Cannabis use mimics cognitive weakness that can lead to schizophrenia

Public release date: 2-Nov-2012
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Contact: Michael Mitchell
michael.mitchell@frontiersin.org
41-798-103-107
Frontiers

fMRI study finds neural correlates to support cognitive model

Researchers at the University of Bergen in Norway have found new support for their theory that cannabis use causes a temporary cognitive breakdown in non-psychotic individuals, leading to long-term psychosis. In an fMRI study published this week in Frontiers in Psychiatry, researchers found a different brain activity pattern in schizophrenia patients with previous cannabis use than in schizophrenic patients without prior cannabis use.

The results reinforce the researchers' model where cannabis users suffering from schizophrenia actually may have higher cognitive abilities than non-cannabis using schizophrenics. This difference may indicate that the cannabis-user group did not have the same mental propensity for psychosis.

"While brain activity for both groups was similar, there are subtle differences between schizophrenia sufferers with a history of cannabis use and those who have never used cannabis. These differences lead us to believe that the cognitive weakness leading to schizophrenia is imitated by the effects of cannabis in otherwise non-psychotic people," explains Else-Marie Loeberg, lead author on the article and associate professor of Psychology at the University of Bergen, Norway.

The 26 patients involved in the study attempted difficult cognitive tasks while in the fMRI machine. They were asked to listen to different syllables in each ear and try to say which syllable was spoken when instructed to concentrate on either the left or right eara difficult task for anyone but particularly difficult for schizophrenia patients who often have impaired attention, limited executive functioning and difficulty in processing verbal cues.

The study shows that schizophrenia sufferers with previous cannabis use had consistently higher levels of brain activity while undergoing these tests as well as a higher number of correct answers. These results are in line with previous conclusions from the Bergen researchers who support the idea that cannabis users with schizophrenic characteristics do not appear to suffer from the same neuro-cognitive weaknesses as other patients with schizophrenia.

This implies that it is the cannabis use itself that leads otherwise non-psychotic individuals down the nightmarish path towards schizophrenia by imitating the cognitive weakness that is the main risk factor for developing the psychological condition.

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Article: An fMRI study of neuronal activation in schizophrenia patients with and without previous cannabis use.

Authors: Loeberg Else-Marie, Nygard Merethe, Helle Siri, Berle Jan ystein, Johnsen Erik, Kroken Rune, Jrgensen Hugo, Hugdahl Kenneth.

Journal: Frontiers in Psychiatry

http://www.frontiersin.org/Journal/Abstract.aspx?s=996&name=schizophrenia&ART_DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00094

Researcher contact:
Else-Marie Loeberg, Associate Professor, PhD
Specialist in clinical psychology (NPF), Inst. biological and medical psychology, University of Bergen and Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital
E-mail: else.marie.loeberg@psych.uib.no

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Public release date: 2-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Michael Mitchell
michael.mitchell@frontiersin.org
41-798-103-107
Frontiers

fMRI study finds neural correlates to support cognitive model

Researchers at the University of Bergen in Norway have found new support for their theory that cannabis use causes a temporary cognitive breakdown in non-psychotic individuals, leading to long-term psychosis. In an fMRI study published this week in Frontiers in Psychiatry, researchers found a different brain activity pattern in schizophrenia patients with previous cannabis use than in schizophrenic patients without prior cannabis use.

The results reinforce the researchers' model where cannabis users suffering from schizophrenia actually may have higher cognitive abilities than non-cannabis using schizophrenics. This difference may indicate that the cannabis-user group did not have the same mental propensity for psychosis.

"While brain activity for both groups was similar, there are subtle differences between schizophrenia sufferers with a history of cannabis use and those who have never used cannabis. These differences lead us to believe that the cognitive weakness leading to schizophrenia is imitated by the effects of cannabis in otherwise non-psychotic people," explains Else-Marie Loeberg, lead author on the article and associate professor of Psychology at the University of Bergen, Norway.

