How might brushing your hair, a drive to work or knitting a scarf hold the keys to living a longer, healthier life?
Tasks and hobbies can work to promote a state of mindfulness which according to neuroscientific research can improve brain performance and overall health.
Dr Stan Rodski is a Cognitive Neuroscientist. His new book is "The Neuroscience of Mindfulness".
Continued here:
The neuroscience of mindfulness: using everyday tasks and hobbies to change your brain. - ABC News
China recently surprised the world with its neuroscience-backed pedagogy for children, but the programme has been a long time coming. Eight years ago, a professor shared some slides after I gave a lecture at Beijing Normal University, the countrys leading institution for teacher training and education research. One slide included a quote from the Chinese National Minister of Education: China needs a neuroscience-based pedagogy. Now, some Chinese children attend class with probes attached to their heads, informing teachers about their brain activity in real time.
Neuroscience studies of brain development, structure, function and abnormalities can help improve educational practice. Already, neuroscience-informed understanding of the importance of environmental input in the post-natal development of brain structure and function has made clearer that children from impoverished and otherwise disrupted communities have environmentally-induced compromises in neurocognitive development and still unrealised potential for neural growth and improved academic performance. In addition, neuroscience research has identified a number of specific factors that compromise neurocognitive development and this research has, in turn, led to the development of interventions to address related dysfunctions that impact educational outcomes. Third-party expert reports have summarised this research and provide guides to evidence-based neuroscience-informed interventions shown to improve academic outcomes.
Interestingly, the responses in China and the United States to such findings have been different, and problematic in different ways. Adoption of innovative, neuroscience-informed practices has been extremely limited in the United States. For example, the US Department of Educations 2019 Education Innovation and Research programme to develop innovative practices to improve academic achievement for students in disadvantaged communities and reduce the achievement gap related to poverty in the United States funded 41 projects for a total of more than $120 million dollars. Not one was neuroscience-based or informed. In China, in contrast, a Key National Neuroscience Laboratory has been established at Beijing Normal, fully equipped with the most advanced functional MRI brain imaging scanners and EEG, ERP and other systems that record brain electrical activity. Beijing Normal is widely considered among Chinas top neuroscience and cognitive neuroscience universities, a leader in studies of human brain development and quantitative analytic approaches.
A recent Wall Street Journal video report describes what seems to be a potentially problematic, large-scale implementation of neurofeedback technology that moves far ahead of available scientific support and claims to measure whether Chinese elementary school children are paying attention. While full evaluation of this device and enterprise from a five-minute news video is impossible, based on what is known about the many such recording devices around the world, there are a number of likely problems, including unattended negative consequences. Here, the allure and government support for a neuroscience-based pedagogy seem to have led to premature adoption of inadequately tested practices.
The Wall Street Journal brings in a neuroscientist who identifies problems from a neuroscience and evidence perspective, but the report begins with the claim, Teachers in this primary school in China know exactly when someone isnt paying attention. The claim is based on colour-coded signals sent to the teachers computer from headbands worn by each child that record brain electrical activity from a single location on the forehead and two behind the ears. The idea is that the teacher can intervene in real time to refocus children who are distracted and also generate other pedagogic interventions for individual children based on cumulative quantification of time spent concentrating versus being distracted over the course of weeks.
There are several potential problems with this effort. The first is accuracy of collected data. Recording brain electrical activity from the scalp requires stable and effective contact between recording electrode and skin. These issues are of less importance in research projects where data are typically averaged over many different children and where a variety of controls may be introduced. But obtaining highly consistent recordings from an individual child over multiple days is another challenge and must be demonstrated empirically under the real-world conditions in which the device is being used.
The next problem is the extreme limitation in the amount of data being collected. Clinical and research recordings of brain electrical activity are typically done at 64 to 256 scalp locations. A recording from only one location allows identification of very general features of activity from a limited area of the brain, thus limiting the ability to differentiate similar looking states that are functionally different. The challenge is similar to not being able to differentiate the words meat, meet, meal, beat, beet and so on.
The third problem is definition and calculation of the brain electrical activity said to indicate the desired attention state. This problem has two parts. Scientists have not yet identified an ideal attention state for learning or whether such a state would be the same for learning different types of material, or for different types of children who may learn in different ways. Secondly, there is no established consensus among scientists on the pattern of electrical activity that corresponds to the putative desired attention state, or the degree to which that might differ among children. For example, different brains might produce the same attention state in somewhat different ways just as two baseball pitchers throw 90-mile-per-hour curveballs with different delivery motions but the same effect of causing the batter to swing and miss.
