Robot suit is a suit with mechanical devices which can assist people's daily work especially for the disabled.
Person who devotes himself to the industry of robot suit should has a deep understanding of electrical engineering and automation（电气工程与自动化）as opposed to electrical and information engineering(电子信息工程）which mainly focuses computer hardware. The latter could build nano scale robots（with automation tech) called Nano-Electromechanical System, NEMS, 纳机电系统).
One commercialized product of robot suit is called "Hybrid Assistive Limb"(HAL). It has 3 forms - the upper part(the body), the lower part(the leg), and the whole body. Different form could be used for specific purposes like weight carrying and walk assistance.
If the price could be lowered, HAL and robot suit will be popular like today's computer. I guess it needs 20-30 years for this day to come.
2010年7月11日星期日
Narco Analysis, Compusense and BPS certification
1.Narco Analysis
In criminal psychology, these exists one area which uses so-called truth drug to elicit true answer from criminals. And administration of such drugs are called narco analysis( narco analysis method of interrogation, in chinese it's called"
麻醉分析讯问法"）
. For more info, go to wikipedia.
2.Compusense sense labratory solution
According to one job description at 51job, Compusense is a commercial software needed while establishing labratories of taste. In google scholar, I've found no psychological researcher with compusense specialty. Interesting.
3.BPS certification
British Psychological Society may be as large as the renowned American Psychological Association. It has a variety of certifications of psychological assessments(level A, level B).Among psychological best practices, SHL specialises psychological assessment. In fact, SHL is a UK-based company. So this fact tells me that if you want to join SHL, you must first get certification from BPS. It's the same to engineering psychology and user centered design. Human Factors International(HFI) is a best practice in this field and it business is mainly focused on certification and training.
In criminal psychology, these exists one area which uses so-called truth drug to elicit true answer from criminals. And administration of such drugs are called narco analysis( narco analysis method of interrogation, in chinese it's called"
麻醉分析讯问法"）
. For more info, go to wikipedia.
2.Compusense sense labratory solution
According to one job description at 51job, Compusense is a commercial software needed while establishing labratories of taste. In google scholar, I've found no psychological researcher with compusense specialty. Interesting.
3.BPS certification
British Psychological Society may be as large as the renowned American Psychological Association. It has a variety of certifications of psychological assessments(level A, level B).Among psychological best practices, SHL specialises psychological assessment. In fact, SHL is a UK-based company. So this fact tells me that if you want to join SHL, you must first get certification from BPS. It's the same to engineering psychology and user centered design. Human Factors International(HFI) is a best practice in this field and it business is mainly focused on certification and training.
2010年5月17日星期一
Google's Adsense and Psycholinguistics
Adsense is one of google's profitable tools. Its tech is based on Applied Semantics acquired（Chinese：收购） by Google in 2003. Applied Semantics uses a tech called CIRCA(patented information maybe seen at here and here). In its tech's introduction, it tells it's based on Cognitive Psychologist George Miller's Wordnet. This person may be called the founder or key role in modern cognitive perspective to human psy. His main contribution is in language and semantics(psycholinguistics, which uses cognitive perspective to study language).
Today, Wordnet has been used widely in Natural Language Processing(NLP). Other important resources for NLP(English) maybe British National Corpus. As for Chinese, it's Penn Treebank Project. Tks for Alex00zee at douban for directions.
This phenomenon is very surprising cauz google's horizon on science from several cutting edge and well flourished scientific disciplines. Why not to study the spread of science and decide your next M&A(merge and acquisition, in fact large companies often buys tech advanced small companies to keep their competence)?
Next phase, I will cover human 2.0 and one of google's geek ambition: technology singularity, transhumanism.
Indeed, with NBIC convergence and neuroengineering(neuroinformatics), I feel I've become a transhumanist. Maybe one day I'll join transhumanism.org.
Today, Wordnet has been used widely in Natural Language Processing(NLP). Other important resources for NLP(English) maybe British National Corpus. As for Chinese, it's Penn Treebank Project. Tks for Alex00zee at douban for directions.
This phenomenon is very surprising cauz google's horizon on science from several cutting edge and well flourished scientific disciplines. Why not to study the spread of science and decide your next M&A(merge and acquisition, in fact large companies often buys tech advanced small companies to keep their competence)?
Next phase, I will cover human 2.0 and one of google's geek ambition: technology singularity, transhumanism.
Indeed, with NBIC convergence and neuroengineering(neuroinformatics), I feel I've become a transhumanist. Maybe one day I'll join transhumanism.org.
2009年12月31日星期四
Can monkeys help your investment?
Quote "This article mainly focuses on the debate on monkey's investment ability and its anecdotes. I've sent it to my friends in finance department but no reply, and to 52brain.com neuroeconomics forum also no rely. What's wrong? The research made by psychologist is interesting and it may cover such topics like the book "Nudge" & behavioral portfolio (company) by famous decision making research scientist Thaler. Huge gap, huh?"
----------------------------
In "Quirkology", prof. Richard Wiseman mentioned two famous/infamous psychological experiment about monkey like portfolio on stocks. In both two experiments, one invested by a little girl via picking up scraps of paper and another by a champzine called Aula(in Chinese edition, "奥拉") via dart throwing, so called random selections beat financial professionals.