The 26 patients involved in the study attempted difficult cognitive tasks while in the fMRI machine. They were asked to listen to different syllables in each ear and try to say which syllable was spoken when instructed to concentrate on either the left or right eara difficult task for anyone but particularly difficult for schizophrenia patients who often have impaired attention, limited executive functioning and difficulty in processing verbal cues.

The study shows that schizophrenia sufferers with previous cannabis use had consistently higher levels of brain activity while undergoing these tests as well as a higher number of correct answers. These results are in line with previous conclusions from the Bergen researchers who support the idea that cannabis users with schizophrenic characteristics do not appear to suffer from the same neuro-cognitive weaknesses as other patients with schizophrenia.

This implies that it is the cannabis use itself that leads otherwise non-psychotic individuals down the nightmarish path towards schizophrenia by imitating the cognitive weakness that is the main risk factor for developing the psychological condition.

###

Article: An fMRI study of neuronal activation in schizophrenia patients with and without previous cannabis use.

Authors: Loeberg Else-Marie, Nygard Merethe, Helle Siri, Berle Jan ystein, Johnsen Erik, Kroken Rune, Jrgensen Hugo, Hugdahl Kenneth.

Journal: Frontiers in Psychiatry

http://www.frontiersin.org/Journal/Abstract.aspx?s=996&name=schizophrenia&ART_DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00094

Researcher contact:
Else-Marie Loeberg, Associate Professor, PhD
Specialist in clinical psychology (NPF), Inst. biological and medical psychology, University of Bergen and Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital
E-mail: else.marie.loeberg@psych.uib.no

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/f-cum110212.php

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MRI research sheds new light on nerve fibres in the brain | Human ...

November 3, 2012 6:05 am You are here:Home News MRI research sheds new light on nerve fibres in the brain Posted by on November 2, 2012 in News | Tags:?direction, Medical, National, Nerve, peter-mansfield, Physics, reference, School, Science, Social, social-bookmarking, Source, University, Work

Source: http://www.humanhealthandscience.com/mri-research-sheds-new-light-on-nerve-fibres-in-the-brain/news

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Video: Will recreational marijuana get the OK three states?

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/49667108/

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Important Facts About Foot Health, Ailments, and Injuries

Our feet are important parts of our body. They let us walk, run, and take us to places we want to go. They play an integral part in our daily life and help us perform most of our daily activities. That is why it is important to take good care of them. Doctors like a provide many medical treatments for various feet, ankle, and leg ailments and conditions.

How strong are your feet and legs?

Our legs, feet, and ankles are the strongest parts of the body. A human foot and ankle is a powerful mechanized structure that consists of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The muscles found in your legs are known as your quadriceps, meaning they have four times the muscle power than any part of your body. Your feet and legs are very important, as they play a very systematic role for your body system. They have the capability to carry and support the force of your total body weight, which can be equivalent to the force of a truck carrying a full load of cement! The muscles and bones allow our body to move and balance in different ways, allowing us to handle force whenever we run, jump, sprint, and carry heavy objects.

The need for Proper Foot Care

Despite being one of the most powerful and incredible parts of the human body, they are usually prone to injury and other ailments. Most of the force and tension of our daily activities goes to our legs and feet. Our feet have the ability to adapt with tension and force, however, too much of it can result in terrible accidents or injuries. The most common injuries people usually experience are ankle sprains and torn ligaments. Athletes involved in extreme sports usually experience this kind of injury.

Aside from foot injuries, foot ailments can show serious signs of medical problems. Your feet can mirror your general health. They are capable of showing initial symptoms of typical diseases or medical problems including diabetes, arthritis, and nerve or circulatory disorders. Below are some facts about foot ailments in podiatrist long island

- Arthritis is the number one cause of feet disability in America

- About 19% of the American population has an average of 1.4-foot problems every year.

- Approximately 60% of all foot & ankle injuries are ankle sprains or strains.

- Over 60-70% of diabetic Americans develop diabetic nerve damage that usually leads to diabetic leg amputations.

- Nearly 56,000 American citizens lose their foot or leg due to diabetes annually.