The fourth problem is unanticipated and unmeasured effects of the feedback on other aspects of brain function that are not captured by the recording electrode. In fact, recent research has tested the effects of subjects attempting to alter their brain electrical activity to achieve a desired pattern as guided by a single electrode device. Multi-electrode recording during such tests show that the subjects efforts to alter electrical activity also affected other parts of the brain not monitored by a single electrode on the forehead. Questions emerge about whether these unmonitored changes in brain state are desirable or problematic.
Then there are a set of problems related to use of such information by teachers. In the Wall Street Journal video, a teacher points to a temporary deviation in a childs record from a horizontal reference line and says, During this period this student is a bit distracted. Should evidence of a bit distracted generate an intervention by the teacher? When does intervention inhibit self-discipline? For how long must distractions be manifested? What is the impact of intervention by the teacher on the targeted child and others in the class? Should the device automatically generate alerts for teachers to intervene when certain distraction thresholds are met? If the goal is to have students pay more attention, how does neuromonitoring compare to other methods for enhancing attention, including for example, making the material more interesting or more interactive? And then, we do not know how much attention is optimal, or what is the value of ones mind wandering a bit in thinking about what has just been read?
Reports of the amount of time students in a class were attentive versus distracted according to the device are also sent electronically to parents. In the video, some students report being punished for not paying attention. Parents might feel pressure to do so knowing that the other parents see reports that their child is not paying attention. Perhaps most important, when an intervention by a teacher or a parent is based upon information that poorly reflects the actual behavior desired of the child, the chance of the intervention increasing desired behavior is low and the chances of unintended and negative consequences are considerable.
Tantalising efficiency of monitoring might hide far greater problems and create unintended consequences. On neuroscience-based pedagogy, there is need to employ carefully researched and evidence-based practices.
Bruce E Wexler, MD, is professor emeritus of and senior research scientist in psychiatry at Yale University.
This article first appeared on Yale Global Online.
The rest is here:
In a Chinese school, a mind-reading headband tells teachers when their students are distracted - Scroll.in
University of Pennsylvania senior Christina Steele and 2018 graduate Erin Hartman have been named Marshall Scholars. Established by the British government, the Marshall Scholarship funds up to three years of study for a graduate degree in any field at an institution in the United Kingdom.
They are among 46 Marshall Scholars for 2020chosen from more than 1,000 applicants. The scholarship, meant to strengthen U.S.-U.K. relations, is offered to as many as 50 Americans each year.
Erin Hartman, from Medford, New Jersey, graduated magna cum laude from the School of Nursing in 2018. She is currently a registered nurse in the Emergency Department at New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she also works as a certified sexual assault forensic examiner in the Victim Intervention Program. She plans to pursue a master of laws degree in international human rights and practice at the University of York, followed by an masters degree in gender, peace, and security at the London School of Economics. Her passion is in empowering women, and her ambition is to help eradicate violence against women around the world.
Hartman worked as a research assistant at Penns Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics for two years. She spent her summers and time outside of campus working on women's health issues, specifically sexual violence. She interned for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in the health policy office and at the World Health Organization's headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on the Violence Against Women team.
At Penn, she pursued an interdisciplinary course of study that included graduate courses on ethical issues in reproductive health, social science research methods, and global health. She focused on the ability of nurses to translate their experiences with individual patients into systemic change through policy. Hartman was an Ortner Center for Violence and Abuse Student Fellow, a Wharton Public Policy Research Scholar, and an International Human Rights Scholar through Penn Law. She also was involved with the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education and the pre-professional health care fraternity Alpha Iota Gamma.
Christina Steele, from Valley Stream, New York, is majoring in psychology with minors in religious studies andbiological basis of behavior in the School of Arts and Sciences. She will pursue a doctorate in social psychology at the University of Edinburgh with a goal of developing evidence-based interventions that target interpersonal conflict and foster positive relationships in society.
Steele is a 2019 Beinecke Scholar and a recipient of the George Weiss Challenge Scholarship and the Gillian Meltzer Miniter Scholarship. She has participated in National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates programs for two years: on the effects of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders on romantic relationships in 2019, and on adversity and sociopolitical violence among Ukrainian civilians and military personnel in 2018.
