In the recently released science-fiction novel Ready Player Two, protagonist Wade Watts spends the majority of the book inside a virtual reality universe called the “OASIS”. Though the OASIS is merely a simulation consisting of computer-generated imagery, immersive sound, and gesture-based interaction, it has a profound impact on reality. It’s a place where one loses […]
Tag: Psychiatry
Amyloid in the Retina Correlates With Alzheimer’s Brain Changes
Researchers have identified amyloid in the retina of living patients with cognitive decline and correlated this with brain changes. Medscape Medical News
Earwax Sampling Device for Easy Cortisol Measurement
Researchers at University College London and King’s College London have developed a device that allows for easy earwax sampling, with the goal that the wax could be a convenient and reliable way to measure cortisol levels. The device can be used by a patient at home to obtain a sample of earwax and is less […]
Biomarker in the Eye May Flag Neurodegeneration Risk
Neurofilament light chain is detectable in the vitreous humor of the eye, and greater levels of NfL are linked to higher levels of amyloid-beta and tau proteins, new research suggests. Medscape Medical News
Illicit Drug Use Tied to Vision Loss
New study found illicit drug use among military veterans was independently associated with increased risk for self-reported vision loss. Medscape Medical News
Are Aging Physicians a Burden?
In many ways, physicians are characterized in society by their astuteness, intelligence, and high ethical standards. Patients should trust that those physicians have the cognitive tools to heal them. Medscape Psychiatry
Bridge, The Opioid Withdrawal Therapy Device, Released by Masimo
Masimo has announced that it’s making the Bridge device available, the first electronic therapeutic solution for tackling opioid withdrawals. Originally developed by Innovative Health Solutions, a Versailles, Indiana firm, the Bridge delivers neuromodulation to a set of occipital and cranial nerves (V, VII, IX, and X) via electrodes attached near the ear. The therapy helps […]
Paper Device Rapidly Measures Lithium Levels in Blood
Researchers at Hokkaido University in Japan have developed a paper-based point-of-care device which can measure lithium levels in a drop of blood. The device could help patients with bipolar disorder to keep track of their blood lithium levels. Lithium carbonate is used to treat bipolar disorder, but must be administered carefully as the concentration range […]
Symmetry VNS Wins EU CE Mark for Difficult-to-Treat Depression
LivaNova announced today that Symmetry, a device for vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy, has received CE Mark approval for difficult-to-treat depression. Symmetry is a small device that stimulates the vagus nerve to improve symptoms of depression and quality of life. After surgical implantation, the device regularly sends mild electric pulses to the vagus nerve, which […]
First Noninvasive Cortisol Detector to Monitor Stress, Mental Conditions
Stress related to our mental well-being, including that associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, is difficult to measure in practice. Levels of cortisol, a steroid hormone, are closely linked to changes in one’s mental state and blood tests are available to measure cortisol. But a blood test can raise a person’s stress level itself and […]
Handheld Eye Scanner to Detect Autism Spectrum Disorder
Researchers at Flinders University in Australia have developed a handheld eye scanner that could help to identify children with autism spectrum disorder. The device allows clinicians to obtain light-adapted electroretinograms, which involves detecting electrical signals in the retina. The device could help in diagnosing children with autism much earlier, meaning that they can get appropriate […]
SmartTab Wireless Pill for Targeted Drug Delivery: Interview with CEO Robert Niichel
Velóce Digital Health is working to make pills smarter. The Denver, Colorado company is developing the SmartTab, an ingestible capsule that can be wirelessly controlled via a smartphone to release its contents at precise locations within the gastrointestinal system. “The idea is that [with] the smart capsule, you will have precision medicine and delivered to […]
Credit Card Sized Diagnostic Lab Plugs into Smartphone
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed a tiny portable diagnostic device that can detect the presence of specific pathogens in a saliva sample, and relay the results to a doctor when plugged into a smartphone. The device can potentially diagnose a wide array of diseases, including malaria, HIV and Lyme disease, and could […]
URGOnight Brainwave Sleep Training System Available Soon
URGO Group, a French firm, announced that it will soon be releasing its URGOnight sleep training system, a product we got a glimpse of at CES 2019. The product consists of an electroencephalography (EEG) headband and a smartphone app that people can use to train their brains to sleep better. Utilizing EEG neurofeedback, the technology […]
Neural Feedback Technique to Improve Attention
Many people suffer from an inability to focus on tasks that require a great deal of attention. Drugs such as Ritalin are available to help mitigate symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related conditions, but these medications come with a number of side effects, including long term dependence. Now, researchers at MIT have developed a […]
Art Therapy Using Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is already used in medicine to train surgeons, fight phobias, and even help with early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at Drexel University have now taken the first steps to apply virtual reality in the field of art therapy. “Art therapy is founded on the idea that creative expression with an art therapist […]
Video Game Uses Brain Wave Monitoring to Treat ADHD
While there are a number of drugs to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), they can have some pretty serious side effects. Researchers in Singapore at the country’s Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Duke-NUS (National University of Singapore) Medical School, and A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), have developed a system that combines neuromonitoring […]
Narbis Glasses Detect Brainwaves to Measure Attention, Turn Dark to Help Keep Focus
Consumer-grade electroencephalography (EEG) devices are interesting novelties, but their capabilities tend to be very limited. What they’re pretty good at, though, is evaluating whether a person is focused and paying attention to something. This capability has mostly been used to play games and guide meditation, but now a new device is coming out that aims […]
HUMM Releases First Affordable Patch for Improving Working Memory: Exclusive Interview
We previously interviewed Humm, a San Francisco-based neuroscience company, when they had first released their Edge headset – an electrical stimulation device that helped users by boosting their working memory. Humm is focused on helping people continue to learn and grow throughout their lives. The idea behind their innovations is that through stimulation of the […]
Sweat Sensors Help Predict Outbursts in Autistic Kids
Kids with autism can become unruly and aggressive, often without any warnings for those around them. Such outbursts can also be emotionally difficult for family and caretakers, not just the kids, and planning events and going into public places is a major challenge. Having a bit of warning about an autistic child’s worsening mental state […]