Researchers at The Ohio State University have pinpointed the area of the brain responsible for recognizing human facial expressions. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the scientists have found that the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS)is activated when test subjects looked at images of people making different facial expressions.
Further, the researchers have discovered that neural patterns within the pSTS are specialized for recognizing movement in specific parts of the face. One pattern is tuned to detect a furrowed brow, another is tuned to detect the upturn of lips into a smile, and so on.
At ICE, we unfortunately don't have an fMRI to measure brain activity, but we do have a Spikerbox that can measure muscle contractions that occur with facial expressions!
Read the complete article from Ohio State University here: Researchers pinpoint part of the brain that recognizes facial expressions
Did you know that ICE has the technology to be able to test electrical impulses in human muscles? We do! It's called the EMG Spikerbox and is made by Backyard Brains (the folks who also supply us with RoboRoach devices). The EMG Spikerbox has been used by past and current ICE students to test the strength of muscle contraction under various conditions. Now Backyard Brains has a new device that complements the Spikerbox- a reaction timer! This can allow you to conduct experiments testing reaction time using advanced technology with precise results. We don't have this reaction timer at ICE yet, but if you create a proposal that will answer an important scientific question and requires the use of the reaction timer, we will get one!
Check out the Backyard Brains EMG Spikerbox here: EMG Spikerbox
You can find information about their Reaction Timer here: EMG Reaction Timer
Marital stress may make people more vulnerable to depression, according to a recent study. The long-term study shows that people who experience chronic marital stress are less able to savor positive experiences, a hallmark of depression. They are also more likely to report other depressive symptoms. Married people are, in general, happier and healthier than single people, according to numerous studies. But marriage can also be one of the most significant sources of long-lasting social stress.
What is especially interesting about this study is the method they used to measure emotion: using EMG to measure activity in the corrugator supercilli muscle, also known as the "frowning muscle." Could this be a novel use of the Spiker Box?
Read the complete article from the University of Wisconsin-Madison here: It’s not all wedded bliss: Marital stress linked to depression
