Brain Waves: The field of neurotechnology, the focus of this blog, encompasses advances in brain science (neurons), information technology (bits) and bioengineering (genes). Up for discussion and analysis: the political, economic, ethical, and social forces that will shape the future of what will be one of the most important and fascinating stories of the coming decades.

About this author

Zack Lynch is author of The Neuro Revolution: How Brain Science Is Changing Our World (St. Martin's Press, July 2009).
He is the founder and executive director of the Neurotechnology Industry Organization (NIO) and co-founder of NeuroInsights. He serves on the advisory boards of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, the Center for Neuroeconomic Studies, Science Progress, and SocialText, a social software company. Please send newsworthy items or feedback - to Zack Lynch.
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Monthly Archives

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June 24, 2008

Neuromarketing from the Inside

Posted by Zack Lynch

Jeffrey Goldberg undergoes a pretty extensive neuromarketing brain scanning process with the people at FKF Research which he explains in a most hilarious fashion in his new article My Amygdala, My Self in this month's The Atlantic.

Comments (0) + TrackBacks (0) | Category: Neuromarketing

June 23, 2008

An Anti-Shyness Drug

Posted by Zack Lynch

The King of Trust, Paul Zak, touts oxytocin as a potential drug for shyness: "Tests have shown that oxytocin reduces anxiety levels in users. It is a hormone that facilitates social contact between people. What's more, it is a very safe product that does not have any side effects and is not addictive." The article contends that millions of people in the UK suffer from shyness, and one-in-10 people say it seriously affects their daily life.

Comments (0) + TrackBacks (0) | Category: Emoticeuticals

June 19, 2008

What's Your Brain Age - Take this 7 minute test

Posted by Zack Lynch

NIO member Cognitive Drug Research teamed up with Portfolio to develop an online test to determine your brain age (it takes 7 minutes). Very cool, but pay attention, you might be surprised to learn how old your brain is, I was 74. Might want to try a brain fitness product.

Comments (0) + TrackBacks (0) | Category: Cogniceuticals

June 17, 2008

Jill Bolte Taylor's Stroke of Insight - A Must See

Posted by Zack Lynch

Comments (0) + TrackBacks (0) | Category: Neurosociety

June 11, 2008

Brain Stimulant - New Neurotech Blog

Posted by Zack Lynch

Check out Brain Stimulant a new blog covering neurodevices, cognitive enhancement, artificial intelligence and even happiness.

Comments (0) + TrackBacks (0) | Category: Neurodevices

June 10, 2008

CDER Neurotech Drug Reviewers Up 15 to 91

Posted by Zack Lynch

The Center for Drugs Evaluation and Research is about halfway through its planned hire of 663 employees this year, and a significant portion of the new employees are division-level medical reviewers in the Office of New Drugs. So far the Division of Neurology Products has hired 8 new team members for a total of 51 while the Division of Psychiatric Products has added 7 for a total of 40. This is important progress as CDER currently fighting a wave of attrition, as long-time FDA employees leave the agency, either for retirement or for more lucrative jobs in industry and academia.View a division-by-division breakdown of the new hire, also for all of CDER.

Comments (0) + TrackBacks (0) | Category: Neuropharma

The Great Stem Cell Dilemma

Posted by Zack Lynch

In the "The Stem Cell Dilemma: Beacons of Hope or Harbingers of Doom?", co-authors Leo Furcht and William Hoffman tell the story of stem cell science and explains the latest developments and how research will give new meaning to human sexuality and reproduction. I recommend reading the book and if time taking a look at the authors discussing their book on C-SPAN Book TV. Here they discuss transplants, Leonardo da Vinci's role in biomedical engineering and about how neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's will "break the bank" given the aging boomer population.

Comments (0) + TrackBacks (0) | Category: Neurosociety

June 3, 2008

NeuroVigil Takes DFJ Venture Challenge Award

Posted by Zack Lynch

Early-stage neurodiagnostics company NeuroVigil was awarded $250,000 in seed funding, the top prize of the DFJ Venture Challenge held last week. The La Jolla-based company works to analyze brain activity using a single, non-invasive probe. The company ultimately plans to apply its findings toward the sleep, transportation and pharmaceutical industries. The competition consisted of 16 teams gathered from 12 West Coast universities. The teams were judged by a panel of 10 venture capitalists from DFJ's network. Congrats to the NeuroVigil team@