World of Warcraft Boosts Cognitive Functioning in Adults

World of Warcraft Boosts Cognitive Functioning in Adults

Researchers from North Carolina State University have found that playing World of Warcraft (WoW) actually boosts cognitive functioning in older adults, especially those who had poor cognitive ability before playing. The researchers choose WoW because it is a “cognitively challenging game in a socially interactive environment that presents users with novel situations.” They also found that the overall improvement of someone’s cognitive abilities depended on their “baseline cognitive functioning level.” In the study two groups of participants ages 60-77 had their cognitive abilities tested and then where sent home for two weeks, one group played around fourteen hours of WoW each and the other group did not. The group that played WoW showed a much greater increase in cognitive ability compared to the group that did not. Also “those people who needed it most – those who performed the worst on the initial testing – saw the most improvement.”

HA!!! I have been saying that playing WoW is good for you but I meant emotionally not cognitively but I was still right. This means that all those nerds who play WoW now, like me, will be able to think better when we get old, or maybe even right now, which would be nice. This could lead to more people playing WoW and similar games.

Bird Brains Follow the Beat

Summary: By training birds to 'get rhythm', scientists uncover evidence that our capacity to move in time with music may be connected with our ability to learn speech.

Critic: Intersting

Impact: Something to talk about.

Reference: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120224152753.htm

Brutally Killing

In 2009 a little 9 year old girl was killed by a 15 year old girl. Her throat was slit, and she was stabbed and strangled. The murderer described it has an “ amazing” and “pretty enjoyable” experience. The murderer was Alyssa Bustamante and the little girl killed was Elizabeth Olten. Alyssa wrote in her journal a detailed description of the murder in her journal in which the FBI confiscated. Defense Attorneys after reading more of her journal entries stated that the reason why she killed the 9 year old was because she was depressed and suicidal. She wrote in her journal that her cell phone had died and since she had no one to talk to all her feelings were caged up until she released them and the result of that was her killing someone.
Impact: It is so sad that a little girl was the victim of someone else’s problems. I don’t think the little girl had to die. It is Alyssa’s fault for not doing the responsible thing and going to see someone to help her with her feelings.

Nodding Disease

In the village of Tumangu, almost 3,000 lives have been taken by the “Nodding’s Disease.” This sickness for reasons unknown to scientists only occur in children and this leaves them immobilized until finally they convulse in spasms and die. Scientists since 2010 have been trying to find a cure and the only thing they can do is give out treatments for epilepsy which can only proved temporary relief but since this disease is not like epilepsy the treatment only last for so long. Scientists are now coming to the sad conclusion that only when the patient dies, they are truly cured. Every possible doctor that may help find a cure is helping the cause and hopefully in the near future will be successful.
Impact: I think it is sad that out of a small population so many have been affected by this disease. Hopefully they find a cure to prevent families from having to accept yet another lose in their families.

Illusion of control

In this article it states the definition of illusion control and illusion control is the belief of a person that thinks there changing with there mind that they really can't. In this articles researchers found that people who have illusion control end up hallucinate alot and belevng that thre conrol is Real when it's really only a fascination. As well ad they beco
WTO happy and satisfies they base there life on that fascination and somewhat play a role in it. I find this article really imtersting and cry important to the world.As for me I liked the article.

Sadness

Resource: http://www.psychologyhelp.com/emot94.htm

Have you ever been sad? Now that is a stupid question for the reason that you have! At some point, male or female, you have felt plain miserable. It is a natural emotion, and we as a society have actually rejected the reaction to sadness, especially as a man. Actually, if you want to be happy, you must experience sadness. If people avoid their sadness in addition with their sobbing or tears, it can actually cause much psychological effects. The feeling will linger around until it is let out, this will cause someone to have a feeling of sadness until it is let out. The avoidance can also cause addiction, psychosomatic symptoms, high levels of anxiety, and acting out shewed behavior. Emotionally healthy adults are comfortable with sadness, their own and others. They allow their own wracking sobs and tears. It also feels good to let go all of the tears. Also, recurring sadness is not present. Next time you feel sad, just let it out, alone or with people, let it out and feel better!!

Military Service, Even Without Combat, Can Change Personality and Make Vets Less Agreeable, Research Suggests

Summary: It's no secret that battlefield trauma can leave veterans with deep emotional scars that impact their ability to function in civilian life. But new research led by Washington University in St. Louis suggests that military service, even without combat, has a subtle lingering effect on a man's personality, making it potentially more difficult for veterans to get along with friends, family and co-workers.

Impact: hope this will help the troops.

Critic: Interesting

Reference: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120217101908.htm