Does Lack of Sound Sleep Alter Memories And Perceptions?

Ever had a dream so vivid that it seemed too real to be a dream? Or awakened all fuzzy headed after a night of fractured sleep? So fuzzy that you couldn’t remember where the coffee maker was? Of course you have. We all have.

But do altered sleep patterns effect your perception of reality? Cause a blurring of the boundary between dreams and real life? Create false memories? Maybe so.

A recent article by Art Markman, MD in Psychology Today discusses a study jointly done by the University of California, Irvine and Michigan State University where these relationships were explored. The study findings suggest that the sleep-deprived brain is not to be trusted.

Though no longer with us, The Nut had no such sleep or memory problems

 

Blue-eyed Mesolithic Caveman?

Was there an ancient Marlboro Man? Cool, swarthy. handsome?

DNA obtained from the wisdom tooth of the 7000-year-old remains of an European Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) hunter-gather has been analyzed and suggests that the man had dark skin and hair, blue eyes, and was likely lactose intolerant.

Artist Impression of Mesolithic Hunter-gatherer

We are all familiar with DNA’s use in solving crimes by matching a suspect to a crime scene and, particularly mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), in ancestry investigations. DNA analysis can also often reveal sex, race, and hair and eye color.

Mesolithic Skull

Mesolithic Life in Europe Before the Curse of Farming: http://archaeology.about.com/od/mesolithicarchaic/qt/Mesolithic.htm

Historic Timeline: http://www.historiclandscape.co.uk/exploring_time.html

Stone Age Timelines: http://www.historiclandscape.co.uk/exploring_time.html

 

Crime and Science Radio: Improving Forensic Science With Kevin Lothridge Of The NFSTC

Saturday, November 15, 2014, at 10 a.m. Pacific: Crime and Science Radio: Improving Forensic Science: An Interview With Kevin Lothridge Of The NFSTC

Join Jan Burke and I as we welcome Kevin Lothridge, CEO of the National Forensic Science Technology Center, an organization that has developed protocols for educating forensic science professionals and improving and standardizing the varied fields of forensic investigation.

BIO: Kevin Lothridge, Chief Executive Officer – NFSTC’s principal investigator, Mr. Lothridge is an accomplished forensic scientist and business leader with 28 years of experience in the international forensics industry. He has held positions as a forensic chemist, chief forensic chemist, and laboratory director for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department and the Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory. Mr. Lothridge has testified in court more than 50 times as an expert in controlled substances and fire debris analysis. He speaks at numerous professional conferences, and he co-authored the GC-MS Guide to Ignitable Liquids. In 2006-07, he led the development of the Expeditionary Analysis Center project for the Department of Defense, now used for training and tactical field forensics.

Mr. Lothridge holds a bachelor’s degree in Forensic Science from Eastern Kentucky University and a master’s degree in Management from National Louis University. He has served as president of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) and as acting chief of the Investigative and Forensic division of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

General NFSTC description:

The National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation headquartered in Largo, Florida. Founded in 1995, NFSTC provides quality forensic services including biometrics and forensic science training, assessment, test and evaluation services, instructional design and support to the military, justice and forensic science communities.

LISTEN:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/suspensemagazine/2014/10/16/crime-and-science-radio-with-special-guest-kevin-lothridge

LINKS:

National Forensic Science Technology Center: http://www.nfstc.org

Forensic Science Simplified: http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org

NFSTC on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nfstc

NFSTC on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfstc

NFSTC on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-forensic-science-technology-center—nfstc

NFSTC Instructional Videos on Youtube: www.youtube.com/thenfstc

NamUs, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System: http://www.namus.gov

 

ITW’s 1000 Thriller Giveaway

Want to win a great thriller every week for a year?

It’s easy to do.

Enter ITW’s 1000 Thriller Giveaway:  http://www.thebigthrill.org/1000-thrillers/

 

Military Book Fair Pictures

Yesterday was the first-ever Military Book Fair to benefit our warriors. It was held on the hangar deck of the aircraft carrier USS Midway.

Here are a few pictures from the event:

Panel in Session

Signing Books For Our Warriors:

Dale Brown

James Rollins and Andrew Peterson

Jan Burke

Philip Donlay

Kathleen Antrim and DP Lyle

Hanging with T. Jefferson Parker:

DP Lyle and T. Jefferson Parker

 

ITW’s Thriller School Returns in March, 2015

ITW’s highly successful Thriller School will be presented yet again, beginning March 2, 2015 and running for 7 weeks. Like last year, the school will likely fill up very quickly, so register soon.

The school is a series of podcasts with appropriate handouts and further study guides from each instructor. During the week of each class, the instructor will be available on line to answer questions from students.

Instructors are:

Gayle Lynds: Plot

Robert Dugoni: Character

Heather Graham: Setting

Andrew Gross: Point Of View

Linwood Barclay: Dialog

Steven James: Storytelling

DP Lyle: Voice

Take your writing to the next level.

Register Now: http://thrillerwriters.org/thrillerschool/