Podcasts about human neuroscience

Do you think it's normal to feel discomfort in your body? Or do you recognize discomfort as your body's attempt to communicate with you? In this thought-provoking episode, I challenge the idea that our bodies betray us. We'll talk about how we've been conditioned to ignore discomfort, push through pain, and normalize symptoms like bloating, fatigue, inflammation, and poor sleep—until something more serious forces us to listen. I'll share my personal experiences and real-life stories—including the heartbreaking loss of my brother to a curable cancer—to illustrate why tuning into your body's signals matters now, not later. I'll walk you through the challenges of behavior change, the role of chronic stress in disconnecting us from our own bodies, and how mindfulness can help us rebuild trust and awareness. This episode isn't just for breast cancer survivors—it's for everyone who wants to live a more connected, healthy, and intentional life.

Effortless Awareness: Using Real-Time Neurofeedback to Investigate Correlates of Posterior Cingulate Cortex Activity in Meditators' Self-Report explores how real-time fMRI neurofeedback can link meditation experience to brain activity. In this episode, Dr. Jud Brewer and his collaborators discuss their groundbreaking study, which analyzed first-person reports of experienced meditators and real-time feedback of posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) activity. The study reveals how “effortless awareness” and “undistracted attention” correlate with PCC deactivation, while “efforting” and “distraction” activate the region. These findings provide fresh insights into the neuroscience of mindfulness, self-referential processing, and how meditation can train the brain towards a state of effortless presence.Reference:Garrison KA, Santoyo JF, Davis JH, Thornhill TA IV, Kerr CE, Brewer JA. Effortless Awareness: Using Real-Time Neurofeedback to Investigate Correlates of Posterior Cingulate Cortex Activity in Meditators' Self-Report. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2013;7:440. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00440Let's connect on Instagram

What About the "Self" Is Processed in the Posterior Cingulate Cortex? investigates the role of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) in self-referential processing. This fascinating study by Dr. Jud Brewer, Kathleen Garrison, and Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli explores how the PCC is activated during experiences of being "caught up in" mental content, such as self-judgment, social cognitive processing, attention lapses, and cravings. Conversely, PCC deactivation correlates with present-centered awareness and mindfulness. Join us as we unravel the implications of these findings for understanding self-related experiences, meditation, and their potential therapeutic applications.Reference:Brewer JA, Garrison KA, Whitfield-Gabrieli S. What about the "self" is processed in the posterior cingulate cortex? Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2013;7:647. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00647Let's connect on Instagram

Reference: Imperialbiosciencereview. (2023b, October 5). The neuroscience behind extroversion and introversion: are we stuck with the personality traits we are given at birth? Imperial Bioscience Review. https://imperialbiosciencereview.wordpress.com/2021/03/05/the-neuroscience-behind-extroversion-and-introversion-are-we-stuck-with-the-personality-traits-we-are-given-at-birth/ Depue, R. A., & Fu, Y. (2013). On the nature of extraversion: variation in conditioned contextual activation of dopamine-facilitated affective, cognitive, and motor processes. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00288 Little, B. R. (2008). Personal projects and free traits: personality and motivation reconsidered. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2(3), 1235–1254. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9004.2008.00106.x PsyD, M. O. L. (2002). The introvert advantage: How Quiet People Can Thrive in an Extrovert World. Hachette UK. Cain, S. (2012). Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. Penguin UK. Support this show: https://open.firstory.me/user/ckgk7ej6h3uud081394y4caub Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/ckgk7ej6h3uud081394y4caub/comments

Découvrez le livre NEUROSAPIENS ! Pour apprendre à créer rapidement et à moindre coût son podcast, c'est par ici ! Recherches et écriture : Thaïs MarquesProduction, animation, réalisation : Anaïs RouxInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/neurosapiens.podcast/neurosapiens.podcast@gmail.comProduit et distribué en association avec LACME Production.Références : Bamber, M. D., & Kraenzle Schneider, J. (2016). Mindfulness-based meditation to decrease stress and anxiety in college students: A narrative synthesis of the research. Educational Research Review, 18, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2015.12.004Fox, K. C. R., Nijeboer, S., Dixon, M. L., Floman, J. L., Ellamil, M., Rumak, S. P., Sedlmeier, P., & Christoff, K. (2014). Is meditation associated with altered brain structure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of morphometric neuroimaging in meditation practitioners. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 43, 48–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.03.016Hasenkamp, W., & Barsalou, L. W. (2012). Effects of Meditation Experience on Functional Connectivity of Distributed Brain Networks. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2012.00038Hoge, E. A., Bui, E., Palitz, S. A., Schwarz, N. R., Owens, M. E., Johnston, J. M., Pollack, M. H., & Simon, N. M. (2018). The effect of mindfulness meditation training on biological acute stress responses in generalized anxiety disorder. Psychiatry Research, 262, 328–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.01.006Saeed, S. A., Antonacci, D. J., & Bloch, R. M. (2010). Exercise, Yoga, and Meditation for Depressive and Anxiety Disorders. Depression and Anxiety, 81(8).Stinson, C., Curl, E. D., Hale, G., Knight, S., Pipkins, C., Hall, I., White, K., Thompson, N., & Wright, C. (2020). Mindfulness Meditation and Anxiety in Nursing Students. Nursing Education Perspectives, 41(4), 244–245. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000635Whitfield, T., Barnhofer, T., Acabchuk, R., Cohen, A., Lee, M., Schlosser, M., Arenaza-Urquijo, E. M., Böttcher, A., Britton, W., Coll-Padros, N., Collette, F., Chételat, G., Dautricourt, S., Demnitz-King, H., Dumais, T., Klimecki, O., Meiberth, D., Moulinet, I., Müller, T., … Marchant, N. L. (2022). The Effect of Mindfulness-based Programs on Cognitive Function in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Neuropsychology Review, 32(3), 677–702. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-021-09519-yWielgosz, J., Goldberg, S. B., Kral, T. R. A., Dunne, J. D., & Davidson, R. J. (2019). Mindfulness Meditation and Psychopathology. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 15(1), 285–316. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-021815-093423Zsadanyi, S. E., Kurth, F., & Luders, E. (2021). The Effects of Mindfulness and Meditation on the Cingulate Cortex in the Healthy Human Brain: A Review. Mindfulness, 12(10), 2371–2387. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01712-7

Have you ever noticed a friend who always cancels plans last minute? It might be due to social anxiety disorder symptoms having kicked into their system, instead of rudeness. Everyone experiences some level of social anxiousness at one time or another, but those with SAD experience an above-average to severe level of worry, fear, and panic in social situations. Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is defined as the “marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or possible scrutiny by others.” Disclaimer: The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor or mental health professional. To raise mental health awareness, we also made a video on the signs you're depressed, not lazy: https://youtu.be/q8HRGiUeZwc Script Writer: Syazwana Amirah Script Editor: Vanessa Tao Script Manager: Kelly Soong VO: Amanda Silvera Animator: Aury YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong References: American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596 Casarella, J. (n.d.). Tips for living with social anxiety disorder. Retrieved April 22, 2021, from https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/tips-for-living-with-social-anxiety Cuncic, A., & Morin, A. (2020, September 23). How to deal with social anxiety at a party. Retrieved April 22, 2021, from https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-deal-with-social-anxiety-at-a-party-3024417 Cuncic, A., & Gans, S. (2020, March 20). Things to start doing if you have social anxiety disorder. Retrieved April 22, 2021, from https://www.verywellmind.com/social-anxiety-disorder-tips-3024209 Cuncic, A., & Morin, A. (2019, September 11). What to do if you fear eating in public. Retrieved April 22, 2021, from https://www.verywellmind.com/why-am-i-afraid-to-eat-in-front-of-people-3024319 Cuncic, A., & Morin, A. (2020, November 19). How to overcome eye contact anxiety. Retrieved April 22, 2021, from https://www.verywellmind.com/how-do-i-maintain-good-eye-contact-3024392#citation-3 Fuller, K. (2020, June 11). When anxiety turns to anger: Relationship of anxiety and anger. Retrieved April 22, 2021, from https://discoverymood.com/blog/anxiety-and-anger/ Glashow, C. (2021, February 23). Why people with anxiety cancel plans last minute. Retrieved April 22, 2021, from https://www.anchortherapy.org/blog/anxiety-why-cancel-plans-hoboken-jerseycity-hudson-county-nj-therapist-counselor Schulze, L., Renneberg, B., & Lobmaier, J. S. (2013). Gaze perception in social anxiety and social anxiety disorder. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00872 Smith, M., Segal, J., & Shubin, J. (n.d.). Social anxiety disorder. Retrieved April 22, 2021, from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder.htm Wolff, C., & Beurkens, N. (2020, April 01). Social anxiety is no Joke: Here Are Expert-Backed coping strategies. Retrieved April 22, 2021, from https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/social-anxiety-disorder-causes-symptoms-and-how-to-treat-it CONNECT WITH US: Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psych2go_tips/ Official Discord: https://discord.gg/rRqJMFYV Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkJEpR7JmS36tajD34Gp4VA/join Would you like to animate for the team? Check out this: https://psych2go.net/interested-in-animating-for-pych2go-faq/ Interested in writing for psych2go? Check out: https://psych2go.net/script-writing-position-faqs/

Dean Radin is Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Science (IONS), Associated Distinguished Professor of Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), Honorary Distinguished Professor at the Swami Vivekananda University in Bangalore, India, and chairman of the board for the neurogenetics biotech company, Cognigenics Inc.His early career track as a concert violinist shifted into science after earning a BSEE degree in electrical engineering (magna cum laude, with honors in physics) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and then an MS in electrical engineering and PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For a decade he worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories and later at GTE Laboratories.For nearly four decades his research has focused on the nature and capacities of consciousness. Before joining the research staff at IONS in 2001, he held appointments at Princeton University, University of Edinburgh, and SRI International, where he worked on a classified program investigating psychic espionage for the US government (now commonly known by one of the codewords: Star Gate). ​Radin is author or coauthor of over 300 scientific, technical, and popular articles, four dozen book chapters, two technical books, and four popular books including the Scientific and Medical Network's 1997 book award, The Conscious Universe (HarperOne, 1997), Entangled Minds (Simon & Schuster, 2006), the 2014 Silver Nautilus Book Award, Supernormal (Random House, 2013), and Real Magic (Penguin Random House, 2018).Entangled Minds, Supernormal and Real Magic are available as paperback, e-books, and audio books. These books have been translated so far into 15 foreign languages. ​ His 130+ articles can be found in peer-reviewed journals ranging from Foundations of Physics and Physics Essays to Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Psychological Bulletin, Brain and Cognition, and Psychology of Consciousness.He serves as a referee for 25 journals, including PLOS One, Frontiers in Bioscience, Integrative Cancer Therapies, Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Physics Essays, and Psychology of Consciousness. He was featured in a New York Times Magazine article, and he has appeared on dozens of television programs around the world.His 650+ interviews and talks have included presentations at Harvard (medical), Stanford (statistics), Princeton (psychology), Columbia (education), Cambridge (physics), Edinburgh (psychology), The Sorbonne (parapsychology), University of Padova (physics), University of British Columbia (parapsychology), and University of Allahabad (cognitive neuroscience,).

Dreams are both scientifically fascinating and universal. Everyone dreams, at every age and they are often nonsensical, complex, and deeply subjective. How can you quantify something so personal in the activity of cells, circuits, and systems?Let's find out together!Please rate, review, and subscribe and if you have any questions, comments, concerns, queries, or complaints, please email me at neuroscienceamateurhour@gmail.com or DM me at NeuroscienceAmateurHour on Instagram.Also if you have the means/desire to financially support this podcast - please go to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/neuroscienceI really appreciate it!!!Citations and relevant papers are below!Chip Brown. The Stubborn Scientist Who Unraveled A Mystery of the Night. Smithsonian. Published October 2003. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-stubborn-scientist-who-unraveled-a-mystery-of-the-night-91514538/‌Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al. The Possible Functions of REM Sleep and Dreaming. Nih.gov. Published 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11121/Gott JA, Liley DTJ, Hobson JA. Towards a Functional Understanding of PGO Waves. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2017;11. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00089‌Senzai Y, Scanziani M. A cognitive process occurring during sleep is revealed by rapid eye movements. Science. 2022;377(6609):999-1004. doi:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abp8852Crick F, Mitchison G. The function of dream sleep. Nature. 1983;304(5922):111-114. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/304111a0‌Hobson JA, McCarley RW. The brain as a dream state generator: an activation-synthesis hypothesis of the dream process. The American journal of psychiatry. 1977;134(12):1335-1348. doi:https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.134.12.1335Caviglia G. Working on dreams, from neuroscience to psychotherapy. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome. 2021;24(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2021.540‌Hobson, J. A. (1990). Activation, input source, and modulation: A neurocognitive model of the state of the brain-mind. In R. R. Bootzin, J. F. Kihlstrom, & D. L. Schacter (Eds.), Sleep and cognition (pp. 25–40). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10499-002Baird B, Mota-Rolim SA, Dresler M. The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2019;100:305-323. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.008Aspy DJ. Findings From the International Lucid Dream Induction Study. Frontiers in Psychology. 2020;11. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01746‌Soffer-Dudek N. Are Lucid Dreams Good for Us? Are We Asking the Right Question? A Call for Caution in Lucid Dream Research. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2020;13. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01423Gao JX, Gao Y, Li XX, et al. The Ponto-Geniculo-Occipital (PGO) Waves in Dreaming: An Overview. Brain Sciences. 2023;13(9):1350-1350. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13091350Support the show

Unveiling the Nutritional Powerhouse: A Journey Through the History of Healthy GrainsAncient Origins and Cultural SignificanceModern Discoveries and Nutritional PowerMillet: A Nutritional Gem Among Whole Grains #HealthyGrains #WholeGrains #Millet #Nutrition #Diet #CulinaryAdventures Today, Grandpa Bill is going to be talking about a fascinating topic: binaural beats. Binaural beats are a type of auditory illusion that can be used to improve focus, memory, and other cognitive functions. They are created by playing two different tones, one in each ear, that are slightly different in frequency. The brain perceives the difference between the two tones as a new beat, which is called the binaural beat. The frequency of the binaural beat determines the effect it has on the brain. For example, binaural beats in the alpha frequency range (8-12 Hz) are said to promote relaxation and creativity, while beats in the beta frequency range (13-30 Hz) are said to improve focus and concentration. There is some scientific evidence to support the claims that binaural beats can improve cognitive function. For example, a study published in the journal "Frontiers in Human Neuroscience" found that binaural beats in the alpha frequency range improved memory performance in a group of healthy adults.The Power of Binaural Beats: Enhance Your Memory and Focus Naturally Unlock Your Brain's Potential with Binaural Beats Binaural Beats: The Secret Weapon for Cognitive Enhancement The Magnetic Memory Method and A Christmas Carol Ghost of Christmas Past: Ghost of Christmas Present: Ghost of Christmas Future: Mr. Magoo-as Scrooge #binaural beats for sleep, #isochronic tones, #brainwave music, #theta waves, #delta waves, #alpha waves, #beta waves, #sleep music, #meditation music, #calming sounds, #warm, #soothing, #peaceful, #astral projection, #lucid dreaming, #REM sleep, #ADHD, #anxiety, #insomnia, #focus, #reiki healing, #spiritual healing, #chakra alignment, #DNA repair, #white noise, #brown noise, #BinauralBeats #NaturalMedicine #Memory #Focus #CognitiveFunction --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bhsales/message

Der theoretische Physiker Joachim Keppler forscht zu Bewusstsein mit strengen naturwissenschaftlichen Ansprüchen. Der Direktor des DIWISS-Instituts erläutert im Podcast, wie Bewusstsein in die Physik passt, dass Bewusstsein seinen exklusiven Ort gar nicht im Gehirn hat, und warum es sich vielmehr lohnt, das Hirn als Koppler an ein physikalisch beschreibbares Bewusstseinsfeld zu betrachten. Wir diskutieren die Frage, inwiefern man ein solcherart verstandenes Bewusstsein manipulieren oder gar hacken könnte, und natürlich, inwiefern Künstliches Bewusstsein auf diese Art möglich wäre.  Autor: Karsten WendlandRedaktion, Aufnahmeleitung und Produktion: Karsten WendlandRedaktionsassistenz: Robin Herrmann Licence: CC-BY  In dieser Folge erwähnte Quellen: Forschungsinstitut DIWISS: https://www.diwiss.de Wissenschaftliche Konferenz "The Science of Consciousness 2023": https://tsc2023-taormina.it/ Keppler, Joachim (2023): Scrutinizing the Feasibility of Macroscopic Quantum Coherence in the Brain: A Field-Theoretical Model of Cortical Dynamics. Frontiers in Physics 11:1181416. doi: 10.3389/fphy.2023.1181416 (June 2023) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2023.1181416/full Keppler, Joachim (2021): Building Blocks for the Development of a Self-Consistent Electromagnetic Field Theory of Consciousness. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 15:723415. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.723415 (September 2021) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2021.723415/full Keppler, Joachim (2020): The Common Basis of Memory and Consciousness: Understanding the Brain as a Write-Read Head Interacting With an Omnipresent Background Field. Frontiers in Psychology 10:2968. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02968 (January 2020) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02968/full Originalarbeit zum Sender-Empfänger-Modell von Shannon und Weaver: A Mathematical Theory of Communication. By C. E. SHANNON (1949) https://web.archive.org/web/19980715013250/http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/ms/what/shannonday/shannon1948.pdf Zero-Point-Field: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/follow-up-what-is-the-zer/#    

Vi mennesker har længe gjort en dyd ud af at adskille os fra dyrene, og vi gør ofte vores hjerne til den store stjerne i dén fortælling. Men hvor stor forskel er der egentlig på din menneskehjerne og dyrehjerner?  Det spørgsmål stiller podcast-værterne Anne Sophie Thingsted og Nana Elving Hansen i denne uges episode af Brainstorm.  Her plukker de hjernen på professor i zoofysiologi, Tobias Wang, som forklarer de grundlæggende forskelle (og ligheder) mellem menneskers og dyrs hjerner. Han fortæller også, i hvor høj grad dyr har følelser ligesom os mennesker. Brainstorm er støttet af Lundbeckfonden. Medvirkende: Tobias Wang, professor i zoofysiologi ved Institut for Biologi på Aarhus Universitet Videnskabelige studier: ‘The Human Brain in Numbers: A Linearly Scaled-up Primate Brain', Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2009 ‘Spontaneous planning for future stone throwing by a male chimpanzee', Current Biology, 2009   Artikler: ‘Glæder rotter sig til det bliver sommer?', Videnskab.dk 2013 ‘Blæksprutter har 9 hjerner', Videnskab.dk, 2012 Følg Brainstorm på Instagram.

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks chat about her spiritual practices.Notebook Classic — LEUCHTTURM1917SHARPIE S-Gel Pen, Medium Point (0.7mm), Black Ink“Advantage of Handwriting Over Typing on Learning Words” by Aya S. Ihara et al. — Frontiers in Human Neuroscience“Is the News Making Us Unhappy?” by Natascha de Hoog and Peter Verboon — British Journal of Psychology

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Use code LIFEOFRAGE or use link: https://betterhelp.com/lifeofrage for 10% OFF BetterHelp Services. Hello, BADDIES!! This week was a little rough, but here we are!! This episode dives into how we can work with mental health waves rather than fight them. How much are we willing to participate in our own suffering? We're working towards our own alliance out here ❤️

I first came across the work of today's guest one Monday morning at around 4am as I browsed the website for The Guardian newspaper on my phone. Unlike some people who make a point of waking that early in order to get a head start on the week, for me this was just another Monday morning when I woke far too early with far too many thoughts about work buzzing through my head. What perhaps made it worse is that I had also struggled to get to sleep early the night before as those same thoughts kept spinning around! To discuss this phenomenon, sometimes called the Sunday Night Blues, I am delighted to be joined by Professor Ilke Inceoglu. About Ilke… Professor Ilke Inceoglu is a Professor in Organisational Behaviour & HR and Director of the Exeter Centre for Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School. Her research focuses on employee well-being and work behaviour, and has been published in leading journals such as Leadership Quarterly, Journal of Occupational Health Psychology and Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. Ilke is currently also Primary Investigator on the ongoing Banishing the Sunday Night Blues research programme commissioned by Channel 4 in the UK and delivered in close partnership with Investors in People. The Banishing the Sunday Night Blues project aims to investigate the experience and impact of the Sunday Night Blues and develop a toolkit with guidance for employees, line managers and HR Directors to help banish the Sunday Night Blues. You can find out more about the Banishing the Sunday Night Blues research project at these links: https://news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-environment-science-and-economy/sunday-night-blues-caused-by-weekend-emails-and-blurred-boundaries-study-reveals/ https://business-school-expertise.exeter.ac.uk/banishing-the-sunday-night-blues/

Description: Interview with Nick Evans about his group's paper “Walking and Balance Outcomes are Improved Following Brief Intensive Locomotor Skill Training but Are Not Augmented by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Persons with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury” published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience in 2022.   Join DiSCIS hosts Kristen Cezat, PT, DPT, NCS and Uzair Hammad, PT, DPT as we learn more about this new and exciting work! The ANPT Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is a part of the American Physical Therapy Association.

This episode is all about giving back through lived experiences and we have tips to help you start a charity. Host Bob Lee chats to University of Birmingham student Zaynab Sohawon who is a mental health advocate, a speaker and founder of charity organisation Emotion Dysregulation in Autism (E-DA). She has a moving personal story and we hear about her work with mental health partners to help young people between 12-25 facing similar struggles. The charity has been set up as a result of her advocacy work and own experiences as she vows to keep a promise she made to herself as a patient to: "be the person to others that my past-self needed". Through her work she has featured in TED talks, films and International Conferences. Zaynab is studying for a Human Neuroscience degree at the University of Birmingham and we find out how she balances campus life with her charity projects. Find out the difference between a charity set up and social enterprise and hear how time management and finding downtime is so important.

