MEN LOSE THEIR MINDS SPEAKING TO PRETTY WOMEN

The research shows men who spend even a few minutes in the company of an attractive woman perform less well in tests designed to measure brain function than those who chat to someone they do not find attractive.
The research shows men who spend even a few minutes in the company of an attractive woman perform less well in tests designed to measure brain function than those who chat to someone they do not find attractive.
Researchers who carried out the study, published in the Journal of Experimental and Social Psychology, think the reason may be that men use up so much of their brain function or 'cognitive resources' trying to impress beautiful women, they have little left for other tasks.
The findings have implications for the performance of men who flirt with women in the workplace, or even exam results in mixed-sex schools.
Women, however, were not affected by chatting to a handsome man.
This may be simply because men are programmed by evolution to think more about mating opportunities.
Psychologists at Radboud University in The Netherlands carried out the study after one of them was so struck on impressing an attractive woman he had never met before, that he could not remember his address when she asked him where he lived.
Researchers said it was as if he was so keen to make an impression he 'temporarily absorbed most of his cognitive resources.'
To see if other men were affected in the same way, they recruited 40 male heterosexual students.
Each one performed a standard memory test where they had to observe a stream of letters and say, as fast as possible, if each one was the same as the one before last.
The volunteers then spent seven minutes chatting to male or female members of the research team before repeating the test.
The results showed men were slower and less accurate after trying to impress the women. The more they fancied them, the worse their score.
But when the task was repeated with a group of female volunteers, they did not get the same results. Memory scores stayed the same, whether they had chatted to a man or a woman.
In a report on their findings the researchers said: 'We conclude men's cognitive functioning may temporarily decline after an interaction with an attractive woman.'
Psychologist Dr George Fieldman, a member of the British Psychological Society, said the findings reflect the fact that men are programmed to think about ways to pass on their genes.
'When a man meets a pretty woman, he is what we call 'reproductively focused'.
'But a woman also looks for signs of other attributes, such as wealth, youth and kindness. Just the look of the man would be unlikely to have the same effect.'

Source:telegraph.co.uk

CHINA TRUSTS PROSTITUTES MORE THAN OTHERS

A survey conducted by Insight China in June July this year (total 3,376 respondents) revealed that in China, prostitutes are better-trusted than its politicians and scientists.
The survey found that 7.9% of respondents considered sex workers to be trustworthy, placing them third behind farmers and religious workers. "A list like this is at the same time surprising and embarrassing," said an editorial in the state-run China Daily. Politicians were far down the list, closer to scientists and teachers. "The sex workers' unexpected prominence on this list of honour... is indeed unusual," said the China Daily editorial. "At least [the scientists and officials] have not slid into the least credible category which consists of real estate developers, secretaries, agents, entertainers and directors," the editorial said.
Soldiers came in fourth place.

AN ECOLOGICAL DATE?

Are you interested in an ecological date, then what comes in your mind? Clip below can help you to find the way.
The concept of this short clip was written and directed by Manoj Bhusal which was shooted in Finland and was acted by Junko Shrestha, Som Chaulagai, and Suedip Joshi. The clip is a part of the Silver Lining Creation public awareness series. This is going to be promoted by some environmental organizations and also will be screened in short film (under five minutes film) festivals".

MEDICINAL PLANTS OF NEPAL VS PROTECTED AREAS

Below is the abstract of paper published in Banko Jankari Vol 19 (1), 2009.

This study aims to explore patterns of medicinal plant species richness along an elevational gradient in Nepal and effectiveness of existing protected areas for conservation of these medicinal plants. We used published data on distribution of medicinal plants from secondary sources. The number of medicinal plants and number of protected areas present in each 100 m elevation band are estimated by interpolation. We used the number of protected areas and number of species is the response variables and elevation, a predictor. To explain the relationship between total medicinal plant richness and of different life forms with elevation and protected areas, we used generalized additive models (GAMs) and scatter plot. Medicinal plants in total and of different life forms showed hump-shaped patterns with elevation. Maximum richness of medicinal plants is found at an elevation of 1100 m a.s.l. but maximum numbers of protected areas are found at an elevation between 3000 m to 3500 m a.s.l. There is negative correlation between protected areas and medicinal plants in Nepal. This suggests that the protected areas of Nepal are less concentrated where medicinal plants diversity is rich.

Figure below shows the distribution pattern of medicinal plants of Nepal along the Himalayan elevational gradient

CONTINUATION AFTER LONG BREAK

I couldnot update this blog since almost one year.
Now onwards i will try my best to keep it updated.