At Penn, Steele is a Benjamin Franklin Scholar and has been awarded the Hassenfeld Foundation Social Impact Research Grant and the College Alumni Society Research Grant through Penns Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships (CURF). She has been a research assistant in the Brannon Laboratory, the Jenkins Laboratory, and the Emotion, Development, Environment and Neurogenetics Laboratory. Her research has ranged from child numerical cognition to implicit biases to social decision making to callous-unemotional traits in children.
She is a CURF Research Peer Advisor, and a College of Arts and Sciences Peer Advisor in the Psychology Department. She tutors neuroscience, has helped develop a graduate statistics course, and has twice served as a teaching assistant in cognitive science. She also teaches introductory neuroscience to high school students in West Philadelphia.
Steele enjoys playing badminton and playing music. She has performed withthe Penn Band, as well as the Music Departments Penn Wind Ensemble, and Penn Flutes Ensemble.
Steele and Hartman applied for the Marshall Scholarship with assistance from the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. Penn has had 17 Marshall Scholars since the scholarships inception in 1953.
For a full list of the 2020 Marshall Scholars or for more information, go to marshallscholarship.org.
Continue reading here:
Penn senior and a 2018 graduate receive Marshall Scholarship - Penn: Office of University Communications
In October 2019, we are celebrating the 15th anniversary of Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation the leading open access journal in rehabilitation. Wed like to take the anniversary as an opportunity to discuss with JNERs Editor-in-Chief, David Reinkensmeyer, the field of neurorehabilitation, how it has evolved in the last 15 years, and what we are expecting for the future.
Victoria Hentschke 9 Dec 2019
AlienCat / fotolia.com
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation was founded in 2004 as a forum to discuss how neuroscience and biomedical engineering can reshape physical medicine and rehabilitation. What are the biggest developments in the field since then?
Neurorehabilitation has become increasingly familiar with and reliant on advanced neuroscience and engineering technologies. This is also reflected in Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, as the highest cited and accessed papers present innovative ways to enhance rehabilitation with technology.
Can you please expand on how and why you think technology is more prominent in rehabilitation research?
A key sign is that in the U.S., the National Institutes of Health has increasingly funded rehabilitation research that incorporates advanced engineering tools. An analysis done in 2018 by NIH analysts found that bioengineer or rehabilitation engineer was the most frequently listed. From personal experience circulating at poster sessions at rehabilitation conferences, I have observed that physical and occupational therapist researchers now fluently use cutting-edge technologies to aid their research, including robotics, brain monitoring and stimulation, and sophisticated data analysis techniques. Use of cutting-edge technologies for research by therapists was much less common 30 years ago!
What would you say are milestones technologies in rehabilitation that have had the most impact in the last years?
The robotics revolution began in the late 1980s/early 1990s. Virtual reality in rehabilitation increased soon after. Now, we are in the age of wearability. We are also seeing an increased incorporation of artificial intelligence, and increased experimentation with adjuvant therapies (such as brain stimulation and targeted feedback) combined with rehabilitation therapy.
You mentioned that technology use is not so common in rehabilitation practice do you see a development in the field anyway?
Uptake of new technologies into routine clinical practice is slower than uptake into research. However, most rehabilitation facilities are now experimenting with new technologies, and many are finding ways to enhance their practice. Significant barriers to translation remain. People with disabilities and clinicians must be more intimately involved in the development and testing of new technologies. We also must become more sophisticated in analyzing and addressing the factors that determine translation of rehabilitation technologies.
What do you imagine rehabilitation technology will look like in 2036?
I believe that more people, both with and without disabilities, will more frequently use rehabilitation-inspired technologies because they enhance their health and their day-to-day capabilities. Sensor-based data, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence will increasingly enhance rehabilitation science, promoting more personalized design and better outcomes.
Lets talk about access to research with the open access movement and JNER as the leading fully open access journal, have you seen an impact in the field?
Yes, NIH Public Access Policy was drafted in 2004, JNERs first year, and mandated in 2008. NIH and other funding agencies across many countries now require funded research to be made publically available. With open access publications, any interested person around the world can immediately access the latest research. This is particularly important for rehabilitation, because this means that inventors, persons with a disability (who may themselves be inventors as well as consumers), and rehabilitation therapists and caregivers worldwide can make decisions based on the latest findings.
What developments are you expecting for the future of the field?