W tym odcinku rozmawiamy o tym co to znaczy chorować na schizofrenię i czym jest proces zdrowienia - o rozpadzie Ja i tworzeniu się na nowo. Prowadząca: dr Kinga Wołoszyn-Hohol Goście: prof. Andrzej Cechnicki, dr Michał Piętniewicz W cyklu "Zdrowie Psychiczne z perspektywy" dr Kinga Wołoszyn-Hohol rozmawia ze swoimi gośćmi o rozlicznych aspektach chorowania na zaburzenia psychiczne i ich leczenia. Kinga Wołoszyn-Hohol to doktor psychologii, specjalizująca się w badaniach z zakresu psychofizjologii emocji, wykładowczyni UJ, psychoterapeutka poznawczo-behawioralna,  Wyniki swoich badań opublikowała m.in. w czasopismach Brain Structure and Function, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Biological Psychology. Tłumaczka książek z zakresu psychologii i neuronauki.

W tym odcinku rozmawiamy o tym, czym jest stygmatyzacja osób chorujących psychicznie, jak wpływa na wychodzenie z kryzysu psychicznego i jak można z nią walczyć wykorzystując własne doświadczenie. Prowadząca: dr Kinga Wołoszyn-Hohol Goście: Barbara Banaś, Agnieszka Gazda-Grzesiak W cyklu "Zdrowie Psychiczne" dr Kinga Wołoszyn-Hohol rozmawia ze swoimi gośćmi o rozlicznych aspektach chorowania na zaburzenia psychiczne i ich leczenia. Kinga Wołoszyn-Hohol to doktor psychologii, specjalizująca się w badaniach z zakresu psychofizjologii emocji, wykładowczyni UJ, psychoterapeutka poznawczo-behawioralna,  Wyniki swoich badań opublikowała m.in. w czasopismach Brain Structure and Function, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Biological Psychology. Tłumaczka książek z zakresu psychologii i neuronauki.

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.03.21.533686v1?rss=1 Authors: Feilong, M., Jiahui, G., Gobbini, M. I., Haxby, J. V. Abstract: Neuroimaging data analysis relies on normalization to standard anatomical templates to resolve macroanatomical differences across brains. Existing human cortical surface templates sample locations unevenly because of distortions introduced by inflation of the folded cortex into a standard shape. Here we present the onavg template, which affords uniform sampling of the cortex. We created the onavg template based on openly-available high-quality structural scans of 1,031 brains--25 times more than existing cortical templates. We optimized the vertex locations based on cortical anatomy, achieving an even distribution. We observed consistently higher multivariate pattern classification accuracies and representational geometry inter-subject correlations based on onavg than on other templates, and onavg only needs 3/4 as much data to achieve the same performance compared to other templates. The optimized sampling also reduces CPU time across algorithms by 1.3%-22.4% due to less variation in the number of vertices in each searchlight. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

This week, Claire chatted to Emily S. Cross from the University of Glasgow and Western Sydney University all about neuroscience, social learning, and human-robot interaction. Emily S. Cross is a Professor of Social Robotics at the University of Glasgow, and a Professor of Human Neuroscience at the MARCS Institute at Western Sydney University. Using interactive learning tasks, brain scanning, and dance, acrobatics and robots, she and her Social Brain in Action Laboratory team explore how we learn by watching others throughout the lifespan, how action experts' brains enable them to perform physical skills so exquisitely, and the social influences that shape human-robot interaction.

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2022.11.08.515730v1?rss=1 Authors: Kwasa, J., Peterson, H. M., Jones, L., Karrobi, K., Parker, T., Nickerson, N., Wood, S. Abstract: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) promises to be a leading non-invasive neuroimaging method due to its portability and low cost. However, concerns are rising over its inclusivity of all skin tones and hair types (Parker and Ricard 2022, Webb et al 2022). Functional NIRS relies on direct contact of light-emitting optodes to the scalp, which can be blocked more by longer, darker, and especially curlier hair. Additionally, NIR light can be attenuated by melanin, which is accounted for in neither fNIRS hardware nor analysis methods. Recent work has shown that overlooking these considerations in other modalities like EEG leads to the disproportionate exclusion of individuals with these phenotypes - especially Black people - in both clinical and research literature (Bradford et al 2022, Choy 2020). In this article, we sought to determine if (1) biomedical optics developers and researchers report fNIRS performance variability between skin tones and hair textures, (2a) fNIRS neuroscience practitioners report phenotypic and demographic details in their articles, and thus, (2b) is a similar pattern of participant exclusion found in EEG also present in the fNIRS literature. We present a literature review of top Biomedical Optics and Human Neuroscience journals, showing that demographic and phenotypic reporting is unpopular in both fNIRS development and neuroscience applications. We conclude with a list of recommendations to the fNIRS community including examples of Black researchers addressing these issues head-on, inclusive best practices for fNIRS researchers, and recommendations to funding and regulatory bodies to achieve an inclusive neuroscience enterprise in fNIRS and beyond. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

VIDEOS: Hang on, the WEF is now doing THIS to our internet? | Redacted with Clayton Morris – 7:00 This intense AI anger is exactly what experts warned of, w Elon Musk. – 15:01 New Brain Implant Begins Human Trials – Neuralink Update! – 14:00  Get the latest information from the CDC about COVID-19. Professor Sucharit Bhakdi, M.D – 10:00  Study links omega-3s to improved brain structure, cognition at midlife University of Texas Health Science Center, October 5, 2022 Eating cold-water fish and other sources of omega-3 fatty acids may preserve brain health and enhance cognition in middle age, new evidence indicates. Having at least some omega-3s in red blood cells was associated with better brain structure and cognitive function among healthy study volunteers in their 40s and 50s, according to research published in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. “Studies have looked at this association in older populations. The new contribution here is that, even at younger ages, if you have a diet that includes some omega-3 fatty acids, you are already protecting your brain for most of the indicators of brain aging that we see at middle age,” said Claudia Satizabal, PhD the lead author of the study. Volunteers' average age was 46. The team looked at the relation of red blood cell omega-3 fatty acid concentrations with MRI and cognitive markers of brain aging. Researchers also studied the effect of omega-3 red blood cell concentrations in volunteers who carried APOE4, a genetic variation linked to higher risk of Alzheimer's disease. The study of 2,183 dementia- and stroke-free participants found that: Higher omega-3 index was associated with larger hippocampal volumes. The hippocampus, a structure in the brain, plays a major role in learning and memory. Consuming more omega-3s was associated with better abstract reasoning, or the ability to understand complex concepts using logical thinking. APOE4 carriers with a higher omega-3 index had less small-vessel disease. The APOE4 gene is associated with cardiovascular disease and vascular dementia. “Omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA are key micronutrients that enhance and protect the brain,” said study coauthor Debora Melo van Lent, PhD, postdoctoral research fellow at the Biggs Institute. “Our study is one of the first to observe this effect in a younger population. More studies in this age group are needed.” Multiple health benefits of b-type procyanidin-rich foods like chocolate and apples consumed in right amounts Shibaura Institute of Technology (Japan), October 5, 2022 B-type procyanidins, made of catechin oligomers, are a class of polyphenols found abundantly in foods like cocoa, apples, grape seeds, and red wine. Several studies have established the benefits of these micronutrients in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and strokes. B-type procyanidins are also successful in controlling hypertension, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance. Studies attest to the physiological benefits of their intake on the central nervous system (CNS), namely an improvement in cognitive functions. These physiological changes follow a pattern of hormesis—a phenomenon in which peak benefits of a substance are achieved at mid-range doses, becoming progressively lesser at lower and higher doses. Researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan, led by Professor Naomi Osakabe, reviewed the data from intervention trials supporting hormetic responses of B-type procyanidin ingestion. The team conducted in vivo experiments to understand possible connections between B-type procyanidin hormetic responses and CNS neurotransmitter receptor activation. Their article has been published in Frontiers of Nutrition . The researchers noted that a single oral administration of an optimal dose of cocoa flavanol temporarily increased the blood pressure and heart rate in rats. But the hemodynamics did not change when the dose was increased or decreased. Administration of B-type procyanidin monomer and various oligomers produced similar results. According to Professor Osakabe, “These results are consistent with those of intervention studies following a single intake of food rich in B-type procyanidin, and support the U-shaped dose-response theory, or hormesis, of polyphenols.” To observe whether the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is involved in the hemodynamic changes induced by B-type procyanidins, the team administered adrenaline blockers in test rats. This successfully decreased the temporary increase in heart rate induced by the optimal dose of cocoa flavanol. A different kind of blocker—a1 blocker—inhibited the transient rise in blood pressure. This suggested that the SNS, which controls the action of adrenaline blockers, is responsible for the hemodynamic and metabolic changes induced by a single oral dose of B-type procyanidin. The researchers next ascertained why optimal doses, and not high doses, are responsible for the thermogenic and metabolic responses. They co-administered a high dose of cocoa flavanol and yohimbine (an α2 blocker) and noted a temporary but distinct increase in blood pressure in test animals. Similar observations were made with the use of B-type procyanidin oligomer and yohimbine. Professor Osakabe surmises, “Since α2 blockers are associated with the down-regulation of the SNS, the reduced metabolic and thermogenic outputs at a high dose of B-type procyanidins seen in our study may have induced α2 auto-receptor activation. Thus, SNS deactivation may be induced by a high dose of B-type procyanidins.” Meditation keeps emotional brain in check Michigan State University, September 29, 2022 Meditation can help tame your emotions even if you're not a mindful person, suggests a new study from Michigan State University. Reporting in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, psychology researchers recorded the brain activity of people looking at disturbing pictures immediately after meditating for the first time. These participants were able to tame their negative emotions just as well as participants who were naturally mindful. “Our findings not only demonstrate that meditation improves emotional health, but that people can acquire these benefits regardless of their ‘natural' ability to be mindful,” said Yanli Lin, an MSU graduate student and lead investigator of the study. “It just takes some practice.” Researchers assessed 68 participants for mindfulness using a scientifically validated survey. The participants were then randomly assigned to engage in an 18-minute audio guided meditation or listen to a control presentation of how to learn a new language, before viewing negative pictures (such as a bloody corpse) while their brain activity was recorded. The participants who meditated – they had varying levels of natural mindfulness – showed similar levels of “emotion regulatory” brain activity as people with high levels of natural mindfulness. In other words their emotional brains recovered quickly after viewing the troubling photos, essentially keeping their negative emotions in check. In addition, some of the participants were instructed to look at the gruesome photos “mindfully” (be in a mindful state of mind) while others received no such instruction. Interestingly, the people who viewed the photos “mindfully” showed no better ability to keep their negative emotions in check. This suggests that for non-meditators, the emotional benefits of mindfulness might be better achieved through meditation, rather than “forcing it” as a state of mind, said Moser, MSU associate professor of clinical psychology and co-author of the study. A mother's ultra-processed food intake may be linked to obesity risk in her children Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, October 5, 2022 A mother's consumption of ultra-processed foods appears to be linked to an increased risk of overweight or obesity in her offspring, irrespective of other lifestyle risk factors, suggests a U.S. study published by The BMJ today. The researchers that mothers might benefit from limiting their intake of ultra-processed foods, that dietary guidelines should be refined, and financial and social barriers removed to improve nutrition for women of childbearing age and reduce childhood obesity. Researchers drew on data for 19,958 children born to 14,553 mothers (45% boys, aged 7-17 years at study enrollment) from the Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II) and the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS I and II) in the United States. The results show that a mother's ultra-processed food consumption was associated with an increased risk of overweight or obesity in her offspring. For example, a 26% higher risk was seen in the group with the highest maternal ultra-processed food consumption (12.1 servings/day) versus the lowest consumption group (3.4 servings/day). Reishi Mushrooms Proven For Fibromyalgia Pain Relief In Human Study University of Extremadura (Spain), September 29, 2022 A promising double-blind, randomized human clinical study of ganoderma lucidum, also known as reishi mushroom, has been shown to be effective in treating fibromyalgia chronic pain. To begin, science knows that the reishi mushroom is the most studied nutraceutical and that it has been used safely and effectively for thousands of years. It is often called the mushroom of longevity and immortality. Reishi has several biologically-active compounds in it, including triterpenes, which have been shown to increase the production of Nerve Growth Factor. NGF is a protein that helps to create new neurons and repair damaged neurons. This also enhances the communication between cells and reduces inflammation. In the fibromyalgia chronic pain study, one group consumed 6 grams of reishi mushroom powder per day and another group consumed 6 grams of carob powder per day. Each group participated for 6 weeks and continued to self-report their experiences for 72 days after the treatment. The reishi mushroom group experienced pain reduction by up to 30%, which is significant. They also reported getting better sleep, were happier and gained aerobic endurance and body flexibility. Time-restricted eating improves health of firefighters Salk Institute, October 3, 2022 In collaboration with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, scientists from the Salk Institute and UC San Diego Health conducted a clinical trial and found that time-restricted eating improved measures of health and well-being in firefighters. The lifestyle intervention only required the firefighters to eat during a 10-hour window and did not involve skipping meals. The new findings, published in Cell Metabolism may also have implications for shift workers, such as military personnel; health care, food service, and transportation professionals; telecommunications staff; and new parents, whose schedules often mimic shift work when caring for a new baby. “Doctors and researchers are always thinking about the magic pill that can cure or reduce disease. Our study showed that shift workers with high blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol can benefit from a simple lifestyle intervention called time-restricted eating,” says Salk Professor Satchidananda Panda, co-corresponding author of the study and holder of the Rita and Richard Atkinson Chair. Almost every cell in the body has a 24-hour biological clock that produces circadian (daily) rhythms. These rhythms regulate behavior (e.g., when to be active and when to rest) and physiology (e.g., blood pressure, blood sugar, muscle function). Circadian rhythms coordinate with the environment in part by regular, timed cycles of light and dark and eating and fasting. Disruptions to these cycles, which can occur with shift work, can impact health, leading to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. In this clinical trial, 150 firefighters from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department used the myCircadianClock app on their phones to track their eating for three months. Half the group ate within a 10-hour window, while the other half (the control group) changed nothing and ate within a 14-hour window. Both groups were encouraged to follow a Mediterranean diet, which is known to have health benefits. The study included both individuals who were healthy and those who were overweight or who had health conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and/or blood glucose. The researchers found that time-restricted eating within a 10-hour eating window was feasible without adverse effects and helped the firefighters significantly decrease their VLDL (“bad”) cholesterol size by 1.34 nanometers (small VLDL is less likely to block arteries), improve their mental health, and reduce their alcohol intake by roughly three drinks per week. Time-restricted eating also significantly improved blood sugar and blood pressure in firefighters who had elevated levels at the start of the study. The researchers concluded that time-restricted eating may provide even greater benefit for those at risk for cardiometabolic disease and other chronic diseases.

Dean Radin is a world-renowned parapsychologist making breakthrough discoveries in human potential— including the exploration of consciousness and psychic phenomena such as clairvoyance, telepathy, remote viewing, magic and rituals, precognition, and divination. He is the Chief Science Officer at The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). He has given over 650 talks and interviews worldwide, and he is the author or coauthor of some 300 scientific and popular articles, four dozen book chapters, and nine books, four of which have been translated into 15 foreign languages: The Conscious Universe (1997, HarperCollins), Entangled Minds (2006, Simon & Schuster), Supernormal (2013, RandomHouse), and Real Magic (2018, PenguinRandomHouse).  Before joining the research staff at IONS in 2001, Dean Radin held appointments at Princeton University, University of Edinburgh, and SRI International, where he worked on a classified program investigating psychic espionage for the US government (now commonly known by one of the program's many codewords: Star Gate). His 130+ scientific articles can be found in peer-reviewed journals ranging from Foundations of Physics and Physics Essays to Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Psychological Bulletin, Brain and Cognition, and Psychology of Consciousness. He serves as a referee for 25 journals, including PLOS One, Frontiers in Bioscience, Integrative Cancer Therapies, Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Physics Essays, and Psychology of Consciousness. He was featured in a New York Times Magazine article, and he has appeared on dozens of television programs around the world. His 650+ interviews and talks have included presentations at Harvard (medical), Stanford (statistics), Princeton (psychology), Columbia (education), Cambridge (physics), Edinburgh (psychology), The Sorbonne (parapsychology), University of Padova (physics), University of British Columbia (parapsychology), and University of Allahabad (cognitive neuroscience,). ​ Radin's invited talks for industries have included Merck, Google, Johnson & Johnson, and Rabobank, and his government talks have included the National Academy of Sciences, the Naval War College, Army Special Operations Command, Naval Postgraduate School, DARPA, the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (India), the International Center for Leadership and Governance (Malaysia), and the Australian Davos Connection  (Australia).  In 2017 he was named one of the 100 most inspiring people in the world by the German magazine, OOOM, as of 2021 his filmography on IMDB lists 42 films, television programs, and documentaries, and in 2021 he was designated a Visionary Leader by The Visioneers International Network.   0:00 - Dean Radin Intro 3:40 - Blindspots of Scientific Theory 4:05 - Intro to Psychic Phenomena 9:50 - Synchronicity Stories 16:35 - Real Magic + Rituals 26:15 - Cautions of Black Magic + White Magic 31:55 - Supernormal Yoga Sutras + 25 Siddhis 37:15 - Project Stargate: Secret Government Operation 41:35: Future of Psi Research 47:15 - What is Universal Consciousness? 53:15 - The Final Trio Guest: Dean Radin, Consciousness Researcher Website Twitter LinkedIn Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS)  Do You Have Psi Abilities?    Host: Emilio Ortiz Instagram | https://bit.ly/35fkcJx Twitter | https://bit.ly/35hMMda TikTok | https://bit.ly/3lKjs3W  Watch Video Interviews on YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/emilioortiz  Special Offerings to Support the Show: ✦ Receive 15% off any purchase from Ra Optics, the world's best blue-light-blocking glasses. Use our code "justtapin" at checkout for your special discount - https://bit.ly/RaOptics-EmilioOrtiz ✦ Receive 10% off any purchase from Intelligent Change, elegant tools, and simple daily routines to instill positive change, including products such as "Five Minute Journal" and "Productivity Planner." Use our code "EMILIO10" at checkout for your special discount - https://bit.ly/IntelligentChange-EmilioOrtiz  Leave a Rating for Just Tap In with Emilio Ortiz: ✦ Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3BOnqQr ✦ Apple Podcasts | https://apple.co/3IeWnjD Our mission at Just Tap In is to bridge the new consciousness and empower, inspire, and uplift the next generation of leaders to co-create the New Earth. Business inquires emortiz0717@gmail.com

Read the transcript at https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2022-08/neuroimaging-study-reveals-fatigue-related-differences-by-age-and-gender-ep45.pdf In this episode, Glenn Wylie, DPhil, director of the Rocco Ortenzio Neuroimaging Center at Kessler Foundation talks about his peer-reviewed article, “Fatigue across the lifespan in men and women: State vs Trait,” published on May 9, 2022, in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.   Dr. Wylie explained his findings, which included while older adults reported themselves to have the same fatigue “burden” (trait fatigue) as younger adults, they nevertheless reported experiencing less fatigue while they were performing a task (state fatigue). 
Funding source: This work was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society,  the New Jersey Commission for Brain Injury Research, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Kessler Foundation.    Learn more about:  Dr.  Glenn Wylie, https://kesslerfoundation.org/aboutus/Glenn%20Wylie    The peer-reviewed article at https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2022.790006/full    Rocco Ortenzio Neuroimaging Center, https://kesslerfoundation.org/research/mri/rocco-ortenzio-neuroimaging-center    Co-authors: Amanda J. Pra Sisto (https://kesslerfoundation.org/about-us/foundation-staff/amanda-j-pra-sisto), Helen M. Genova (https://kesslerfoundation.org/aboutus/Helen-Genova) and John DeLuca (https://kesslerfoundation.org/aboutus/John%20DeLuca)  =================================================  Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure to subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates.    Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.    This podcast was recorded remotely on July 11, 2022, and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.