I was surprised at that time. How could this happen? As I know, financial professionals use logical/statistical mathematical tools analyse the stock information and gain market insights. Among them, Black-Scholes Option Pricing model may be the most widely used one. And this field is not magic but has a formal academic name called "Econophysics"(see this book in Chinese). In this industry, Renaissance hedge fund may be the most famous company based on such models and gain great market success as well. Most of its employees are mathematical graduates from top US universities(however they lack Wall Street working background, and Wall Street is the famous place where top financial companies locate). They call themselves "Quants"(in Chinese 宽客）(see this book in Chinese).
Based on these facts, I think it isn't possible for them (those who use rigid mathematical models like Renaissance, not those in Wall Street) to lose. As for those in Wall street, indeed, Wall Street Journal established a contest between random selection of stocks and those financial professionals from 1988 to 2002. It is to respond prof. Burton Malkiel's "A Random Walk Down Wall Street". The contest ended without delaration of any winner. More details can be found here and here. The 14 contest's outcome seems interesting (the graph can be found here).
Though professionals beat the "monkeys" (dart selection), the percentages they outperform over them aren't larger enough.
I hope these words will help readers and myself as well:). For more info, pls google for keywords
"飞镖选股法", "darts portfolio" and "monkey business".
--------------------
Term explanation
- In English, monkey business originally means fraud business like Bernard Madoff but here it is really made by monkeys or random dart throwing.
----------------------------
In "Quirkology", prof. Richard Wiseman mentioned two famous/infamous psychological experiment about monkey like portfolio on stocks. In both two experiments, one invested by a little girl via picking up scraps of paper and another by a champzine called Aula(in Chinese edition, "奥拉") via dart throwing, so called random selections beat financial professionals.
I was surprised at that time. How could this happen? As I know, financial professionals use logical/statistical mathematical tools analyse the stock information and gain market insights. Among them, Black-Scholes Option Pricing model may be the most widely used one. And this field is not magic but has a formal academic name called "Econophysics"(see this book in Chinese). In this industry, Renaissance hedge fund may be the most famous company based on such models and gain great market success as well. Most of its employees are mathematical graduates from top US universities(however they lack Wall Street working background, and Wall Street is the famous place where top financial companies locate). They call themselves "Quants"(in Chinese 宽客）(see this book in Chinese).
Based on these facts, I think it isn't possible for them (those who use rigid mathematical models like Renaissance, not those in Wall Street) to lose. As for those in Wall street, indeed, Wall Street Journal established a contest between random selection of stocks and those financial professionals from 1988 to 2002. It is to respond prof. Burton Malkiel's "A Random Walk Down Wall Street". The contest ended without delaration of any winner. More details can be found here and here. The 14 contest's outcome seems interesting (the graph can be found here).
Though professionals beat the "monkeys" (dart selection), the percentages they outperform over them aren't larger enough.I hope these words will help readers and myself as well:). For more info, pls google for keywords
"飞镖选股法", "darts portfolio" and "monkey business".
--------------------
Term explanation
- In English, monkey business originally means fraud business like Bernard Madoff but here it is really made by monkeys or random dart throwing.
2009年12月19日星期六
Neural prosthesis and neural engineering
In medicine there are two ways to save people's lives. One is medicine which uses drug to cure without any damage of human body. The other is surgery which uses invasive operation.
Thus we can divide neural scientific applications into those two ways.
Biomedical engineering has a subfield called neural prosthesis, neural regeneration, or neural restoration.(in chinese:神经修复）
Two important techs of neural prosthesis, cyborg( BCI or HMI ) and brain function enhancement drugs, are very similar to them. The former belongs to surgery, and the latter belongs to medicine.
I guess as for some molecule level, surgical operations will be useless because biostructure is too small. But at cell level, it seems both ways are OK. For larger biostructure, surgical operations will take its role. Am I right? Pls tell me your opinion. It would be highly appreciated.
------------------------
If disabled people use BCI they get cured. If normal people get it they become cyborg or human v2.0.
If psychiatric patient and those who have brain function disorder get enhancement drugs they get cured. If normal get them they become (no formal term) "superman"?
From patient to normal, neural prosthesis becomes neural engineering.
Thus we can divide neural scientific applications into those two ways.
Biomedical engineering has a subfield called neural prosthesis, neural regeneration, or neural restoration.(in chinese:神经修复）
Two important techs of neural prosthesis, cyborg( BCI or HMI ) and brain function enhancement drugs, are very similar to them. The former belongs to surgery, and the latter belongs to medicine.
I guess as for some molecule level, surgical operations will be useless because biostructure is too small. But at cell level, it seems both ways are OK. For larger biostructure, surgical operations will take its role. Am I right? Pls tell me your opinion. It would be highly appreciated.
------------------------
If disabled people use BCI they get cured. If normal people get it they become cyborg or human v2.0.
If psychiatric patient and those who have brain function disorder get enhancement drugs they get cured. If normal get them they become (no formal term) "superman"?
From patient to normal, neural prosthesis becomes neural engineering.
