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Thursday, December 06, 2012
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
Monday, December 03, 2012

Shots - Health News

Evidence Mounts Linking Head Hits To Permanent Brain Injury

Dr. Ann McKee, professor of neurology and pathology of Boston University School of Medicine and co-director of the Veterans Affairs Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, inspects a brain in the Bedford Veteran Medical Center last year.

December 3, 2012 With growing controversy over the risk of permanent brain injury in contact sports, researchers find an association between repetitive head trauma and brain disease in samples taken from deceased athletes. Many were professional football players.

Summary

Friday, November 30, 2012

Shots - Health News

Weekend Vote Will Bring Controversial Changes To Psychiatrists' Bible

Psychiatrists and other mental health practitioners use the DSM to help them piece together their patients' mental conditions.

November 30, 2012 A vote this weekend by a small group of academics could result in changes to several entries in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Doctors may no longer be advised to avoid diagnoses of depression after the death of a loved one, and Asperger's syndrome may be folded into the spectrum of autism.

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On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012

Shots - Health News

Give And Take: How The Rule Of Reciprocation Binds Us

A Hare Krishna distributes food gifts from a chariot during a festival in London in 2011. The religious group began distributing books, flowers and gifts to strangers in the 1970s, drawing on the rule of reciprocation to raise money.

November 26, 2012 Scientists say that whether tipping waiters or trading Christmas cards, we're programmed to reciprocate when we receive a gift. But the rule of reciprocity can also complicate politics and medicine.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

Friday, November 23, 2012

Shots - Health News

Scientists Get A New Look At Einstein's Brain

Pathologist Thomas Harvey took dozens of photos of Einstein's brain. This one shows that Einstein's prefrontal cortex (associated with higher cognition and memory) is unusually convoluted. On the right side of the brain there are four large ridges, where most people have only three.

November 23, 2012 What made Einstein a genius? Maybe his weirdly curvy brain had something to do with it. Scientists have recently analyzed photos from the 1950s to try to figure out what made the genius tick.

Summary

Thursday, November 22, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012

Shots - Health News

Mental Disorders And Evolution: What Would Darwin Say About Schizophrenia?

Charles Darwin

November 16, 2012 Given the pressure of evolution, why have genes behind schizophrenia, autism and others disorders persisted? A study that looks at the likelihood someone is to have kids tries to figure it out.

Summary

Friday, November 09, 2012
Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Shots - Health News

Depression And Health Spending Go Together

Among common health problems, depression was linked to the highest increase in annual spending by employers' on workers' health care.

November 6, 2012 KHNPeople with high blood sugar had medical expenses that were almost one-third higher than average, as did people with high blood pressure. But among common health problems, depression was linked to the highest spending increase.

Summary

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The Salt

Behind A Halloween Mask, Even 'Good' Kids Can Turn Into Candy Thieves

Is there an angel or a devil behind the mask? Scientists say it may not matter in terms of anonymous behavior.

October 31, 2012 Results of a 1976 experiment involving masked trick-or-treaters still hold true today: We're more likely to do bad things — like stealing candy — when we're anonymous. And that tells researchers about the ways adults break the rules, too.

Summary

Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012

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