It's estimated that 1 in 10 of us hear voices, which may be a sign of mental illness. Or not. We examine the phenomena through Caroline Mazel-Carlton. She's part of a movement of people who have come to find meaning in the experience of hearing voices (or seeing visions) and who learn to incorporate those experiences in their life. Many forgo use of some or all medications and are seeking wellness through peer-support networks and harm-reduction strategies.Mazel-Carlton tells host Seán Collins that many of the voices she hears have a cautionary or protective role in her life and have reminded her to be more mindful of the aspects of her life the voices comment upon.She serves on the board of the HEARING VOICES NETWORK—USA  (@HVN_USA) and works at the Wildflower Alliance (@WildflwrAlliance) in western Massachusetts, a grassroots peer support, advocacy, and training organization with a focus on harm reduction and human rights. Her work includes training in suicide alternatives.Earlier this year, Caroline Mazel-Carlton was profiled in a story in the New York Times reported by Daniel Bergner: Doctors gave her antipsychotics. She decided to live with her voices.If you are thinking about harming yourself, HELP IS AVAILABLE. Call or text 988 and connect with someone today. FURTHER READINGA comprehensive review of auditory verbal hallucinations: lifetime prevalence, correlates and mechanisms in healthy and clinical individuals. by S de Leede-Smith, E, Barkus   Frontiers of Human Neuroscience. (2013)    

SUMMARY Research shows disagreement has a negative impact on our brain function, so what can we do about that?   TRANSCRIPT Welcome to episode 144 of the Leadership Today podcast where each week we bring research to life in your leadership. This week we explore the impact of disagreement on our brains and how to move forward. Our brains operate very differently where we are in agreement versus disagreement with another person. When two people are in agreement, researchers have demonstrated harmonious patterns of brain activity, mainly focused around sensory areas such as the visual system. When we are in agreement, it's likely we're paying attention to social cues from the other person using our senses. We're not having to worry too much about higher-level functions. Our brains aren't working very hard at all. When we're in disagreement though, research shows our brain function shifts more towards the frontal lobe, responsible for higher-level functions like reasoning and restraint. The overall amount of brain activity also increases dramatically, using both emotional and cognitive resources. It takes a lot more conscious effort to process and work through disagreement. As a result, disagreements can wear us out. Given disagreement takes a lot of effort, it makes sense to try to resolve it. Disagreements rarely become better with age so we want to act quickly. Here are some ways to move forward when we find ourselves in disagreement: Share your desire to resolve the disagreement or at least find a way forward. It's important to lead with our positive intent. That will help to calm both us and the other person, so the disagreement becomes less confrontational. Ask open questions to understand the other person's perspective. Disagreements often result from misunderstandings. Explore the other person's views, interests, needs and wants. Be curious about their perspectives and respectful of their views. You may actually have more in common than you think. Provide insight into your own views and opinions. Be clear about what is important to you and why. If you really explore their perspective, it becomes quite natural for them to explore your perspective. Tackle the disagreement as a shared problem. I picture a disagreement as two people sitting across from each other at a table, facing off. Moving to a shared problem is like we're both on the same side of the table, with our focus on the issue rather than each other. Here we want to focus on how we can either meet both our needs, or reach another satisfactory conclusion. If you can't reach agreement, figure out how you can still work together. It may be that you agree to disagree. It's rarely worth losing a work relationship over a disagreement. So next time you have a disagreement, think about these five steps. Have a great week.   REFERENCE Joy Hirsch, Mark Tiede, Xian Zhang, J. Adam Noah, Alexandre Salama-Manteau, Maurice Biriotti. Interpersonal Agreement and Disagreement During Face-to-Face Dialogue: An fNIRS Investigation. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2021; 14 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.606397

Dr. David Vago on self-transcendence - how to experience personal growth and awakening through meditation and meta-awareness | Brought to you by Babbel (https://babbel.com/passionstruck). David Vago, Ph.D., is on a mission to alleviate suffering and improve well-being through investigating connections between the mind, brain, and body. He is a Research Associate Professor and Director of the Contemplative Neuroscience and Mind-Body Research Laboratory in the Department of Psychology at Vanderbilt University. He is part of the faculty for the Vanderbilt Brain Institute and Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation. Dr. Vago maintains a research associate position in the Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and is also Research Lead for the mental health and well-being platform, Roundglass, and a Mind and Life Institute Fellow. Over one million people have viewed Dr. Vago's Ted Talk on self-transformation. How Self-Transcendence Impacts Your Self-Identity Self-transcendence is the idea that there is something to transcend the self as if the self is something that is created through time. Over time, you have certain thoughts and emotions that construct your self-identity. It is a clinical model of self-reification, right conditioning, and habit formation. It all leads to how we conceptualize our identity, our needs, wants, fears, expectations, attitudes, and values. It is how our whole worldview is constructed. And so what meditation does, is it allows you to create a distance with those thoughts to find your greatest peace. Please enjoy Dr. David Vago's episode and leave us a 5-Star rating if you love the episode. I know Dr. Vago and I would appreciate seeing listener comments. If you would like to watch this episode in addition to listening to it, you can view it here on our YouTube Channel. Please subscribe. Thank You To Our Sponsor This episode of Passion Struck with John R. Miles is brought to you by Babbel. The comprehensive learning system that combines effective education methods with state-of-the-art technology. Save up to 60 % off your subscription when you go to www.babbel.com/passionstruck.  Our Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/passionstruck. ► Subscribe to My YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnRMiles Links from the Show: Buddhism and Equanimity - MR Tom, DR Vago - The Virtues in Psychiatric Practice, 2021. This edited text describes the use of positive psychology and contemplative practices in the context of psychiatry. How meditation changes the brain: A neurophilosophical and pragmatic account. DR Vago - Routledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Meditation, 2022 This Handbook on the Philosophy of Meditation provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of the state of the field of the philosophy of meditation and engages primarily in the philosophical assessment of the merits of meditation practices. Yaden, D. B., J. Haidt, R. W. Hood, D. R. Vago, and A. B. Newberg (2017). "The Varieties of Self-Transcendent Experience." Review of General Psychology 21(2): 143-160. [Link] Vago, D. R. and D. A. Silbersweig (2012). "Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness." Front Hum Neurosci 6: 296. [Link] Vago, D. R. and F. Zeidan (2016). "The brain on silent: mind wandering, mindful awareness, and states of mental tranquility." Ann N Y Acad Sci 1373(1): 96-113. [Link] Davis, J. H. and D. R. Vago (2014). "Can enlightenment be traced to specific neural correlates, cognition, or behavior? No, and (a qualified) Yes." Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. [Link] The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell Transcend by Scott Barry Kauffman Follow Dr. David Vago * Website: https://www.contemplativeneurosciences.com/  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dave_vago/ *Twitter: https://twitter.com/dave_vago *LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drvago/ *Roundglass: https://living.round.glass/sunny/people/David_Vago7n1k0lef/expert-profile   Follow John on the Socials: * Twitter: https://twitter.com/Milesjohnr * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnrmiles.c0m * Medium: https://medium.com/@JohnRMiles ​* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_r_miles * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milesjohn/ * Blog: https://passionstruck.com/blog/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passion_struck_podcast/ * Gear: https://www.zazzle.com/store/passion_struck/ -- John R Miles is a serial entrepreneur and the CEO and founder of Passion Struck. This full-service media company helps people live intentionally by creating best-in-class educational and entertainment content. John is also a prolific public speaker, venture capitalist, and author named to the ComputerWorld Top 100 IT Leaders. John is the host of the Passion Struck Podcast;  a show focused on exploring the mindset and philosophy world's most insightful people to learn their lessons to living intentionally and becoming the masters of their own life and destiny. Passion Struck aspires to speak to the humanity of people in a way that makes them want to live better, be better and impact. Stay tuned for John's John's latest project, his upcoming book, which will be published in summer 2022. Learn more about me: https://johnrmiles.com. New to this channel and the passion-struck podcast? Check out our starter packs which are our favorite episodes grouped by topic, to allow you to get a sense of all the podcast has to offer. Go to Spotify or https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. Like this? Please join me on my new platform for peak performance, life coaching, self-improvement, intentional living, and personal growth: https://passionstruck.com/ and sign up for our email list.  

Soutenir et s'abonner à Neurosapiens ♥️La musique a un pouvoir dingue sur notre humeur, notre journée, notre concentration… mais quel est ce pouvoir précisément ? Quel est réellement l'impact et, on peut le dire, les bienfaits d'écouter de la musique sur notre cerveau ? Quel est le pouvoir de la musique sur votre outil le plus puissant ? Réponse dans cet épisode ! Production, animation, réalisation et illustration : Anaïs RouxInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/neurosapiens.podcast/neurosapiens.podcast@gmail.comMusique d'intro KEEP ON GOINGMusique proposée par La Musique LibreJoakim Karud - Keep On Going : https://youtu.be/lOfg0jRqaA8Joakim Karud : https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarudSources A. R. Harvey, Links between the neurobiology of oxytocin and human musicality, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2020.A. Habibi et al., Childhood music training induces change in micro and macroscopic brain structure : Results from a longitudinal study, Cerebral Cortex, 2018.Mehta, R., Zhu, R., & Cheema, A. (2012). Is noise always bad? Exploring the effects of ambient noise on creative cognition. Journal of Consumer Research, 39(4), 784-799.méthodeRitter SM, Ferguson S. Happy creativity: Listening to happy music facilitates divergent thinking. PLoS One. 2017 Sep 6;12(9):e0182210. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182210. PMID: 28877176; PMCID: PMC5587106.Salimpoor VN, Benovoy M, Larcher K, Dagher A, Zatorre RJ. Anatomically distinct dopamine release during anticipation and experience of peak emotion to music. Nat Neurosci. 2011 Feb;14(2):257-62. doi: 10.1038/nn.2726. Epub 2011 Jan 9. PMID: 21217764.LIU, L., & KAGER, R. (2017). Perception of tones by bilingual infants learning non-tone languages. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 20(3), 561-575. doi:10.1017/S1366728916000183Liu, L., Kager, R. Enhanced music sensitivity in 9-month-old bilingual infants. Cogn Process 18, 55–65 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-016-0780-7Zatorre RJ, Salimpoor VN. From perception to pleasure: music and its neural substrates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Jun 18;110 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):10430-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1301228110. Epub 2013 Jun 10. PMID: 23754373; PMCID: PMC3690607. Voir Acast.com/privacy pour les informations sur la vie privée et l'opt-out. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/neurosapiens.

Dean Radin is Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Science (IONS), Associated Distinguished Professor of Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), Honorary Distinguished Professor at the Swami Vivekananda University in Bangalore, India, and chairman of the board for the neurogenetics biotech company, Cognigenics Inc.His early career track as a concert violinist shifted into science after earning a BSEE degree in electrical engineering (magna cum laude, with honors in physics) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and then an MS in electrical engineering and PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For a decade he worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories and later at GTE Laboratories.For nearly four decades his research has focused on the nature and capacities of consciousness. Before joining the research staff at IONS in 2001, he held appointments at Princeton University, University of Edinburgh, and SRI International, where he worked on a classified program investigating psychic espionage for the US government (now commonly known by one of the codewords: Star Gate). ​Radin is author or coauthor of over 300 scientific, technical, and popular articles, four dozen book chapters, two technical books, and four popular books including the Scientific and Medical Network's 1997 book award, The Conscious Universe (HarperOne, 1997), Entangled Minds (Simon & Schuster, 2006), the 2014 Silver Nautilus Book Award, Supernormal (Random House, 2013), and Real Magic (Penguin Random House, 2018).Entangled Minds, Supernormal and Real Magic are available as paperback, e-books, and audio books. These books have been translated so far into 15 foreign languages. ​ His 130+ articles can be found in peer-reviewed journals ranging from Foundations of Physics and Physics Essays to Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Psychological Bulletin, Brain and Cognition, and Psychology of Consciousness.He serves as a referee for 25 journals, including PLOS One, Frontiers in Bioscience, Integrative Cancer Therapies, Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Physics Essays, and Psychology of Consciousness. He was featured in a New York Times Magazine article, and he has appeared on dozens of television programs around the world.His 650+ interviews and talks have included presentations at Harvard (medical), Stanford (statistics), Princeton (psychology), Columbia (education), Cambridge (physics), Edinburgh (psychology), The Sorbonne (parapsychology), University of Padova (physics), University of British Columbia (parapsychology), and University of Allahabad (cognitive neuroscience,).

Dr. Dean Radin, MS, PhD (https://noetic.org/profile/dean-radin/), is Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Science (IONS) and Associated Distinguished Professor of Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). He is also Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board for the neurogenetics biotech startup, Cognigenics (https://www.cognigenics.io/). Dr. Radin's original career track as a concert violinist shifted into science after earning a BSEE degree in electrical engineering, magna cum laude and with honors in physics, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and then an MS in electrical engineering and a PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For a decade Dr. Radin worked on advanced R&D at AT&T Bell Laboratories and GTE Laboratories. For over three decades he has been engaged in research on the frontiers of consciousness. Before joining the research staff at IONS in 2001, he held appointments at Princeton University, SRI International, and other academic and industrial facilities. Dr. Radin is author or co-author of hundreds of scientific, technical, and popular articles, four dozen book chapters, and four best-selling books including The Conscious Universe (recipient of the Scientific and Medical Network's 1997 book award), Entangled Minds, Supernormal (recipient of the 2014 Silver Nautilus Book Award), and Real Magic. Dr. Radin's books have been translated into over a dozen languages. Dr. Radin's 100+ academic articles appear in peer-reviewed journals ranging from Foundations of Physics and Physics Essays to Psychological Bulletin, Psychology of Consciousness, and Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. He was featured in a New York Times Magazine article and he has been interviewed by dozens of television programs worldwide. He is a sought-after speaker, and has given over 600 talks for prestigious schools, government, military, business, scientific, and other groups around the world. Dr. Radin's invited talks for industries have included Merck, Google, Johnson & Johnson, and Rabobank. His government talks have included the US Navy, US Army, the Naval Postgraduate School, DARPA, the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (India), the International Center for Leadership and Governance (Malaysia), and the Australian Leadership Retreat (Australia). In 2017 he was named one of the 100 most inspiring people in the world by the German magazine, OOOM, and as of 2021 his filmography on IMDB lists 26 documentaries he's appeared in.

Whether it's meeting your ex at a party or your upcoming presentation at work, we have all felt the sinking feeling of anxiety. Come and find out a little bit about what's happening upstairs in this bite-sized look at the brain regions, connections, and neurotransmitters involved in anxiety processing and regulation. If you have any comments, questions, concerns, queries, or complaints, please email me at NeuroscienceAmateurHour@gmail.com or DM me at @NeuroscienceAmateurHour on Instagram. Citations and relevant papers below: Price, J.S., An Evolutionary Perspective on Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders, New Insights into Anxiety Disorders (2012). Davis, M., The Role of the Amygdala in Fear and Anxiety, Annual Review Neuroscience (1992). Duval, Javanbakht, Liberzon., Neural circuits in anxiety and stress disorders: a focused review, Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management (2015). Ventura Silva et al., Excitotoxic lesions in the central nucleus of the amygdala attenuate stress-induced anxiety behavior, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (2013). Levar et al., GABA concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex are associated with fear network function and fear recovery in humans, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (2017)Fuchs, Flugge., Cellular consequences of stress and depression, Dialogues Clinical Neuroscience, (2004)Lechin et al., Effects of buspirone on plasma neurotransmitters in healthy subjects, Journal of Neural Transmission (1998)Botterill et al., Bidirectional regulation of cognitive and anxiety-like behaviors by dentate gyrus mossy cells in male and female mice, Journal of Neuroscience (2021)Martin et al., The Neurobiology of Anxiety Disorders: Brain Imaging, Genetics, and Psychoneuroendocrinology, Psychiatric Clinics of North America (2013)Cominski et al., The role of the hippocampus in avoidance learning and anxiety vulnerability, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (2014). LeBlanc et al., Striatopallidal neurons control avoidance behaviors in exploratory tasks, Psychiatry (2018). Adhikari et al., Synchronized Activity between the Ventral Hippocampus and the Medial Prefrontal Cortex during Anxiety, Neuron (2010). Akimova, E., Lanzenberger, R., Kasper, S., The Seratonin-1A Receptor in Anxiety Disorders, Psychiatry (2009). Blanco et al., Effects of medial prefrontal cortex lesions on anxiety-like behavior in restrained and non-restrained rats, Behavioral Brain Research, (2009). Qiao et al., Aberrant Functional Network Connectivity as a Biomarker of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (2017). Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/neuroscienceamateurhour)

Una noche muy especial con dos mujeres extraordinarias. Odile Rodríguez de la Fuente ha dedicado gran parte de su vida a recopilar, divulgar y poner en valor la figura de ese hombre extraordinario que fue su padre. Presidió durante 11 años la ‘Fundación Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente’, difundiendo su legado naturalista, humanista y ecologista. Como bióloga, divulgadora científica y experta en cambio climático, Odile explica las principales amenazas actuales para el medio ambiente y también algunas estrategias innovadoras para mejorar la relación del ser humano con el entorno. En 2020 publicó el libro ‘Félix. Un hombre en la tierra’, de la editorial GeoPlaneta. El libro se encuentra disponible en Amazon https://amzn.to/2MrNRTf y en los siguientes puntos de venta físicos: https://www.todostuslibros.com/libros/felix-un-hombre-en-la-tierra_978-84-08-22489-1 Catherine L’Ecuyer es doctora en Educación y Psicología, canadiense, afincada en Barcelona y madre de cuatro hijos; es máster por IESE Business School y máster Europeo Oficial de Investigación. Su tesis «Montessori ante el legado de Rousseau» se publicó en 2020. La revista suiza Frontiers in Human Neuroscience publicó el artículo «The Wonder Approach to Learning», que convirtió su investigación en una nueva hipótesis del aprendizaje. En 2015 recibió el Premio Pajarita de la Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Juguetes por promocionar la cultura del juego en los medios y en 2020 fue nombrada miembro honorífico del capítulo español de la Association Montessori Internationale. Fue invitada como ponente ante la Comisión de Educación del Congreso de los Diputados de España y también a la Segunda Cima Europea de Educación organizada por la Comisión Europea. Asesoró al Gobierno del estado de Puebla en México para una reforma de la educación infantil. Formó parte de un grupo de trabajo para el Gobierno de España sobre el uso de las tecnologías entre menores. Participó en un informe sobre la lectura digital para el CERLALC (UNESCO). Es investigadora y autora de varios libros y artículos sobre el tema de la educación, entre ellos "Educar en la realidad" (https://amzn.to/3nuUx56 sobre el uso de las nuevas tecnologías en la infancia y en la adolescencia, va por su 10ª edición), "Educar en el asombro" (https://amzn.to/3vRWtZa publicado en ocho idiomas y en 60 países, 30ª edición) y recientemente "Conversaciones con mi maestra" (https://amzn.to/3BmSvc0 un ensayo novelado que analiza las principales corrientes educativas e intenta aclarar dudas a padres, profesores y políticos).

Listen to this 2 Hours OM Deep Relaxing Meditation Music 2 Hours for Ultimate Meditation and Focus. Gain a deeper grounding sense of self through this meditation practice. What is OM Meditation? Definition OM Meditation is a program that includes guided meditation and music. It's designed to help you achieve a deep meditative state and explore your inner self. The OM Meditation program offers guided meditation and music that is designed to take you into a deep meditative state and explore your inner self. Why Om Meditation is Beneficial for Your Mind and Body Om meditation has been proven to have many physical and mental health benefits, including relieving stress and anxiety, improving brain function, boosting energy levels, and enhancing creativity. A study published in the journal Frontiers of Human Neuroscience found that Om meditation can improve brain function by increasing the volume of gray matter in the hippocampus. Another study from the Department of Neurology at Yale University found that Om meditation can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. keywords: meditation benefits, mental wellness benefits of meditation, physical wellbeing benefits of meditation) How to Practice Om Meditation The Om Meditation technique requires a lot of concentration, so make sure you take time out from everything else to sit down and meditate. Find a quiet spot in your house, school, or office where you can be alone for 10 minutes. Sit comfortably on a chair or on the floor with your legs crossed and palms up on your knees. Make sure that there will be no disturbances during this time. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in through the nose, count to 5, and exhale through the mouth slowly while counting from 1-10. Repeat 10 Best Ways to Clear Your Mind You have a lot of things on your mind. And you feel like you can't take a break from it all. But there are simple, easy ways to clear your mind and get back to reality. Here are 8of the best ways to clear your mind: Make a list of tasks and plan. Write a diary or keep a blog. Get organized. Let go of negativity. Learn to say 'no' Avoid interruptions. Just do it - stop procrastinating.! Look for help from friends, family or experts. ✅ Get the Best Noise-canceling headphones Here. Remember! this is not a medical treatment. If you need help, PLEASE seek a professional. Tags: Soundsky, soothing sounds, sleep sounds, relaxing music, Om meditation, Om focus music, deep meditation --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/soundsky-soothing-rws/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/soundsky-soothing-rws/support

Hablamos sobre el aprendizaje con Catherine L’Ecuyer, doctora en Educación y Psicología, canadiense, afincada en Barcelona y madre de cuatro hijos; es máster por IESE Business School y máster Europeo Oficial de Investigación. Su tesis «Montessori ante el legado de Rousseau» se publicó en 2020. La revista suiza Frontiers in Human Neuroscience publicó el artículo «The Wonder Approach to Learning», que convirtió su investigación en una nueva hipótesis del aprendizaje. En 2015 recibió el Premio Pajarita de la Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Juguetes por promocionar la cultura del juego en los medios y en 2020 fue nombrada miembro honorífico del capítulo español de la Association Montessori Internationale. Fue invitada como ponente ante la Comisión de Educación del Congreso de los Diputados de España y también a la Segunda Cima Europea de Educación organizada por la Comisión Europea. Asesoró al Gobierno del estado de Puebla en México para una reforma de la educación infantil. Formó parte de un grupo de trabajo para el Gobierno de España sobre el uso de las tecnologías entre menores. Participó en un informe sobre la lectura digital para el CERLALC (UNESCO). Es investigadora y autora de varios libros y artículos sobre el tema de la educación, entre ellos "Educar en la realidad" (https://amzn.to/3nuUx56 sobre el uso de las nuevas tecnologías en la infancia y en la adolescencia, va por su 10ª edición), "Educar en el asombro" (https://amzn.to/3vRWtZa publicado en ocho idiomas y en 60 países, 30ª edición) y recientemente "Conversaciones con mi maestra" (https://amzn.to/3BmSvc0 un ensayo novelado que analiza las principales corrientes educativas e intenta aclarar dudas a padres, profesores y políticos). Su blog https://catherinelecuyer.com/blog/ lleva más de un millón y medio de visitas. Catherine colabora actualmente con el grupo de investigación Mente-Cerebro de la Universidad de Navarra y es articulista para varios medios como El País, La Vanguardia, El Mundo o el Hufftington Post en Francia.

