by New York University Memories are stronger when the original experiences are accompanied by unpleasant odors, a team of researchers has found. The study broadens our understanding of what can drive Pavlovian responses and points to how negative experiences influence our ability to recall past events. “These results demonstrate that bad smells are capable of producing memory enhancements in both adolescents...
Tag: <span>Mental Health</span>
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Sleeping Habits Can Have Effect On Alzheimer’s Progression Later In Life
In a new study, researchers found that a person’s sleeping habits can predict the accumulation of Alzheimer’s pathology protein in the brain later in life. A team from the University of California, Berkeley linked decrease in slow oscillations and sleep spindle synchronization on electroencephalogram (EEG) to higher tau. Meanwhile, reduced slow-wave-activity amplitude was associated with...
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Moving more and sitting less is good for the mind as well as the body
by Bernard Paquito, The Conversation Physical activity has long been associated with better mental health. What’s not well understood, however, is whether too much activity can negatively impact psychological well-being. As a researcher on physical activity and mental health, I often hear people say, “The more active I am, the better I feel.” That suggests more physical activity is always needed to increase psychological well-being. However,...
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How the online world is affecting the human brain
By Lauren Sharkey Fact checked by Carolyn Robertson Technology has impacted human activities monumentally. Now, scientists want to know if human brains are being affected too. The internet has been around for less than 3 decades, but the technology has already had an immense impact on the way humanity functions. This is apparent to us all...
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Memories form ‘barrier’ to letting go of objects for people who hoard
by University of Bath New research conducted at the University of Bath has demonstrated important differences in how people with and without hoarding problems discard objects and the role their memories play. It was already known that hoarding behaviour is driven by a strong emotional connection with objects. But the new experimental findings, published online in the journal Behavior Therapy, show that for people who hoard this connection may...
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Night owls can ‘retrain’ their body clocks to improve mental well-being and performance
by University of Birmingham A simple tweak to the sleeping patterns of ‘night owls’ – people with extreme late sleeping and waking habits—could lead to significant improvements in sleep/wake timings, improved performance in the mornings, better eating habits and a decrease in depression and stress. New international research by the Universities of Birmingham and Surrey in the UK, and...
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I really have thought this can’t go on’: Loneliness looms for rising numbers of older private renters
Loneliness is increasingly recognized worldwide as a critical social issue and one of the major health hazards of our time. Our research shows older private renters are at high risk of loneliness and anxiety. This is a growing concern as more Australians are renting housing later in life. By contrast, only a small proportion of...
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Waterfall illusion: When you see still objects move—and what it tells you about your brain
by Niia Nikolova, Nick Wade, The Conversation Humans are fascinated by visual illusions, which occur when there is a mismatch between the pattern of light that falls on the retina, and what we perceive. Before books, films, and the internet allowed illusions to be shared widely, people were captivated by illusions in nature. Indeed, it is here that...
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Some Antidepressants May Help Treat Multiple Infections, Study Says
By Ted Ranosa Tech Times Scientists are looking at the possibility of using some antidepressant drugs to help treat a wide range of infectious diseases. Researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University and other organizations examined the impact of a certain type of antidepressants known as functional inhibitors of acid sphingomyelinas, or FIASMAs. These drugs include amitriptyline, desipramine, and nortriptyline. Results showed that FIASMAs...
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6 ways to protect your mental health from social media’s dangers
More than one-third of American adults view social media as harmful to their mental health, according to a new survey from the American Psychiatric Association. Just 5% view social media as being positive for their mental health, the survey found. Another 45% say it has both positive and negative effects. Two-thirds of the survey’s respondents believe that social media usage is related to...