I finally understand politics.

[Requia ☣]

If you're going to appeal to authority, it would help if you didn't appeal to stage magicians.  I've seen the show, they don't even have the ability to do a double blind experiment.

For a better look at the effects of stress: http://www.pbs.org/saf/1310/video/watchonline.htm (pbs hasn't figured out flash yet apparently, you may need some work to get those to run).

[Soylent Green]

Apparently the term used in the literature is psylocybin.

Not much work into its effects on the hippocampus.  It does suppress the hippocampus while its active.  One study found that there was no change in EEG for the hippocampus region when not actually on the drug (was done with monkeys, but the hippocampus is pretty standard for all mammals, it should be the same in humans).  The EEG study wasn't repeated (as in no one tried, not no repeatable results) that I can find either.  Makes it a bit tough to say how reliable the finding is.

My professional opinion is that that idea is 'total bullshit'.

Hah, thought so.

Thanks for the info.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Oh oh, Requia's in "Pedantic Weasel" mode, again.   

[Jenne]

Actually what they show is that stress is no different now than it ever has been, it's what the media and the people who want to SELL you something to make it BETTER have to do with it that's the interesting part.

Interesting meaning how America's being sold down a river because of it.  

FACT:  when you're overfed, you worry about shit like STRESS.  When DON'T EAT, then stress is kinda not a big deal.

ETA:  Req, you sound like those who say Stewart, Colbert and Maher are talking out their asses because they make the news ha-ha-funny while pointing out the wah-wah-reality.  Not because their news is worthy of being said or made note of.

Arrogant, in other words.

But I getcha.

[Requia ☣]

I suppose the arrogance thing is fair.

The factoid... seems reasonable, stress coping chems shut down the digestive tract, you'd have to stop using them if you eat.

[Kai]

I accept that stress causes vascular constriction leading to increased cases of cardiovascular malfunction, and other related impacts, but I don't accept that it causes hippocampus neurodegeneration any more than any other part of the brain.

[Sir Squid Diddimus]

I accept that stress causes vascular constriction leading to increased cases of cardiovascular malfunction, and other related impacts, but I don't accept that it causes hippocampus neurodegeneration any more than any other part of the brain.

this.

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

I accept that stress causes vascular constriction leading to increased cases of cardiovascular malfunction, and other related impacts, but I don't accept that it causes hippocampus neurodegeneration any more than any other part of the brain.

In chronic cases the "glucocorticoids exacerbate the effect of excitatory amino acids."

Also from the paper linked above:

Vietnam veterans with PTSD have decreased hippocampal volume on MRI, as well as decreased scores on standardized tests of memory. Short term (recent) memory function has been localized to the hippocampus.

[Kai]

I accept that stress causes vascular constriction leading to increased cases of cardiovascular malfunction, and other related impacts, but I don't accept that it causes hippocampus neurodegeneration any more than any other part of the brain.

In chronic cases the "glucocorticoids exacerbate the effect of excitatory amino acids."

Also from the paper linked above:

Vietnam veterans with PTSD have decreased hippocampal volume on MRI, as well as decreased scores on standardized tests of memory. Short term (recent) memory function has been localized to the hippocampus.

So if A=B and C=D, B=C?

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

There's a strong correlation between stress and hippocampus atrophy.

Google "Robert M. Sapolsky" if you don't believe me.

The guy is Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University and has been studying stress for a few decades.

[Halfbaked1]

I would just like to say that I am so happy i found this place.  You guys are like long lost family that I would date if it weren't illegal so I just end up hugging you longer than is casually acceptable. 

[Sir Squid Diddimus]

I would just like to say that I am so happy i found this place.  You guys are like long lost family that I would date if it weren't illegal so I just end up hugging you longer than is casually acceptable. 

........... don't touch me
            \

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I would just like to say that I am so happy i found this place.  You guys are like long lost family that I would date if it weren't illegal so I just end up hugging you longer than is casually acceptable. 

........... don't touch me
            \

Shut up, you know you like it.

[Sir Squid Diddimus]