Again, we are squarely in the wearable age of neurorehabilitation technology development. Wearable rehabilitation will continue to mature, and does represent a new paradigm in rehabilitation. Besides enhancing our movement capabilities, wearables allow us to take a sort of avatar of our rehabilitation therapist with us as we move, thus helping us do therapy on the go. I am also expecting to see more articles published on human augmentation, including augmentation of the movement of persons who dont have a disability. JNER published the first study that demonstrated a metabolic reduction in unimpaired walking using an autonomous exoskeleton. This work provides the scientific basis for the goal of using an exoskeleton to help you hike farther without using as much energy. Im excited to see how the field of movement augmentation continues to evolve and develop. And I hope that JNER can continue to be a premier place to publish papers in this emerging field!
Note: Some of these answers are adapted from David Reinkensmeyers commentary JNER at 15 years: Analysis of the state of neuroengineering and rehabilitation just published in Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, which you can read for a more in-depth discussion.
Neurological Research and Practice, the official journal of the German Neurological Society, launched its submission system about 1 year ago. Wed like to take this opportunity to talk about hot topics in neurology and the journals first year, with Professor Gereon Fink, Past President of the German Neurological Society.
Victoria Hentschke 9 Dec 2019
What are the current trends and hot topics in neurology?
The increasing insights into the genetics and molecular bases of neurological disorders open new perspectives for specific and personalized treatments. This is evidenced most dramatically by the antisense therapy for spinal muscular atrophy. Promising neurological research currently targets neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinsons disease, Duchenne muscular atrophy, or Huntingtons disease. Likewise, brain-machine interfaces and neuroprosthetics offer huge potential. Never before has it been more important and more exciting to be a neurologist!
Neurological Research and Practice is celebrating its 1st anniversary of the submission system launch. As the Past President and one of the main drivers for the societys own English-language open access journal, what has the journal achieved so far? Are you happy with the progress you are seeing now?
Within only one year, a new journal has been established with a regular publication schedule of already 3 -4 articles per month with the first articles being published in February 2019. The article accesses of research articles, e.g., Safety and clinical impact of FEES results of the FEES registry, or review articles, e.g., Navigating choice in multiple sclerosis management, demonstrate that the topics covered in the journal meet the readers interests. In addition to review and research articles, standard operating procedures, guidelines, and clinical trial protocols provide a modern style that attracts clinically oriented neuroscientists and neurologists as the target group of Neurological Research and Practice. All this proves that the conceptualization of the journal has been successful. Given the wealth of journals and the competition in the field, we are delighted with the positive reception of Neurological Research and Practice. I would like to congratulate the Editor-in-Chief, Werner Hacke, and his team for the great job they have done.
Lets take a step back why did the DGN wanted to have an open access journal? What was the idea and mission behind the journal?
Without any doubt, neurology is the key discipline in medicine of the 21st century, given the sociodemographic changes of our societies. At the same time, never before in the history of neurology, have we seen such tremendous scientific breakthroughs in basic, clinically relevant neuroscience, translational neurology, and clinical practice. Just think about the significant advances in the treatment of stroke or multiple sclerosis. Thus, bringing together neurological research and practice has proven fruitful. Few journals, however, specifically aim at bridging basic, clinically relevant neuroscience and clinical practice. Neurological Research and Practice, the official journal of the German Neurological Society, exactly aims to do that with a broad scope reflecting all clinical, translational and basic research aspects of neurology and neuroscience. NRP provides a forum for clinicians and scientists with an interest in all areas of neurology including, but not limited to, genetics, vascular diseases and critical care, disorders of the spine, movement disorders, neuroimmunology, infections, oncology, epilepsy, neuroimaging and neuroradiology, neurodevelopment and degeneration.
What are you expecting for the journals future in the next year?
Although online only since February 2019, NRP is already well-perceived, and the first citations speak to the relevance and timeliness of the articles published. The next steps include indexing in the National Library of Medicine (NLM). This will allow access to PubMed and other databases, which will significantly enhance NRPs visibility. Although NRP is the official journal of the German Neurological Society, the journal aims to bring together authors and readers from all countries worldwide. Besides, access to NLM will also be an important step for gaining an impact factor. Given NRPs success over the first few months, we are confident that these important milestones can be achieved in the near future, and hope for this to be within the next 24 months.
Read the original:
Never before has it been more exciting and important to be a neurologist - Research in progress blog - BMC Blogs Network
A study conducted by the Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behaviour (INHB) has concluded that motorcyclists are less stressed and more fulfilled than their four-wheeled counterparts.
The study originally set about trying to find out if bikers were constantly riding in fear of being involved in an accident, but inadvertently proved the opposite! The results centre around a certain hormone called cortisol that is released in the brain when we become anxious. Scientists found that bikers would produce 28% less cortisol during testing than drivers on the same course.
