August/September 2008
Scientific American Mind

Cover; August/September 2008; by Staff Editor; 1 Page(s)

From the Editor; August/September 2008; by Mariette DiChristina; 1 Page(s)

Emotional Ties

Table of Contents; August/September 2008; by Staff Editor; 2 Page(s)

Letters; August/September 2008; by Staff Editor; 2 Page(s)

Head Lines; August/September 2008; by R. Douglas Fields, Melinda Wenner, Victoria Stern, Emily Anthes, Nicole Branan, Aimee Cunninngham, Erica Westly, Lucas Laursen, Susan Cosier, Lisa Conti, Marina Krakovsky, Kurt Kleiner, Siri Carpenter; 8 Page(s)

Call Me Sleepless; Ease Anxiety, Curb Cravings; Does Herpes Cause Brain Cancer?; Rooks Take Food; Unconscious Decisions; Mass Appeal; Word Problems; Song of the Mouse; Motion Magic; Talk to Teens, Live Longer; Smell Similarity; Down in the Dark; Polling Places¿ Surprising Sway; A Natural Log; The Sound of Sight

Perspectives: Monkeys Hear Voices; August/September 2008; by Pascal Belin; 2 Page(s)

New research suggests that a brain area devoted to processing voices is not as uniquely human as had been previously assumed

Illusions: Seeing Is Believing; August/September 2008; by Vilayanur S. Ramachandran and Diane Rogers-Ramachandran; 3 Page(s)

2-D or not 2-D, that is the question: test yourself to learn what shapes formed by shading reveal about the brain

Calendar; August/September 2008; by Rachel Dvoskin and Karen Schrock; 1 Page(s)

Exhibitions, conferences, movies and more

Quiet! Sleeping Brain at Work; August/September 2008; by Robert Stickgold and Jeffrey M. Ellenbogen; 8 Page(s)

During slumber, our brain engages in data analysis, from strengthening memories to solving problems

Depressingly Easy; August/September 2008; by Kelly Lambert; 8 Page(s)

We nuke food and machine-wash ready-made clothes. Such conveniences may be contributing to rising rates of depression by depriving our social interactions in ways we do not consciously realize

The Hidden Power of Scent; August/September 2008; by Josie Glausiusz; 8 Page(s)

Far from being a weak and unimportant sense, our odor-detecting ability is surprisingly acute and shapes our social interactions in ways we do not consciously realize

The Secrets of Storytelling; August/September 2008; by Jeremy Hsu; 6 Page(s)

Our love for telling tales reveals the workings of the mind

Minding Mistakes; August/September 2008; by Markus Ullsperger; 8 Page(s)

Brain scientists have identified nerve cells that monitor performance, detect errors and govern the ability to learn from misfortunes

High-Aptitude Minds; August/September 2008; by Christian Hoppe and Jelena Stojanovic; 8 Page(s)

Brain researchers are finding clues to the biological basis of brilliance

Coaching the Gifted Child; August/September 2008; by Christian Fischer; 2 Page(s)

Enrichment activities can provide mental stimulation for very bright kids

Intelligence Evolved; August/September 2008; by Ursula Dicke and Gerhard Roth; 8 Page(s)

What makes people smarter than other animals? Human intelligence seems to have emerged from subtle refinements in brain architecture rather than from large-scale alterations

Facts and Fictions in Mental Health: D.I.Y. Addiction Cures?; August/September 2008; by Scott O. Lilienfeld and Hal Arkowitz; 2 Page(s)

Former drug and alcohol users can show impressive results without professional treatment, through the phenomenon of self-change

We're Only Human: Arranging for Serenity; August/September 2008; by Wray Herbert; 2 Page(s)

How physical space, thought and emotion intersect

Mind Reviews; August/September 2008; by Melinda Wenner, Nicole Branan, Victoria Stern, Corey Binns; 2 Page(s)

Would You Panic; Fido the Philosopher; Paralyzed by Choice; Nature Radio

Ask the Brains; August/September 2008; by Rebecca Seal and Dinah Miller; 1 Page(s)

Can one neuron release more than one neurotransmitter? Why is it comforting to discuss problems with others?

Head Games; August/September 2008; by American Mensa; 1 Page(s)

Match wits with the Mensa puzzler