2009年9月18日星期五
终于更新了
快半个月了吧，上一个帖子，对不住大家。。。。现在我不像以前每天能看1000+的rss更新了，所以只能放一些不是很深入的内容了。
另外，co.cc免费域名被GFW了，各位国内的朋友要访问要翻墙，所以请多去论坛。等我毕业后，会购买一个info或者com域名，那个时候会好一点。
最近的新体验不是很多，大致说来有三方面。
1.open MRI
MRI技术有时候真的能让人打开眼界，这次的更新有2个和MRI有关。最近看日剧Mr.Brain，了解到里面的MRI机器的正式名称是open MRI。据dixin的博客留言所说，open MRI使用了永磁体而非超导体，就技术实现来说，永磁体肯定是没有超导体强的，所以估计3T（只有3T才能做功能MRI）是别想了。但也正是因为永磁体的关系，open MRI能做成开放式而不是超导MRI的圆筒封闭式。估计GE之类的公司不生产open MRI。我以为这种设计是解决幽闭症患者的恐惧问题。真得很期待MRI技术的新发展，特别是portable MRI。
2.白质fMRI成像
最近因为搞裂脑人论文，观察到fMRI的技术有新的趋势，可以做白质的功能成像，这个完美了，呵呵。
原来MRI技术主要是做结构MRI（成像大脑的灰质，不知道是否有白质，但考虑到DTI，估计没有白质），后来又有了fMRI，做灰质的功能成像。与fMRI一起发展起来的技术是DTI，专门用来成像神经纤维（白质），现在终于有了白质的fMRI成像（在发展中）。这一条技术路线给人的感觉很顺畅，说不定最后MRI机器连TMS脑刺激都能做了。
抱歉：Gazzaniga的文章错了，做白质fMRI的文章应该是：
Fabri, M., G. Polonara, et al. (2001). "Posterior corpus callosum and interhemispheric transfer of somatosensory information: An fMRI and neuropsychological study of a partially callosotomized patient." Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 13(8): 1071-1079.
3.合成生物学与生物砖(bio-brick）
合成生物学是工程学发明的名词，说白了就是利用可控的分子过程体外重建一个细胞、一个组织、甚至是一个生命。这些东西在自然界不一定有，也可以是全新的形式。而生物砖就是指这些可控的分子过程，就像砖块，一块块砌在一起，整体的生命就出现了。知道这些还要拜我校脑所的同学们，他们一位师兄的演讲，让我了解了生物砖的概念。如果从认知神经科学的角度出发，生物砖概念和Fodor的认知模块说很相近。
这里我提出一个自己的想法：虽然生物砖的说法很好理解，但根据他们的实际演示，我觉得这不是一块砖，可能是功能上相对独立的一个分子作用网络（或者分子回路，类似于电路里的某种简单回路），说砖不是很贴切。。。
----------------
好了，同学们。BTW，我在顺便啰嗦下这个博客的规划。虽然这个博客目前流量还不是很高，但我想把它一直做下去，可能也作为我的创业计划的一部分。定位还是以与脑科学相关的新技术（并且要有产业化前景）为主，脑科学（NBIC）新的理论/科研进展、科研经验等作为辅助内容。最终的希望是以杂志的形式线下出版，当然，里面的内容肯定没有线上那么三言两语那么简单了。希望大家持续关注，谢谢：）
另外，co.cc免费域名被GFW了，各位国内的朋友要访问要翻墙，所以请多去论坛。等我毕业后，会购买一个info或者com域名，那个时候会好一点。
最近的新体验不是很多，大致说来有三方面。
1.open MRI
MRI技术有时候真的能让人打开眼界，这次的更新有2个和MRI有关。最近看日剧Mr.Brain，了解到里面的MRI机器的正式名称是open MRI。据dixin的博客留言所说，open MRI使用了永磁体而非超导体，就技术实现来说，永磁体肯定是没有超导体强的，所以估计3T（只有3T才能做功能MRI）是别想了。但也正是因为永磁体的关系，open MRI能做成开放式而不是超导MRI的圆筒封闭式。估计GE之类的公司不生产open MRI。我以为这种设计是解决幽闭症患者的恐惧问题。真得很期待MRI技术的新发展，特别是portable MRI。
2.白质fMRI成像
最近因为搞裂脑人论文，观察到fMRI的技术有新的趋势，可以做白质的功能成像，这个完美了，呵呵。
原来MRI技术主要是做结构MRI（成像大脑的灰质，不知道是否有白质，但考虑到DTI，估计没有白质），后来又有了fMRI，做灰质的功能成像。与fMRI一起发展起来的技术是DTI，专门用来成像神经纤维（白质），现在终于有了白质的fMRI成像（在发展中）。这一条技术路线给人的感觉很顺畅，说不定最后MRI机器连TMS脑刺激都能做了。
抱歉：Gazzaniga的文章错了，做白质fMRI的文章应该是：
Fabri, M., G. Polonara, et al. (2001). "Posterior corpus callosum and interhemispheric transfer of somatosensory information: An fMRI and neuropsychological study of a partially callosotomized patient." Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 13(8): 1071-1079.
