1) A review of Dawn of Discovery, a real-time video game that sounds similar in design to borad games such as Settlers of Catan, in that it is primarily economics-based. Nice to see the niche German-style games becoming increasingly mainstream. I posted about Settlers of Catan, and German-style games previously, here.
2) I played Saga with my oldest boy over the weekend. For those unfamiliar with microgames (which, I'd estimate, is 99.999999% of you), you can learn more here. Saga was a TSR microgame, an effort by the big boys to try and cash in on microgames' popularity in the late 70s and early 80s. Here is a list of many of the most popular microgames of yesteryear (a post I'd like to write more extensively someday).
3) ScienceDaily has an article discussing why we learn more from successes rather than failures, including the neuroscience behind this observation. The article talks about this in terms of its application to learning disorders, but I'd note this information applies to most therapeutic efforts, from goal identifiaction, homework assignments, the focus of the content of therapy sessions, etc. Good stuff.
4) Addiction to acronyms is ravaging the mental health profession!
5) Budgetary issues force agencies, such as schools, to make hard decisions. However, Cogitive Daily reviews research suggesting there is no need to cut Music from a curriculum out of fear students do not have enough time to learn required material. My general sense is that, all things being equal, a rising tide raises all ships: a student who is active and involved in multiple healthy activities tends to do better overall. Obviously, the individual's needs must be considered (e.g. the student who requires extra work, the student specializing in a particular area), but in general I would think exposure to multiple creative/intellectual/active endeavors is a good thing.
6) Researchers think that they may be able to study trauma (and associated memory issues) through an examination of memory patterns of people running marathons. (HT: Mind Hacks). The main issue, as pointed out in the comments, is that the trauma experience is not simply defined by one's physiology during a traumatic event, but the cognitive response to it (i.e. perceived helplessness, hopelessness, etc.), as well as the sense (or lack thereof) of control. This is why women who give birth, no doubt a physiologically intense experience, nevertheless do not typically have PTSD in the aftermath, unless the birth is problematic.
Comments