The statics above show small details of alarming rates of serious foot ailments linked to several diseases. The need for podiatric physicians is important these days with the growing number of health problems. Most podiatric doctors are four times less likely to use costly medical treatments compared to other physicians. Most of them are located in local hospitals and surgical medical facilities.

For reliable information on podiatric doctors, visit websites like http://www.mayfairfootcare.com/

Whitney is an athlete who visits a podiatrist long island regularly.

Source: http://toddsblogs.com/healthandfitness/2012/11/01/important-facts-about-foot-health-ailments-and-injuries/

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Central Michigan Life ? Superheros Week hosts gaming night for ...

Mount Pleasant resident Lew Krec analyzes HeroClix, a superhero figurine board game, during Gamenight Thursday evening at the Bovee UC Rotunda.
(Zack Wittman/Staff Photographer)

Board games, card games, strategic games and just about every superhero tabletop game you can think of created competition and tournaments amongst students Thursday night.

In the midst of Superhero Week, Program Board, the Student Life Committee, Honors Program, Office of Study Abroad and College of Humanities and Social and Behavior Sciences sponsored gaming night for enthusiasts in the Bovee University Center with roughly 20 participants.

Houghton Lake senior Justin Wigard was one of the helping collaborators of this event.

?We wanted to bring the gaming community to CMU while incorporating it with Superhero Week. There were a total of eight tabletop games played. But, these aren?t your every day board games,? Wigard said. ?Some of these games were complicated, but they all follow the same concept as traditional games, such as rolling a dice, playing with cards, following steps and being ridiculously fun.?

Small World, Munchkin, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, Nightfall, Dungeon Command, Magic and HeroClix were among the games played.

A main contributor of the event was the local Mount Pleasant game store?Hall of Heroes, 316 N. Mission St. Storeowner Mike Travis-Schuler provided the board games for the event.

?We had the opportunity to participate in Superhero Week, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to show students that there is a place in town to buy and play games,? Travis-Schuler said. ?Anyone can bring in their school ID and get a 10 percent discount.?

Clarkston freshman Kay Mick took advantage of this opportunity.

?I love comics and have always wanted to play tabletop gaming and had never had the chance to till now,? Mick said.

Participating in a casual card game of Magic, Lake Isabel junior Corey St. John and Britten senior Rebecca Unsicker had their own advantage.

?We play against each other all the time,? St. John said. ?Actually, we play just about every night.?

While most of the games had a more causal environment, the HeroClix was held in a tournament style. The game is played on a grid with actual comic hero figurines that contain powers. Most students have been partaking in this tabletop competition for multiple years.

Shepherd alum Ian Wood has been a devoted player.

?We have tournaments every Wednesday and play Saturday afternoon at the Hall of Heroes. Tonight we all came out here to have fun,? Wood said. ?The best part of the game is that if you ever want to see who would win between Hulk and Superman, then here?s your chance.?

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Source: http://www.cm-life.com/2012/11/01/superheros-week-hosts-gaming-night-for-friendly-competition/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=superheros-week-hosts-gaming-night-for-friendly-competition

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Cybericide, creative counterbullying and bespoke social networking ...

The problem of cyber-bullying poses adaptational challenges to individuals and to institutions across a number of spheres. A counterstrategy to cyber-bullying will have to involve preparing at-risk individuals for cyberbullying, and helping them get through and over cyberbullying if and when it arises. The problem needs to named and combated out in the open in schools, youth-clubs, libraries?in all institutions dealing with the young. We also need to harness the power of pop culture, the TV, the Radio and the internet itself to make cyberbullying as uncool and as shameful as possible.

The response will also, obviously, have to have an enhanced and updated legal dimension dealing especially with Cybericide. Cybericide occurs where a person kills themselves as a result of internalising the murderous hate-speech directed against them on a social networking site or other part of the web. Cybericide must be officially legislated for as a new and special kind of multimedia group-crime carrying specific sanctions not only for those who partake in the cybericide but also for those institutions and individuals who, through neglect, allow the cybericide to take place.?