3.合成生物学与生物砖(bio-brick）
合成生物学是工程学发明的名词，说白了就是利用可控的分子过程体外重建一个细胞、一个组织、甚至是一个生命。这些东西在自然界不一定有，也可以是全新的形式。而生物砖就是指这些可控的分子过程，就像砖块，一块块砌在一起，整体的生命就出现了。知道这些还要拜我校脑所的同学们，他们一位师兄的演讲，让我了解了生物砖的概念。如果从认知神经科学的角度出发，生物砖概念和Fodor的认知模块说很相近。
这里我提出一个自己的想法：虽然生物砖的说法很好理解，但根据他们的实际演示，我觉得这不是一块砖，可能是功能上相对独立的一个分子作用网络（或者分子回路，类似于电路里的某种简单回路），说砖不是很贴切。。。
----------------
好了，同学们。BTW，我在顺便啰嗦下这个博客的规划。虽然这个博客目前流量还不是很高，但我想把它一直做下去，可能也作为我的创业计划的一部分。定位还是以与脑科学相关的新技术（并且要有产业化前景）为主，脑科学（NBIC）新的理论/科研进展、科研经验等作为辅助内容。最终的希望是以杂志的形式线下出版，当然，里面的内容肯定没有线上那么三言两语那么简单了。希望大家持续关注，谢谢：）
2009年7月25日星期六
脑刺激——下一个审讯工具
前不久Dixin的博客上说fMRI被用在测谎上。
现在TMS也来了。
但是这次是以严谨的peer review刊物来的，或许对我们有借鉴意义吧。
via
Behavioral science and the Law
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122239989/abstract
Tools for noninvasive stimulation of the brain, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have provided new insights in the study of brain-behavior relationships due to their ability to directly alter cortical activity. In particular, TMS and tDCS have proven to be useful tools for establishing causal relationships between behavioral and brain imaging measures. As such, there has been interest in whether these tools may represent novel technologies for deception detection by altering a person's ability to engage brain networks involved in conscious deceit. Investigation of deceptive behavior using noninvasive brain stimulation is at an early stage. Here we review the existing literature on the application of noninvasive brain stimulation in the study of deception. Whether such approaches could be usefully applied to the detection of deception by altering a person's ability to engage brain networks involved in conscious deceit remains to be validated. Ethical and legal consequences of the development of such a technology are discussed.
Behavioral Sciences & the Law
Volume 27 Issue 2, Pages 191 - 208
Special Issue: The Neuroscience and Psychology of Moral Decision Making and the Law
Published Online: 5 Mar 2009
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
------------
Bruce Luber, Ph.D. *, Carl Fisher, B.S., Paul S. Appelbaum, M.D.§, Marcus Ploesser, M.D.§, Sarah H. Lisanby, M.D.§
email: Bruce Luber (luberbr@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu)
*Correspondence to Bruce Luber, Division of Brain Stimulation and Therapeutic Modulation, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons/New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 21, New York, NY 10032, U.S.A.
Division of Brain Stimulation and Modulation, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and New York State Psychiatric Institute.
Psychiatry, Law and Ethics, New York State Psychiatric Institute.
§Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Funded by:
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
wow，又是DARPA
现在TMS也来了。
但是这次是以严谨的peer review刊物来的，或许对我们有借鉴意义吧。
via
Behavioral science and the Law
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122239989/abstract
Tools for noninvasive stimulation of the brain, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have provided new insights in the study of brain-behavior relationships due to their ability to directly alter cortical activity. In particular, TMS and tDCS have proven to be useful tools for establishing causal relationships between behavioral and brain imaging measures. As such, there has been interest in whether these tools may represent novel technologies for deception detection by altering a person's ability to engage brain networks involved in conscious deceit. Investigation of deceptive behavior using noninvasive brain stimulation is at an early stage. Here we review the existing literature on the application of noninvasive brain stimulation in the study of deception. Whether such approaches could be usefully applied to the detection of deception by altering a person's ability to engage brain networks involved in conscious deceit remains to be validated. Ethical and legal consequences of the development of such a technology are discussed.
Behavioral Sciences & the Law
Volume 27 Issue 2, Pages 191 - 208
Special Issue: The Neuroscience and Psychology of Moral Decision Making and the Law
Published Online: 5 Mar 2009
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
------------
Bruce Luber, Ph.D. *, Carl Fisher, B.S., Paul S. Appelbaum, M.D.§, Marcus Ploesser, M.D.§, Sarah H. Lisanby, M.D.§
email: Bruce Luber (luberbr@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu)
*Correspondence to Bruce Luber, Division of Brain Stimulation and Therapeutic Modulation, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons/New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 21, New York, NY 10032, U.S.A.
Division of Brain Stimulation and Modulation, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and New York State Psychiatric Institute.
Psychiatry, Law and Ethics, New York State Psychiatric Institute.
§Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Funded by:
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
wow，又是DARPA
2009年7月21日星期二
Zack Lynch关于神经技术的书出版了
在美国的朋友有兴趣可以看一下。下面是他发来的内容。
"When I started reading this book, I thought Lynch's observations were rather hyperbolic. By the time I finished the book, I was stunned to realize that his points are not only rational but of urgent importance. Avoid reading this book at your peril."
- Vint Cerf, Chief Internet Evangelist, Google Inc.,
also known as the "Father of the Internet"
The Neuro Revolution
How Brain Science Is Changing Our World
Published by St. Martin's Press
History has already progressed through an agricultural revolution, an industrial revolution, and an information revolution. THE NEURO REVOLUTION: How Brain Science Is Changing Our World (St. Martin's Press) by Zack Lynch foretells a fast approaching fourth epoch that will yet again transform how humans live, work and play. Neurotechnology-new tools for both understanding and influencing our brains including brain imaging-is now being applied not only to breakthrough medicine but to almost every aspect of human endeavor, from financial markets to law enforcement to politics to advertising and marketing, artistic expression, warfare, and even to religious belief.
TNR CoverBy telling us the stories behind the brilliant people leading this worldwide revolution, taking us into their laboratories, boardrooms and courtrooms, Zack Lynch illuminates a unique, insider's glimpse into the startling future now arriving at our doorstep. The insights and revelations within THE NEURO REVOLUTION will foster wonder, debate, and in some cases consternation. Above all, though, they need to be understood by those who will be most affected-all of us.
