missb writes: "US researchers have found that prenatal treatment for Down's works in mice. This raises the possibility that a pregnant woman who knows her unborn child has Down's syndrome might be able to forestall some of the symptoms before giving birth. When fetal mouse pups that had a syndrome similar to Down's were treated with nerve-protecting chemicals, some of the developmental delays that are part of the condition — such as motor and sensory abilities — were removed."
missb writes: "Could the gentle currents from a fluctuating magnetic field be used to reverse the effects of traumatic brain injury? New Scientist reports on a patient in the US who was in a coma-like state, but can now speak very simple words after being given transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This is the first time TMS has been used as a therapy to try and rouse a patient out of a coma."
missb writes: "According to NewScientist.com, online gamers are no 'couch potatoes'. US researchers quizzed players of the role-playing game EverQuest II, and found adult gamers to be in better physical condition than the average American. The downside, however, was the gamers reported more cases of depression and substance abuse than their compatriots.
Read the full story here:
http://technology.newscientist.com/article/mg19926746.400"
missb writes: "Brain tissue cultured from rats has controlled a wheeled robot around a lab, according to New Scientist this week. Researchers in the UK have harnessed signals from thousands of disembodied rat neurons, and manipulated them to get a robot to respond to instructions. The team at the University of Reading in the UK hope their research will help provide treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's and epilepsy.
You can read the full story on NewScientist.com:
http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/mg19926696.100-rise-of-the-ratbrained-robots.html"
