The Muddied Meaning of ‘Mindfulness’
If the word seems like a badge for the self-satisfied set, that’s because its true meaning has become obscured. Source: The Muddied Meaning of ‘Mindfulness’
Is Your Nervous System Being Hacked By Bacteria In Your Gut?
The vagus nerve brings information from all over the body to the brain — but is it being hacked by the bacteria in our gut?Some 80 per cent of the traffic along the vagus nerve is sensory information sent up [...]
Why So Many People Are Stressed and Depressed
Everywhere you look, people these days are stressed out. Many reach a breaking point and sink into depression – a mental health issue few of our grandparents or great-grandparents experienced, yet is so common today. Source: Why So Many People [...]
Scientists have discovered how the month you’re born matters for your health
A new study suggests that your birth month has a connection with the diseases you might develop in your lifetime. Source: Scientists have discovered how the month you're born matters for your health
Oxytocin-The Molecule Behind the Golden Rule?
We have this deep evolutionary system that motivates us to care about complete strangers Source: The Molecule Behind the Golden Rule
Self-proclaimed experts more vulnerable to the illusion of knowledge
New research reveals that the more people think they know about a topic in general, the more likely they are to allege knowledge of completely made-up information and false facts, a phenomenon known as "overclaiming." Source: Self-proclaimed experts more vulnerable [...]
Altruism is simpler than we thought, brain study shows
A new computational model of how the brain makes altruistic choices is able to predict when a person will act generously in a scenario involving the sacrifice of money. The work, led by California Institute of Technology scientists and, appearing [...]
How empathy and engagement enhance the placebo effect
Research shows efficacy in certain people may be linked to genetics, says Muiris Houston Source: Medical Matters: How empathy and engagement enhance the placebo effect
Can smoking drive you mad? Study suggests it might
"People with first episodes of psychosis were three times more likely to be smokers," said a statement from King's College London's Department of Psychosis Studies, which took part in the meta-analysis."The researchers also found that daily smokers developed psychotic illness [...]
Patients With Recurrent Depression Have Smaller Hippocampi
The brains of people with recurrent depression have a significantly smaller hippocampus (the part of the brain most associated with forming new memories) than healthy individuals, according to a study of nearly 9,000 people called the ENIGMA study. Source: Patients [...]