But the law will only take us so far. No crime has ever been abolished by the law. Life?s just not that simple, unfortunately. We have to concentrate even more on prevention, on how to make cyberbullying less likely to occur in the first place, and how to make it less damaging when it does. This means consistent, frontline, face-to-face counter-bullying activities with and among the young.

Dealing with Cyberbullying and it?s evil flower of Cybericide is complicated further by the fact that it is both carried out and suffered, in the main, by the under-eighteens.?

Adult and/or institutional interference in the world of the teenage needs to be very carefully thought through so as to avoid aggravating the issue, or creating new problems alongside or in place of cyber-bullying. It is unlikely that cyberbullying can be repressed or monitored or legislated out of existence by adults. Overall, we need a strategy that co-operates with the young, rather than attempts to control them.?

We shouldn?t be silly enough to try and hide our children from bullying or to hide bullying from our children. We should try instead to help them meet and ride over it when it comes. We need to help our children learn to deal with the real world, rather than the one we wish we were living in. And, in the world as currently constituted, bullying is rather widespread.?

Speaking as a creative writer and performer working in education, I think there is a valuable contribution to be made by exploring all of the issues raised in bullying in an open and creative manner through drama games, role play, rap workshops and the like. Discussing the issue through poetry and storytelling in the english or creative writing class will also help. We are less afraid of and less vulnerable to a known enemy than to a known one.?

My anti-bullying poem ?Because I?m Human?, written to support a bullied 12 year old niece of mine, is being used as anti-bullying tool in many classrooms in Ireland and? around the world. I have also developed a creative-writing anti-bullying workshop suitable for 4th, 5th and 6th class in primary schools, and 1st and 2nd years in secondary schools. Schools can contact me at davelordanpoet@gmail.com for further details.

I can also give talks on how creativity helped me to overcome my own terrible and near fatal experience of childhood bullying.

Poets can help in the fight against cyberbullying and cybericide, but computer engineers have perhaps an even greater role to play. I have a friend, John Costello, who works on, among other amazing projects, developing contained and tailored social networks for exclusive use of one institution such as a company or a university. If each school (or neighbourhood, or youthclub etc) were to have their own bespoke social network it might wean kids off Facebook onto something more human-scale and in the process reduce both the likelihood and the impact of cyberbullying.

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Source: http://davelordanwriter.com/2012/10/30/cybericide-creative-counterbullying-and-bespoke-social-networking/

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James Bond fans beware: Wikipedia reveals major 'Skyfall' spoiler

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - James Bond fans beware - Wikipedia's entry for the latest 007 film "Skyfall" contains spoilers big enough to drive an Aston Martin through.

It's a posting that includes a full plot summary, which jeopardizes major twists involving the fate of one character and the future of MI6, the agency Bond calls home. Seriously, reading Wikipedia will have Bond devotees reaching for their vodka martinis.

Don't worry, we won't spoil it, but best to steer clear of the web's encyclopedia if you want to stay in the dark.

How did that happen? "Skyfall's" secrets have remained closely guarded throughout its development and production, with the film's producers teasing out key details, such as the singer behind the film's theme song (it's Adele!) and the bizarre blonde appearance of chief villain Javier Bardem, until the last possible moment.

But all that intrigue went up in smoke after "Skyfall" opened overseas in countries like the United Kingdom and Russia two weeks before its U.S. debut. The good news for the film's backers is that new James Bond movie "Skyfall" is off to a roaring start, collecting $77.7 million in 25 markets last weekend. Featuring Daniel Craig in his third appearance as the skirt-chasing superspy, "Skyfall" opens stateside on November 9.

A spokesman for Sony, the studio handling Bond's distribution, said that on a crowd sourced site like Wikipedia, it is difficult to police spoilers after a film has opened.

"Skyfall's" Wikipedia problem is instructive for Hollywood given that many major films, such as last summer's "Battleship," are choosing to open early overseas before hitting the domestic marketplace, leaving them open to spoilage.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/james-bond-fans-beware-wikipedia-reveals-major-skyfall-003420562.html

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