Neurofeedback
Scientists think sleep is the brain’s rinse cycle, when fluid percolating through the organ flushes out chemical waste that accumulated while we were awake. But what propels this circulation has been uncertain. A study of mice, reported today in Cell, suggests regular contractions of blood vessels in the brain, stimulated by the periodic release of …
A longitudinal study tracking 1,035 adults for six months following the October 7 attacks in Israel identifies four distinct psychological trajectories after mass trauma: resilience (54%), natural recovery (27%), chronic distress (18%), and delayed onset (2.5%). Researchers found that the dynamic trajectory of symptoms over time predicts long-term PTSD risk far more accurately than any …
Far from the humanoid robots of Blade Runner and the cyberpunk genre, and despite former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s paranoia about machines turning sentient and plotting a massive takeover of Earth, there’s a reason today’s AI probably doesn’t possess consciousness. Digital entities whose every need is met have no reason to develop it through …
Continue reading "there’s a key to being conscious—and AI doesn’t have it"
If you live in the southern hemisphere, you know what time of year it is. That’s right, it’s winter! Cold temperatures and the lack of sunlight are all hallmarks of this time of year, along with fabulous road conditions and cold and flu season. As well, the season brings something even more sinister: Seasonal Affective …
Continue reading "Seasonal Affective Disorder: the reason for the feelings"
Anti-psychotic drugs do not only block dopamine signaling in the brain, they also block dopamine signaling in the pancreas. Blocking dopamine signaling in the pancreas leads to uncontrolled production of blood-glucose regulating hormones, increasing obesity and diabetes risks. Why do patients who receive antipsychotic medications to manage schizophrenia and bipolar disorder quickly gain weight and …
Continue reading "dopamine key to mystery of metabolic dysfunction & anti-psychotic drugs"
A comprehensive approach that examines the intersection of multiple biological processes is necessary to elucidate the development of stress-related disorders. In a new study, investigators from McLean Hospital, a member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, working with colleagues at The University of Texas at Austin and Lieber Institute for Brain Development, uncovered both shared and distinct …
Continue reading "molecular changes in the brain with PTSD & depression"
The brain is the most complex and intricate part of the human body, and yet many of us don’t recognize just how many functions it carries out on a daily basis. Inside your head, there are approximately sixty trillion neural connections (pathways between brain cells), and while the brain represents only 2–2.5% of the body mass, it consumes …
The vagus nerve represents the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system, which oversees a vast array of crucial bodily functions, including control of mood, immune response, digestion, and heart rate. It establishes one of the connections between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract and sends information about the state of the inner organs to …
Continue reading "vagus nerve: brain-gut axis in psychiatric and inflammatory disorders – part I"
Across a human life span, changes in cognition are expected to occur as individuals grow older. Most of the changes experienced in aging are related to a decline in fluid intelligence, defined as the capacity to solve problems and articulate ideas, to navigate new situations, and to acquire knowledge. On the other hand, crystallized intelligence, …
Continue reading "use it or lose it: neurofeedback brain training & cognitive aging"
High-quality sleep and adaptive cognitive emotional regulation strategies can help to promote resilience to depression and anxiety when faced with negative or stressful experiences, according to new research published in the scientific journal Cortex. The researchers were interested in understanding why some individuals experiencing chronic stress develop mental health problems, while others do not. They believed …