THE NEURO REVOLUTION is the first book to provide a comprehensive view of the impact brain science will have on law, marketing, financial markets, education, national defense, religion, investing, healthcare, government and entertainment. Moreover, the book describes a new tool through which to view the future, Time's Telescope, which draws upon the history of technological revolutions to project into our common future.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ZACK LYNCH is the founder and executive director of the Neurotechnology Industry Organization, a global trade association representing companies involved in neuroscience, brain research centers and patient advocacy groups. He is also the co-founder of NeuroInsights, the world's leading market research firm covering the neurotechnology industry.
Please visit The Neuro Revolution website for more advance praise, information on book tour, or to purchase the book. To interview the author please contact Nadea Mina, Publicist, 646-307-5573, Nadea.Mina@StMartins.com.
The Neuro Revolution
How Brain Science is Changing Our World
By Zack Lynch with Byron Laursen
Publication Date: July 19, 2009
St. Martin's Press // Trade Hardcover
0-312-37862-9 // $25.99 // 256 pages
"When I started reading this book, I thought Lynch's observations were rather hyperbolic. By the time I finished the book, I was stunned to realize that his points are not only rational but of urgent importance. Avoid reading this book at your peril."
- Vint Cerf, Chief Internet Evangelist, Google Inc.,
also known as the "Father of the Internet"
The Neuro Revolution
How Brain Science Is Changing Our World
Published by St. Martin's Press
History has already progressed through an agricultural revolution, an industrial revolution, and an information revolution. THE NEURO REVOLUTION: How Brain Science Is Changing Our World (St. Martin's Press) by Zack Lynch foretells a fast approaching fourth epoch that will yet again transform how humans live, work and play. Neurotechnology-new tools for both understanding and influencing our brains including brain imaging-is now being applied not only to breakthrough medicine but to almost every aspect of human endeavor, from financial markets to law enforcement to politics to advertising and marketing, artistic expression, warfare, and even to religious belief.
TNR CoverBy telling us the stories behind the brilliant people leading this worldwide revolution, taking us into their laboratories, boardrooms and courtrooms, Zack Lynch illuminates a unique, insider's glimpse into the startling future now arriving at our doorstep. The insights and revelations within THE NEURO REVOLUTION will foster wonder, debate, and in some cases consternation. Above all, though, they need to be understood by those who will be most affected-all of us.
THE NEURO REVOLUTION is the first book to provide a comprehensive view of the impact brain science will have on law, marketing, financial markets, education, national defense, religion, investing, healthcare, government and entertainment. Moreover, the book describes a new tool through which to view the future, Time's Telescope, which draws upon the history of technological revolutions to project into our common future.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ZACK LYNCH is the founder and executive director of the Neurotechnology Industry Organization, a global trade association representing companies involved in neuroscience, brain research centers and patient advocacy groups. He is also the co-founder of NeuroInsights, the world's leading market research firm covering the neurotechnology industry.
Please visit The Neuro Revolution website for more advance praise, information on book tour, or to purchase the book. To interview the author please contact Nadea Mina, Publicist, 646-307-5573, Nadea.Mina@StMartins.com.
The Neuro Revolution
How Brain Science is Changing Our World
By Zack Lynch with Byron Laursen
Publication Date: July 19, 2009
St. Martin's Press // Trade Hardcover
0-312-37862-9 // $25.99 // 256 pages
2009年7月4日星期六
2009年6月27日星期六
一个巧合
今天浏览"method in mind"，偶然间发现这本由gazzaniga编的方法学书中有一位主编挺眼熟。
他的名字叫Carl Senior。可能不关心神经科学应用的筒子不熟悉，这个人是所谓“组织认知神经科学”的倡导者。
他参与了英国排名第三的Aston商学院研究中心的研究，试图将认知神经科学的结论和方法帮助解决工业/组织心理学的问题。
What a Coincidence!
他的名字叫Carl Senior。可能不关心神经科学应用的筒子不熟悉，这个人是所谓“组织认知神经科学”的倡导者。
他参与了英国排名第三的Aston商学院研究中心的研究，试图将认知神经科学的结论和方法帮助解决工业/组织心理学的问题。
What a Coincidence!
2009年6月19日星期五
一种生物性的“不要惊恐”按钮？
已有抗焦虑药物苯二氮平类（Benzodiazepines）长期服用有抗药和戒断症状。Science报道Rainer Rupprecht及其同事通过大鼠研究发现移位蛋白配体（ligands of translocator protein)XBD173能达到相似的抗焦虑效果，但是没有抗药与阶段症状。这一大类为新药的研发提供了新的方向.
