on the shape and color. These researchers believe that this preference is due to the high contrast that occurs in one case between the actual color and background color that infants perceive the form (colorless form in reality) that is on that fund.

This time difference was more pronounced after two months of age, but began to decrease after three months and disappeared after eight months of age.
Although the experiment does not prove definitively that babies be synesthetes, provides clues about brain development and suspect that this rare condition may be something we all experience once small.

According to Wagner babies perceive the world in a way that is fundamentally different than they do in adults. As we grow we focus our senses, may gain advantages in cognitive speed and the sensory symphony fades.

The talent that has a person to create an original, unpublished and one is called creativity . Greater creativity when they designed and managed to reach levels of originality and valued socially, it is an artistic expression, literature, products or plans to achieve a certain goal. It has been shown by several studies that creativity involves different skills that are processed so cerebrally complex and involve interactions between areas that ordinarily do not usually communicate with each other. The negative creativity involves other circumstances.

The key features of a building are its originality, uniqueness and its potential use in a social context.

Neuropsychological components of the creative

Speaking of creativity, scientific consensus, this is considered high intelligence (higher than the average observed in humans), a talent differential (literary, musical, artistic, culinary, etc..) And the presence of particular skills to pursue that talent.

These characteristics are mediated by the following neuropsychological functions:

Ability to create images (eg, draw a figure from the imagination).
Ability to generate original ideas, utopian, find alternative causes and consequences, early and late actions.
Ability to create unique works, original, arouses the interest of others.
Ability to devise and invent fictional stories or to continue a line of thought from the beginning given.
Ability to associate specific elements and create something with them (food, figurines, sculptures, clothing, home designs, or rooms etc..).
Free association, association of meanings and word relationships.
Mental flexibility (ability away from the mindset).
Ability to assume, devise or find alternative uses for things (unusual).
Convergent and divergent thinking (understanding of similarities and antagonisms).
Display of fantasy and assumptions (eg, if man could fly …).
Ability to mentally create a piece of music, literary, an abstract painting.
Hypothesis generation (think of a situation as possible based on actual data).
Ability to compose and / or understand words with meanings compounds (eg pencil sharpener).
Creating and understanding of metaphors (words or phrases that refer to a symbolic meaning parallel to but not literal).
Understanding of mathematical patterns and associations, relations between meanings of group membership.
Ability to create new conditions of work, family, social change positively the development of a given situation.
Creative Writing of synesthesia .
Ability to create a complete story from a few words.
Ability to create a musical work from a few notes.
Ability to consider different alternatives for the same story, action or situation.
Ability to use empathy to create fictional characters from the writing or acting.
Ability to interpret directions and direct and indirect messages.
Ability to analyze texts.
Ability to use memory in learning and then create from imagination.
Divergent thinking and simultaneously (to pay attention to several ideas at once without confusing but added together and interrelate).

Neuroanatomical bases of creativity

To express a talent solidly to generate interest in others that is considered creative from concept requires, in general, using the previously acquired knowledge on the subject or work to develop. Particular regions of the parietal and temporal lobes of the brain play a key role here because they are stored specific knowledge. Some studies have shown that neocortical brain regions are also involved later.

The researcher Rex E.Jung and colleagues (University of New Mexico and University of California, USA) claim, based on their studies and other previous findings that highly creative people have in their electroencephalographic record high brain activity localized in the parietotemporales regions and their moments of inspiration are consistent with an alpha level of brain activity (corresponds to the degree Beta wakefulness, alertness, while the Alfa denotes less conscious activity and focused attention). The authors suggest that people do not require creative sharply maximum alertness or wakefulness to solve problems or understand complex situations, it different from the average population.

In his review of various studies conducted to date, Rex concludes in his study that the interconnections could be inferred on the basis of cerebral cortical thickness of areas involved in creativity, this being a contribution to the objective measurement (psychometric) in the same .

The authors argue that increased cortical thickness, especially in the right brain-would be related to high creativity while thinness of the cortex in areas associated with the creative process would denote the opposite. The authors highlight two areas of emphasis: the right cingulate cortex and the right angular gyrus.

Rex cites the discovery of an important network of interconnections between the two cerebral hemispheres, in the right cerebral hemisphere in particular those with a high creative talent, and a striking increase in cerebral blood flow in certain areas in particular, to quote the shift postcentral in the right cerebral hemisphere, bilateral straight turns in the inferior parietal lobe and hippocampal turn right.
Conclusion

Scientific consensus, creativity involves a high intelligence, a distinct talent and presence of particular skills to pursue that talent.

Not found a “creative center” brain but it would depend on the complexity of the interconnections between the structures involved in each of the elements and functions that define creativity as a mental process.

The uniqueness and originality of a given work mark their degree of creativity, just as social use potential or actual.

There are several brain functions that allow people to express their talents creatively and they all depend on a high interconnectivity, especially at the right cerebral hemisphere.

