Brain region learns to anticipate risk, provides early warnings

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Brain region learns to anticipate risk, provides early warnings
Following the Asian tsunami, scientists struggled to explain reports that primitive aboriginal tribesmen had somehow sensed the impending danger in time to join wild animals in a life-saving flight to higher ground.
While some scientists discount the existence of a sixth sense for danger, new research from Washington University in St. Louis has identified a brain region that clearly acts as an early warning system -- one that monitors environmental cues, weighs possible consequences and helps us adjust our behavior to avoid dangerous situations.


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All News summaries for February 17, 2005

Zoo will reopen exhibit where 16 stingrays died

7 minutes ago | User rating: not rated yet
(AP) -- A zoo in suburban Chicago plans to reopen an exhibit where 16 stingrays died last week when a malfunction let the tank's water get too warm.

Make your own microfluidic device with new kit from U-M

Jul 24, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
A type of device called a "lab-on-a-chip" could bring a new generation of instant home tests for illnesses, food contaminants and toxic gases. But today these portable, efficient tools are often stuck in the lab themselves. ...

Unknown insects found in 110-million-year-old amber in Spain

Jul 24, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
The remains of several unknown insect species which became extinct long before dinosaurs stopped roaming the earth have been discovered in pieces of 110-million-year-old amber found in Spain, researchers said ...

Economists' new research shows positive effects of minimum-wage increases

Jul 24, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- As various states consider minimum wage increases, and with Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama proposing that the minimum wage be increased and indexed to adjust for cost-of-living increases, researchers ...

Study: No gender differences in math performance

Jul 24, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
We've all heard it. Many of us in fact believe it. Girls just aren't as good at math as boys. But is it true? After sifting through mountains of data - including SAT results and math scores from 7 million students who were ...