Author Archives: RichardB
Strong placebo response thwarts painkiller trials
Interesting article, placebo’s as effective as meds. Drug companies have a problem: they are finding it ever harder to get painkillers through clinical trials. But this isn’t necessarily because the drugs are getting worse. An extensive analysis of trial data1 … Continue reading
What happens in our brain when we practice mindfulness?
MSU study finds surprises about drug use
Conducting an economic analysis of drug use is a particularly difficult endeavor, but for Michigan State University professor and economist Siddharth Chandra, it just meant taking a look at the history books. “You can’t simply go to Wal-Mart and look … Continue reading
Yoga may boost your brain power
Yogis may be enjoying a surprising benefit when they unroll their mats and strike a pose. A new study finds that just 20 minutes of hatha yoga stimulates brain function. Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign enlisted 30 … Continue reading
Heavy marijuana use may harm the brain
New NIDA-funded research shows that heavy marijuana use (at least four times per week over the past six months) is linked to adverse changes in the function and structure of brain areas associated with reward, decision making, and motivation. Heavy … Continue reading