The study was conducted by INHB in a controlled manner, with 50 motorcyclists and 50 car drivers making their way around a closed course for 20-minutes. During this time, the team measured the users heart rate, cortisol, and adrenaline levels. The users brain activity and its here where the most interesting results came from.
The results found that when riding, the subjects experienced increased sensory focus and resilience to distraction. Riding also produced an increase in adrenaline levels and heart rate, and a decrease in cortisol levelsthe kind of results you often get after a light exercise session, which also is a stress reducer.
The news regarding the mental well-being of motorcyclists goes hand in hand with a study that found that riding a motorcycle can burn anywhere between 170-600 calories an hour. As much as some people can burn in an hour at the gym.
So, there we have it, motorcycles really are good for your body and mind!
Here is the original post:
Motorcycles are better for brain and body health heres the proof! - Visordown.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Contrary to accepted knowledge, blood can bring more oxygen to mice brains when they exercise because the increased respiration packs more oxygen into the hemoglobin, according to an international team of researchers who believe that this holds true for all mammals.
"Standard thought was that mammalian blood is always completely saturated with oxygen," said Patrick J. Drew, Huck Distinguished Associate Professor of Neural Engineering and Neurosurgery and associate director of the Penn State Neuroscience Institute.
That would mean that the only way to get more oxygen to the brain would be to get more blood to the brain by increasing blood flow. The researchers were interested in seeing how brain oxygen levels were affected by natural behaviors, specifically exercise.
"We know that people change breathing patterns when doing cognitive tasks," said Drew. "In fact, respiration phase locks to the task at hand. In the brain, increases in neural activity usually are accompanied by increases in blood flow."
However, exactly what is happening in the body was unknown, so the researchers used mice who could chose to walk or run on a treadmill and monitored their respiration, neural activity, blood flow and brain oxygenation.
"We predicted that brain oxygenation would depend on neural activity and blood flow," said Qing Guang Zhang, postdoctoral fellow in engineering science and mechanics. "We expected the oxygenation would drop in the brain's frontal cortex if blood flow decreased.
"That was what we thought would happen, but then we realized it was the respiration that was keeping the oxygenation up."
The only way that could happen would be if exercise was causing the blood to carry more oxygen, he explained, which would mean that the blood was not normally completely saturated with oxygen.
The researchers looked at oxygenation in the somatosensory cortex and the frontal cortex which is an area involved in cognition and the olfactory bulb an area involved in the sense of smell because they are the most accessible areas of the brain.
They used a variety of methods to monitor respiration, blood flow and oxygenation. They also tested oxygenation levels while suppressing neural activity and blood vessel dilation.
The researchers report in today's (Dec. 4) issue of Nature Communications that "The oxygenation persisted when neural activity and functional hyperemia (blood flow increases) were blocked, occurred both in the tissue and in arteries feeding the brain, and were tightly correlated with respiration rate and the phase of respiration cycle."
They conclude that "respiration provides a dynamic pathway for modulating cerebral oxygenation."
Also working on this project at Penn State were Kyle W. Gheres, graduate student in molecular, cellular and integrative biosciences; Ravi Kedrasetti, doctoral student in engineering science and mechanics; and William D. Haselden, M.D./Ph.D. student in the Medical Scientist Training Program and Neuroscience Graduate Program.
Others on the project include Morgane Roche, graduate student; Emmanuelle Chaigneau, postdoctoral researcher; and Serge Charpak, professor of neuroscience, all at the Institut de la Sant et de la Recherche Mdicale, Paris, France.
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience and the National Institutes of Health supported this research.
Read more here:
Respiration key to increase oxygen in the brain - Penn State News
Optogenetics Market size is projected to experience significant growth from 2019 to 2025.Optogenetics is the biological practice in neuroscience used for monitoring the cells with the help of light. It is majorly used to control and monitor the activities of neurons in living cells. Optogenetics market is estimated to witness considerable growth over the forecast timeframe owing to increasing adoption rate optogenetics technology in the field of behavioral and neuroscience. Moreover, increasing technological advancements in optogenetics coupled with growth in ultrafast laser tool technology will augment market growth.
Multimodal imaging such as, computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a crucial role in precisely identifying the unhealthy tissues. Hence, increasing use of such technologies will propel market growth across the projected time period. Additionally, development in genetic engineering research and growth in number of research laboratories adopting optogenetics technology will further augment market growth.