Episodio 1032Conversaciones con mi maestra es un diálogo entre un alumno, estudiante de magisterio, y una maestra, ya jubilada, sobre la educación y los diferentes movimientos y la filosofía que hay tras ellos. Charlamos con su autora, Catherine L'Ecuyer, doctora en Educación y Psicología, canadiense, afincada en Barcelona y madre de cuatro hijos, es máster por IESE Business School y máster Europeo Oficial de Investigación. Su tesis «Montessori ante el legado de Rousseau» se publicó en 2020. La revista suiza Frontiers in Human Neuroscience publicó el artículo «The Wonder Approach to Learning», que convirtió su investigación en una nueva hipótesis del aprendizaje.Link al libro: https://www.planetadelibros.com/libro-conversaciones-con-mi-maestra/333775https://madresfera.com/newsletter-diaria/https://t.me/NoticiasMadresfera

A berry vine found in Asia proves useful in combating lung cancer Okayama University (Japan), August 17, 2021 Lung cancer is known to be the most fatal form of cancer. Chemicals like 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) found in tobacco are usually the main culprits behind smoking-related lung cancer causing cancer biologists to actively explore targeted treatments. Now, a research group led by Associate Professor ARIMOTO-KOBAYASHI Sakae at Okayama University has reported the potential of a berry-producing vine, Vitis coignetiae Pulliat (colloquially known as Yamabudo in Japan), against lung cancer in mice. The team has previously shown that juice extracted from the Yamabudo fruit and 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DBQ), a chemical found within it, have protective effects against skin cancer. Thus, in this study the potential of both these chemicals was investigated. Mice were first treated with NNK to establish lung cancer models and tumors that subsequently developed within their lungs were assessed. After 30 weeks, mice given Yamabudo juice or DBQ showed greatly reduced tumor size. To understand the mechanism of Yamabudo further, human lung cancer cells were employed. NNK induces cancer by facilitating a chemical change in the DNA structure, known as DNA methylation. To mimic this process, cells were exposed to MNNG (a chemical that artificially induces DNA methylation) and the effects of Yamabudo were studied. Indeed, cells that were treated with Yamabudo juice or DBQ showed lower levels of DNA methylation.  The DNA methylation induced by NNK also plays a role in mutating the DNA, making all exposed cells susceptible to cancer. The methylated forms of DNA tend to form large complexes which can undergo damage more easily. Therefore, NNK-induced mutations were analyzed next to see if Yamabudo also plays a protective role in this regard. The number of NNK-induced mutations was, in fact, found to be considerably reduced by Yamabudo juice or DBQ. Yamabudo thus mitigated lung cancer by repairing the DNA damage caused by toxins. Lastly, the team also assessed biological pathways which typically help cancer cells proliferate. While all such pathways were active in the lung cancer cells, treatment with Yamabudo showed a dampening of these cancer-facilitating signals. “Stimulation of repair of alkyl DNA adducts and suppressed growth signaling pathways are potential anti-tumorigenic targets of Yamabudo juice and DBQ in NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis,” conclude the researchers. Given the broad range of tumor-suppressing properties Yamabudo displays, it is one herbal medicine that should be explored further in lung cancer research. Background Yamabudo: Vitis coignetiae Pulliat, also known as crimson glory vine or “Yamabudo” in Japan, is a berry-producing vine that grows primarily in East Asia. The juice extracted from Yamabudo berries comprises several chemical compounds that have medicinal properties. While its protective properties against skin cancer have briefly been shown before, this is the first study that explores the potential of Yamabudo in lung cancer. DNA methylation: DNA methylation is a natural chemical process intended to regulate proper functioning of our genes. A chemical group known as the “methyl” group is usually bound onto specific regions of the DNA as a mechanism to prevent genes from being turned on when not in use. However, certain toxins and other external factors can also induce DNA methylation which sometimes prevents important genes (such as those that suppress cancer) from being active. Unfortunately, the methylated forms of DNA are passed on when cells replicate. DNA methylation thereby also abets the spread of cancer. Controlling DNA methylation is an important strategy in keeping certain cancers in check. Vitamin D may protect against young-onset colorectal cancer Dana Farber Cancer Institute, August 17, 2021 Consuming higher amounts of Vitamin D – mainly from dietary sources – may help protect against developing young-onset colorectal cancer or precancerous colon polyps, according to the first study to show such an association. The study, recently published online in the journal Gastroenterology, by scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and other institutions, could potentially lead to recommendations for higher vitamin D intake as an inexpensive complement to screening tests as a colorectal cancer prevention strategy for adults younger than age 50. While the overall incidence of colorectal cancer has been declining, cases have been increasing in younger adults – a worrisome trend that has yet to be explained. The authors of the study, including senior co-authors Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH, of Dana-Farber, and Edward Giovannucci, MD, DSc., of the T.H. Chan School, noted that vitamin D intake from food sources such as fish, mushrooms, eggs, and milk has decreased in the past several decades. There is growing evidence of an association between vitamin D and risk of colorectal cancer mortality. However, prior to the current study, no research has examined whether total vitamin D intake is associated with the risk of young-onset colorectal cancer. “Vitamin D has known activity against colorectal cancer in laboratory studies. Because vitamin D deficiency has been steadily increasing over the past few years, we wondered whether this could be contributing to the rising rates of colorectal cancer in young individuals,” said Ng, director of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber. “We found that total vitamin D intake of 300 IU per day or more – roughly equivalent to three 8-oz. glasses of milk – was associated with an approximately 50% lower risk of developing young-onset colorectal cancer.” The results of the study were obtained by calculating the total vitamin D intake – both from dietary sources and supplements – of 94,205 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II). This study is a prospective cohort study of nurses aged 25 to 42 years that began in 1989. The women are followed every two years by questionnaires on demographics, diet and lifestyle factors, and medical and other health-related information. The researchers focused on a primary endpoint – young-onset colorectal cancer, diagnosed before 50 years of age. They also asked on a follow-up questionnaire whether they had had a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy where colorectal polyps (which may be precursors to colorectal cancer) were found. During the period from 1991 to 2015 the researchers documented 111 cases of young-onset colorectal cancer and 3,317 colorectal polyps. Analysis showed that higher total vitamin D intake was associated with a significantly reduced risk of early-onset colorectal cancer. The same link was found between higher vitamin D intake and risk of colon polyps detected before age 50.  The association was stronger for dietary vitamin D – principally from dairy products – than from vitamin D supplements. The study authors said that finding could be due to chance or to unknown factors that are not yet understood. Interestingly, the researchers didn't find a significant association between total vitamin D intake and risk of colorectal cancer diagnosed after age 50. The findings were not able to explain this inconsistency, and the scientists said further research in a larger sample is necessary to determine if the protective effect of vitamin D is actually stronger in young-onset colorectal cancer. In any case, the investigators concluded that higher total vitamin D intake is associated with decreased risks of young-onset colorectal cancer and precursors (polyps). “Our results further support that vitamin D may be important in younger adults for health and possibly colorectal cancer prevention,” said Ng. “It is critical to understand the risk factors that are associated with young-onset colorectal cancer so that we can make informed recommendations about diet and lifestyle, as well as identify high risk individuals to target for earlier screening.” The study was funded by grants from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense; by the American Cancer Society Mentored Research Scholar Grant; and by the Project P Fund. Ng's disclosures include research funding from Pharmavite, Revolution Medicines, Janssen, and Evergrande Group; Advisory boards for Array Biopharma, Seattle Genetics, and BiomX; and consulting for X-Biotix Therapeutics. Lack of exercise and poor nutrition could increase the risk of diseases like dementia Kings College London, August 17, 2021 New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London has found that both diet and exercise can influence the risk of cognitive decline (CD) and dementia by potentially influencing hippocampal neurogenesis (the process by which the brain produces new brain cells) long before their onset. The study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, suggests that altered neurogenesis in the brain could potentially represent an early biomarker for both CD and dementia. The investigation studied how the blood of participants with and without CD and dementia could influence hippocampal neurogenesis in laboratory settings and whether diet and exercise were important factors. Specifically, blood samples of 418 French adults over the age of 65 were collected 12-years prior to CD and dementia diagnosis and tested on human hippocampal stems cells. Additionally, information on each participant's sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical data were collected and incidence cognition status and dementia were measured every 2 to 3 years over a 12-year period. Over the course of the study, the researchers established that 12 years prior to diagnosis, both CD and Alzheimer's were associated with levels of neural stem cell death. The team also found that exercise, nutrition, vitamin D levels, carotenoid and lipid levels are all associated with the rate at which cells die off. Furthermore, physical activity and nutrition were key factors that then also determined CD status.  Specifically, researchers found that reduced physical activity and increased malnutrition both increased cell death which in turn increased the risk for future CD. While previous studies have established that diet and exercise have some protective effects against CD and dementia, these roles have been poorly understood at the neurobiological level. To date, studies on animals have shown how diet and exercise can directly influence hippocampal neurogenesis, potentially explaining how exercise and diet may biologically exert their effects, but this study sheds further light on this in the context of a human model. Doctor Sandrine Thuret, the study's lead investigator from King's IoPPN said “Our study has demonstrated not only that there are individual markers of hippocampal neurogenesis associated with CD and dementia 12 years later, but also that there is some degree of specificity with respect to diagnoses of dementia subtypes. “Specifically, if an individual displays an increase in their levels of cell death during differentiation (when neural stem cells are becoming neurons), we can look at this as a potential warning sign of CD. Conversely, a decrease in levels of cell death during proliferation (the process by which a single cell divides into a pair) and reduced hippocampal progenitor cell integrity could be viewed as a predictor for Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular dementia, respectively.” According to Alzheimer's Research UK, there were a total of 525,315 people living with a dementia diagnosis in the UK in 2020[1]. Rates of cognitive decline and dementia are expected to triple in prevalence by 2040. Dr Andrea du Preez, the study's first author from King's IoPPN said, “While more work is undoubtedly needed to fully understand how diet and exercise might modulate hippocampal neurogenesis, our findings may represent an effective early preventative strategy against CD and dementia.” Acupuncture improves symptoms of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome compared to sham treatment China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, August 17, 2021  A multicenter randomized trial showed that 20 sessions of acupuncture over 8 weeks resulted in greater improvement in symptoms of moderate to severe chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) compared with sham therapy. Treatment effects endured over 24 weeks follow up. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. CP/CPPS manifests discomfort or pain in the pelvic region for at least 3 of the previous 6 months without evidence of infection. Lower urinary tract symptoms, psychological issues, and sexual dysfunction may also be involved. Men with CP/CPPS may have a poor quality of life due to the many neuropsychophysiologic pathophysiology factors associated with the disorder, such as inflammation in the prostate, anxiety and stress, and dyssynergic voiding. Antibiotics, a-blockers, and anti-inflammatories are the mainstays of treatment in clinical practice, but they have limited effectiveness and are associated with adverse events with long-term use. Acupuncture has shown promise as an alternative treatment, but high-quality evidence is scarce. Researchers from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences randomly assigned 440 male participants (220 in each group) to either 8 weeks of acupuncture or sham therapy to assess the long-term efficacy of acupuncture for improving symptoms of CP/CPPS. The treatment was considered effective if participants achieved a clinically important reduction of at least 6 points from baseline on the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index at weeks 8 and 32. Ascertainment of sustained efficacy required the between-group difference to be statistically significant at both time points. The researchers found that compared with the sham acupuncture group, larger proportions of participants in the acupuncture group reported marked or moderate improvements in symptoms at all assessment points. No significant difference was found in changes in International Index of Erectile Function 5 score at all assessment time points or in peak and average urinary flow rates at week 8. No serious adverse events were reported in either group. According to the researchers, these findings show long-term efficacy of acupuncture and provide high-quality evidence for clinical practice and guideline recommendations. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) decreases amyloid beta-induced neurotoxicity by decreasing neuroinflammation through regulation of microglial polarization Yunnan University (CHina), August 16, 2021 According to news reporting originating in Yunnan, People's Republic of China, research stated, “Although the cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still controversial, it is generally accepted that neuroinflammation plays a key role in AD pathogenesis. Thus, regulating the polarization of microglia will help in recovering from AD since microglia can be polarized into classical M1 and alternative M2 phenotypes, M1 microglia leading to neuroinflammation and M2 microglia acting as anti-inflammatory effectors.” Financial support for this research came from National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Yunnan University, “Our previous study demonstrated that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an essential n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, may modulate glial cell activity and functions, but it is not clear whether EPA plays a role in microglial polarization. Here, we aimed to test the hypothesis that EPA may regulate the polarization of microglia and subsequently alleviate neuroinflammation and neuronal damage. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed an EPA -supplemented diet or a palm oil -supplemented diet for 42 days. On day 28 of diet feeding, the mice received a single intracerebroventricular injection of beta-peptide fragment 1-42(A beta(1-42)) or saline. The polarization of M1 and M2 microglia was evaluated by western blot using the respective markers. Changes in inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels were examined using real-time PCR. Neurological deficits were analysed using the Morris water maze and TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) assays. EPA supplementation effectively reversed the increasing trend of M1 microglial markers and the decreased expression of M2 microglial markers in the hippocampus mediated by A beta(1-42) and normalized the A beta-induced upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and the downregulation of anti-inflammatory factors. Consistent with these findings, EPA significantly improved cognitive function and inhibited apoptotic neuronal death in the hippocampus.” According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “These results demonstrated that EPA appears to have potential effects on regulating microglial polarization, which contributes to alleviating neuroinflammation and may have beneficial effects for preventing and treating AD.” This research has been peer-reviewed. Yoga and meditation improve mind-body health and stress resilience University of Southern California  August 19, 2021  Many people report positive health effects from practicing yoga and meditation, and experience both mental and physical benefits from these practices. However, we still have much to learn about how exactly these practices affect mind-body health. A new research article published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience investigates the effects of yoga and meditation on brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the activity on the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) effects and inflammatory markers. By studying the participants of an intensive 3-month yoga and meditation retreat, the researchers found that the practices positively impacted BDNF signaling, the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and immunological markers, and in addition improved subjective wellbeing. In this study, the retreat participants were assessed before and after participating in a 3-month yoga and meditation retreat that involved daily meditation and Isha yoga, accompanied by a vegetarian diet. The yogic practices consisted of physical postures, controlled breathing practices, and seated meditations during which the participants focused on mantra repetition, breath, emptying the mind and bodily sensation. The researchers measured psychometric measures, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), circadian salivary cortisol levels, as well as pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. They also collected data on psychometric variables including mindfulness, absorption, depression and anxiety, and investigated the relationship between psychological improvements and biological changes. The data showed that participation in the retreat was associated with decreases in both self-reported anxiety and depression as well as increases in mindfulness. The research team observed increases in the plasma levels of BDNF, a neuromodulator that plays an important role in learning, memory and the regulation of complex processes such as inflammation, immunity, mood regulation, stress response and metabolism. They also observed increases in the magnitude of the cortisol awakening response (CAR) which is part of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA), suggesting improved stress resilience. Moreover, there was a decrease in inflammatory processes caused by an increase of the anti-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-10 and a reduction of the pro-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-12 after the retreat. "It is likely that at least some of the significant improvements in both HPA axis functioning as exemplified by the CAR as well as neuroimmunologic functioning as exemplified by increases in BDNF levels and alterations in cytokines were due to the intensive meditation practice involved in this retreat," says corresponding author Dr Baruch Rael Cahn (University of Southern California, USA). The research team hypothesize that the pattern of biological findings observed in their study is linked to enhanced resilience and wellbeing. "The observed increased BDNF signaling possibly related to enhanced neurogenesis and/or neuroplasticity, increased CAR likely related to enhanced alertness and readiness for mind-body engagement, and increased anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines possibly indicating enhanced immunological readiness," explains Dr Cahn. "An intriguing possible link between the effects on BDNF and the CAR is hippocampal functional integrity, since increased BDNF levels due to physical exercise has previously been shown to relate with hippocampal neurogenesis and likely relate to its positive effects on well-being and depression." In the light of previous studies of the positive effects of meditation on mental fitness, autonomic homeostasis and inflammatory status, the researchers think that their findings are related to the meditative practices that the retreat participants engaged in. However, they suggest that some of the observed changes may also be related to the physical aspects of the retreat - yoga practice and diet - and that the observed change patterns are a reflection of wellbeing and mind-body integration. The next step will be to conduct further research in order to clarify the extent to which the positive changes on mind-body wellness and stress resilience are related to the yoga and meditation practices respectively, and to account for other possible contextual factors such as social dynamics, diet and the impact of the teacher. "To our knowledge, our study is the first to examine a broad range of pro- and anti-inflammatory markers in a healthy population before and after a yoga-meditation intervention. Our findings justify further studies of yoga and meditation retreats assessing for the replicability, specificity and long-term implications of these findings," concludes Dr Cahn.  

​Dean Radin MS PhD is Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Science (IONS), Associated Distinguished Professor of Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), Honorary Distinguished Professor at the Swami Vivekananda University in Bangalore, India, and chairman of the board for the neurogenetics biotech startup, Cognigenics. His early career track as a concert violinist shifted into science after earning a BSEE degree in electrical engineering (magna cum laude, with honors in physics) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and then an MS in electrical engineering and PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For a decade he worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories and later at GTE Laboratories. For nearly four decades now his research has focused on the nature and capacities of consciousness. Before joining the research staff at IONS in 2001, he held appointments at Princeton University, University of Edinburgh, and SRI International, where he worked on a classified program investigating psychic espionage for the US government (now commonly known as StarGate). He is author or coauthor of over 300 scientific, technical, and popular articles, four dozen book chapters, two technical books, and four popular books including the Scientific and Medical Network's 1997 book award, The Conscious Universe (HarperOne, 1997), Entangled Minds (Simon & Schuster, 2006), the 2014 Silver Nautilus Book Award, Supernormal (Random House, 2013), and Real Magic (Penguin Random House, 2018). Entangled Minds, Supernormal and Real Magic are available as paperback, e-books, and audio books. These books have been translated so far into 15 foreign languages. His 125+ academic articles can be found in peer-reviewed journals ranging from Foundations of Physics and Physics Essays to Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Psychological Bulletin, Brain and Cognition, Psychology of Consciousness, and many others. He was featured in a New York Times Magazine feature article; and he has appeared on dozens of television programs around the world. His 600+ interviews and talks have included invited presentations at Harvard (medical), Stanford (statistics), Princeton (psychology), Columbia (education), Cambridge (physics, England), Edinburgh (psychology, Scotland), The Sorbonne (parapsychology, Paris), University of Padova (physics, Italy), University of British Columbia (parapsychology, Canada), and University of Allahabad (philosophy, India). His invited talks for industries have included Merck, Google, Johnson & Johnson, and Rabobank, and his government talks have included the US National Academy of Sciences, the US Naval War College, US Army Special Operations Command, the US Naval Postgraduate School, DARPA, the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (India), the International Center for Leadership and Governance (Malaysia), and the Australian Davos Connection  (Australia).  In 2017 he was named one of the 100 most inspiring people in the world by the German magazine, OOOM, as of 2021 his filmography on IMDB lists 42 film, TV shows, and documentaries he's appeared in, and in 2021 he was designated a Visionary Leader by The Visioneers International Network. ​ Shungite from Derek Condit: https://mysticalware.ositracker.com/180504/11616   Contact the podcast at 13questionspodcast@gmail.com   Support us at https://13questionspodcast.com/   Discord: https://discord.gg/Dwn6GHW   Telegram: https://t.me/ThirteenQuestions   Gab: https://gab.com/13Questions   Gratitude Jingle by Sir Felix https://sirfelix.bandcamp.com/music   Closing Music by Supaman - Why https://supamanhiphop.com/  

Summary:  On this episode of the Act To Live Podcast, Scott and Jaime GO LIVE! Together, with input from their listeners, the duo discusses the following questions: What is inspiration? Where does inspiration come from? What does inspiration look like? What feelings does inspiration spark in your life? What does inspiration motivate you to do? ACTion Event of the Week: Tune in this week to those things in your life that inspire you. What were they? In what ways did they inspire you?  Join us on the next episode of the Act To Live Podcast as we discuss the importance of cultivating peace of mind! References: Ceruto, S. (2019). The Neuroscience Of Motivation: How Our Brains Drive Hard Work And Achievement. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/03/26/the-neuroscience-of-motivation-how-our-brains-drive-hard-work-and-achievement/?sh=14a9b92a5fcb  Oleynick, V. C., et al., (2014). The scientific study of inspiration in the creative process: challenges and opportunities. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00436 

La créativité humaine est quelque chose d'incroyable. C'est grâce à elle que notre société évolue sans cesse. On développe, on améliore, on crée. C'est en même temps quelque chose de fondamental à notre espèce et d'unique, mais aussi quelque chose de très personnel pour chaque individu. D'où vient cette capacité humaine unique ? Quels processus neuronaux rendent possibles l'émergence de nouvelles idées ? Comment pouvons-nous tous développer cette capacité incroyable ? La créativité étant un vaste sujet, aujourd'hui je vais m'atteler à trois choses : 1/ Démanteler le mythe que la créativité vient du cerveau droit2/ Montrer comment naît une idée dans le cerveau 3/ Vous prouver que la créativité s'apprend et peut tout à fait se développer dans le cerveau.Si vous souhaitez avoir un éclairage neuro sur un sujet en particulier de la vie quotidienne, de notre fonctionnement, écrivez-moi à neurosapiens.podcast@gmail.com Production, animation, réalisation et illustration : Anaïs RouxLe site internet : www.neurosapiens.frSources : Bendetowicz D, Urbanski M, Garcin B, Foulon C, Levy R, Bréchemier ML, Rosso C, Thiebaut de Schotten M, Volle E. Brain. Two critical brain networks for generation and combination of remote associations. 2017 Nov 22.G. Gonen-Yaacovi et al., Rostral and caudal prefrontal contribution to creativity : a meta-analysis of functional imaging data, in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, vol. 7, pp. 1-22, 2013.Rosen DS, Oh Y, Erickson B, Zhang FZ, Kim YE, Kounios J. Dual-process contributions to creativity in jazz improvisations: An SPM-EEG study. Neuroimage. 2020 Jun;213:116632. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116632. Epub 2020 Feb 28. PMID: 32114150.Beaty, R. E., Kenett, Y. N., Christensen, A. P., Rosenberg, M. D., Benedek, M., Chen, Q., Fink, A., Qiu, J., Kwapil, T. R., Kane, M. J., & Silvia, P. J. (2018). Robust prediction of individual creative ability from brain functional connectivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115(5), 1087–1092.Li, W., Yang, J., Zhang, Q., Li, G., & Qiu, J. (2016). The Association between Resting Functional Connectivity and Visual Creativity. Scientific reports, 6. Durante, D., & Dunson, D. B. (2018). Bayesian inference and testing of group differences in brain networks. Bayesian Analysis, 13(1), 29-58.Musique d'intro : KEEP ON GOINGMusique proposée par La Musique LibreJoakim Karud - Keep On Going : https://youtu.be/lOfg0jRqaA8Joakim Karud : https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Voir Acast.com/privacy pour les informations sur la vie privée et l'opt-out. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/neurosapiens.