Disease Alzheime r is the most common type of dementia in Western countries. Not yet elucidated the precise causes and risk factors leading to this cruel, degenerative disease. Much remains to be discovered and that depends on a possible cure.
Alzheimer’s. A disease that involves many factors

It has been concluded after many studies and research leading to Alzheimer’s disease is not due to a single cause. It is shown that there are many factors and circumstances involved in its development. Discovering them can be the real key to fighting the disease and thus prevent it. Once declared and completely, current medications can only delay it because evolution continues inexorably.
Risk factors and circumstances involved

First, the main risk factor involved is age. Then follow the genetic factors (family history of illness), sexual factors (female gender prevailed over males), although this may be biased when the life expectancy of women more than men.

There are external circumstances that favor the development of Alzheimer’s as an old brain injury, low educational level, dietary habits, blood hypertension and use of certain drugs that according to recent research (even with reservations and pending further studies) may favor the disease. These drugs are some who are used to lower cholesterol and some anti-inflammatory used for pain and rheumatic diseases.
The disease alerts

A recent study published in the journal Neurology , sponsored by the Academy of Neurology American, says that several years before the disease appears there may be a deterioration of memory and other mental faculties in a mild but could alert a Alzheimer’s future.

This should be observed and monitored by the doctor. It is necessary to follow the evolution of these initial symptoms and in the case of finding a more rapid deterioration than expected, that further medical tests.

This illuminating study consisted of monitoring of 1,158 subjects who had mild symptoms of memory loss. These people were checked every three years. At study end, 149 people developed the disease extensively.
A test that predicts the disease 10 years before the first symptoms

It is the latest in the fight against Alzheimer’s. It has been informed of this test in August 2010 and satisfactory results have been published in the prestigious American magazine Archives of Neurology . Detect the disease in these states so early is important because patients suffering from the disease but potentially even their brains have suffered no damage and therefore may even stop the disease with appropriate drugs.

The test is simply an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid. A cerebrospinal fluid of a future patient presented a series of special proteins detectable by the analytical test. This test would not be the entire population but to individuals who were considered by doctors to be prone to the disease.

Finding Alzheimer’s disease ten years before its appearance, opens up a range of options therapeutic enormous.
The latter. The manufacture of a vaccine

Is still under study, but it is the great hope. The rationale for this vaccine is to induce in the body immune characteristics attack the amyloid plaques that deposit in the brain tissues. Still being tested in mice but encouraging results are being achieved. In this work separately target several research teams in the world. It remains the most difficult and is applied to human beings. For this vaccine must go through many tests and trials and establish its safety. But the road has begun and may be the good news in a while perhaps not very distant.

Falling in love is a chemical cocktail that originates in the cerebral cortex and projecting through the endocrine system. Oxytocin is a hormone involved in this complex process. This is a small chemical-has only nine amino acids, and was discovered in 1953. We now know that oxytocin is closely related to certain behavioral and sexual patterns.

Dr. Ernest Fehr of the University of Zurich (Switzerland) has proven that when oxytocin levels are elevated in the blood more trust in other people, because oxytocin develops the creation of social ties and avoid the fear that a person we betray.

Thus, oxytocin is the hormone of trust. But how can we raise our levels of oxytocin in blood? For a more easier than you might think a priori. It has been found that humor, laughter and positive thoughts are the main stimuli for oxytocin release and therefore create a climate of trust at work.

Oxytocin and rational love

Besides oxytocin is released by action of the hormone-phenylethylamine love. What is the relationship the two substances? Oxytocin acts at the level of the cerebral cortex and makes love to become more rational, it is this nuance that differentiates us from other animals. In humans sex is not only based on an instinct of reproduction.

It has been shown that oxytocin is responsible for falling in love and that a relationship is extended in time, as it helps to forge permanent bonds and causes the couple to love passionately . Oxytocin would represent the biological translation adage, “you bread and onions.”

When we fall in love soar our levels of oxytocin? Not exactly, the elevation of oxytocin in blood requires time, during which the couple meets and falls in love. It has been found that the higher levels are those which have long love, in relation to those just starting a relationship.

It is widely accepted idea that if two people, although not in love, maintained frequent sex is a good chance that the relationship takes hold. Is this fact has biological substrate? To Gareth Leng, University of Edinburgh, oxytocin helps to establish links between two people after having sex, so you could say that in part, at least from a biological standpoint, it is possible for two people who have relations frequent sex can end up falling in love. A group of scientists from the University of Edinburgh has been investigated in laboratory mice what happens to the levels of oxytocin after orgasm. They noted that after 48 hours of orgasm oxytocin levels are still high and that the mice are shown joined by a bond. However, after months and levels fall gradually joining partner just disappeared if the mice do not ever have a romantic encounter.
Oxytocin and orgasm

Oxytocin is released during and after orgasm . During the orgasm, oxytocin stimulates the movement of sperm through the male genital tract and pelvic muscle contraction female, to give women pleasure and reproduction can be ensured. After orgasm, our limbic system-a brain area closely related to emotions, releases oxytocin, the chemical being responsible for the pleasure that follows the emotional climax. For what purpose is released oxytocin after orgasm? Probably for our body to associate sex and pleasure, so as to repeat the behavior and therefore increase the chances of women getting pregnant.

