Sex Makes Your Brain Grow 68
McLuhanesque writes "The Globe and Mail is reporting the findings of two researchers that "Mating triggers the development of new neurons in the smell centre of the brain, a finding researchers hope will provide clues on how to trick other parts of the vital organ to repair themselves after injuries caused by strokes or head traumas. ... Dr. Weiss and his colleagues discovered that prolactin levels -- and consequently new neuron production -- surge after mating ... And they found that if prolactin was introduced to the blood system by injection, it also stimulated production of new neurons for the olfactory bulb." For those with a subscription to Science, the abstract of the full article is here ."
Sex Makes Your Brain Grow (Score:4, Funny)
hmm I wonder if.. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:hmm I wonder if.. (Score:4, Funny)
If that were true then the world wouldn't be so full of morons.
Re:hmm I wonder if.. (Score:2)
Re:hmm I wonder if.. (Score:1)
Re:hmm I wonder if.. (Score:2)
Re:hmm I wonder if.. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:hmm I wonder if.. (Score:1)
If this is the case, then masturbation probably would not work.
All of these possibilities should be tested:
1. Masturbation while the nose is plugged.
2. Masturbation while the nose is not plugged.
3. Sex while the nose is plugged.
4. Sex while the nose is not plugged.
5. Smelling the scent of sex without engaging in actual intercourse.
I volunteer for test #3 or 4.
So I was smart to loose my virginity (Score:5, Funny)
Science makes ./ pockets grow? (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Science makes ./ pockets grow? (Score:2)
Yeah, but since I've had no occasion for brain-growing activities lately, a subscription to "Science" would be a waste of my money...
Re:Science makes ./ pockets grow? (Score:2)
Re:Ya Right! (Score:2, Insightful)
Doesn't have anything to do with intelligence.
Just image what they would be like w/o sex (Score:2, Funny)
Disclaimer: (Score:3, Funny)
If it works in humans... (Score:3, Interesting)
Perhaps having sex often would give you the extra olfactory neurons needed to be a wine connoisseur or a perfume tester.
Finding out what controls the migration to the olfactory bulb would also be nice, especially if the mechanism could be hijacked to direct the neurons elsewhere. Cure Alzheimer's disease by having sex? Cram for a test by watching certain videos?
It might be interesting to see if the brain has its own mechanisms for directing the stem cells to places that need them. Suppose damage itself is a trigger for migration? Perhaps prolactin injections alone could alleviate stroke damage by stepping up the stem cell production, with the new stem cells migrating to the damaged area.
Maybe the reason spinal cord injuries are so hard to heal is that people paralyzed from the neck down get less sex than they used to?
That would be an interesting grant proposal...
Re:If it works in humans... (Score:4, Funny)
Itemized list of expenses:
Item 14: $119.95 for 4 gross single use sterile latex health barriers.
Item 15: $100 per subject per session for physiological stimulation experts.
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Re:If it works in humans... (Score:3, Funny)
I'll say. "Hookers for parapalegics" simply has a ring to it that some boring Los Alamos fund mismanagement fails to excite.
Hmm... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Hmm... (Score:2, Redundant)
Re:Hmm... (Score:1)
RTFA - It's NOT Making You Smarter (Score:5, Funny)
Maybe this explains morning sickness. Any why she starts bitching about your dirty clothes, room, etc. after a while. And why her perfume doesn't smell as cool as it used to.
Maybe this ain't so good after all, eh?
Re:RTFA - It's NOT Making You Smarter (Score:4, Insightful)
=Smidge=
Re:RTFA - It's NOT Making You Smarter (Score:1)
Enhanced Sense of Smell in Pregnancy (Score:3, Interesting)
I think it is a self-preservation thing in that helps prevent her from eating spoiled meat or moldy fruit - she can smell these from across the room.
However as to making you smarter, any gain in brain capacity during pregnancy more than lost in memory function after childbirth. Most new mothers blame this on lack of sleep, but I think there is likely a hormonal aspect to it as well.
Re:RTFA - It's NOT Making You Smarter (Score:4, Funny)
And sex feels great, too... (Score:1)
Next week's science article: (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Next week's science article: (Score:3, Funny)
Maybe... (Score:4, Funny)
First post? (Score:2, Funny)
Does this mean? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Does this mean? (Score:1, Funny)
What about... (Score:1)
Does that have roughly the same effect? If so, I won't feel so guilty when I'm... not studying.. yeah, that's it.
Gee, and here I thought.... (Score:2, Insightful)
As opposed to something truly satisfying -- like the gentle smile on her face, the close physical space (snuggling), the tenderness in the touching -- and of course the huge release of endorphins we experience together. Plus the knowledge that at if we try at certain tims we might even add an interesting addition to our small family -- you know -- participating in the creation of a new life.
*sigh* Where's the study that shows how much more these important things make new neuronal connections grow...
No wonder folks tell me... (Score:1, Funny)
Wow that's a lot of jokes in one story... (Score:2)
Wow, that explains so much...
Yeah, those head traumas from strokes to your vital organ can be painful.
Quote at the bottom of the page (Score:1)
The missing link (Score:1)
My god, this is genius! Finally, the missing link in the mystery of why lonely, sexless geeks often go for days or weeks without showering. Of course! They can't smell their own manfunk. It's all coming together....
A stab in the dark.. (Score:2, Insightful)
For those with a subscription to 'Science' (Score:2)
I knew it! (Score:2, Funny)
Ehm... (Score:2)
Definitely a cure best performed in the privacy of your own home.
Tiny-brained /.'ers blush, look at feet ... (Score:1)
Sex makes you smarter??? (Score:1)
I Am Living Proof (Score:1)
Ages 23 and beyond: Years spent religiously reading Slashdot.
No study...
Hmm (Score:1)
That explains the funny smell afterwards, then.