Playing video games for hours on end may not be that bad after all. It could perhaps prepare your child to become a skilled surgeon one day. Playing video games gives one an advantage not only in the games themselves but also in performing other tasks requiring visuomotor skills – connections between visual and motor processes in the brain. Motor processes are linked with acquiring skills or skilled movements as a result of practice. Researchers … full story

Like a spotlight that illuminates an otherwise dark scene, attention highlights specific details of our surroundings while shutting others out. A new study by Salk Institute for Biological Studies researchers shows that the superior colliculus, a brain structure known for its role in the control of eye and head movements, is crucial for moving the mind’s spotlight. Their findings add new insight to our understanding of how attention is controlled … full story