Apparently, oxytocin acts differently in men than in women. Some scientists think that when oxytocin is combined with estrogen (female sex hormone) women become more affectionate and talkative. Whereas if oxytocin is mixed with testosterone (male sex hormone) a man may feel an uncontrollable urge to sleep. These two patterns of behavior could explain why men want to sleep after sex and why women want to talk.

In conclusion, oxytocin is responsible for the good mood in a group of people and that a relationship is extended in time.

For many decades, the rhythms of the brain waves are classified taking into account the amplitude and frequency, although that has not changed, has expanded the meaning of the function that each rate is attributed scientifically. Theta Rhythm, one of the slowest brain rhythms, is currently associate-studies-a evidenced by periods of high creativity .
Brain rhythms and associated functions

Beta Rhythm (high alert, awake, action, problem solving, decision making)
Alpha Rhythm (relaxation, creativity, consciousness, meditation is not deep)
Theta Rhythm (still awake but very calm and high receptivity to perceptions)
Delta Rhythm (hypnosis, deep sleep, deep meditation)
RAM-HIGH rhythm (stress and confusion) at very high speed and high voltage

Of all the rhythms (frequency of brain waves), as is clear from the above list, the Beta rhythm is associated with wakefulness and alertness, as it descends the frequency (highest to lowest: Delta Beta) The brain goes into sleepy states increasingly being Theta rhythm in which the pace, while the individual remains awake even in the deeply relaxed state of mind is open to perceptions and emotions of all kinds, and in harmony with the surrounding universe. There is no tension or need any action.

The combination of wakefulness (awake) and maximum relaxation that promotes diverse images, ideas and symbolism break through into the conscious without barriers (logic, organization, action, consistency) that the rate imposed Beta alert. The slower pace, with the exception of Delta, would be associated to a state of relaxed awareness without losing contact with the outside. Theta rhythm associated with some degree of calm and alert you can receive messages or images that then become part of a creative process, and then to the brain alert, running in Beta in order to organize and shape what is perceived.

Although at first were called ” smart drugs “, the pretentiousness of this term has shifted in favor of a more technical or scientific boom” nootropics “. Within the nootropics are grouped all those substances which, in various ways, increase or improve the functions and capabilities of our brain.

These capabilities include concentration, alertness, capacity planning or solving logical problems, memory and energy available to brain processes. Many may have an effect anti-oxidant and serve to reduce the presence of free radicals in our bodies, others may maintain (or create) new neural connections. The conservation status and number of these connections are what determine the capabilities of our brain to work.

Nowadays the use of pharmaceutically prepared drugs, prescription or not, as nootropic supplements is widespread. Also used as treatments for Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s , these products can be used separately or through preparations that enhance its effects.

But the medicine or the puzzles are not the only way to keep your brain alert and active, so that the same nootropics can be found naturally in many consumer products.
Reinforcing properties of tea

We can use the infusion of various types of tea to improve our brain power. Tea contains, besides his numerous minerals and salts, two key compounds, theophylline and theanine.

Theophylline is an alkaloid that helps the dilation of peripheral vessels (greater than brain stem), bronchodilation (useful for respiratory problems) and stimulates the cortical region of the brain.

Theanine is an amino acid that increases levels of serotonin and dopamine, reducing anxiety, lowering stress and promoting the production of alpha waves in the brain (greater alertness).

Additionally, the tea can sweeten with inositol , a B vitamin that reduces the effects of anxiety and that our body can produce with the intake of certain vegetables and cereals.

Dopamine is released at the height of the melody, is that moment when a chill through our bodies. It has been shown also that a few seconds before there is a release of dopamine associated with anticipation.

At the peak of pleasure is activated limbic system area called the nucleus accumbens is literally flooded with dopamine. This area is responsible for the euphoria . The nucleus accumbens plays an important role in reward, laughter, pleasure and addiction. It is the anatomical site in which highly addictive drugs (cocaine, amphetamine …) cause an increased release of dopamine.
Brain Anatomy unpleasant music

But, what happens when it comes to music that is unpleasant? Instead of activating the nucleus accumbens is activated amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus. This anatomical region is also involved in the music of suspense, so patients who have the injured area are unable to recognize danger signals from the music.

In short, the pleasure we should be music to the release of dopamine at the nucleus accumbens, whereas when we find unpleasant music that activates the area is the amygdala, which is also involved in music recognition related to the danger or suspense.