Neuroscience around the Web – Issue 2

Good News for Insomniacs

​If you suffer from insomnia, there is good news. Although about 25% of us develop insomnia each year, 3/4 of those who do recover. This study tracked 1,435 good sleepers for a year.

​Short Sleep Is Bad for Your Health

If you sleep only 6.75 hours a night, you would be predicted to live only to your early 60s without medical intervention. If you drive a car when you have had less than five hours’ sleep, you are 4.3 times more likely to be involved in a crash.

​Coffee May Help Teams Work Better

"Coffee seems to work its magic in teams by making people more alert." Results also "showed that people tended to talk more after drinking caffeine, but they also tended to stay more on topic." "People who drank caffeinated coffee were also more likely than those who drank decaf to say they would be willing to work with their group again." This study "suggests that any intervention that increases alertness (such as exercise) may also produce similar results."

​Four Reasons why Fake News Tricks Us

We reject facts that threaten our identity, tribalism, some political differences are hardwired, and being an expert won't save you from being fooled. The article also contains some ideas about what we can do to avoid getting caught by fake news.

Technology Use by Children Does Not Always Affect Their Academic Performance

​The reason parents give children for limiting their technology use can impact their academic performance. If the reason parents give is that it cuts into homework time, their children actually performed worse in college. If it's for health reasons (lack of exercise, eye overstrain or poor sitting posture in front of the computer), their children later exhibited comparatively better academic performances in college. It may because "parents who worry about their children's health don't just regulate their technology use, but also concurrently encourage engagement in alternative activities that are beneficial to children in the long run."