以下为转载内容：
----------
据6月19日的《科学》杂志报道说，一种转运蛋白配体（或称结合分子）看来能够抵消在小鼠以及人类中的焦虑症和惊恐发作，而且它没有与其它的当前疗法相关的负面的副作用。 这些发现表明，这种叫做XBD173的配体可能成为一个安全及快速起效的抗焦虑症的良好的候选药物。目前的诸如benzodiazepines的疗法常常存在有害的副作用：如镇静、耐受或在长期使用之后会出现戒断症状等。抗忧郁症药物有时也被用来治疗焦虑症，但它们的疗效仅仅是在几个星期的治疗之后才会出现。 为了寻找新的治疗方法，Rainer Rupprecht及其同僚给实验室大鼠施用了XBD173。他们观察到，XBD173几乎能够立刻防止惊恐行为的发生，而这些大鼠不会出现耐受性或任何有害的副作用。他们接着在70位健康男性中进行有关的研究，其中还包括一个服用安慰剂的小组。他们发现，XBD173可快速启动一种抗焦虑反应且不会在长期使用之后出现任何的戒断症状。 文章的作者说，XBD173可通过调节抑制性的神经递质GABA来促进其镇静效果。他们表示，这种配体可被考虑在未来用于临床。
###
Article #19: "Translocator Protein (18 kDa) as Target for Anxiolytics without Benzodiazepine-Like Side Effects," by R. Rupprecht; D. Eser; T.C. Baghai; C. Schule; C. Nothdurfter at Ludwig Maximilian University in Muenchen, Germany; R. Rupprecht; G. Rammes; C. Nothdufter; R. Landgraf; F. Holsboer at Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich, Germany; G. Rammes at Technische Universitat in Munich, Germany; T. Troxler; C. Gentsch; H.O. Kalkman; F. Chaperon; V. Uzunov; K.H. McAllister; A. Floesser; K. Kucher at Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research in Basel, Switzerland; V. Bertaina-Anglade; C. Drieu La Rochelle at Biotrial in Rennes, France; D. Tuerck at Roche in Basel, Switzerland; B. Kiese at Novartis Pharma in Basel, Switzerland; M. Schumacher at INSERM in Paris, France.
原文摘要信息
以下为转载内容：
----------
据6月19日的《科学》杂志报道说，一种转运蛋白配体（或称结合分子）看来能够抵消在小鼠以及人类中的焦虑症和惊恐发作，而且它没有与其它的当前疗法相关的负面的副作用。 这些发现表明，这种叫做XBD173的配体可能成为一个安全及快速起效的抗焦虑症的良好的候选药物。目前的诸如benzodiazepines的疗法常常存在有害的副作用：如镇静、耐受或在长期使用之后会出现戒断症状等。抗忧郁症药物有时也被用来治疗焦虑症，但它们的疗效仅仅是在几个星期的治疗之后才会出现。 为了寻找新的治疗方法，Rainer Rupprecht及其同僚给实验室大鼠施用了XBD173。他们观察到，XBD173几乎能够立刻防止惊恐行为的发生，而这些大鼠不会出现耐受性或任何有害的副作用。他们接着在70位健康男性中进行有关的研究，其中还包括一个服用安慰剂的小组。他们发现，XBD173可快速启动一种抗焦虑反应且不会在长期使用之后出现任何的戒断症状。 文章的作者说，XBD173可通过调节抑制性的神经递质GABA来促进其镇静效果。他们表示，这种配体可被考虑在未来用于临床。
###
Article #19: "Translocator Protein (18 kDa) as Target for Anxiolytics without Benzodiazepine-Like Side Effects," by R. Rupprecht; D. Eser; T.C. Baghai; C. Schule; C. Nothdurfter at Ludwig Maximilian University in Muenchen, Germany; R. Rupprecht; G. Rammes; C. Nothdufter; R. Landgraf; F. Holsboer at Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich, Germany; G. Rammes at Technische Universitat in Munich, Germany; T. Troxler; C. Gentsch; H.O. Kalkman; F. Chaperon; V. Uzunov; K.H. McAllister; A. Floesser; K. Kucher at Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research in Basel, Switzerland; V. Bertaina-Anglade; C. Drieu La Rochelle at Biotrial in Rennes, France; D. Tuerck at Roche in Basel, Switzerland; B. Kiese at Novartis Pharma in Basel, Switzerland; M. Schumacher at INSERM in Paris, France.
原文摘要信息
2009年6月4日星期四
复数更新
- 美国研究者Thaler是决策研究与行为金融学的开山鼻祖，出版了nudge。该书是亚马逊上的畅销书，通过豆友了解到被美国政府所用。他个人成立了一家金融公司，倡导所谓behavioral portfolio（行为投资组合）。
- Neuroscan科学家Seed创办EEG+各种行为技术（例如眼动）的市场研究公司http://www.sandsresearch.com/
- 最后一刻07探讨了DARPA制造超级士兵的过程，DARPA意欲制造该类士兵希望通过动物实验来实现。方法是向amygdala注射某种物质，使得amygdala的size变大，fiber变粗壮。从而使得他们对恐惧或其他侵犯性表示具有更大更快速的反应倾向。
副作用：改变手性、头痛
研究人员提到中国、俄罗斯都在做相关的研究。
但是有一位外包生物科技公司雇佣的科学家为了让实验加快进行，额外雇佣了一位患有PTSD的归国士兵。谎称治疗PTSD，事实上利用该人类被试来测试超级士兵的神经增强药物效果。
导致了一系列意外。主人公与女主人公一起去解开这些意外，让违规的科学家被法律制裁。但DARPA的研究仍然在继续。。。。。
神经药物包括三种：认知增强药物、情感增强药物、感觉增强药物。
根据美国政府的一则报告，感觉增强药物会被首先使用（请见neurosociety群组中的文件）。
2009年5月7日星期四
Brain fitness产品的消费提示
Brain fitness产品市场在美国已经很成熟了。但是公司可以利用自己手中对产品的垄断权销售没有效果的产品，为此，斯坦福大学长寿研究所联合一些科学家提出了一些消费提示，看看研究者们目前已经达成了哪些关于健脑的共识，让我们去明智消费。
- Cognitive performance in many older adults appears to be improving over historical time.
- Although based on plausible biochemical reasoning, to date, clinical research has produced no evidence that dietary supplements such as Gingko biloba enhance cognitive performance or reduce the rate of cognitive loss.
- Software-based cognitive training and brain games.
