Williams Syndrome :: New Clues About Brain Function in Human Behavior

Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health, have discovered a genetically controlled brain mechanism responsible for social behavior in humans – one of the most important but least understood aspects of human nature. The findings are reported in Nature Neuroscience, published online on July 10, 2005.

Cognitive :: Williams Syndrome & thinking deficit

Using brain imaging, neuroscientists at the NIH’s National
Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have pinpointed the site
of a defect in a brain circuit associated with a specific
thinking deficit. Their study demonstrates how a rare
genetic disorder, Williams Syndrome, can offer clues as to
how genetic flaws may translate into cognitive symptoms in
more common and complex major mental disorders.

Sleep :: How sleep affects performance

Besides the connection between inadequate sleep and a number of major health problems, there is substantial scientific evidence that sleep deprivation affects cognition and motor performance. A recent study showed that people who were awake for up to 19 hours scored substantially worse on performance tests and alertness scales than those with a blood-alcohol level of .08 – the definition of being legally drunk.