Alcohol is good for your brain

BY MIKE TAIT ...AND SO IS TELEVISION WATCHING TV makes you smarter, an author claims. Programmes have complex narratives, moral ambiguity and intertwined plots which match the intellectual demands of a weighty novel, Steven Johnson says in his latest book, Everything Bad Is Good For You. 'Watching them is a mental workout,' he adds, citing reality shows such as Big Brother which are 'group psychology experiences. However, his comments came as anti-TV group White Dot held its 'TV turn-off' week. Sitting in front of the box for too long can lead to obesity and a poor attention span, it claimed. IT'S the news drinkers have waited years to hear - alcohol consumption is good for your brain. A pint of beer or a glass of wine triggers the growth of new brain cells and boosts memory, scientists say. However, while moderate drinking can improve the mind, binge-drinking has the opposite effect. Laboratory tests on adult mice showed that moderate tippling over a long period led to the formation of new nerve cells in the brain, known as neurons. The growth of new neurons could improve memory and learning, said Prof Stefan Brene, who carried out the research at the Karolinski Institute in Stockholm. He believes alcohol stimulates cell growth in much the same way as antidepressant drugs. The findings did not surprise memhers of the Campaign for Real Ale. 'It is well known that alcohol in moderation is good for your body so it's no surprise it's also good for your mind,' said a spokeswoman. ...AND SO IS ICE CREAM ICE cream lovers will say they have always known it. But eating the stuff really does make us happy, according to research released yesterday. Ice cream immediately activates the brain's pleasure zones, said experts at London's institute of Psychiatry. Volunteers had their brains scanned with a magnetic resonance imaging machine, which allowed the team to see which areas were activated when participants ate vanilla ice cream. Perhaps not surprisingly, though, the research was commissioned hy Unilever, the owner of Wall's ice cream which makes the Carte D'Or brand. 'Maybe that is why lots of pub quiz teams are so bright.' Despite its emerging benefits, Prof Brene advised caution. He warned that the new cells could encourage alcohol dependency and other negative long-term effects on the brain. 'The increased production of new nerve cells while drinking can lead to alcohol addiction,' he said. Last night, talk radio presenter Jono Coleman claaned he was living proof of the Swedish academic's findings. 'It seems to be working on me,' said Coleman, who admits to enjoying the odd glass of red wme 'Sometimes I've had a drink before a show. I think I've done some of my best work under the influence or hung  over.' [Metro Apr29,2005] Now Big Brother can hear you, too BY AIDAN RADNEDGE MOST of our streets and stations seem to be covered by CCTV to spot our movements or if we misbehave. But now lamp-posts are to be fitted with microphones to check when we are being too noisy. The wireless devices will be used with CCTV which will automatically alert officials if bars, clubs or neighbours get too noisy. The audio and video evidence could then be used before a licensing or magistrates' court. The scheme is being tested by Westminster Council with seven lamp-posts fitted with cameras in Soho over the next few months. The move will focus on nightspots but could eventually be used to target nuisance neighbours. If noise levels rise to above normal, audio and visual recordings are fed back to council officers who will decide whether they should send someone out. 'By the time someone rings us to tell us about a noise problem and we have decided whether to visit, that event could be lost to us,' said council spokesman Steve Harrison. 'This is about trying to instantly capture an image and audio to let us know what's going on.' But civil liberties groups say it is further intrusion into privacy. 'This is a step too far. I believe Westminster could be in breach of the law,' said Simon Davies, from Privacy International. 'This almost strays into violating privacy. There are already numerous reporting procedures in place for excessive noise. 'It's a very small step from justifying this for public order to extending it to routine audio surveillance.' [Metro May 3, 2005]