- Consumers should look for products that can substantiate their claims with evidence from research.
- Be leery of anyone who claims to cure or prevent Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia or pre-dementia. Any such products would need FDA approval to properly make such claims, and no currently available products have obtained approval.
- Understand that there is a difference between short-term improvements and changes in long-term trajectories.
- Learning stimulates the brain and contributes to one’s general sense of competence. However, there is no evidence that any particular formal training or practice regime is required.
- Physical exercise is not only a low-cost and effective way to improve your health but also an important key to improving brain fitness.
ABOUT THE STANFORD CENTER ON LONGEVITY
The Stanford Center on Longevity is transforming the culture of human aging using science and technology. In less than one century, life expectancy increased by an average of 30 years in developed regions of the world. Combined with a reduction in fertility rates across the same period, the changes in age distribution now under way in the population – both nationally and internationally – are dramatic and unprecedented. Added years can be a gift or a burden to humanity depending upon how they are used. The aim of the Center is to use increased life expectancy to bring about profound advances in the quality of life from early childhood to old age.
For more information, please visit http:longevity.stanford.edu
欢迎到neurosociety论坛讨论相关的问题：）。
2009年4月29日星期三
Adults 'Facing' ADHD: ADHD Allies™ Offers Unique Online Community for Adults with ADHD on New Facebook® Page
Facebook上患ADHD成年人的群组。
Titusville, NJ (April 22, 2009) — Although Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition commonly thought of as only affecting children, for nearly 9 million adults in the United States, ADHD is very much a reality. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, adults with ADHD often struggle with getting organized, sticking to a job, remembering or keeping appointments and being productive.
more on Johnson & Johnson's
Titusville, NJ (April 22, 2009) — Although Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition commonly thought of as only affecting children, for nearly 9 million adults in the United States, ADHD is very much a reality. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, adults with ADHD often struggle with getting organized, sticking to a job, remembering or keeping appointments and being productive.
more on Johnson & Johnson's
2009年4月28日星期二
心理画像（psychological profiling）
最近发现美剧的新大陆，通过他们认识了本来非常陌生但是却有很大应用价值的领域-心理画像。
追看的两部美剧（lie to me不算）将这部分描写得活灵活现。他们是《criminal minds》和《the mentalist》。后面一部没有前面一部那么有名，但其中主角也是借助行为证据分析（例如照片中青春期女儿坐在父亲大腿上推断出两人关系不一般）来达到探案的效果。
criminal minds的真实机构是FBI的bahavior analysis unit（BAU），该机构的倡导者之一是John Douglas。当然，对于心理学应用感兴趣的人可能会觉得在警察机构里面做不见得待遇就好，毕竟公务员在美国并不是profitable的职业。其实我在网页上乱搜的结果发现美国已经有专门服务于司法的公司了，而且它的基础是行为科学，领域名字是forensic behavioral science。
前不久在网上发现一家为BAU服务的公司，叫Academy group Inc.。它是有BAU前任员工创建的，ms客户还有很多财富500强的公司。
追看的两部美剧（lie to me不算）将这部分描写得活灵活现。他们是《criminal minds》和《the mentalist》。后面一部没有前面一部那么有名，但其中主角也是借助行为证据分析（例如照片中青春期女儿坐在父亲大腿上推断出两人关系不一般）来达到探案的效果。
criminal minds的真实机构是FBI的bahavior analysis unit（BAU），该机构的倡导者之一是John Douglas。当然，对于心理学应用感兴趣的人可能会觉得在警察机构里面做不见得待遇就好，毕竟公务员在美国并不是profitable的职业。其实我在网页上乱搜的结果发现美国已经有专门服务于司法的公司了，而且它的基础是行为科学，领域名字是forensic behavioral science。
前不久在网上发现一家为BAU服务的公司，叫Academy group Inc.。它是有BAU前任员工创建的，ms客户还有很多财富500强的公司。
Brain Games: Do They Really Work?
scienfitic american上又一篇杜克大学研究人员对Brain fitness training的评论，他们的态度是有点用处，但是效果和经常锻炼、社交、玩桥牌对老年人的积极影响差不多。但是购买这些软件服务的理由是，因为我花钱了，所以我一定要去。呵呵，自我强迫啊。
A recent multicenter clinical trial of a commercial brain fitness program makes a case for why we should take brain games more seriously.
Do you misplace your keys or regularly miss appointments? Do you often forget the names of people you know well? Do you feel like your memory is slowly getting worse? If so, then you may find yourself considering those brain games advertised everywhere. Sales pitches such as “where the sweat is figurative, but results are real” and “your brain will thank you” are amusingly alluring. But you may find yourself wondering whether they are really worth the time and expense. You shell out the money, play a few rounds and your brain will start spitting out names, dates and pin numbers like you’re 18 again—right?
...
more on sciam
Brain fitness authority(so-called)
今天找到的一家由神经科学家Elkhonon Goldberg和曾在麦肯锡做过的Alvaro Fernandez共同创立的市场调研公司，和neuroinsight几乎一模一样的宣言（neurotech market authority）。
瞧瞧这种模式，我们落后了多少。现在只有做代理的份了。
从它的客户名单上，我们可以看到一些端倪，包括我关注的posit science都是它的客户。
瞧瞧这种模式，我们落后了多少。现在只有做代理的份了。
从它的客户名单上，我们可以看到一些端倪，包括我关注的posit science都是它的客户。
Below you have a partial list of clients:
Advanced Brain Technologies
AARP
Aberdare Ventures
AKM Holdings
Aspyr Media, Inc
BCM technologies
Behavioral Science Technology
Belmont Village Senior Living
BerCon Ltd
BIDMC-Harvard Medical Center
Binnacle Capital
Brain Resource Company
Brookdale Senior Living
Case Western Reserve University
Club One, Inc.