¿Los insectos sienten? No sólo los utilizamos para que nos alimenten o acompañen, también experimentamos con ellos. Hablando muy específico y repitiendo, ¿los insectos sienten? ¿Podemos usarlos en la investigación? Nos cuenta Valeria Caltzontzin T3E6 Palabras clave:Podcast, ciencia, tecnología, Biodiversidad, insectos, investigación, ética Facebook: http://facebook.com/colectivomotus Twitter: http://twitter.com/colectivomotus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colectivomotus Página oficial: http://www.motuslab.xyz/ *** Contacto: colectivomotus@gmail.com *** Fuentes y material recomendado: 1 Shipman P. (2014). How do you kill 86 mammoths? Taphonomic investigations of mammoth megasites. Quaternary International (pp.1-9). 2 American Psychological Association. (2020). Ethics in research with animals. Obtenido de: https://www.apa.org/monitor/jan03/animals 3 American Veterinary Medical Association. (2020). AVMA animal welfare principles. Obtenido de: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/avma-policies/avma-animal-welfare-principles 4 Kerkut, G. (1985). Which insects are most used in physiological and biochemical research? Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 81:4 (pp. 705–706). 5 Broom, D.M. (2019). Sentience. En Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior (Segunda Edición) (pp. 131-133). Academic Press. ISBN 9780128132524. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809633-8.90147-X 6 Herculano-Houzel S. (2009). The human brain in numbers: a linearly scaled-up primate brain. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 3:31. 7 Oliveira y Goldim. (2014). Animal protection legislation for scientific purposes and the non-inclusion of invertebrates – a bioethical analysis. Revista Bioética, 22:1 (pp. 45-55). 8 Orwell G. (1945). Rebelión en la granja. Londres (pp. 187). 9Cápsula “¿Vacunarse o no vacunarse?” (2021). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4qwNSGVAAE 10 Cápsula “Entomofagia” (2020). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt73j4Dl7dk&t=3s *** El podcast de Colectivo Motus es producido por MotusLab. Guion y voz por Valeria Caltzontzin Rabell, la edición de audio por Oziel Vázquez y la versión en video, por Karla González. Agradecimientos por la revisión a Teresita Guevara, Pedro Lobato y Christopher Cedillo.

Nataliya is passionate about an idea of creating a partnership between AI and human intelligence, fusion of a machine and a human brain. She obtained her Ph.D in 2015 in the domain of non-invasive Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) as a part of EHCI team of Université Grenoble-Alpes, France. Most of her projects are focused around EEG-based BCIs in the context of consumer grade applications. Before joining MIT Media Lab – Fluid Interfaces group in 2017, she was a post-doc at Hybrid team (VR/AR), Inria Rennes, France. Nataliya has published and served as a program committee member in conferences and journals such as Nature Scientific Reports, CHI, ACM IDC, Ubicomp, INTERACT, TOCHI, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Plos ONE, IEEE EMBC and ACM AutomotiveUI. She gave 2 TEDx talks. Nataliya worked for the past 12 years on designing solutions to control drones, rolling robots, home appliances using brain activity. These projects were presented to general public and were tested by more than 4000 people in 2015-2019. Nataliya won multiple awards for her work, among which is L'Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science award she received in 2016. Nataliya was also named as one of 10 Top French Talent 2017 from MIT Innovators Under 35. 

Join us in today's discussion where we talk about the impact of media (social, online streaming platforms, etc)  portrayals on children, teenagers, and the impact that media has on social movements, self-image, and mental health. We also briefly discuss the things that the media does right!Hosts: Farah and SaraScript-Writer: Cheryl  References Journal Articles Anderson, M., & Jiang, J. (2018). Teens, social media & technology 2018. Pew Research Center, 31, 2018. Aubrey, J. S., & Harrison, K. (2004). The gender-role content of children's favorite television programs and its links to their gender-related perceptions. Media psychology, 6(2), 111-146. Botta, R. A. (1999). Television images and adolescent girls' body image disturbance. Journal of Communication, 49, 22–41.  Bridge, J. A., Greenhouse, J. B., Ruch, D., Stevens, J., Ackerman, J., Sheftall, A. H., ... & Campo, J. V. (2020). Association between the release of netflix's 13 Reasons Why and suicide rates in the United States: An interrupted time series analysis. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(2), 236-243. Clayton, R. B., Ridgway, J. L., & Hendrickse, J. (2017). Is plus size equal? The positive impact of average and plus-sized media fashion models on women's cognitive resource allocation, social comparisons, and body satisfaction. Communication Monographs, 84(3), 406-422. Dill-Shackleford, K.E., Ramasubramanian, S., Behm-Morawitz, E., Scharrer, E., Burgess, M.C.R., & Lemish, D. (2017). Social Group Stories in the Media and Child Development. Pediatrics, 140(140S2). doi:10.1542/peds.2016-1758W Dunn, E. R. (2017). Blue is the New Black: How Popular Culture is Romanticizing Mental Illness. Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human relations, 7(2), 117-140. Lin, L., & Reid, K. (2009). The relationship between media exposure and antifat attitudes: The role of dysfunctional appearance beliefs. Body Image, 6(1), 52-55. Matrix, S. (2014). The Netflix effect: Teens, binge watching, and on-demand digital media trends. Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures, 6(1), 119-138. Myrick, J. G., & Pavelko, R. L. (2017). Examining differences in audience recall and reaction between mediated portrayals of mental illness as trivializing versus stigmatizing. Journal of Health Communication, 22(11), 876-884. Mullin, C. R., & Linz, D. (1995). Desensitization and resensitization to violence against women: Effects of exposure to sexually violent films on judgments of domestic violence victims. Journal of personality and social psychology, 69(3), 449. Neumann, M. M., & Herodotou, C. (2020). Young Children and YouTube: A global phenomenon. Childhood Education, 96(4), 72-77. Puhl, R., & Brownell, K. D. (2001). Bias, discrimination, and obesity. Obesity research, 9(12), 788-805. Richins, M. (1991). Social comparison and the idealized images of advertising. Journal of Consumer Research, 18, 71–83. Rodrigo, M. J., Padrón, I., De Vega, M., & Ferstl, E. C. (2014). Adolescents' risky decision-making activates neural networks related to social cognition and cognitive control processes. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 60. Spitzer, B. L., Henderson, L. A., & Zivian, M. T. (1999). Gender differences in population versus media body sizes: A comparison over four decades. Sex Roles, 40, 545–565. Wright, C. L., DeFrancesco, T., Hamilton, C., & Machado, L. (2020). The influence of media portrayals of immigration and refugees on consumer attitudes: A experimental design. Howard Journal of Communications, 31(4), 388-410. 

This week's show is with Dean Radin PhD, who is Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Science (IONS), Distinguished Professor of Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), and a science adviser for several startup companies. His original career track as a concert violinist shifted into science after earning a BSEE degree in electrical engineering (magna cum laude, with honours in physics) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and then a Masters in electrical engineering and PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For a decade he worked on advanced R&D at AT&T Bell Laboratories and GTE Laboratories. For over three decades he has been engaged in research on the nature and capacities of consciousness. Before joining the research staff at IONS in 2001, he held appointments at Princeton University, University of Edinburgh, and SRI International, where he worked on a classified program of psychic espionage, now commonly known as StarGate. ​He is author or co-author of over 300 scientific, technical, and popular articles, four dozen book chapters, two technical books, and four popular books including the Scientific and Medical Network's 1997 book award, The Conscious Universe (HarperOne, 1997), Entangled Minds (Simon & Schuster, 2006), the 2014 Silver Nautilus Book Award, Supernormal (Random House, 2013), and Real Magic (Penguin Random House, 2018). Entangled Minds, Supernormal and Real Magic are available as paperback, e-books, and audio books. These books have been translated into Spanish, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Romanian, Latvian, Turkish, Czech, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Arabic. ​His 100+ academic articles appear in peer-reviewed scientific journals ranging from Foundations of Physics and Physics Essays to Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Psychological Bulletin, and Psychology of Consciousness. He was featured in a New York Times Magazine feature article; and he has appeared on dozens of television programs around the world. His 500+ interviews and talks have included presentations at Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Columbia, Cambridge (England), Edinburgh (Scotland), The Sorbonne (Paris), University of Padova (Italy), and University of Allahabad (India) . His invited talks for industries have included Merck, Google, Johnson & Johnson, and Rabobank, and his government talks have included the US Navy and US Army, the Naval Postgraduate School, DARPA, the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (India), the International Center for Leadership and Governance (Malaysia), and the Australian Davos Connection  (Australia).  In 2017 he was named one of the 100 most inspiring people in the world by the German magazine, OOOM, and as of 2018 his filmography on IMDB lists 18 documentaries he's appeared in. Note: Dean is not a therapist, nor a psychic or a paranormal investigator. He is a scientist who studies psychic phenomena. If you are disturbed by psychic experiences, he recommends that you contact a psychologist or psychiatrist knowledgeable about these experiences. Another resource is the Spiritual Emergence Network. ​In this show we explored Dean's incredible life's work on the topic of real magic! We explored the reasons magic has been so put into shadow in our culture, his scientific studies on this topic and lastly why magic is anything but a fantastical, dreamy, made-up topic - it's actually the most important conversation we could be having as a species right now. This is such a treasure trove of a show - I'm delighted to be able to share it with you.

Chatting with CandiceDr. Debra SohEpisode Run Time: 59:19Dr. Debra Soh is a neuroscientist who specializes in gender, sex, and sexual orientation. Her writing has appeared in Harper’s Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the Globe and Mail, Scientific American, and New York Magazine, among many others. Prior to writing The End of Gender, Debra was a weekly columnist and resident sex scientist for Playboy.com.Dr. Soh holds a PhD from York University and was awarded the Provost Dissertation Scholarship for her fMRI research on paraphilias and hypersexuality. She is a recipient of the prestigious Michael Smith Foreign Study Award from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and has published in academic journals including Archives of Sexual Behavior and Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.In her second appearance on the show, I talk to Debra about the biological basis of paraphilias, the difference between drug addiction and sex addiction, and the absence of consent in antisocial patterns of behavior.[01:47] Debra’s Experience with Sex Research, the Stigma of Sex Research and Shame [09:31] Paraphilias (Kinks) and the Brain[13:02]Healthy Kinks and Unhealthy Behaviours[18:14] The Biological Basis of Pedophilia[23:50] The Evolving Definition of Addiction: Disease or Habit?[30:15] The Difference between Drug Addiction and Sex Addiction[36:55] Consensual Non-monogamy, Boundaries, and Antisocial Personalities[46:54] Pornography, Prohibition, and PaywallsYou can follow Dr. Soh on Twitter, on Instagram, and visit her at DrDebraSoh.com. Support the show (http://patreon.com/candicehorbacz)

Aujourd'hui je réponds à la question qui anime toutes les discussions de comptoir : est-ce la taille qui compte ? Très certainement quelques méta-analyses nous aideront à y voir plus clair. Idée de vidéo inspirée par ce billet de blog : http://www.scilogs.fr/ramus-meninges/le-sexe-du-cerveau-bibliographie-et-debats/ (mis à jour avec des données plus récentes). Ce n'est que grâce à votre soutien que je peux faire des vidéos ! Si vous aimez mon travail et souhaitez qu'il continue, n'hésitez pas à me soutenir financièrement sur uTip ou Tipeee : https://utip.io/homofabulus https://tipeee.com/homofabulus/ (Vous pouvez aussi y acheter des t-shirts et mugs stylés. Merci à toutes et tous pour votre soutien !) Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/H0moFabulus/ Twitter : http://twitter.com/homofabulus Insta : https://www.instagram.com/stephanedebove/ Musique : Mounika, To the beach https://soundcloud.com/mounika-beat/mounika-to-the-beach Références : [1] http://www.scilogs.fr/ramus-meninges/le-qi-cest-nimporte-quoi-oui-mais-encore/ [2] Pietschnig, J., Penke, L., Wicherts, J. M., Zeiler, M., & Voracek, M. (2015). Meta-analysis of associations between human brain volume and intelligence differences: How strong are they and what do they mean? Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 57, 411–432. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.09.017 [3] Ruigrok, A. N. V., Salimi-Khorshidi, G., Lai, M. C., Baron-Cohen, S., Lombardo, M. V., Tait, R. J., & Suckling, J. (2014). A meta-analysis of sex differences in human brain structure. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 39, 34–50. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.12.004 [4] Lenroot, R. K., Gogtay, N., Greenstein, D. K., Wells, E. M., Wallace, G. L., Clasen, L. S., … Giedd, J. N. (2007). Sexual dimorphism of brain developmental trajectories during childhood and adolescence. NeuroImage, 36(4), 1065–1073. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.03.053 [5] Dekaban, A. S., & Sadowsky, D. (1978). Changes in brain weight during the span of human life: relation of brain weight to body height and body weight. Ann. Neurol., 4, 345. [6] Rushton, J. P., & Ankney, C. D. (2009). Whole brain size and general mental ability: A review. International Journal of Neuroscience, 119(5), 692–732. http://doi.org/10.1080/00207450802325843 [7] MacLean, E. L., Hare, B., Nunn, C. L., Addessi, E., Amici, F., Anderson, R. C., … Zhao, Y. (2014). The evolution of self-control. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(20), E2140–E2148. http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1323533111 [8] Herculano-Houzel, S. (2009). The human brain in numbers: a linearly scaled-up primate brain. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 3(November), 1–11. http://doi.org/10.3389/neuro.09.031.2009 [9] Herculano-Houzel, S. (2012). The remarkable, yet not extraordinary, human brain as a scaled-up primate brain and its associated cost. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(Supplement_1), 10661–10668. http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1201895109 [10] Mortensen, H. S., Pakkenberg, B., Dam, M., Dietz, R., Sonne, C., Mikkelsen, B., & Eriksen, N. (2014). Quantitative relationships in delphinid neocortex. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, 8(November), 1–10. http://doi.org/10.3389/fnana.2014.00132

TABLE OF CONTENT TALKING POINTS S2 E12 10/18/2020(Host Scene)Zazz - Welcome to Table of Content. The round table show where we discuss all the happenings around streaming, gaming and entertainment. I am joined by co-host Stump. How are you? Zazz - Stump will you reach over and grab my bag…. of mail and read the latest hatemail.  (NO HATEMAIL)This episode of toc is brought to by onlyreapers.com where you can buy Carolina reaper jelly beans without all the filler beans. Use promo code tableoc for 25% off your first order. That's onlyreapers.com. Visit onlyreapers.com and use promo code tableoc. We are joined this week by the birthday boy Symphonic313 and let me make sure I get this right RED_FOXX15 Streaming News Can the Dr Disrespect Rogue Company skin risk Twitch bans? Yesterday, Dr Disrespect tweeted out a reveal video for his new skin in Rogue Company. The collaboration included a Dr Disrespect skin for Dallas, that reflects his likeness to an almost life-like degree. Furthermore, a map called The Arena is also available for everyone to play. Now that the skin is available for everyone to purchase at $20, there's really no telling how many players will be running around Rogue Company as Dr Disrespect. That is great news for Doc and his fans. However, it can make things complicated for Twitch, and Shroud believes it could lead to bans. There has been no official confirmation on the Dr Disrespect skin and how it might affect Twitch streams. As far as anyone knows, it isn't against the rules to use that skin on a stream, but it's also a permanently banned streamer being promoted on Twitch's platform. It's possible that Twitch could even add in some new rules for this specific Dr Disrespect situation, which has happened before, when Nadeshot and Crimsix were forced to stream with Doc and didn't mute him. Foxx- How do you see this playing out from Twitch? Twitch Studio adds chat overlay and countdown timer tools  Twitch has updated its livestreaming software with more features, which will give streamers more ways to make their broadcasts pop. With Twitch Studio, you can now copy and paste or duplicate layers or scenes so that you can make your stream's visual style more consistent. Let's say you usually place your webcam feed in the corner of the screen during your stream. If you want to position it in the bottom center for some games (i.e. to cover up the game code during an Among Us session), you can more easily create a scene with that single tweak and switch to it quickly mid-broadcast. There's also an option to add a chat overlay, so that messages from your community appear on-screen during your stream. Within the next few weeks, you'll be able to adjust the software's interface to your liking, simply by dragging panels from one place to another. A new timer and some tools to make it easier for console users to get up and running. Symphonic - This seems like a step in the direction but for a company that seems to neglect its affiliates why make tools for new streamers?THE GO LIVE SEGMENT Pokemon GO streamer has phone & car stolen while live on Twitch  Pokemon GO took the world by storm in 2016, as players from all over ventured outside of their homes to catch their favorite monsters. The mobile title developed by Niantic brought the beloved Nintendo RPG to real life for millions. Unfortunately, because the game takes place in the real world, unexpected things can happen – from fans assaulting each other over Gyms, to even murder. On October 8, a streamer's broadcast quickly turned violent after they were mugged, much to the horror of their audience. Anthony ‘xDeezzNutzx' was broadcasting live on October 8 when his Twitch stream was abruptly brought to a halt. The player was trying to catch a Croagunk when a stranger attacked him. The thief can be heard telling the Pokemon fan “The f**k wrong with you?!” after they tried to resist the theft. The GO stream then cut off after the criminal stole the player's phone. They also made off with his car. Stump - Once again someone is mugged during an irl stream. Is going out in public worth it?Gaming News https://www.tableoc.com/2020/10/15/does-the-ps5-ui-live-up-to-the-next-gen-console-hype/  PlayStation has finally revealed what they call a “pre-production” UI; as it might undergo minor changes when the console finally releases. One important thing to note is that the new PlayStation UI was built for 4k tv's from the ground up and thus the UI will be in 4k HDR at all times if your monitor can  support 4k and HDR of course. One of the new features that you are greeted with in the start of the video is the control center. It has a very clean look and allows you to access anything on the PS5 without having to exit your game, making it easy to check whether or not your friends are online simply, without the need to minimize the game. Interactive notifications are also new and these allow you to interact with a notification such as a voice channel request by simply tapping the PlayStation button. This removes the need to minimize games and having to scroll to the voice channel section, also if you didn't know the Dual sense controllers feature a built in mic and mute button making it even easier than ever to talk to your friends. Foxx - Playstation has seemingly made some great quality of life changes for their players. How are you leaning in the console war? PS5 Does Not Record Your Voice Chats, Sony Confirms  The recent 8.0.0 update for the PS4 introduced new functionality for voice chats in parties that will go live when the PS5 launches, and pop-ups alerted players can these chats "may be recorded." People naturally became concerned about this, and specifically regarding conspiracy theories about how Sony might be listening in. That isn't the case, however. The Ask PlayStation UK account said on Twitter, "We do not record party chats." The purpose of the recording functionality is to give people the ability to record chats and submit them for a moderation review. The feature is only available on PS5, but the pop-up notification that is appearing now is alerting PS4 users that when they are in a chat with a PS5 player, those recordings can be sent to Sony for moderation review. Symphonic - Are you buying this? What implications might this have for 2 party consent states?  Video gaming as a child related to improvements in memory  In a new study, which features in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, researchers from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya in Barcelona trained volunteers to play “Super Mario 64” — a game that researchers have previously shown to induce structural changes in parts of the brain associated with executive function and spatial memory. The new study found that people who played video games as children showed greater improvements in their working memory than those who did not, suggesting that video games can have long lasting benefits for cognition. Stump - As 90s kids I feel like we should be rubbing this in a lot of parents faces.Entertainment News Dexter fans have mixed feelings on Showtime limited series revival As any fan of Dexter can attest to, the show has had many ups and downs. Despite starting off strong, its final season was universally hated by critics, and its lumberjack ending was mocked online for years. On October 14, Showtime surprised viewers when it announced that actor Michael C. Hall would be returning to play the serial killer once again in a new limited time series. Fans, however, are torn on the franchise getting a second chance. Many fans reacted to the news negatively, citing its final season and poor writing, such as a Twitter user that exclaimed, “hopefully he kills whoever wrote the last season.” Another fan agreed and criticized the show's previous showrunner: “If Scott Buck is involved, I won't be watching, frankly.” Red - Yet another series revival is upon us. How will this play out now that the fans seems to be turning on it from the get go? Reports claim Netflix's subscription prices could increase again soon While Netflix has some fantastic content, the company is also known for raising their prices every few years. What once was an simple, flat $8 subscription fee here in the United States can now range anywhere from $9 for the most basic membership to $16 for a premium membership. Because of this, it's unreasonable to assume the company would stop raising prices now, especially when Netflix is as popular as ever – and, just like always, consumers will more than likely be ok with it. Now, it seems like we might be on the cusp of yet another increase, according to one analyst and Deadline. Alex Giaimo says that he thinks the price jump will most likely hit Europe and will be an increase of $1 to $2 a month. That being said, an increase in America is not out of the question either, and it's currently unclear if there's a possibility of both areas of the world being affected. The one unknown in all of this is the timing. While Giaimo says that the increase will probably happen in the “near to midterm,” it's unknown exactly what that means. Could we be seeing an announcement within the next few weeks or the next few months? It's all up in the air. Symphonic - It feels to me like it's been awhile since a price increase and we have gotten a lot of quality originals. How do you feel about a possible increase? John Cena got married!  John Cena and girlfriend Shay Shariatzadeh secretly tied the knot on Mon., Oct. 12. In a great moment for dirt sheets everywhere, the story was first reported by PWInsider, but quickly confirmed by the likes of TMZ and E! The couple, who started dating in 2019 after Cena's headline-grabbing split with Nikki Bella, had a private ceremony in Tampa. It's the second marriage for the 43 year old WWE legend, and the first for his 31 year old Canadian bride. Shariatzadeh hails from Vancouver; the tech exec met Cena while he was in British Columbia filming Playing With Fire. Stump - Do you think people chanted cena sucks at his wedding?BOLD PREDICTIONS Dr. Strange wont have a part 3.Netflix will improve their series renewal record to above 25% next year from their single digit numbers. Plug your stuff.Zazzaboo plug the site, Pod etc Thanks and we will see you next week!★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Harriet Tubman is well known for her daring rescues of black slaves in the Eastern United States, but less well known are the remarkable abilities that she possessed that made these rescues possible. A review of the many anomalous events in Tubman's life suggests that she may have mastered the same psi abilities as psychics and remote viewers today, even without training. Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/user?u=3375417 Donate on Paypal: https://ThinkAnomalous.com/support.html Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IkEWBA9yYDw Website: https://ThinkAnomalous.com Full transcript & audio: https://ThinkAnomalous.com/harriet-tubman.html Facebook: https://facebook.com/ThinkAnomalous Twitter: https://twitter.com/Think_Anomalous Instagram: https://instagram.com/Think.Anomalous Check out more from our illustrator, V.R. Laurence: https://vrlaurence.com Think Anomalous is created by Jason Charbonneau. Illustration by V.R. Laurence (https://vrlaurence.com) Research by Clark Murphy. Music by Josh Chamberland. Animation by Brendan Barr. Sound design by Will Mountain and Josh Chamberland. Sources: ​Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research. "The Concept of Transliminality." Bradford, Sarah Hopkins. Harriet, the Moses of Her People. New York: George R Lockwood & Son, 1886. Bradford, Sarah Hopkins. Harriet, the Moses of Her People. New York: J. J. Little & Co., 1901. Bradford, Sarah Hopkins. Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman. Auburn, NY: WJ Moses, 1869. Cheney, Ednah Dow Littlehale. “Moses,” Freedmen's Record, March 1865: 34 - 38. Cirino, Erica. “Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.” Healthline, 2017. Drake, Frank C. "The Moses of Her People. Amazing Life Work of Harriet Tubman." New York Herald, September 22, 1907. Greyson, Bruce; Fountain, Nathan B.; Derr, Lori L.; Broshek, Donna K. "Out-of-body experiences associated with seizures." Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 8, 65 (Feb 2014). Larson, Kate Clifford. Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero. New York: Ballantine Books, 2004. Larson, Kate Clifford. “Harriet Ross Tubman.” Essential Civil War Curriculum, April 2015. Lichfield, Gideon. "The Science of Near-Death Experiences: Empirically investigating brushes with the afterlife." The Atlantic, April 2015. McGowan, James A. “The psychic life of Harriet Tubman.” Visions Magazine, March, 1995: 1 - 3. This podcast uses sound effects downloaded from stockmusic.com.

