“I Feel Your Pain”: Tracking Pain Synesthaesia through Brain Scanning

When viewing someone being injured or in pain, some people are prone to feeling pain in their own bodies as well. According to researchers at Monash University in Australia, “synaesthetic pain” occurs when pain is observed or imagined, and have now identified some of its neural pathways.

Observing or imagining pain activates brain areas associated with real pain, via the mirror neuron system. Researchers recorded brain activity from various volunteers (amputees with synasthaetic and phantom pain, amputees with only phantom pain, and healthy people without amputations) viewing images of hands or feet in potentially harmful situations. Pain synaesthetes demonstrated decreased theta and alpha brainwaves, which are an indication that their mirror systems are activated more strongly.

Usually activation in the mirror neuron system is dampened by inhibitory mechanisms, but the sensitivity of such systems may be increased by the loss of limbs and become hypervigilant, lowering the pain threshold to smaller triggers such as the observation of pain.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028144.200-brain-scans-reveal-why-some-people-feel-your-pain.html

Low levels of “cuddle hormone” may indicate post-partum depression risk

An article in the May 2011 issue of Neuropsychopharmacology states that there is a possible connection between low oxytocin levels and the risk of postpartum depression. Oxytocin, also known as the “cuddle hormone,” causes labor contractions. Previous research has shown that mothers with higher levels of oxytocin are more likely to smile at their babies.

In this Swiss study, researchers measured oxytocin levels in 73 healthy, pregnant women during the third trimester. The women were screened for their risk of developing depression during pregnancy and within two weeks of giving birth. Based on the screening tests, 14 women were determined to be at risk for postpartum depression. These women had lower levels of oxytocin.

http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/05/12/bonding-hormone-linked-to-postpartum-depression

Disney star Selena Gomez claims “bipolar-ness”

When questioned in an interview about her ability to juggle her busy schedule and her media-frenzied relationship with Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez stated, “I am sure I have some sense of bipolar-ness.  I wake up happy then turn to sadness on a dime.”  The teen idol also admitted to hoping for a break from her stressful life.

The “Monte Carlo” star’s comments come on the heels of recent celebrity admissions to having bipolar disorder from fellow actresses Demi Lovato and Catherine Zeta-Jones.  Some fans found her statements to be odd and even insensitive, particularly because of her on-again friendship with Demi Lovato, whose stay in a rehabilitation center due to bipolar disorder recently made headlines.

http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2011/04/30/selena-gomez-claiming-she-is-a-little-bipolar/