Cogmed
CogniFit
CogState
Dakim
Ericsson
Ernst & Young Advisory
Easter Seals
Harvard Medical School
International Masters Publishers
Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation
Kaiser Permanente
MaRS Discovery District
Memorial Hospital Health System
Memphis City Schools
Merit Entertainment
Mindmedi Clinic
National Academy Child Development
National Research Council of Canada
Navon
NeuroCare Network
New York Public Library
NovaVision
OptumHealth
Oregon Center for Applied Science
Osmium Partners
Peninsula Jewish Community Center
Posit Science
Sunrise Senior Living
University of Texas at Austin
University of Michigan
US Army Research Lab
Scientific Learning
Scientific Brain Training
Sutter Health Partners
VibrantBrains
2009年4月27日星期一
收费信息一则
Posit Science Adds $5.6M For Brain Power
With plenty of venture interest in companies offering brain fitness technology, Posit Science Corp. has raised $5.6 million in insider Series C funding, company President and Chief Executive Steven Aldrich said.
2009年4月26日星期日
最危险的是披着科学的外衣
神经营销学"neuromarketing"是认知神经科学中很炫的一个领域。近些年有一些研究发表在顶级的期刊上，比如neuron (doi )。《买》 (buyology)这本书，介绍了neuromarketing 在业界的一些实际应用。
对于影响人类购买行为的因素，书中大部分解释实际上没有达到神经层面，而只是决策行为层面。比如，人的决定经常受到非理性、潜意识以及习惯的影响。这些理论是认知心理学和经济学结合的产物，即行为经济学。 Daniel Kahneman 正 是由于在这领域的杰出贡献而获得2002年诺贝尔经济学奖。相比于比较完善的行为经济学的理论，书中提到真正与神经有关的理论恐怕只有镜像神经元 (mirror neuron)和躯体标识器假设 (Somatic Marker Hypothesis)。镜像神经元恐怕是认知神经科学领域很重要的一个发现，但书中应用镜像神经元解释人的购买行为却不太合理。你看到其他人戴带着白色 耳机线的ipod，导致你的镜像神经元激活，所以你也想买一个同样的ipod。镜像神经元理论只是说人们在观察别人行动时会激活自己做相同行动时所用的脑 区，即镜像神经元。激活自己做动作的脑区只是理解对方行为的一种途径，并不代表自己想要做同样的事情。
本书作者和其他一些研究者还做了一些功能磁共振 (fMRI)和脑电 (EEG)的研究，试图说明人们为什么买某一类商品，或者预测某些广告是否会成功。可惜的是，两类研究的逻辑都是错误的。比如，作者试图说明人们对某些品 牌的偏好类似于某种宗教信仰。因此作者对比了人们看某些“强势品牌”和“弱势品牌”时大脑活动的差异，发现激活的区域与宗教体验激活的区域相似。但这种相 似并不能说明人们偏好某品牌与人们信仰宗教相似，因为fMRI数据分析只能得到统计性的结果，而且大脑某个区域的功能并不是非常非常特定的 (没有哪个专门的区域是单纯的负责“宗教体验”)。
另外，作者的研究还试图用人们观看广告片时的神经活动来预测该广告片时否会成功。首先，各种不同广告片之间的物理属性差异巨大，很难说明哪一个广告片会引 起更大的注意。即使可以可靠的测量注意，在现实中广告的效应也很难单独由是否引起注意力决定。如果观众一连看了多个高度吸引注意的广告片，也许另外一个轻 松的广告片更会被记住。
脑成像研究实际上有很大的主观性，想要得出一个“结果”是很容易的。因此，对待这类研究结论一定要小心。如果自己不能确定，最好要相信同行评议的程序，也就是学术期刊上的研究。所谓“全球首席品牌营销专家”, 不一定是靠得住的。
source: Never
2009年4月21日星期二
Bioethics Panel Probes Marketed Medical Tests
Ordinary folk can now try to be masters of their own health, as private companies offer online DNA tests and full-body CT or MRI scans. But these services, which often offer health information without a doctor’s guidance, have stirred up much controversy in the medical community, with claims that the results the companies provide can be inaccurate or misleading to the average layperson.
In response to this issue, the U.K.’s Nuffield Council on Bioethics launched a consultation today on the ethical, legal, social, and economic issues behind these commerical health services. The council is soliciting the views of people interested in such services, as well as the academics and companies that may be developing or providing such personalized medical tests.
Currently, there is no overarching regulation of commercial DNA testing or body imaging in the United Kingdom. Commercial testing is convenient and allows people to take more personal responsibility for their health, “but the potential problems are several-fold,” says Hugh Whittall, director of the council. Some argue that the DNA tests offered are often not validated enough to give an accurate indication of disease risk, he says. And CT scanning, Whittall adds, is known for producing false positives—in which the image wrongly diagnoses a problem. What’s more, private tests are expensive: A full-body MRI or CT scan can cost several thousand pounds.
The council hopes to deliver its report addressing such issues by spring 2010 and will likely make recommendations on how the U.K. government should regulate these direct-to-consumer medical tests.
—Claire Thomas
source: ScienceInsider
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