Another Wednesday means another reason to keep playing video games. This time we look at an article published in the journal Frontiers of Human Neuroscience showing Mario's big head might not just be for show. Listen to the show for a breakdown and here's a link to the study if you want to read more. (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/video-gaming-as-a-child-related-to-improvements-in-memory#Surprising-results) If you enjoyed the podcast, please rate and subscribe, it helps us out a ton! New episodes Monday through Friday. For daily news hits on everything in the wider esports industry, check out the Esports Minute. (https://www.esportstopstories.com/) For more in-depth news check out our feature show the Esportz Network Podcast The Esports Network Podcast (https://www.esportznetworkpodcast.com/). Follow Mitch on Twitter @Mitch_Reames (https://twitter.com/Mitch_Reames) Follow Esportz Network on Twitter (https://twitter.com/EsportzNetwork), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/esportznetwork/), and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EsportzNetwork) @EsportzNetwork Or visit our website esportznetwork.com (https://www.esportznetwork.com/) for updates on what's to come!

Is our gender something we’re born with, or are we conditioned by society? In The End of Gender, neuroscientist and sexologist Dr. Debra Soh uses a research-based approach to address this hot-button topic, unmasking popular misconceptions about the nature vs. nurture debate and exploring what it means to be a woman or a man in today’s society. Shermer and Soh discuss: If you are transitioning to a different gender, but the word “gender” is largely meaningless biologically, then what are you transitioning to and what is the point of hormone therapy and surgery? the 1990s push to find biological basis of homosexuality so it’s not a “lifestyle choice” and how this trend has been recently reversed, the problem of putting ideology before science, cognitive creationism on the left (evolution from the neck down), why biology is not destiny, cancel culture, sex and gender, percentages of the population of LGBTQ, what you identify as vs. who you’re attracted to, individual behavior vs. collective labels, sexual orientation and gender identity, gender neutral parenting, gender dysphoria, men and women dating, trans bathrooms, prisons, and sports. Dr. Debra Soh is a neuroscientist who specializes in gender, sex, and sexual orientation. She received her doctorate from York University in Toronto and worked as an academic researcher for eleven years. Her writing has appeared in The Globe and Mail (Toronto), Harper’s Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, Scientific American, Playboy, Quillette, and many other publications. Her research has been published in academic journals including the Archives of Sexual Behavior and Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. As a journalist, Soh writes about the science and politics of human sexuality and gender, free speech, and censorship in academia. She lives in Toronto and divides her time between New York and Los Angeles. Follow her on Twitter at @DrDebraSoh and visit her website at DrDebraSoh.com.

What are the best frequencies to use for inducing sleep? Pink noise? White noise? Nature sounds? In one study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, researchers studied how pink noise affected sleep quality of 13 older adults between the ages of 60 and 84. The participants completed two sleep sessions—one where they listened to pink noise before sleep and one where no noise was played. I'll tell you what the research discovered and how you can try your own sleep inducing frequencies at home.  Start your sound healing journey for FREE at www.donovanhealth.com  

​Our guest today, DEAN RADIN, PhD, is Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Science (IONS), Distinguished Professor of Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), and a science adviser for several startup companies. His original career track as a concert violinist shifted into science after earning a BSEE degree in electrical engineering (magna cum laude and with honors in physics) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and then a Masters in electrical engineering and PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For a decade he worked on advanced R&D at AT&T Bell Laboratories and GTE Laboratories. For over three decades he has been engaged in research on the frontiers of consciousness. Before joining the research staff at IONS in 2001, he held appointments at Princeton University, University of Edinburgh, and SRI International (formerly known as Stanford [University] Research Institute). Find Dean Radin's personal website HERE And this is the LINK TO the Institute of Noetic Sciences  DEAN RADIN is author or coauthor of over 250 scientific, technical, and popular articles, four dozen book chapters, two technical books, and four popular books including the Scientific and Medical Network's 1997 book award, The Conscious Universe (HarperOne, 1997), Entangled Minds (Simon & Schuster, 2006), the 2014 Silver Nautilus Book Award, Supernormal (Random House, 2013), and Real Magic (Penguin Random House, 2018). Entangled Minds, Supernormal and Real Magic are available as paperback, e-books, and audio books. These books have been translated into Spanish, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Romanian, Latvian, Turkish, Czech, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Arabic. ​ DEAN RADIN'S 100+ academic articles appear in peer-reviewed scientific journals ranging from Foundations of Physics and Physics Essays to Psychological Bulletin, Psychology of Consciousness, and Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. He was featured in a New York Times Magazine feature article; and he has appeared on dozens of television programs around the world. His 500+ interviews and talks have included presentations at Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Columbia, Cambridge (England), Edinburgh (Scotland), The Sorbonne (Paris), University of Padova (Italy), and University of Allahabad (India) . His invited talks for industries have included Merck, Google, Johnson & Johnson, and Rabobank, and his government talks have included the US Navy and US Army, the Naval Postgraduate School, DARPA, the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (India), the International Center for Leadership and Governance (Malaysia), and the Australian Davos Connection (Australia). In 2017 he was named one of the 100 most inspiring people in the world by the German magazine, OOOM, and as of 2018 his filmography on IMDB lists 18 documentaries he's appeared in. Music played in this episode   Today we are happy to provide you with music by one of the listeners of the THOTH HERMES PODCAST! BRIAN LUCAS lives in Oakland, CA. He paints, writes, and plays with the bands Dire Wolves and Angel Archer, in addition to his solo work as Old Million Eye. You can find more information at www.brianlucas-art.com. Here is his bandcamp page for his solo albums THREE TRACKS FROM THE ALBUM "PRESENCE" 1) TRUE WOODS 2) SON OF SALT 3) WITHIN THE LEAVES (Track 1 starts at 8:40, Track 2 at 51:04, Track 3 at 1:32:58)     Intro and Outro Music especially written and recorded for the Thoth-H...

Learn about whether binaural beats are worth the hype; how Australian dingos evolved from domesticated animals; and how to navigate some unexpected consequences of talking about historical injustices. Are binaural beats worth the hype? by Andrea Michelson Binaural beats synchronize brain activity, don’t affect mood. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-02/sfn-bbs021120.php   ‌Smith, L. (2019, September 30). What are binaural beats, and how do they work? Medicalnewstoday.Com; Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320019   Perez, H. D. O., Dumas, G., & Lehmann, A. (2020). Binaural beats through the auditory pathway: from brainstem to connectivity patterns. Eneuro, ENEURO.0232-19.2020. https://doi.org/10.1523/eneuro.0232-19.2020   ‌López-Caballero, F., & Escera, C. (2017). Binaural Beat: A Failure to Enhance EEG Power and Emotional Arousal. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00557  Garcia-Argibay, M., Santed, M. A., & Reales, J. M. (2017). Binaural auditory beats affect long-term memory. Psychological Research, 83(6), 1124–1136. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-017-0959-2   Dingos descended from domesticated dogs by Cameron Duke Handwerk, B. (2018, August 15). How Accurate Is Alpha's Theory of Dog Domestication? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-wolves-really-became-dogs-180970014/  Smith, B. (2015). The Dingo Debate: Origins, Behaviour and Conservation. Csiro Publishing. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=j6omCgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Smith,+B.+(2015).+dingo+debate+-+origins,+behaviour+and+conservation.+Csiro+Publishing.&ots=3_mq6lMji_&sig=mZZsGU__kGJWWujADYBBwmemUA4#v=onepage&q=land%20bridge&f=false  KTH Royal Institute of Technology (2020, February 11). They were once domestic pets, then natural selection made dingoes wild. https://phys.org/news/2020-02-domestic-pets-natural-dingoes-wild.html  Zhang, S.-J., Wang, G.-D., Ma, P., Zhang, L.-L., Yin, T.-T., Liu, Y.-H., … Zhang, Y.-P. (2020). Genomic regions under selection in the feralization of the dingoes. Nature Communications, 11(1). doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-14515-6   Arendt, M., Cairns, K. M., Ballard, J. W. O., Savolainen, P., & Axelsson, E. (2016). Diet adaptation in dog reflects spread of prehistoric agriculture. Heredity, 117(5), 301–306. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2016.48   Bringing up historical injustices makes majority groups defensive, but there's a way around it  by Kelsey Donk Bringing Up Past Injustices Make Majority Groups Defensive. (2020, February 5). Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2020/02/research-bringing-up-past-injustices-make-majority-groups-defensive   Social identity theory | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica. (2020). In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-identity-theory   Hideg, I., & Wilson, A. E. (2020). History backfires: Reminders of past injustices against women undermine support for workplace policies promoting women. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 156, 176–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2019.10.001   Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://curiosity.im/podcast-flash-briefing

In this episode, I cover six things that I do or have done to help combat depression partially related to Ankylosing Spondylitis.  First I do a Question of the Week. A question listed online asked if stress could trigger a flair. I came across this https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/ankylosing-spondylitis/how-stress-affects-ankylosing-spondylitis/ (article) that discusses this very item. I also include some personal insight into this topic. I also discuss ways that I have tried to cope with depression. It never fails for me, that as the weather transitions from summer to fall here in Michigan, I get depression setting in. I HATE winter and with AS find everything I need to get done takes much longer. I found this https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/ankylosing-spondylitis-treatment-management/ways-cope-with-depression/ (article) that outlined some things I do to help combat depression. They are:  Exercise - My exercise is limited, but I know that when I do my stretches and pushups I feels better. Sleep Well – I have sleep apnea and have started using my CPAP more to help correct this. Get Educated – I started getting more information on depression, AS, and other topics that I knew would help to combat the “winter blahs”. Get Support – I've made a bigger attempt at reaching out to fellow AS Warriors to build up my support network. Manage Stress – You can pick any number of ways to manage stress. I like to use meditation and yoga. I put links below to YouTube videos on both topics. Seek mental health counseling – Please consult a professional if you find that you are not having luck with getting to a better spot mentally. Thank you very much for reading this and listening to the show. Yoga for people with arthritis - https://youtu.be/RJ8kQPSug0U (https://youtu.be/RJ8kQPSug0U) Meditation for Beginners -  https://youtu.be/F0jedwTzIJg (https://youtu.be/F0jedwTzIJg) See below for transcript: Welcome to this episode of The Ankylosing Spondylitis podcast. In today's episode I want to talk about or cover dealing with some ways of dealing with depression. It's beginning to be that time of year again, in the Northern Hemisphere where we roll into fall and then winter's coming. For me personally, that generally means the onset of depression, the days get shorter, the weather gets crappier and it's just an overall time that I don't particularly care for. I know I'm going to be cooped up more inside where I live. So for me, it's a time of year when I have to really make sure to consciously fight depression and not succumb to it.  I'll go over some of the things on fighting depression, but first on this episode I wanted to touch base with and do what I call the Question of the Week. I was going through the different forums on Facebook and I saw this question,does stress cause flares and make your AS worse? Well, I did a little bit of looking around. You know, with stress, we all have stress, you know, if you're working, you've got the stress of work and getting yourself there and just daily life and everything else. But if you have Ankylosing Spondylitis or any other type ofchronic condition on top of daily life, that can just be that extra push to cause many more or increased days of inflammation. One of the things looked at is, you know, AS which affects your spine can affect how you move, walk, feel anything because you use your spine all day long. There have been some that looked at the links between stress and inflammation, and there was a study in 2017, and I'll have all this in the show notes. So there was a study in the 2017 issue of Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, stress can activate inflammatory responses in the brain, which can lead to excessive inflammation. Well, that's bad. If we get excessive ventilation, then it can push or create a flare where maybe there wasn't a flare, stressful events or situations can trigger the body to activate the sympathetic nervous... Support this podcast

Dr. Paul J. Arciero (“Dr. Paul”), is a leading international nutrition and applied physiology scientist, keynote speaker, consultant, and Amazon #1 Best-Selling author. He has served as a performance physiology and nutrition expert for some of the nation’s most elite, including; Special Operation Forces soldiers (Green Berets), Olympic medalists, world-class professional athletes (National Hockey League, American Hockey League, boxing, cycling, and rowing), as well as thousands of collegiate, high school and masters athletes of all sports and fitness routines. He has been inducted as a Fellow of three leading health organizations in the world -- American College of Sports Medicine (FACSM), The Obesity Society (FTOS), and International Society of Sports Nutrition (FISSN). He serves as a Senior Consultant and Scientific Advisory Board member to the nutrition, fitness, and wellness industries and was appointed to the 15-member International Protein Board, composed of the leading protein scientists in the world. Dr. Paul is an expert in nutrition, fitness, and mind-body lifestyle interventions to optimize health and physical performance and has published more than 60 peer-reviewed research studies and 80 published abstracts on performance nutrition and exercise training in the world’s most respected science journals. His work has been published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Journal of Clinical Medicine, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, Frontiers in Physiology, American Journal of Physiology, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience and he created Protein Pacing® and the PRISE® Life Protocol. Dr. Paul has given more than 400 invited live interviews around the world and his work is extensively cited in medical publications by the American Heart Association, Duke Medicine Health News, Science Daily, as well as mainstream popular media. He has been referenced by The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, Prevention, Good Housekeeping, WebMD, O Magazine, TIME, Huffington Post, “Doctor Radio on XM/Sirius” and National Public Radio. Dr. Paul is President of Paul Arciero Consulting LLC, PRISE LLC and PRISEWell LLC, nutrition, fitness and wellness consulting companies that own the PRISE® App.   Links: Websites:   www.paularciero.com; www.priselife.com; www.prisewell.com Facebook: PRISE Life  Instagram | Twitter Dr. Paul’s Amazon #1 Best-Selling Book   For more info on the host, visit, www.drnikoleta.com and follow Dr. Nikoleta on Instagram @drnikoleta ! Resources: Join the Millennial Doc Community 20% off Medelita White Coat/Scrubs/Stethoscope (code:DRNIKOLETAW20) Website Want a chance to win a $50 LuluLemon Gift Card? Click Here to leave a review on Apple Podcasts  Take a screenshot of your review! Email your screenshot to info@drnikoleta.com Let’s connect on social media! Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin

When you need a soon-to-be doctor of Computer Science and Cognitive Science to confirm what experience has taught you, it’s nice to know one as kind and astute as Vasanth Sarathy. A doctoral candidate at Tufts University, Sarathy has conducted several research studies on the value of real-world problem solving. One of them caught the eye of Julia Griffin and Terry Dubow, who invited him to share his research and insights. It turns out that neuroscience can tell us a lot about the value of using unscripted and authentic problems to propel student learning. If you want to learn more about Sarathy’s research, watch his TED talk and read the article in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience that started this conversation.

What is that you want to achieve in life? How do you want to live your life? These are the questions at the core of Dr Paul Arciero’s work into helping people live longer, and live healthier. Shan interviews Dr Arciero about his newly released book ‘The Protein Pacing Diet’, on how he came into the field following a career as an athlete, and why taking time out for yourself each day can add seven years to your life. If you’re looking for practical key strategies for improving your overall health from nutrition, to emotional wellbeing this is the episode for you.   Key Takeaways How did you get into this area? I grew up in a close-knit large Italian family. Early on I had a really close connection with my family. When I first saw my parents and grandparents getting ill, it hit me hard. I knew then, that I wanted to go into a career where I was helping people live a healthier life.   My grandmother suffered from heart disease. There were things that she could have changed that would have helped her health like being a little bit more active. My grandfather developed type two diabetes, a disease where lifestyle is a contributing factor. Consequently, as an adult researcher, my focus has been on diabetes and heart disease.   Taking time alone for yourself each day. One of the biggest factors in terms of gaining high blood pressure is stress, so even a five minute daily ‘body-visit’ which can be prayer or mindfulness can be effective in reducing your blood pressure. Even 15-20 minutes outside in nature can reduce your cortisol levels, without even moving. Of all of our lifestyle choices diet is the biggest factor but simple things like being in nature can help.   I was not a good student growing up. I was held back twice until I went to middle school. I had to find something that I could create self-worth around. Just out of survival I gravitated towards using my physical body. It led to having a positive connection to my dad through Hockey. With my mum, the connection was through gardening which was physical as well as connected to food.   What were the specific things that you were doing that other athlete’s weren’t? For me, it was the way I trained in a multidisciplinary way, as a lot of people were training in relation to quantity back then. More and more cardio or more and more weights rather than stretching for example. I was exposed to things like yoga early on, in the ’70s, which was almost unheard of back then. I very much focused on the quality of the experience in training. So I would take the time to have a yoga session while I was a Tennis player.   There are around four exercises that you should be doing to improve your health. Engage in some sort of resistance training, which can be anything from weights to modified exercises. Completing some higher intensity exercise where you push yourself a little further than you would do normally, for a short space of time, including a full recovery for 4-5 minutes. The third is stretching, so this could be Yoga or a different modified form. Our bodies are nothing more than a series of pulleys and levers. This is more important as you get older and when you do more exercise. The fourth is endurance exercise, such as a bike ride, or swim. There is great research to back up doing every one of these areas.   The majority of people know exactly what they need to do to be healthier. This isn’t motivating, however, finding something that is motivating can be difficult. We have to make sure that we focus on what motivates us. What is that people want to achieve and do in their life?   Why would someone consider going into the Prise Life Programme? I’m a scientist and want to go into something based on data. I want to provide information to people to help, that is based on facts. There is so much anecdotal information that is not based on facts or research. Starting with things that are scientifically proven is a good starting point. This approach to comprehensive not compartmentalised. Some have a nutritional component, and others have an exercise but not emotional well-being. This is an overarching approach to wellbeing.   Any pyramid structure has a great foundation and everything else is built on it. The protein pacing lifestyle is the process of consuming high-quality protein from plant and animal sources at certain intervals in the day. Protein is the most vital and important area of nutrition. This isn’t a high-protein diet, it’s about eating the right amount and the right quality of protein. Timing of when you are consuming is important. Our bodies work best when we consume it every 3-4 hours and the amounts should be 20-40g of servings. This is critical as it's based on science.   Best Moments ‘We developed this close-knit family.’ ‘It hit me hard when I first saw my parents and grandparents get ill.’ ‘I want to help others live a healthier life.’ ‘This raw gut feeling that these people I really love, and their struggling.’ ‘The heart is a fascinating organ.’ ‘Caffeine is a known stressor on our blood pressure.’ ‘We are exposing ourselves to things we aren’t aware of that can impact our health.’ ‘I’m on a mission to help people create easy lifestyle.’ ‘We have to keep it simple for people.’ ‘Stress is a big factor in high blood pressure.’ ‘A five-minute break, mindfulness can be an effective way of reducing blood pressure.’ ‘Just being in nature can be great for you.’ ‘I found an identity in my physical body.’ ‘I found a connection with my mom through gardening.’ ‘All of a sudden, some people were asking me as the expert how to train properly.’ ‘It was so much meaningful helping others as a life purpose.’ ‘I focused on the quality, and multidisciplinary approach to training.’ ‘It’s important to adapt your exercises to you.’ ‘Start off with something easy on your body like walking.’ ‘Make sure it’s something sustainable.’ ‘Variety is really important for people in terms of exercise.’ ‘Put people in more in touch with the life that they want to live.’ ‘Do things that are sustainable and you find fun.’ ‘Make sure all the things that you take on board in terms of advice is based on evidence.’ ‘I think we have compartmentalized too much.’ ‘I’ve been able to create a wellbeing lifestyle with a nutritional, physical and emotional that work  in synergy.’ ‘Protein is the most important aspect of nutrition.’ ‘The brain is a really major consumer of high-quality protein.’ ‘Nuritioning your body that makes you feel good.’   Valuable Resources Buy ‘The Protein Pacing Diet’ here www.paularciero.com   ABOUT THE HOST Dr Shan Hussain is an author, general practitioner, health coach, wellness advisor and ambassador to the World Health Innovation Summit. As Founder of The Health Studio and a medical doctor of 18 years, he has a special interest in health promotion and disease prevention. He works with individuals and organisations to help naturally improve health in a sustainable, holistic manner. Dr Hussain has developed several coaching and mentorship programmes designed to help reverse the symptoms of many stress-related health problems. His best-selling book, 'The Big Prescription' serves as a guide for readers to learn about evidence-based holistic health practices that create the foundation of his work. HOST CONTACT METHOD Dr Shan Hussain • Connect with Dr Shan Hussain through his website at http://www.thehealthstudio.net. • If you would like to support our Podcast, please visit our Patreon page at www.patreon.com/enduringhealth ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Paul J. Arciero is a leading international nutrition and applied physiology scientist, keynote speaker, consultant, and author. He has served as a performance physiology and nutrition expert for some of the nation’s most elite, including; Special Operation Forces soldiers (Green Berets), Olympic medalists, world-class professional athletes (National Hockey League, American Hockey League, boxing, cycling, and rowing), as well as thousands of collegiate, high school and masters athletes of all sports and fitness routines.   He’s been inducted as a Fellow of three leading health organizations in the world -- American College of Sports Medicine, The Obesity Society, and International Society of Sports Nutrition. He serves as a Senior Consultant and Scientific Advisory Board member to the nutrition, fitness, and wellness industries and was appointed to the 15-member International Protein Board, composed of the leading protein scientists in the world.   Dr. Paul is an expert in nutrition, fitness, and mind-body lifestyle interventions to optimize health and physical performance and has published more than 60 peer-reviewed research studies and 80 published abstracts on performance nutrition and exercise training in the world’s most respected scientific journals. His work has been published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Journal of Clinical Medicine, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, Frontiers in Physiology, American Journal of Physiology, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience and he created Protein Pacing® and the PRISE® Life Protocol.   GUEST CONTACT METHOD For more information about Dr. Paul visit: www.paularciero.com; www.priselife.com; www.prisewell.com, and on Facebook, PRISE Life; Twitter, @paularciero; and Instagram, @drpaularciero. Support the show.

