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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Public meetings, Oct. 20-24, 2014 Emergency services Seniors near Railroad Park alarmed by homeless problems Foundation kicks off ambitious 'Count Me In' fundraising campaign Medford school officials calm parent concerns over Ebola Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Ashland's Iron Mike statue has its gun stolen Hoppe and Peterson at it again in Jackson County judge's race Motorcycle crash southwest of Grants Pass kills one Emergency services Politics and Elections Hoppe and Peterson at it again in Jackson County judge's race Oregon gubernatorial candidates debate in Medford RVTD says its future is riding on the election Stricker steps down from Talent council Commissioner's race: Talbert wants to diversify economy Education Foundation kicks off ambitious 'Count Me In' fundraising campaign 100 hours and counting SOU students protest university's free-speech zone Boys & Girls Clubs bursting at the seams Phoenix High School restores homecoming parade Environment Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt Josephine County ballot measure would ban commercial and government pesticide use Low water exposes Emigrant Lake's past Wagner Creek work would restore streambank Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters State news Nation - World Obituaries James Waldo Littlefield Francis Bagley Cecile (DeLozier) Death Notices Marc Lee Sprang Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Kenseth regrets nothing in scuffle with Keselowski It'll be seasoned Giants versus fresh Royals Will Petersen have same magic against Ducks? Division races heating up in the Pac-12 No. 20 Utah sinks Beavers in two OTs Varsity 541 College Sports Will Petersen have same magic against Ducks? Division races heating up in the Pac-12 No. 20 Utah sinks Beavers in two OTs Third-ranked Concordia fights off SOU, 3-1 Part II: This time, No. 4 SOU visits No. 3 Carroll Pro Sports It'll be seasoned Giants versus fresh Royals Ishikawa's homer sends Giants to World Series Patriots survive scare from Jets, 27-25 In NBA, 3's are most definitely wild Cink, Laird share lead in Las Vegas Community Sports LOCAL EVENTS LOCAL RESULTS Business Latest Stories Rogue Credit Union awaits southeast Medford opportunity People in Business Blog: Early Holiday Shopping Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Real Estate News Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters People In Business People in Business Transportation Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Business Resource Fair has answers Erickson's Navy contract extended Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Ranchers offer livestock exchange 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Opinion Latest Reversing course: Hoppe for judge Letters to the editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 17 Our view: With respect, our support goes to Bates Isolation won't work for U.S. or the world Editorials Reversing course: Hoppe for judge Our view: With respect, our support goes to Bates Our View: Bearnson, Stine, Lane for Medford council Our View: No clear favorite for county commissioner, position 1 Our View: It's time to legalize marijuana Letters to the Editor Letters to the editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 17 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 16 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 15 Election Letters, Oct. 14 Guest Opinions Infill is the answer to growth issues Guest Opinion: Who’s really to blame for 2014 wildfires? Mt. Ashland is responding to community concerns Siskiyou Plus Spring Bear Hunt: What lies beneath? Guest Opinion: Who's to blame for 2014 wildfires? Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: My New Best Selling Book Scenic with a capital 'S' New trails could garner scenic designation Community blog: Southern Oregon Micro and Nano Brewing Scene Fall 2014 Dr. Jeff Hersh: The enterovirus is not new Food Community blog: Southern Oregon Micro and Nano Brewing Scene Fall 2014 Community blog: Eggs make for economical, unconventional curry Mobile meals perfect for autumn forays Community blog: Green beans go global from gleaning garden Kitchen Call: Pumpkin is nothing without the spice Home and Garden Dear Monty: Is your real estate agent a secret agent? The best way to store your books A list to help you get ready for winter How to create a fashionable painted floor cloth Dear Monty: 7 prepping tips for home showings Health Community blog: My New Best Selling Book Dr. Jeff Hersh: The enterovirus is not new Dr. Murray Feingold: The first successful uterus transplant Health Watch: Skip the energy drink and reenergize naturally Officials warn of frauds touting fake Ebola cures Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion briefs First Church of Nazarene plans cleanup Milestones and Achievements Southern Oregon Pride parade celebrates gay marriage ruling New Arrivals Still stifling laughter 40 years after 'Young Frankenstein' New Arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out A cappella fellas sing for schools Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Tutunov Piano Series begins at SOU Third Fridays in downtown Medford Theater Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Randall Theatre presents 'Blithe Spirit' A tribute to a great lyricist 'Mrs. Mannerly' is a matter of manners Music A cappella fellas sing for schools The Farr Side: Bryan Adams releases album of influential hits Tutunov Piano Series begins at SOU Benefit for Nita Day at The Wild Goose Cafe in Ashland Call for musicians Community Events Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Southern Oregon Pride Festival celebrates diversity Greater Medford Multicultural Fair Dining Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Spoons 