Previously the Chinese government tried to get a grip on Internet by forbidding anonymous blogging and even photographing those who want to enter an Internet cafe. They even tried to get a hold on You Tube and Google. Their newest invention is the Green Dam. The Green Dam censorship/spy software is mandated to be installed on all Chinese personal computers sold as of July 1, 2009. They say it is to protect Chinese adolescents from porn, but the fear is that it will be used as another censorship measure. “We believe there should be an open and healthy dialogue on how .....read more »

The latest multi-core processors and some smart software allow techniques used by physicists and engineers to simulate the real world in extreme detail to be used to create virtual worlds governed by real physics, rather than the simplified versions used today. The video above shows how the results are streets ahead of the standard graphics of today. One expert evens predicts that such techniques could be used to create Matrix-like virtual worlds indistinguishable from reality within just a few years. Interested, read the whole article at NewScientist Related posts:Virtual Reality for Treatment of PTSD Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Strengths and .....read more »

Back again. Won't bother you with the different wines tasted, oysters eaten, hotels and places visited. Just some extraordinary experiences during my vacation. The first is the visit to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Not for the permanent or temporary exhibitions but mainly the architecture of the museum the building itself. Except for the floor their is no straight line in the whole building. I checked it! Amazing. The main intention of the architect, Frank Gehry, was to incorporate the building in the landscape of the city and surroundings of Bilbao, in which he succeeded. They only used glass, limestone .....read more »

The next three weeks Dr Shock is enjoying his vacation. Up to Spain. Posts will be scarce but will keep you updated when possible on this blog and twitter @DrShock Related posts:Dr Shock on Vacation Recommended Reading This Week Twitter Free Social Networking For Business ..read more »

The field of placebo response with the use of devices as treatment for major depression is hardly researched. Herb one of my very much appreciated readers and commenter asked me about the evidence on the placebo response to devices for major depression, didn't have an answer. Tried searching but to no effect until recent. A lot of devices such as treatment with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are under study for the treatment of depression, mostly treatment resistant depression. Two recent meta-analyzes showed that placebo effect plays a significant role in clinical .....read more »

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) should only be used when there is a high change that the lives of patients will be improved by its use and when all other possible interventions have been tried Patients must be fully informed and informed consent must be obtained The whole procedure should be done by teams of appropriate specialists like neurosurgeons, neurologist, psychiatrist and other health professionals that can help the patient before during and after the operation and who will continuously monitor the patient The procedure should help restore (but not augment) normal function, should provide relief from pain and distress, and should never be .....read more »

We used to believe that brain tissue couldn't regenerate, couldn't grow only prenatal and during early postnatal development. Since than neurogenesis or the process creation of new neurons (nerve cells) has been demonstrated in vitro and vivo experiments and animal research. It has also been shown that this neurogenesis has an age-related decline from preadolescence (8–10 years old) to adulthood (30–35 years old) in humans. A brain region that supports neurogenesis is classified as neurogenic. Neurogenic implies the presence of immature precursor cells and a microenvironment that is permissive for the production of new neurons. In the adult mammalian brain, .....read more »