Muscle Cramps? Drink Pickle Juice

For cramps to occur, certain mechanisms within muscles start misfiring when a muscle is fatigued, causing muscles to bunch together when it should relax. So how do we stop it?

In a study, athletes conducted a variety of exercises and then cramps were electrically stimulated in their big toe. Volunteers were told to relax and cramps lasted for ~2.5 minutes. The volunteers did not drink any fluids.

Then cramps were again stimulated, but athletes immediately drank 2.5 ounces of deionized water or pickle juice. Within 85 seconds, the men drinking pickle juice stopped cramping. But cramps continued in men drinking water. Pickle juice stopped a cramp 45% faster than drinking no fluids and 37% faster than water.

While the mechanism is unclear, the key ingredient is vinegar as another study showed drinking pure vinegar was more effective than drinking pickle juice.

Envy = Pain

Research finds that feelings of envy activate brain areas responsible for pain processing and when we learn of bad news towards those we envy, brain areas responsible for pleasure are activated.

Participants read a story about themselves and their friends. In one scenario, subjects were told that, unlike their classmates, they failed a job interview. Reading about this classmate’s successes, financial and romantic, activated brain areas responsible for pain. Then subjects learned that something bad happened to this friend and the brain registered happiness in return. Pleasure, however, could just be the relief of no longer being envious.

That would help explain this.

Monkeys Hate Unfairness

Research found that monkeys are sensitive to reward distribution.

Give two monkeys a cucumber for a simple task is OK. But if one monkey sees his neighbor get a more desirable grape for the same tasl, they become agitated. Also, if the 2nd monkey gets a grape without doing anything, the 1st monkey gets very agitated ... something like resentment or envy. Researchers say the behavior resembles human's repugnance to current Wall Street bonuses.

Money Buys Happiness

A previous post noted that spending on others generates happiness. Another study finds that money spent on experiences made people happier than buying things if those experiences are enjoyable and enhance the individual's life in non-material ways.

In the study, half of the participants wrote a paragraph about a recent experience they purchased (e.g. dining out or going to the movies). The other half wrote a paragraph about something they bought. Both groups wrote down their feelings about what they purchased. Those who bought experiences were significantly happier and said it was money well-spent.

These feelings might come from feeling connected to friends. Also we don’t get tired of happy memories, but we can get tired of a purchase.

Lucky Guess Not Always Lucky

Research reveals that guesses are not always guesses - the brain may know the answer even though we don't realize it.

In the study, participants had to memorize half of a number of brightly colored pictures. While viewing the other half, they concentrated on remembering a spoken number - i.e. they were distracted. When quizzed on the images later, they were more successful at remembering those images that they looked at while remembering a spoken number - i.e. when their brain was distracted. Also, participants were more accurate when they said they were just guessing.

Researchers say their visual systems accurately stored memories, even when not paying attention. It suggests that "gut feelings" may often be based on good information.

Gamblers Like Almost Winning

Research reveals that the same brain areas in gamblers that are excited during a win also activate at near wins - i.e. if you almost win, you are just as happy as when you do win, which is good news for the casino.

15 people underwent brain scans while gambling. Near misses activated the brains’ ventral striatum and anterior insula areas, also activated during random wins. The insula has also been associated with drug craving and other addictive behaviors.

The effect only happened when gamblers had control of the lever. The inverse occurred when a computer took control where near misses significantly demotivated the gambler to keep playing, and complete misses kept momentum alive.

Time-Stamped Brain Cells

Research reveals that new neurons in the hippocampus are time stamped - i.e. simultaneous events are permanently linked in our minds. New neurons develop daily in the hippocampus - a key area of the brain responsible for memory formation. These neurons are hyperactive early on to absorb all the events going on around them and temper off activity over time. This is, for example, why you probably know the sights and sounds of when you proposed to your spouse.

Writing is Emotional

Research finds that writing marginalizes brain activity in regions associated with emotional responses ... meaning writing can help you calm down.

Brains of people were examined as they looked at pictures of others who had positive or negative facial expressions. When asked to label the emotion, the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex became active, a region associated with self-restraint. Only when people express emotions in words does activity arise in this region. Also, the more that region is activated, the less active are a variety of limbic regions associated with emotions

Eat Less, Remember More

Research shows that low-calorie diets improved memory in elderly women.

In the study, 50 elderly women cut calorie consumption by 1/3rd. After three months, dieters were not only slimmer, but improved their memory. With better insulin levels and fewer markers of inflammation, the study suggests that keeping these factors under control may help keep the brain fit.

Seeing the Future

Research suggests that fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scans not only measures what the brain is doing, but what it is going to do.

FMRI studies assume brain blood flow correlates with neuronal activity. Active brain cells need nutrients, which freshly oxygenated blood supplies. Now, fMRI is also shown to detect increased blood flow in brain regions that aren’t currently active — but may be in the near future.

Tweezers of Light

MIT researchers use light beams to stabilize or pull molecules, thereby measuring the strength of protein chemical bonds. The science had previously been used to move cells on a microchip.

Money and Weight Loss

Research finds that people rewarded with a few $100 for losing a few pounds were much more successful in losing weight than those who just dieted.

In one study subjects earned money if they lost 16 pounds in 16 weeks. In the other, participants invested their own money, which they lost if they didn’t achieve the same goal. A control group dieted without any economic incentive.

53% of paid dieters, 47% of investor dieters and only 10.5% of regular dieters met their goal. Also, regular dieters averaged 4lbs loss vs. 14lbs for paid dieters.

Music & Language

Research suggests that music and language processing depend on some of the same brain systems.

One brain system, based in the temporal lobes, helps humans memorize information in language and music (e.g. words and meanings and familiar melodies). The other system, based in the frontal lobes, helps us unconsciously learn and employ the rules underlying language and music (e.g. syntax and harmony).

The study 1) confirms one set of brain structures underlies rules in language and music, 2) suggests that a different brain system underlies memorized information in both. Therefore, language and music both depend on 2 different brain systems for rules and arbitrary information.