Request sample copy of this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4172
However, the excessive cost of optogenetics technology is a major growth hindering factor. Moreover, dearth of skilled professionals for optogenetic research along with lack of awareness about the optogenetics in various developing as well as developed economies of the world will act as major growth restraining factors.
Light instruments segment is expected to witness considerable growth over the forecast timeframe. Light instruments include, Light-emitting Diode (LEDs) and lasers. LEDs are found to surpass lasers in several aspects such as, they are more reliable, smaller in size, easier to control as well as, cost effective in nature. Effective LED therapies are used in treating neurological and cutaneous diseases. Hence, the aforementioned reasons will increase demand for lights instruments thus, augmenting market growth.
Make Inquiry about this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/4172
Neuroscience segment is expected to hold major chunk of revenue over the projected years. High growth is attributed to the factors such as, various advancements in neuroscience and increasing prevalence of neurological diseases. Additionally, rising government initiatives supporting various research and development activities will further boost market growth. For instance, in 2014, a private-public funded project aimed at better understanding of the human brain called The BRAIN initiative have been proposed. Hence, such initiatives will assist the market to deliver positive growth.
U.S. is expected to witness substantial growth over the forecast period owing to increase in use of optogenetic devices primarily in research and academic labs. Also, rise in prevalence of neuronal disorders such as, epilepsy, brain tumors and Parkinsons disease will further boost regional growth. As per Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015, 3.4 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with epilepsy, which is expected to drive the growth of optogenetic market. Additionally, it is rapidly being used in various research and academic labs across the U.S.
China is expected to witness significant growth in the optogenetics market during the analysis period. Technological advancements and increasing adoption of optogenetic technologies for the treatment of various neurological conditions will augment optogenetics market growth in China. Furthermore, increasing prevalence of neurological disorders is another major growth augmenting factor.
Some of the key industry players include Cobolt Inc., Addgene, Gensight Biologics, Coherent Inc., Laserglow Technologies, Scientifica, Shanghai Laser & Optics Century Co. Ltd, Noldus Information Technology, and Thorlabs Inc. Key strategies adopted by industry players include strategic collaborations, partnerships, mergers, and innovative product launches to expand their business product portfolio.
Optogenetics Market by Product, 2014-2025 (USD Million)
Optogenetics Market by Application, 2014-2025 (USD Million)
Here is the original post:
Insights into Optogenetics Market and its growth outlook - Technology Magazine
For most students, the idea of a STEM and fine arts double major seems foreign, especially with finals season now here. To many STEM and arts double majors, this means balancing traditional exam finals with turning in semester-long projects and portfolios.
The difference between junior computer science and music performance major Jordan Benders dual majors is apparent in his finals. For computer science, he is often presented with a traditional paper and pencil final, while his music classes often evaluate his skills through performances. For his Music Theory 3 course, Bender needed to apply the musical knowledge he gained throughout the semester through a final research paper.
Skills in music classes tend to compound upon one another, so its more of a cumulative sort of final, Bender said. Whereas computer science classes, in my experience, have been less cumulative and more what have you done since the last test.
Growing up, Bender played percussion as a member of the school band, yet his love of music never overshadowed his love of technology and video games. Hes interested in possibly coding for video games and working in game design, while he plans on using his music degree to work toward a performance career in musical theater.
Though hes following his passions, balancing two courses of study hasnt always been easy for Bender he didnt realize the extreme differences in his two majors would make his experience a lot tougher than others.
I dont think I realized how busy I would be going into having a double major because people have double majors in related areas quite often, he said.
Two majors can be difficult to balance, especially with a minor attached. Junior Alex Johnson is currently pursuing an environmental studies and communications double major as well as a studio arts minor. In contrast to Bender, Johnson said his interests do not conflict as much as other students may think.
Its honestly been super helpful to have different ways to approach the things I care about, he said. [Double majoring] offers an interesting perspective, and its never been entirely separate things that are hard to think about at the same time.
In preparing for finals, Johnson said that he spends five or six hours preparing for an environmental studies final. Meanwhile, a final project in studio arts can take 10 to 15 hours to complete because of the artistic detail that is often involved.
I think the studio arts classes are a lot more time consuming and require more commitment than studying for a written final for environmental science, Johnson said. You just have to be on top of it and be proactive about starting things well before theyre due.
Delaney Jenkins, chair of the studio arts department, said studio art finals are different from a traditional paper and pencil final because students have to show how theyve developed their skills over the course of the semester and are then critiqued by their professors and classmates.
