A Sampling of Clips for July 8^th, 2009

* UCSD faculty and staff may obtain a copy of an article by e-mailing the University Communications Office

False Signals Cause Misleading Brain Scans
NPR, July 7 -- Love lights up one area of the brain; rejection lights up another. At least that's what it looks like in images produced by the latest brain scanners. The images appear amazingly crisp and precise. But scientists say the truth behind them is a little fuzzier. (Quotes Hal Pashler, a professor of psychology and cognitive science at UCSD) More

Administrative Costs in Health Care: A Primer
The Washington Post, July 8 -- Administrative costs are one of the more confusing issues in health-care reform. Start with the term: What counts as an "administrative cost" for a health insurer? We all agree that paying bills counts. But does profit? What about disease management? Advertising? A nurse who dispenses health advice over the telephone? (Quotes Rick Kronick, a political scientist at UCSD) More

Neuroscience Finds
Wisdom Centers in the Brain
Discover Magazine, July 6 – The nature of wisdom has long been the domain of philosophers, but UCSD neuroscientists Thomas Meeks and Dilip Jeste have thrown their hats into the ring with the likes of Plato and Kant. They analyzed decades of research and found that the multitude of characteristics associated with wisdom—including social decision making and control of emotions—may be accounted for by a surprisingly small number of brain regions: a putative wisdom network. More

Happiness Spreads Like Wildfire
The Huffington Post, July 7-- Happiness spreads like wildfire, and can spread far and wide traveling from social networks from one person to another and even up to three degrees of separation, as evidenced in a recent study (yes, a study) from James Fowler of UCSD and Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School. More

Bill to Regulate Greenhouse
Gas Passes Assembly Committee
Contra Costa Times, July 7 -- A bill by state Sen. Jenny Oropeza that would curb a greenhouse gas previously thought safe for the environment has cleared the state Assembly's Natural Resources Committee. (Mentions research by UCSD) More

Three Factors Employers Are Looking For
San Diego News Network, July 7 -- When you read a San Diego job ad looking for an employee with a certain level of experience, references, skills and salary requirements, do you ever wonder what he or she is really looking for? In the current situation, where it seems that employers can have anyone they want at almost any salary, what do they look for? (Written by Chris Stiehl, who teaches marketing research at UCSD Extension) More

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