When someone’s frowning, or beaming, or gaping in surprise, they’re wearing their heart on their face. That’s because the muscles that control facial expression are linked to the smart vagus, says Stephen Porges, PhD. Thanks to the vagus nerve, the emotions we feel are displayed on our faces and in the sound of our voices. […]
Creativity and the Brain
Could it be time for you to get out your painter’s smock and brushes? A new study by the Mayo Clinic may be just the motivation you need. The clinic recently published findings of their four-year study on risk factors for cognitive aging. A team of researchers led by Dr. Rosebud Roberts selected 256 participants […]
10 Ways Dance Strengthens the Brain
The other day, we shared some brand-new studies that investigated the neural effects of dance on people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Dance has been shown to improve motor function, cognitive function, mental symptoms, and overall quality of life in people both with and without Parkinson’s disease. These results have been found in scientific studies, but […]
Neuroplasticity and Trauma: Can Brain Science Give Us a New Perspective on Healing?
The brain can be a powerful ally. Our brains are always looking out for us. They’re wired to help us survive – alerting us to threats and ramping up our amygdala to help us take action. But that same survival trigger makes healing from trauma difficult, says Pat Ogden, PhD. In fact, the very systems […]
Parkinson’s Disease and Dance
Could dancing the tango improve cognitive function? According to the non-profit organization Dance for PD® (Parkinson’s disease), the answer is yes. Because Parkinson’s is a brain disorder, some people thought it might be uniquely affected by something like dance. So they approached the Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn, New York, about creating a program […]
Autism: Is There a Gut Connection?
Could there be a connection between autism and the gastrointestinal system? A team of researchers led by Elaine Y. Hsiao of the California Institute of Technology recently noted that a subset of people diagnosed with autism also display a spectrum of gastrointestinal abnormalities. So to test this, her researchers injected mice with an immunostimulant known […]
Neuroplasticity: Powerful Possibilities . . . With a Dark Side
We often see neuroplasticity as one of the brain’s greatest assets. The neuroplastic potential to restore function after trauma, resist the deterioration that comes with aging, and bolster core capabilities borders on miraculous. But there’s another side to neuroplasticity . . . In fact, many of the things that bother us about ourselves – our […]
Old Before Their Time: The Effect of PTSD on Children’s Telomeres
How does trauma affect the brain? Well, one way we can look at that is to look at how trauma affects telomeres, which are protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that keep them from deteriorating. As we age, telomeres naturally get shorter and eventually, die. So they make a great marker of cell aging […]
Do Electronic Devices Affect Sleep?
Does reading from an electronic tablet before bedtime affect sleep? We’ve known for some time that artificial lighting can alter the body’s natural 24-hour circadian rhythm. But now, our lives seem saturated with electronic devices that emit short-wavelength-enriched blue light as opposed to broad-spectrum white lights. And often, we’re reading from those gadgets at night […]
Rewiring the Brain for Willpower
The burger or the salad? The treadmill or the sofa? Spend or save? Throughout the course of a single day, choices like these test our willpower repeatedly . . . and sometimes the choices we make can leave us feeling like a failure. If you’ve ever made a vow to practice better self-control, you know […]