-
Rituals are Life Hacks for Stress Reduction
For many, having to quarantine has produced anxiety. One finding in a recent paper published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society suggests this could be due, in part, to the fact that our human rituals, like weddings, parades, and funerals, have been canceled. Dimitris Xygalatas, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of…
-
Could Mindfulness Be the Missing Link?
Mindfulness helps people regulate their emotions, reducing pain and negative thinking, concludes a new study, even after very basic training in mindfulness.
-
Nature’s Role in Lowering Stress
A recent paper published by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences studied how people’s stress levels were affected by both the scent and virtual reality scenes of nature highlighting the science behind the health benefits of nature. 154 participants took part in the study in which they visited one of three virtual environments: a forest,…
-
May is Mental Health Awareness Month | Plus 3 Key Tools to Thrive
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, both in the US and UK, drawing attention to the importance of mental health in all areas of life. The event is a step in removing the stigma surrounding mental health, so that people can reach out and get the much-needed help they require.
-
9 Natural Ways to Keep Calm
Did you know there is a human need for certainty? Your brain craves it; and the lack of predictability right now can easily lead to stress, panic or even boredom. This can cause us to reach for our cell phones to get answers.
-
Researchers Pinpoint 6 Genes Linked to Mental Health
A new report that studied genetic variants linked to mental health was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry on January 7, 2020, documenting the results of a large genome-wide analysis of 200,000 military veterans. The study led by Joel Gelernter, the Foundations Fund Professor of Psychiatry, professor of genetics and of neuroscience at Yale…
-
Practicing Gratitude Has Lasting Health Benefits
Previous research has linked the regular practice of gratitude with a host of benefits, both physical and emotional. A 2016 study examined the neural basis of gratitude expression and how it may have even more long-term effects on brain activity than previously known.
-
Study Suggests Stress in the Evening is No Good
A research study conducted at Japan’s Hokkaido University and published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology Reports explored how the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responds to acute psychological at different times of the day. Lead researcher Yujiro Yamanaka, and his team studied 27 healthy young volunteers. Yamanaka first measured the participant’s diurnal rhythm of salivary cortisol levels as…
-
Soothe the Central Nervous System with L-Theanine
L-theanine, also known as L-γ-glutamylethylamide and N⁵-ethyl-L-glutamine is a non-protein amino acid that’s naturally occurring in some plants and fungus. Theanine is the name given to L-theanine when it is used as a food supplement, which is permitted in many international locations. Most famously L-theanine was found to be an active ingredient in green tea…
-
Newly Discovered Metronome Neuron Cells
A recent study carried out by Brown University neuroscientists discovered new metronome neuron cells in the brain. This exciting discovery may shed light on the brain’s long-hypothesized internal clock and possible methods to increase sensitivity in the brain. The metronome neuron cells oscillate at approximately 40 cycles per second, which makes them “gamma waves” or…