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From the Archive

Medical Center Report, produced by the Office of Communication & Public Affairs, is a section of the Stanford Report newspaper. Please e-mail your suggestions, questions or story ideas to MCR editor Donna Alvarado at .

December 10, 2003

Laughter, like drugs, tickles brain’s reward center

What happens in your brain when you find something funny?

Love might be a drug, but humor and laughter have much more scientifically plausible — and some might say pleasurable — rewarding qualities, say researchers at the School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.

In their study, researchers monitored brain activity in a group of volunteers while showing them a series of cartoons. Some of the cartoons had key elements removed to diminish their funniness. Illustration:Courtesy of Allan Reiss

Radiology research tackles squishiness of wordiness

When radiologists share their findings with clinicians, the meaning may be fuzzy

While communication difficulties may keep psychologists in business, it can be a big problem when the communication in question is a critical piece of specialized medical information that needs to be conveyed to a patient’s physician.

Binge eating disorder is focus of study; research volunteers now needed

Treatment options to be explored in study of a common eating disorder

Gorging oneself with turkey and Christmas cookies may be an annual ritual for some, but for millions of Americans overeating extends well beyond the holidays.

It’s not every day that Zarins takes home the ‘Tris Zvaigznu Ordenis’

Christopher Kristaps Zarins, MD, chief of Stanford’s division of vascular surgery, has claimed numerous honors since finishing his surgery residency three decades ago, but as far has he’s concerned, the latest tops them all.

Stanford's chief of vascular surgery, Christopher Kristaps Zarins, traveled to Latvia last month to receive that nation's highest honor, the "Tris Zvaigznu Ordenis." Here he celebrates at a reception with Latvian dignitaries, friends and family. Zarins stands with Vaira Vike-Freiberga, president of the Republic of Latvia. Photo: Courtesy of Christopher Zarins

Holiday season often heralds increased urgency for blood donors to step up

Blood center reaches out for holiday donations

Officials at the Stanford Blood Center are approaching this holiday season with their usual trepidation. After all, this is the time of year when blood shortages can be most acute, and the blood center has to resort to special incentives, such as free T-shirts and raffle prizes, to get donors in the door.

Cowan, a staunch advocate for postdocs, women, minorities, retires

Michael Cowan, associate dean for postdoctoral affairs, retired Oct. 31 after 29 years at Stanford. Among Cowan’s accomplishments are the establishment of programs to make Stanford a friendlier place for women and minorities and improved working conditions for postdoctoral scholars.

Bench-side consult program delivers ethics guidance

Legal and biomedical ethics experts at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics are helping researchers address lab dilemmas in real time through a program called bench-side consultation.