A new study has alarming findings, but is probably not surprising to anyone who knows a teenager: High-schoolers today are texting, scrolling and using social media instead of reading books and magazines…In their free time, American adolescents are cradling their devices hours each day rather than losing themselves in print or long-form media, according to research published Monday by the American Psychological Association. Read full … Continue reading
To Remember, the Brain Must Actively Forget
August 8th, 2018 - By jen in UncategorizedWhat hasn’t received nearly as much attention from memory researchers is how the brain forgets. “The vast majority of the things that are happening to me in my life — the conscious experience I’m having right now — I’m most likely not going to remember when I’m 80,” said Michael Anderson, a memory researcher at the University of Cambridge, who has been studying forgetting since … Continue reading
Escape to another world
August 2nd, 2018 - By jen in UncategorizedAs video games get better and job prospects worse, more young men are dropping out of the job market to spend their time in an alternate reality. Ryan Avent suspects this is the beginning of something big Read full article: The Economist 1843, “Escape to another world.”
I Learned I Have Sleep Apnea. It’s More Serious Than Many People Realize.
July 30th, 2018 - By jen in SleepSleep apnea can be downright deadly, and not just for those who have it. It’s associated with a greater risk of depression, heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular conditions, as well as insulin resistance. As I learned, there’s no reason to meekly accept sleep apnea: There are many treatment options that can control it. Read full article: The New York Times, “I Learned I Have … Continue reading
Endless Gaming May Be a Bad Habit. That Doesn’t Make It a Mental Illness.
July 23rd, 2018 - By jen in UncategorizedThe World Health Organization last month added “internet gaming disorder” to its manual of psychiatric diagnoses, and the reaction was, shall we say, muted. At a time when millions of grown adults exchange one-liners with Siri or Alexa, the diagnosis seems years overdue, doesn’t it? Read full article, The New York Times, “Endless Gaming May Be a Bad Habit. That Doesn’t Make It a Mental … Continue reading
‘Cutting Edge’ Program For Children With Autism And ADHD Rests On Razor-Thin Evidence
July 17th, 2018 - By jen in Autism Spectrum, Information on ADD/ADHDBrain Balance says its nonmedical and drug-free program helps children who struggle with ADHD, autism spectrum disorders and learning and processing disorders. The company says it addresses a child’s challenges with a combination of physical exercises, nutritional guidance and academic training. An NPR investigation of Brain Balance reveals a company whose promises have resonated with parents averse to medication. But Brain Balance also appears to … Continue reading
A Map That Shows You Everything Wrong With Your Brain
July 9th, 2018 - By jen in neuroAgility News, Neurofeedback NewsKerson placed the cap on my head and clipped two sensors on to my earlobes, areas of no electrical activity, to act as baselines. As she began Electrogelling the 19 spots on my head that aligned with the cap’s electrodes, I was nervous in two different directions: one, that my brain would be revealed as suboptimal, underfunctioning, deficient. The other, that it would be fine, … Continue reading
“Traveling” Brain Waves May Be Critical for Cognition
July 3rd, 2018 - By jen in UncategorizedThe electrical oscillations we call brain waves have intrigued scientists and the public for more than a century. But their function—and even whether they have one, rather than just reflecting brain activity like an engine’s hum—is still debated. Many neuroscientists have assumed that if brain waves do anything, it is by oscillating in synchrony in different locations. Yet a growing body of research suggests many … Continue reading
4 simple exercises to strengthen your attention and reduce distractibility
June 25th, 2018 - By jen in UncategorizedOur attention gets hijacked by everything from the stress in our lives to the ding of our phones. Neuroscientist Amishi Jha shows how we can cultivate the ability to focus on what really matters. “I think, therefore I am distracted.” Read full article: TEDEd Lessons Worth Sharing, “4 simple exercises to strengthen your attention and reduce distractibility.”
What to Do When a Loved One Is Severely Depressed
June 18th, 2018 - By jen in UncategorizedMental illness is nothing to be ashamed of…But deep in the comment threads, some have also been debating a more uncomfortable question: What do you do when a friend is depressed for such a long time that you’ve started to feel that that nothing you can do will make a difference, and your empathy reserves are tapped out? There are no easy answers. Read full … Continue reading