'Get Giddy' at Porters Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Morning Jolt: VP Biden’s son kicked out of Navy over cocaine ... Morning Jolt: ‘Modern Family’ actor Elizabeth Pena dies ... Morning Jolt: Jay Leno will be back on TV in 2015 ... Morning Jolt: VP Biden’s son kicked out of Navy over cocaine ... Morning Jolt: ‘Modern Family’ actor Elizabeth Pena dies ... Morning Jolt: Jay Leno will be back on TV in 2015 ... Harnessing what happens when curiosity lights up the brain Researchers at the University of California at Davis say curiosity changes the brain in ways that can enhance learning. It impacts memory. And it could provide tools for parents and educators. By Lois M. Collins MailTribune.com By Lois M. Collins Posted Oct. 3, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Oct 3, 2014 at 5:40 PM By Lois M. Collins Posted Oct. 3, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Oct 3, 2014 at 5:40 PM » Social News Arousing a person's curiosity lights up the brain in ways that appear to enhance both learning and memory, according to researchers at the University of California at Davis, offering help to parents and teachers as they work with children. But curiosity's impact could reach even farther and open the door to assisting people later in life with brain function decline. The effect of curiosity on the brain seems to hold for both healthy individuals and those with neurological conditions, according to a study published Oct. 2 in the Cell Press journal Neuron . The study said people are better at learning when they are curious about information, but curiosity also enhances memory for "incidental material" seen in passing. For the study, college students were presented a series of trivia questions. The ones to which they already knew the answers were eliminated. Then each person was asked to rate the remaining questions based on how curious he or she was to learn the answer. Next, each was observed using functional magnetic resonance imaging while learning the answers to the questions. They saw the question, then before the answer loaded on the computer screen, they saw a photograph of a "neutral" face that had nothing to do with the question or answer. They were later given a memory test to see if they recognized the faces. Participants did better on trivia questions about which they were more curious. They also were better at learning the faces that were shown while they were considering the questions that made them curious. What they learned while curious was retained better when they were tested 24 hours later, as well. "Our findings potentially have far-reaching implications for the public because they reveal insights into how a form of intrinsic motivation — curiosity — affects memory. These findings suggest ways to enhance learning in the classroom and other settings," Dr. Matthias Gruber, lead author and postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis, said on the university's Egghead blog . “Curiosity enhances learning," Robert Bilder, Michael E. Tennenbaum Family Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, who had no part in the study, told Today . "One of the non-obvious outcomes [is] how curiosity impacted ... learning of incidental material.” Science Recorder summarized the findings this way: "The study revealed three major findings: First, when people were exceedingly curious to discover the answer to a question, they were better at learning that information. Second, the researchers discovered that when curiosity is stimulated, there is increased activity in the brain circuit related to reward. Third, the researchers discovered that when curiosity motivated learning, there was increased activity in the hippocampus, a brain region that is important for forming new memories, and increased interactions between the hippocampus and the reward circuit ." "Curiosity may put the brain in a state that allows it to learn and retain any kind of information, like a cortex that sucks in what you are motivated to learn, and also everything around it," Gruber said in a written statement . His study co-author and principal investigator, Charan Ranganath, also of UC Davis, discussed the finding that curiosity-enhanced learning increases activity in the hippocampus, which is crucial to making new memories, and also increased interactions between that part of the brain and the reward system. "So curiosity recruits the reward system, and interactions between the reward system and the hippocampus seem to put the brian in a state in which you are more likely to learn and retain information, even if that information is not of particular interest or importance," he said. On the Egghead blog, Andy Fell wrote that "Brain circuits that rely on dopamine tend to decline in function with aging, or sooner in people with neurological or psychiatric disorders. Understanding the relationship between motivation and memory could stimulate new efforts to improve memory in the healthy elderly and new approaches for treating patients with memory disorders. And in the classroom or workplace, learning could be enhanced if teachers or managers can engage students’ and workers’ curiosity about something they are naturally motivated to learn." Today's Meghan Holohan suggests other ways to keep the brain sharp. "Studies of Buddhist monks show that meditation helps them experience less stress and anger. Even meditation novices experience less stress and anxiety and it can also help people lose belly fat," she writes. "Learning anything new, whether it's a second language or musical instrument, improves brain health, as does reading." By Lois M. Collins MailTribune.com By Lois M. Collins Posted Oct. 3, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Oct 3, 2014 at 5:40 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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