In queste settimane ho parlato molto di quanto sia importante la meditazione mindfulness per migliorare la nostra gestione dello stress da Public Speaking.Già, ma in che modo la meditazione mindfulness può cambiare effettivamente il nostro cervello? Numerosi studi dimostrano che le esperienze possono modificare nel corso del tempo la struttura cerebrale, sulla base delle nostre esperienze, processo che in ambito neuroscientifico prende il nome di "neuroplasticità". In particolare, alcuni studi dimostrano che praticare la meditazione mindfulness può ridurre le dimensioni dell'amigdala (una ghiandola posta all'interno del sistema limbico, una delle aree centrali nel cervello, in grado di determinare la nostra risposta emotiva, in particolare quella legata alla paura), e ispessire la corteccia prefrontale, determinante in alcune attività cosiddette "superiori", tra cui la razionalità e le capacità attentive.Attraverso una sintesi della "teoria dei tre cervelli" di Paul MacLean, l'utilizzo di un modellino e una breve rassegna di studi, in questa puntata - tratta dal mio intervento di venerdì alla Casa della Psicologia dell'Ordine degli Psicologi della Lombardia - racconto come la meditazione è in grado di modificare il nostro cervello.Fonti: - Taren AA, Creswell JD, Gianaros PJ (2013) Dispositional Mindfulness Co-Varies with Smaller Amygdala and Caudate Volumes in Community Adults. PLoS ONE 8(5): e64574.- Lazar SW, Kerr C, Wasserman RH, Gray JR, Greve D, et al. (2005) Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness. NeuroReport 16: 1893–1897.- Eileen Luders, Florian Kurth, Emeran A. Mayer, Arthur W. Toga, Katherine L. Narr, Christian Gaser. The Unique Brain Anatomy of Meditation Practitioners: Alterations in Cortical Gyrification. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2012**************************************Se vuoi sapere chi sono, qui trovi la mia bio completa:► http://www.parlarealmicrofono.it/patrickfacciolo► Se vuoi scoprire i miei libri, li trovi qui:https://www.amazon.it/Patrick-Facciolo/e/B075HH6R4G/Se ti appassionano i temi del Public Speaking, puoi iscriverti alla mia newsletter settimanale: ► http://www.parlarealmicrofono.it/newsletterSe vuoi ricevere gratuitamente tutti i giorni una mia nota vocale sui temi della comunicazione, ti aspetto sul mio canale Telegram:► https://t.me/PublicSpeakingProfessionaleSe vuoi vedere i miei video, li trovi sul mio canale YouTube:► https://www.youtube.com/user/ParlarealmicrofonoSe vuoi ascoltare la mia web radio tematica in cui parlo di comunicazione assieme a tanti ospiti, puoi seguire Radio Linguaggio, in onda 24h/24:► http://www.parlarealmicrofono.it/radioSe vuoi portare un mio corso nella tua azienda o pianificare una formazione individuale a Milano e in tutta Italia, qui trovi tutte le informazioni:► http://www.parlarealmicrofono.it/corso-public-speaking-milanoPuoi anche contattarmi direttamente via email all’indirizzo patrick@parlarealmicrofono.it

In queste settimane ho parlato molto di quanto sia importante la meditazione mindfulness per migliorare la nostra gestione dello stress da Public Speaking.Già, ma in che modo la meditazione mindfulness può cambiare effettivamente il nostro cervello? Numerosi studi dimostrano che le esperienze possono modificare nel corso del tempo la struttura cerebrale, sulla base delle nostre esperienze, processo che in ambito neuroscientifico prende il nome di "neuroplasticità". In particolare, alcuni studi dimostrano che praticare la meditazione mindfulness può ridurre le dimensioni dell'amigdala (una ghiandola posta all'interno del sistema limbico, una delle aree centrali nel cervello, in grado di determinare la nostra risposta emotiva, in particolare quella legata alla paura), e ispessire la corteccia prefrontale, determinante in alcune attività cosiddette "superiori", tra cui la razionalità e le capacità attentive.Attraverso una sintesi della "teoria dei tre cervelli" di Paul MacLean, l'utilizzo di un modellino e una breve rassegna di studi, in questa puntata - tratta dal mio intervento di venerdì alla Casa della Psicologia dell'Ordine degli Psicologi della Lombardia - racconto come la meditazione è in grado di modificare il nostro cervello.Fonti: - Taren AA, Creswell JD, Gianaros PJ (2013) Dispositional Mindfulness Co-Varies with Smaller Amygdala and Caudate Volumes in Community Adults. PLoS ONE 8(5): e64574.- Lazar SW, Kerr C, Wasserman RH, Gray JR, Greve D, et al. (2005) Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness. NeuroReport 16: 1893–1897.- Eileen Luders, Florian Kurth, Emeran A. Mayer, Arthur W. Toga, Katherine L. Narr, Christian Gaser. The Unique Brain Anatomy of Meditation Practitioners: Alterations in Cortical Gyrification. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2012**************************************Se vuoi sapere chi sono, qui trovi la mia bio completa:► http://www.parlarealmicrofono.it/patrickfacciolo► Se vuoi scoprire i miei libri, li trovi qui:https://www.amazon.it/Patrick-Facciolo/e/B075HH6R4G/Se ti appassionano i temi del Public Speaking, puoi iscriverti alla mia newsletter settimanale: ► http://www.parlarealmicrofono.it/newsletterSe vuoi ricevere gratuitamente tutti i giorni una mia nota vocale sui temi della comunicazione, ti aspetto sul mio canale Telegram:► https://t.me/PublicSpeakingProfessionaleSe vuoi vedere i miei video, li trovi sul mio canale YouTube:► https://www.youtube.com/user/ParlarealmicrofonoSe vuoi ascoltare la mia web radio tematica in cui parlo di comunicazione assieme a tanti ospiti, puoi seguire Radio Linguaggio, in onda 24h/24:► http://www.parlarealmicrofono.it/radioSe vuoi portare un mio corso nella tua azienda o pianificare una formazione individuale a Milano e in tutta Italia, qui trovi tutte le informazioni:► http://www.parlarealmicrofono.it/corso-public-speaking-milanoPuoi anche contattarmi direttamente via email all’indirizzo patrick@parlarealmicrofono.it

Summary:Humans experience and observe some of the most extravagant wonders and marvelous sights the world has to offer using the sense many of us sometimes take for granted ; Vision! How do eyes work? What role does the brain play in all of it ? Can we trust what we see ? Find out in this week’s episode of the neuroscience podcast. Quite literally, there is more than meets the eye!References:Bokkon, I. (2009). Visual perception and imagery: A new molecular hypothesis. Biosystems, 96(2), 178-184. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystems.2009.01.005Collerton D., Dudley R., Mosimann U.P. (2012) Visual Hallucinations. In: Blom J., Sommer I. (eds) Hallucinations. Springer, New York, NY. Retrieved from https://link-springer com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4614-0959-5_6#citeasDubuc, B. (n.d.). The Brain from Top to Bottom: The Retina. Retrieved from http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_02/i_02_cl/i_02_cl_vis/i_02_cl_vis.htmlEagleman, D. M. (2001). Visual illusions and neurobiology. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2(12), 920-926. doi:10.1038/35104092 http://tinyurl.com/yarpmdfhGrossberg, S. (2014). How visual illusions illuminate complementary brain processes: Illusory depth from brightness and apparent motion of illusory contours. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 854 http://tinyurl.com/y82ct4awKloosterman, N. A., Meindertsma, T., van Loon, A. M., Lamme, V. A. F., Bonneh, Y. S., & Donner, T. H. (2015). Pupil size tracks perceptual content and surprise in a visual illusion. European Journal of Neuroscience, 41, 1068-1078. http://tinyurl.com/y7xbzubkKo, H., Cossell, L., Baragli, C., Antolik, J., Clopath, C., Hofer, S. B., & Mrsic-Flogel, T. D. (2013). The emergence of functional microcircuits in visual cortex. Nature, 496(7443), 96-100. doi:10.1038/nature12015 http://tinyurl.com/yb4dmw78Manford, M., & Andermann, F. (1998). Complex visual hallucinations. Clinical and neurobiological insights. BRAIN, 121(10), 1819-1840. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/121.10.1819Moffit, M., Brown, G., Salt, R., Simmons, M., & Ghebrehiwot, S. (Directors). (2017, May 4). Your Brain on LSD and Acid [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG5JyorwYPoPfeffer, C. K., Xue, M., He, M., Huang, Z. J., & Scanziani, M. (2013). Inhibition of inhibition in visual cortex: The logic of connections between molecularly distinct interneurons. Nature Neuroscience, 16(8), 1068-1076. doi:10.1038/nn.3446Roseman, L., Sereno, M. I., Leech, R., Kaelen, M., Orban, C., McGonigle, J., . . . Carhart-Harris, R. L. (2016). LSD alters eyes‐closed functional connectivity within the early visual cortex in a retinotopic fashion. Human Brain Mapping, 37(8), 3031-3040. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.23224Saleem, A. B., Ayaz, A., Jeffery, K. J., Harris, K. D., & Carandini, M. (2013). Integration of visual motion and locomotion in mouse visual cortex. Nature Neuroscience, 16(12), 1864-1869. doi:10.1038/nn.3567 http://tinyurl.com/ycl2wa6eSchmidt, F., Weber, A., & Haberkamp, A. (2016). Dissociating early and late visual processing via the ebbinghaus illusion. Visual Neuroscience, 33, E016. doi:10.1017/S0952523816000134 http://tinyurl.com/ycrsxyzbSerences, J. T., Ester, E. F., Vogel, E. K., & Awh, E. (2009). Stimulus-specific delay activity in human primary visual cortex. Psychological Science, 20(2), 207-214. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02276.x http://tinyurl.com/y7fw92vyVollenweider F. X. (2001). Brain mechanisms of hallucinogens and entactogens. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 3(4), 265-79. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181663/Other Resources:National Eye Institute (NIH) (Director). (2016, February 3). The Visual System: How Your Eyes Work [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3_n3Ibfn1cHasudungan, A. (Director). (2016, May 24). Visual Pathway and Lesions [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG5ZuK0_qtcNIH: National Eye Institute. (2015, December). Facts About Retinitis Pigmentosa. Retrieve from https://nei.nih.gov/health/pigmentosa/pigmentosa_factsAlliance for Aging Research (Director). (2016, September 9). Taking a Closer Look at Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUnLaG-XlDE

This lecture was given for the Harvard Medical School Chapter on November 6th, 2018. Speaker Bio: Daniel De Haan is a Research Fellow in Natural Theology at the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion and the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford. Before coming to Oxford he was a postdoctoral fellow working on the neuroscience strand of the Templeton World Charity Foundation’s Theology, Philosophy of Religion, and the Sciences project at the University of Cambridge. He has a doctorate in philosophy from the Catholic University of Leuven and University of St Thomas in Texas. His research focuses on philosophical anthropology and the sciences, natural theology, and the thought of Thomas Aquinas. More information on upcoming events can be found on our website: thomisticinstitute.org

Special Guest:  Richard E. Boyatzis, Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor, Departments of Organizational Behavior, Psychology, and Cognitive Science and H.R. Horvitz Chair of Family Business, Case Western Reserve University Creator of Intentional Change Theory (ICT) Most Influential International Thinker, HR Magazine (2014) Author of more than 175 articles and 7 books, including Primal Leadership and Resonant Leadership Highlights from the Podcast: A recent study on motivation and retention, involving 1,800 MBA grads two years into their work, found that salary & benefits were the 7th reason they stayed at their job.  The first 6 all had to do with novelty and learning!  Development is very important if you want people to use their talent and to stay.   People are not looking at their job as a transaction anymore.  Training is not typically effective, especially in high power distance cultures, so coaching is the answer. Richard defines coaching as helping other people move toward their ideal self or personal vision.  Coaching in business has been around since the 60’s (not a new fad as some believe)  – and it is all about helping.  Coaching is desired….but not always effective!  His personal studies have shown that 70% - 80% of managers are not adding value in this space…..and that includes CEOs.  The Coaching Research Lab at Case Western Reserve focuses on these 3 coaching client outcomes – (1) the person articulates or reframes their personal vision (2) helping someone’s behavior change in the way they want to and (3) helping them build better relationships with their coach and other people so they can continue to grow, develop and innovate.  If you want to know more about the research they are doing, follow this link: https://weatherhead.case.edu/departments/organizational-behavior/coaching-research/ Neuroimaging studies are showing how important personal visioning is because when someone dreams, not set goals, it activates the default mode network.  It dramatically activates the visual lateral cortex, which is the part of the brain engaged when you are imagining things.  These studies helped show us that problem solving coaching doesn’t work if you start with that and don’t get people to think about their personal vision first.  If you only focus on solving a problem, you will not get behavior change. Understanding your personal vision is critical to making change last.  In the Intentional Change Theory he developed, he said to sustain desired change – you have to want to change – not do it for someone else or because you think you should.   It starts with you – you have to really want to change. We are dismally poor in knowing how we are coming across to others – this is where a coach can help a lot.  In addition, a coach can help you set your personal vision – identifying your ideal self by pulling out your dreams.  I asked Richard what his dream was and he said his purpose is to help liberate people in terms of their dreams, individually or collectively – to help them find their shared vision in a way that energizes them. What is one thing you can do today?  People in organizations spend time thinking about being more effective….and that is appropriate, but you shouldn’t think about it so much that you are not thinking about how to adapt and innovate.  These two tasks take place in different parts of the brain.  Learning to have more balance / more flexibility is one thing that is key.  The more narrow you are, the worse off you are.  How do you become less narrow and more innovative?  Talk to people who care about you, who have comparable interests and who see the world differently from you to get the diversity you need.  Build relationships that have more caring in them because that is what is going to last.   Executives don’t do the work, their job is to inspire others to do the work and you can’t inspire others unless you are inspired yourself and care about other people. For a free copy of Richard and his team’s latest paper on antagonistic neural networks and leadership in Frontiers: http://www.frontiersin.org/Journal/Abstract.aspx?s=537&name=human_neuroscience&ART_DOI=10.3389/fnhum.2014.00114&utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&journalName=Frontiers_in_Human_Neuroscience&id=79428 Your Host:  Jill Windelspecht, President of Talent Specialists Consulting, is an executive coach, speaker and consultant who works with leaders like you, across the globe, to grow themselves, their team and their organization.  It is all about People….Science….Purpose.  Dedicated to helping people, leveraging neuroscience and social science to help leaders and organizations find their purpose.  www.talentspecialists.net, jillwindel@talentspecialists.net  

Jim Goetz Dr. Mike Brandon Chantea Goetz   The big announcement is that our BiohackHumans website now has an Insiders Only Section. Be the first to see world class workout programs, high quality recipes, videos, how Dr. Mike Brandon lost 30 lbs in 5 days step by step and m uch much more!!!!    New Theories Behind The Real Cause of Lymes Disease and Possible Natural Treatments Jim Goetz   Since the 1970's in the town of Lymes, Connecticut, individuals have been coming down with a mysterious illness diagnosed as many things. The symptoms are pretty much the same. They include: fatigue, muscle pain, weakness, twitching, spasms, restless leg syndrome, mental fog, joint pain, swelling, and tingling in the extremities. (These symptoms sounds seriously like every night after my three times per day workouts). Because of the grouping of symptoms, health officials believed they needed to find the cause of this new "disease". A few years later, an individual who had these symptoms stated they reported having a tick on them a few weeks prior to the symptoms occurring. Researchers found this specific type of tick to carry the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and "hallejuia" an answer was found (though it was based on mere observation). Lymes has traditionally been treated by using a very large dose full spectrum anti-biotic. Patients often get better at first giving doctors the impression that the drugs are working. This is called a Herxheimer reaction. That is symptoms reverse. Now with this dose of antibiotics, your body is also losing beneficial bacteria that your body needs to function and yes, even think. Unfortunately antibiotics at times casue viruses to strengthen. In this case, this is true.  Recently there has been some speculation that Lymes disease is also caused by other bacteria such as Bartonella or parasites such as Babesia. None of these however or Borrelia actually seem to be responsible for the actual symptoms of Lymes disease. Someone may test positive for one of these bacteria or parasites and have Lymes disease but this again may only be another observational study and the two may have nothing to do with another. This is like someone observing an individual with a cold having eaten a pizza just the day prior and no other foods. Therefore colds must be caused by pizza. This simply is not the truth.  The symptoms of Lymes disease are the same as those who have Epstein-Barr, HHV-6 and it's varous strains. Some also test positive for cytomegalo virus. These are all viruses!!! Exactly!!!!! Lymes disease may actually be a virus that most of us have that is actually triggered by events in life.  All of these items in some way or another lower ones immune response. As a result, a dormant virus can take over. These possible causes include (but not limited to: -mold -mercury based dental mamlgam fillings -mercury in general -emotional events such as the loss of a loved one or traumatic event -bites or stings -virus enabling prescripton medications (see benzodiazepines) -overprescribed medications -recreational drug abuse -overly stressful chronic situations such as finances -lack of sleep -poor nutrition -chemicals in ones environment such as carpets or carpet cleaning products, paint, etc. -runoff -swimming (chlorine is highly toxic in pools as are red algae blooms in the ocean)   Some natural treatments include but are not limited to: -thyme (kills viruses on contact). I often use this in a diffuser and breathe it in the room, especially in fall and winter. I have no proof it works but know I do not get sick often. -lemon balm (kills co-factors of viruses). It's also naturally soothing and used in many good bed time/ relaxation formuals. -zinc (lowers inflammation and may raise immune levels) If you put a zinc losenger in your mouth though and it tastes highly metallic, your zinc levels may already be normal and therefore risk toxicity. -licorice root (impairs viral movement and ability to reproduce) -L-lysine (same as licorice root). However, L-lysine is used during herpes outbreaks as it appears to be directly inverse to L-Arginine, a vasodialator. L- Arginine and foods containing this amino acid are to be avoided during times of outbreaks. -Lomatium root (removes pathogens from the body). -reishi mushrooms (increases lymphocytes, and neutrophils, which are white blood cells responsible for immune function). -silver hydrosol (kills viruses on contact) -astaxanthin (restores neurological function) This is found in krill supplements and Green Vibrance. Both area a staple in the diet of the madscientist himself. -nascent iodine (strengthens the encocrine system)   Swing Away Depression and Anxiety Dr. Mike Brandon Jumping on a trampoline, swinging in the park, running in circles, and rolling down hills may sound like a day's summer schedule for a child, but what about as a way to help combat depression, anxiety, and memory deficits in us all. Our body's vestibular system is what helps us with our balance and equilibrium and allows us to do things like walking and standing upright, standing on one leg, walk across a tight rope etc. The majority of this system is small structures buried within our ears which works with our eyes and specific regions of our brain. It gets strengthened via body and head movements like rolling, jumping, spinning, and so forth. We rarely think about it unless there's an issue like becoming dizzy or losing balance, but clearly this system is important for us. Could you imagine trying to go through a day without being able to walk 10 feet without falling to the side? Science has found however that having a healthy balancing system may also help with stress, anxiety and depression. It appears that having vestibular dysfunction, like dizziness or vertigo, can cause increased anxiety and stress, and even the reverse with having excess stress or anxiety disorders could cause dizziness or vertigo. So clearly they are related, but why does that matter?​ There was a study that took college students and gave them “swing time” every day, meaning they literally went to a park, sat on a swing and swung back and forth for a while. This caused all participants to have a positive change on their emotional state with depression, stress, and anxiety. This led me to think about children and the importance of recess. Its been over the news the past few years when it was shown that increased play time increased academic performance. This could be a big part as to why. Children's brains are still developing, so having kids “just be kids” and run, roll, and jump, is quite important so they have a better chance at staying happy and coping with the stress that inevitably arises in life. Currently, kids don't play as much as they used to due to tv, video games, and similar activities, so their vestibular system which is linked to strong emotional control and satisfaction may not get fully developed. Add to that then how most of us as adults live rather sedentary lives and sit most of the day, so we aren't strengthening our equilibrium and balance systems either. The good news is, that it appears that even as adults we can help ourselves by “just being a kid”.  So maybe I wouldn't advice grandpa to go hop on a merry-go-round or start doing flips on the trampoline, but gently rocking in a chair or standing on a wobble board for a while may help his occasional panic attacks or make him smile a bit more. It shouldn't be surprising then that most people enjoy things such as swinging and spinning. Everybody wants to stay young, and though we have yet to biohack a secret for that, there's clearly benefits by following a child's example in this case. So go make yourself a little dizzy, a little happy, and as always, BioHack on!   References: Dalton, S. (2016, May 11). Youth Fitness: Exercise Helps Children Excel in School. Retrieved June 16, 2017, from http://www.healthline.com/health/youth-fitness-exercise-helps-children-excel-school#5 Eisenbarth, C. A. (2013). Influence of Optimism on Appraised Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Among College Students. Journal of Psychology Research, 3(6), 295-297. doi:10.17265/2159-5542/2013.06.003  Gurvich C., Maller J. J., Lithgow B., Haghgooie S., Kulkarni J. (2013, in press). Vestibular insights into cognition and psychiatry. Brain Res. [Epub ahead of print]. 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.08.058  Halberstadt A. L., Balaban C. D. (2006). Serotonergic and nonserotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus send collateralized projections to both the vestibular nuclei and the central amygdaloid nucleus. Neuroscience 140, 1067–1077 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2006.02.053  Mukkadan, J., Rajagopalan, A., Jinu, K., Sailesh, K., Mishra, S., & Reddy, U. (2017). Understanding the links between vestibular and limbic systems regulating emotions. Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine, 8(1), 11. doi:10.4103/0976-9668.198350  Smith, P. F., & Darlington, C. L. (2013). Personality changes in patients with vestibular dysfunction. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00678    biohackhumans.com   Find us: Instagram (@biohackhumans)  Facebook (@biohackhumans) Twitter (@biohackhumans) Tumblr (@biohackhumans)   Contact Us: support@biohackhumans.com