A critique in studio arts is like a final exam. You show up with your accomplished piece and you present it, Jenkins said. Youre getting full feedback now. Youve been getting feedback on the parts, but now heres the final thing.
During a critique, students present their finalized piece to the class. Their peers provide feedback and explain its possible meanings. The artist then interprets their work in front of the class, where they are provided with additional comments from their classmates and professor.
Johnson originally planned to enter college as an art major, but said he found that he is more passionate about the environment. Johnson said he hopes to use his interest in the environment and his communications and studio arts background to promote a better understanding of scientific issues through artwork.
I think creating artwork that talks about environmental science, and in particular environmental issues, is just another way to get people interested and contribute new ideas in a nontraditional way to that discussion about environmentalism and science in general, he said.
While Johnson views his studio arts classes as more time-consuming than his STEM work, Ari Freedman, a sophomore who majors in neuroscience and music, sees his situation differently. He said his neuroscience major often presents a greater challenge than music due to the amount of material he must remember for finals.
My finals for my STEM major rely a lot more on my ability to memorize information, whereas my finals for the music major require more of a bodied understanding of what the music is, Freedman said. It seems that theres more weight in the classes that are science based. Maybe because I feel there is more of a challenge, more of a pressure in the world of professional sciences.
Biology professor Erica McGreevey said STEM finals often assess students ability to recall information from the beginning of the semester as well as the material they are currently learning, citing the Foundations of Biology exam, which consists of 40 multiple choice questions covering material from the entire semester.
Often times, it will have a section of new material as well, so students are learning something new in addition to having to demonstrate their understanding of the entire course content, she said.
While remembering material for his neuroscience exams adds to Freedmans stress around finals, its important for him to pursue in regards to what he wants to do. His goal is to analyze how music can affect mental and emotional states. He utilizes his music and neuroscience interests in his current research position at an occupational lab, where he conducts EEG studies of patients and examines what parts of the brain are affected when a musical stimulus is present.
I liked the fact that we could use an empirically based understanding of the world to change what we were doing, Freedman said, that we could realize certain things are flawed and that we could learn what is the best way to go about doing things using science.
Despite the differences between the arts and STEM, Johnson still finds that they can work together in harmony. He said he utilizes both of these fields and feels that others should do the same.
I would encourage people to pursue art, even if they are a science major, because you can always find a way to connect the two, Johnson said.
Here is the original post:
Balancing finals as a STEM and art double major - University of Pittsburgh The Pitt News
Updated December 09, 2019 08:15:43
When it was announced in October that Netflix was trialling a new variable playback option that would allow viewers to watch their titles sped up (or slowed down), filmmakers reacted with dismay.
Judd Apatow, director and screenwriter of Knocked Up and Funny People, tweeted: "Leave them as they were intended to be seen."
Filmmakers Brad Bird (The Incredibles), Peter Ramsey (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) and Peyton Reed (Ant-Man) also piled on.
"Having worked a lot in large-scale TV, it's kind of like sitting in a theatre audience and yelling out to the directors and the actors to 'hurry up!' it feels that rude as a concept," says Thomas M Wright, an Australian actor (Top of The Lake) and filmmaker (Acute Misfortune).
In fact, browser plugins that allow viewers to adjust the speed that they watch Netflix (and other video content) already exist.
Melbourne university student Seraphya told Stop Everything! that he watches YouTube videos at triple speed and Netflix at double speed.
"If you watch faster, you get to watch more shows," he says.
And speeding through video content seems like a natural evolution in one sense; first there was speed reading, then came speed listening, after podcasts and audiobooks invaded our phones.
Seraphya, a bioinformatics student, jacks up his podcast listening to triple speed.
"I'm listening for both knowledge and entertainment, and it's just boring to listen at single speed," he says.
He's also not particularly fazed by the concerns of content creators, pointing out that "we now know from musical historians that Beethoven was meant to be much faster than we currently generally perform it at so there's no use getting stuck with what was intended, because what was intended doesn't last".
Seraphya has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but says that speed listening and watching actually calms him down, the stimulation allowing his brain to focus.
Emma, undertaking her teaching masters in Adelaide, ramps up her speed to dial down her FOMO: "I feel like there is so much to be seen and not enough time to see it in, so when I get the opportunity I do tend to ramp the speed up."
She recently watched historical action thriller Hotel Mumbai and Swedish fantasy Border "between x1.4 and x1.6 speed".
She's likely to use Netflix's faster playback option, but she believes "some things that are really stressful and distressing shouldn't be watched at speed", pointing to Netflix miniseries Unbelievable, based on a true story of rape and injustice, as an example.
"There will always be things I listen to at 1.0 speed, the things that I love," Emma says.
"It's irrational and personal, but isn't everybody's relationship to what they consume?"
Ian, a public servant in Queensland, listens to most podcasts on double speed and sometimes watches YouTube videos sped up, but says he won't be speeding through Netflix.
"I don't think I would do it for television shows I think they usually have particular production values that I don't think would be helped by watching them at a faster rate."
Director Thomas M Wright recognises that not all television is "carefully crafted" and some directors wouldn't be concerned by the idea of viewers speed-watching their work.
"But cinema takes years and people are actually orchestrating a completely false reality, and in order to do that it takes extraordinary investment and extraordinary care and the idea of that being trampled over for convenience is absurd," he says.
"Cinema for me is a machine of empathy and there's something that dies, the more people atomise it."
Joel Werner, host and producer of ABC podcast Sum of All Parts, understands why listeners speed up some podcast content but draws a line.
"I think watching a really good TV series or a really good movie, or listening to a really immersive audio documentary, it's an experience, right?"
"It's taking you to a different world, it's putting you in someone else's shoes, it's giving you a perspective on life that you didn't have before and I just don't think you can get any of that nuance when you listen at double the speed it was intended to be listened at," Werner says.
"So the theory on speed reading is it's more of a skim than a read," says Jared Cooney Horvath, an educational neuroscientist from The University of Melbourne.
Dr Horvath says that our ability to speed read is limited by the foveal spot at the back of the eye, "which essentially determines what you can focus on.
"If something isn't in that spot, then bad news, you're not going to be reading it and unfortunately, it's a very small spot."
When you combine our small foveal spots with the fact you need to move your eyes across a page to read, he says that even a speed reader would still take 10-20 seconds to read an average page of text.
While many seem to draw the line at narrative-based or fictional content, Dr Horvath says that "because of the way narratives are constructed, especially creative narratives, that's when you might be able to get away with it [skim reading]".
That's because fiction involves a degree of "redundancy" (repetition and references to characters, plot points and settings) which enables readers to make sense of a book while skimming through it.
But if you speed through nonfiction or anything you're planning to learn information from, "you get almost nothing out of it because you don't have these little points to use as kind of references," says Dr Horvath.
"Without that 'redundancy' you have nothing to hang your hat on. You get to the end and your comprehension is just trash."
The good news for speed-demons? Dr Horvath says that for speed listening and watching, anything up to x1.25 speed is "fine" in terms of recall and comprehension.
"As soon as you go above that, prepare to start just dropping key facts and that's just fact recall. Comprehension is [about] now how do you piece those facts together into a story."
As you recall fewer facts, Dr Horvath says your "comprehension tanks" compared to someone listening to or watching something on normal speed.
"When you're breastfeeding with your mother, you get a very certain chemical signature that spreads through your body which we think is a signature of bonding," Dr Horvath says.
"It turns out when you're lost in a narrative you get that same signature, so you're bonding. So when people say 'I love Dostoyevsky,' they're not being flippant, you're bonding with the author at that moment."
If you speed through a book, you risk losing the depth and engagement required to bond with the work.
Even so as long as the current glut of content exists, there are going to be people willing to sacrifice depth of engagement in favour of skimming as much of it as they can.
Dr Horvath traces the problem of "information overload" to the advent of the printing press, pinning this as the moment we were faced with a major decision between depth and breadth.
"The vast majority of people pick broad: 'I just want to listen to as many podcasts, watch as many shows, make sure I get everything'. And it's neither right nor wrong," he says.
But if you choose to speed through all three seasons of Stranger Things in one evening, don't expect it to make much of an impact.
"Deep learning is predicated on thinking," says Dr Horvath.
"You have to embed these memories and you have to give yourself time to think about them."
Rather than speed-watching, Dr Horvath suggests: "If you watch a show don't binge it, spend a day not watching the show, thinking about the episode you just watched, predicting what's going to come next."
"That's the deep thinking that makes the show resonate."
Topics:arts-and-entertainment,film-movies,film,television,popular-culture,books-literature,neuroscience,australia,united-states
First posted December 07, 2019 06:25:33
Read this article:
Netflix's speed-watching trial joins a long history of content cramming, but may be bad for artists and viewers - ABC News