“Social and Emotional Learning” is all the rage in school these days, along with claims that it can help children to manage their emotions, make responsible decisions, as well as improve academic outcomes. But what if those programs don’t go nearly far enough? What if we could support our child in developing a sense of compassion that acts as a moral compass to not only display compassion toward others, but also to pursue those things in life that have been demonstrated – through research – to make us happy?  And what if we could do that by supporting them in reading cues they already feel in their own bodies, and that we ordinarily train out of them at a young age? Dr. Brendan Ozawa-de Silva, Associate Director for the Emory University’s Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics, tells us about his work to bring secular ethics, which he calls the cultivation of basic human values, into education and society Learn more about Breandan’s work here: www.compassion.emory.edu (http://www.compassion.emory.edu/) https://www.facebook.com/emoryseelearning/ (https://www.facebook.com/emoryseelearning/)   We also mentioned the Yale University course The Psychology of Wellbeing, which is available on Coursera here (https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being?action=enroll) .     References Desbordes, G., Negi, L.T., Pace, T.W.W., Wallace, B.A., Raison, C.L., & Schwartz, E.L. (2012). Effects of mindful-attention and compassion medication training on amygdala response to emotional stimuli in an ordinary, non-meditative state. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 6(1), 1-15. Frey, K.S., Nolen, S.B., Edstrom, L.V., & Hirschstein, M.K. (2005). Effects of a school-based social-emotional competence program: Linking children’s goals, attributions, and behavior. Applied Developmental Psychology 26, 171-200. Lantieri, L., & Nambiar, M. (2012). Cultivating the social, emotional, and inner lives of children and teachers. Reclaiming Children and Youth 21(2), 27-33. Maloney, J.E., Lawlor, M.S., Schonert-Reichl, K.A., & Whitehead, J. (2016). A mindfulness-based social and emotional learning curriculum for school-aged children: The MindUP program. In K.A. Schoenert-Reichl & R.W. Roeser (Eds.), Handbook of mindfulness in education (pp.313-334). New York, NY: Springer. Ozawa-de Silva, B., & Dodson-Lavelle, B. (2011). An education of heart and mind: Practical and theoretical issues in teaching cognitive-based compassion training to children. Practical Matters 4, 1-28. Pace, T.W.W., Negi, L.T., Adame, D.D., Cole, S.P., Sivilli, T.I., Brown, T.D., Issa, M.J., & Raison, C.L. (2009). Effect of compassion meditation on neuroendocrine, innate immune and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology 34, 87-98. Rovelli, C. (2017). Reality is not what it seems: The journey to quantum gravity. New York, NY: Riverhead.   (#)   Transcript Jen:                                      (https://www.temi.com/editor/t/CtArDWTJTr_TJXjD1LMJzeENQgF4xHVcc93PJwVl4Z-fqhVDtmZT_FH7JsZ2dVYMfu2r2eUQUd3fLKHmKoEPyKzZb7g?loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&ts=40.68)                    Hello and welcome to today’s episode of Your Parenting Mojo, which is on the topic of compassion. I actually need to thank Dr Tara Callahan, whom I interviewed way back in episode four of the show on encouraging creativity and artistic ability for bringing us this episode. She met today’s guest Dr Brendan Ozawa-de Silva at a conference and was kind enough to put us in touch. Dr Ozawa-de Silva is the Associate Director for the Emory University Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics, where he’s responsible for Emory’s Social, Emotional, and Ethical learning program, or SEE Learning; a worldwide kindergarten through twelfth grade...

What is "pain"? Does pain mean tissue damage? Can we, or should we, treat pain directly? Does the approach change in acute versus chronic cases? In this episode, we attempt to talk through the complex topic of pain science, as it relates to clinical application. Logic of Rehab pain science blog:goo.gl/f9PZG6 Peer-Reviewed References:Williams AC. Craig KD. Updating the definition of pain. Pain. 2016.Hauck M et al. Top-down and bottom-up modulation of pain-induced oscillations. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2015Smith BE. et al. Should exercises be painful in the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis. BJSM. 2017Sullivan MJL. et al. The influence of communication goals and physical demands on different dimensions of pain behavior. Pain. 2006 For resources and education in the fields of sports medicine, athletic rehabilitation, and performance:www.clinicalathlete.com

What is "pain"? Does pain mean tissue damage? Can we, or should we, treat pain directly? Does the approach change in acute versus chronic cases? In this episode, we attempt to talk through the complex topic of pain science, as it relates to clinical application. Logic of Rehab pain science blog:goo.gl/f9PZG6 (https://exit.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2Ff9PZG6) Peer-Reviewed References:Williams AC. Craig KD. Updating the definition of pain. Pain. 2016.Hauck M et al. Top-down and bottom-up modulation of pain-induced oscillations. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2015Smith BE. et al. Should exercises be painful in the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis. BJSM. 2017Sullivan MJL. et al. The influence of communication goals and physical demands on different dimensions of pain behavior. Pain. 2006 For resources and education in the fields of sports medicine, athletic rehabilitation, and performance:www.clinicalathlete.com (https://exit.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.clinicalathlete.com)

MEDITATION: IT’S NOT ALL HIPPIES AND PATCHOULI – Why It Matters To Both Your Health AND Bottom Line Links: 7 Types of Meditation (there are many more) https://visualmeditation.co/7-types-of-meditation/ 23 Types of Meditation (there are many more) http://liveanddare.com/types-of-meditation/ Summary of Meditation Types and Practices http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/03/24/types-of-meditation-extensive-list-of-techniques/ Summary of Meditation Effects on Brain: https://psychcentral.com/news/2014/05/19/how-different-types-of-meditation-affect-the-brain/70052.html More on the practice and science of meditation http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2016/09/how-to-meditate/ Resources: Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill. Matthieu Ricard. Little, Brown, 2006. Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence. Antoine Lutz et al. in Journal of Neuroscience. Vol. 29, No. 42, pages 13,418–13,427; October 21, 2009. Mind Wandering and Attention during Focused Meditation: A Fine-Grained Temporal Analysis of Fluctuating Cognitive States. Wendy Hasenkamp et al. in NeuroImage, Vol. 59, No. 1, pages 750–760; January 2, 2012. FROM OUR ARCHIVES The Physiology of Meditation. Robert Keith Wallace and Herbert Benson; February 1972. SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN ONLINE Watch talks by Davidson and Ricard at http://ScientificAmerican.com/nov2014/meditation Intro: Broad categories or types of meditation Specific practices Science of meditation How to choose and why Example Creative meditation techniques enable us to consciously cultivate and strengthen specific qualities of mind. Patience, appreciation, sympathetic joy, gratitude, love, compassion, fearlessness, humility, tenderness, and other qualities associated with aspects of nature, Divinity, or the natural world are among the attributes that are most commonly cultivated. Creative meditations invite us to actively nurture these strengths of character by thinking, speaking, and acting "as though" these qualities are more fully alive within us. Types of Meditation: 3 Primary Methods To decide what type of meditation you like best, I recommend doing some experimentation. You may want to try one particular type for 10 days, and if you don’t really like it, try another type. The only way to find the type that you enjoy the most is by testing the waters with some different techniques and observing how you respond. The most popular types of meditation include: Vipassana (Mindfulness) and TM (Transcendental), but there are infinitely more meditations than these two. Nearly all types of meditations fit into a category of: concentration, open monitoring, or effortless awareness. 1. Focused Attention (Concentration) Example: Vipassana All types of meditation that involve enhancing concentration can be classified as “focused attention” technique. These practices involve focusing attention on one specific thing for the entire time with the goal of cultivating laser-like focus. Any concentration meditation will involve consistent mental effort to build up the ability to focus without succumbing to distraction. Certain practices may involve focusing on an external object (e.g. a pen), while others will involve focusing on the breath. In any regard, the goal is to direct 100% focus on one thing for the entire session. When the mind wanders, the focus is calmly brought back to the object. Over time, the mind wanders less and the ability to focus your attention improves for longer durations. 2. Mindfulness (Open Monitoring) Example: Mindfulness With this type of meditation, you aren’t focusing your attention on one specific object. In this case, you are letting your attention flow freely without judgment or attachment. In other words, you are simply observing all perceptions, thoughts, memories, and senses that you experience during your practice. Developing the quality of “open monitoring” is synonymous with mindfulness – you are “mindful” of your experience. Being mindful of your perception allows you to observe your experience almost from a third-person perspective rather than first-person attachment. You notice all sensations that you’re feeling, but merely observe them rather than judge them or react positively or negatively. In Vipassana, qualities of concentration along with mindfulness are generally developed together. 3. Effortless Transcending Example: Transcendental Meditation (TM) This type of meditation is classified as “effortless” because it requires no mental effort or concentration. Some have called this subtype of meditation “pure being” or “transcendental” because it involves emptiness, introversion, and calmness. The goal with this specific type is to essentially help the meditator recognize their pure essence (e.g. “Pure Self”) or the true nature of the self by eliminating all thought. The mind becomes a blank slate with consistent practice. Some have compared effortless transcending to giving the brain a massage or bath. The transcendental process helps the individual silence their mind and become aware of deep (arguably “purer”) states of consciousness. A person who has been practicing this specific type may experience a state of emptiness or nothingness and find that it feels great. They Each do different things! And science is now discovering that they have different effects on the brain. …in one fMRI study, appropriately titled “Putting Feelings into Words” participants viewed pictures of people with emotional facial expressions. Predictably, each participant’s amygdala activated to the emotions in the picture. But when they were asked to name the emotion, the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex activated and reduced the emotional amygdala reactivity. In other words, consciously recognizing the emotions reduced their impact. How Different Types of Meditation Affect the Brain By Rick Nauert PhD~ 2 min read   Be it mindfulness, zen, acem, meditation drumming, chakra, Buddhist, or transcendental meditation, there are countless ways to meditate. Researchers are now parsing how the brain works during different kinds of meditation. “No one knows how the brain works when you meditate. That is why I’d like to study it,” says Jian Xu, M.D., a physician at St. Olavs Hospital and a researcher at the Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Along with colleagues at the University of Oslo and the University of Sydney, Xu’s research was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. Different meditation techniques can actually be divided into two main groups. One type is concentrative meditation, where the meditating person focuses attention on his or her breathing or on specific thoughts, and in doing so, suppresses other thoughts. The other type may be called nondirective meditation, where the person who is meditating effortlessly focuses on his or her breathing or on a meditation sound, but beyond that the mind is allowed to wander as it pleases. Some modern meditation methods are of this nondirective kind. Fourteen people who had extensive experience with the Norwegian technique of Acem meditation were tested in an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. In addition to simple resting, they undertook two different mental meditation activities, nondirective meditation and a more concentrative meditation task. The research team wanted to test people who were used to meditation because it meant fewer misunderstandings about what the subjects should actually be doing while they lay in the MRI machine. Nondirective meditation led to higher activity than during rest in the part of the brain dedicated to processing self-related thoughts and feelings. When test subjects performed concentrative meditation, the activity in this part of the brain was almost the same as when they were just resting. “I was surprised that the activity of the brain was greatest when the person’s thoughts wandered freely on their own, rather than when the brain worked to be more strongly focused,” said Xu. “When the subjects stopped doing a specific task and were not really doing anything special, there was an increase in activity in the area of the brain where we process thoughts and feelings. It is described as a kind of resting network. And it was this area that was most active during nondirective meditation,” he said. “The study indicates that nondirective meditation allows for more room to process memories and emotions than during concentrated meditation,” said Svend Davanger, M.D., Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the University of Oslo, and co-author of the study. “This area of the brain has its highest activity when we rest. It represents a kind of basic operating system, a resting network that takes over when external tasks do not require our attention. It is remarkable that a mental task like nondirective meditation results in even higher activity in this network than regular rest,” said Davanger. Acem meditation is a technique that falls under the category of nondirective meditation. Davanger believes that good research depends on having a team that can combine personal experience with meditation with a critical attitude towards results. “Meditation is an activity that is practiced by millions of people. It is important that we find out how this really works,” said Davanger. Source: Norwegian University of Science and Technology   Which meditation should you practice? It totally depends on why you want to meditate in the first place. If your goal is to become more relaxed, you have plenty of great options. If your goal is to become more focused, you’d want to use a concentrative type of meditation. Various other types like Vajrayana actually increase arousal rather than decrease it, so be careful with the type you choose. Whether you believe in the spiritual aspect of each (e.g. kundalini) is a personal thing and highly subjective. Assuming you want to meditate, pick a practice that appeals to you and give it a shot. However, keep in mind that the science behind meditation is relatively new in terms of long-term neural and physiological changes. We do know that different types of meditation produce specific neural and physiological adaptations. Therefore choosing one type may literally transform your brain in an entirely different way than another. Many people assume that the benefits of every type of meditation can be lumped into a collective pile, but clearly they cannot. Assuming you practice meditation for a long-term, be sure to choose a practice that you enjoy and that helps you achieve your particular goal. Personal thoughts on meditation… Science clearly supports the idea that certain types of meditation can be beneficial for mental performance and physical health. That said, there are some dangers to be aware of such as: extensive meditation leading to social isolation, meditation worsening depression or anxiety, too much inward focus (not balanced with the external), and falsely thinking that all the answers are found by looking inwards. Humans didn’t evolve to meditate, they evolved to seek out external things in their environment. While meditation has its place to help with spiritual endeavors, relaxation, and mental performance, too much meditation may lead to adverse experiences – especially for a novice. Also avoid trapping yourself in any new age “cult” thinking that meditation and the idea of enlightenment will solve all your problems; newsflash: it won’t. If you’re just getting started, I recommend using the app called “Headspace” which is a form of Mindfulness meditation. The science supports mindfulness for reducing anxiety, depression, and other measures. The nice thing about this app is there is no religious, subjective, “spiritual” hocus pocus, mumbo jumbo, witchcraft, non-scientific voodoo. It simply guides you through the meditation process at a slow, safe pace. SPECIFIC TYPES OF MEDITATION – AN OVERVIEW OF 23 MEDITATION TECHNIQUES By Giovanni 276 Commentsmeditation, mindfulness Ok, so you know that meditation has dozens of benefits, and everybody is doing it. You look for information online or on a bookstore, and see that there are a LOT of different ways of doing meditation, dozens of meditation techniques, and some conflicting information. You wonder which way is best for you. This article will help you navigate the sea of different practices of seated meditation, briefly explaining each of them, and pointing to further resources. There are literally hundreds – if not thousands – of types of meditation, so here I will explore only the most popular ones. You can also check my walking meditation guide, for more dynamic meditation techniques. Or, if you already have some experience with meditation, you might enjoy reading about the meditation experiments I was doing while writing this post.   At the bottom of this page you will find a button to download a FREE PDF copy of this post, for easy reference. The advice regarding the posture of meditation is very similar among the different styles of seated practice, so I will go in to more detail about it only once, when talking about the first technique (Zen meditation). I have strived to include a “Is it for me?” section, with general observations about each practice. Keep in mind these are tentative; they are there to give some direction, and potentially any person could feel attracted to any of these modalities. This article does NOT tell you which is “the best” type of meditation – because there is no such thing, and I’m not here to create controversy. Also, I have here focused more on meditative practices; I may write another article on other similar practices, that are more about relaxation or contemplation. If you are a beginner, you may also enjoy the post on meditation tips and meditation for beginners – how to build the habit. The “best” meditation is the meditation that works for you, at this stage in you life.3 GENERAL TYPES Scientists usually classify meditation based on the way they focus attention, into two categories: Focused Attention and Open Monitoring. I’d like to propose a third: Effortless Presence.  Focused attention meditation Focusing the attention on a single object during the whole meditation session. This object may be the breath, a mantra, visualization, part of the body, external object, etc. As the practitioner advances, his ability to keep the flow of attention in the chosen object gets stronger, and distractions become less common and short-lived. Both the depth and steadiness of his attention are developed. Examples of these are: Samatha (Buddhist meditation), some forms of Zazen, Loving Kindness Meditation, Chakra Meditation, Kundalini Meditation, Sound Meditation, Mantra Meditation, Pranayama, some forms of Qigong, and many others.  Open monitoring meditation2 Instead of focusing the attention on any one object, we keep it open, monitoring all aspects of our experience, without judgment or attachment. All perceptions, be them internal (thoughts, feelings, memory, etc.) or external (sound, smell, etc.), are recognized and seen for what they are. It is the process of non-reactive monitoring of the content of experience from moment to moment, without going into them. Examples are: Mindfulness meditation, Vipassana, as well as some types of Taoist Meditation. Effortless Presence It’s the state where the attention is not focused on anything in particular, but reposes on itself – quiet, empty, steady, and introverted. We can also call it “Choiceless Awareness” or “Pure Being”. Most of the meditation quotes you find speak of this state. This is actually the true purpose behind all kinds of meditation, and not a meditation type in itself. All traditional techniques of meditation recognize that the object of focus, and even the process of monitoring, is just a means to train the mind, so that effortless inner silence and deeper states of consciousness can be discovered. Eventually both the object of focus and the process itself is left behind, and there is only left the true self of the practitioner, as “pure presence”. In some techniques, this is the only focus, from the beginning. Examples are: the Self-Enquiry (“I am” meditation) of Ramana Maharishi; Dzogchen; Mahamudra; some forms of Taoist Meditation; and some advanced forms of Raja Yoga. In my point of view, this type of meditation always requires previous training to be effective, even though this is  sometimes not expressly said (only implied). 1) BUDDHIST MEDITATION Zen Meditation (Zazen) Origin & Meaning Zazen (坐禅) means “seated Zen”, or “seated meditation”, in Japanese. It has its roots in the Chinese Zen Buddhism (Ch’an) tradition, tracing back to Indian monk Bodhidharma (6th century CE). In the West, its most popular forms comes from Dogen Zenji (1200~1253), the founder of Soto Zen movement in Japan. Similar modalities are practiced in the Rinzai school of Zen, in Japan and Korea. Focusing on breath — focus all your attention on the movement of the breath going in and out through the nose. This may be aided by counting the breath in your mind. Each time you inhale you count one number, starting with 10, and then moving backward to 9, 8, 7, etc. When you arrive in 1, you resume from 10 again. If you get distracted and lose your count, gently bring back the attention to 10 and resume from there. Shikantaza (“just sitting”) — in this form the practitioner does not use any specific object of meditation; rather, practitioners remain as much as possible in the present moment, aware of and observing what passes through their minds and around them, without dwelling on anything in particular. It’s a type of Effortless Presence meditation Learn more: Zen Mountain Monastery Open Way (PDF) Visit a Zen Buddhist center near to you. Most of them teach zazen for free. Is it for me? Zazen is a very sober meditation style, and you can easily find a lot of strong communities practicing it, as well as plenty of information on the internet. There is a lot of emphasis in keeping the right posture, as an aid for concentration. It is usually practiced in Zen Buddhist centers (Sangha), with strong community support. In many of them you will find it coupled with other elements of Buddhist practice: prostrations, a bit of ritualism, chanting, and group readings of the Buddha teachings. Some people will like this, others won’t. Personally, I practiced zazen in a Buddhist group for 3 years, and I found that those elements and a bit of formality can also help create a structure for the practice, and in themselves they are also meditative. Vipassana Meditation Origin & Meaning “Vipassana” is a Pali “insight” or “clear seeing”. It is a traditional Buddhist practice, dating back to 6th century BC. Vipassana-meditation, as taught in the last few decades, comes from the Theravada Buddhist tradition, and was popularized by  S. N. Goenka and the Vipassana movement. Due to the popularity of Vipassanā-meditation, the “mindfulness of breathing” has gained further popularity in the West as “mindfulness”. How to do it [There is some conflicting information on how to practice Vipassana. In general, however, most teachers emphasize  starting with mindfulness of breath in the first stages, to stabilize the mind and achieve “access concentration.” This is more like focused attention meditation. Then the practice moves on to developing “clear insight” on the bodily sensations and mental phenomena, observing them moment by moment and not clinging to any. Here goes an introduction, aimed for beginners. To know more I’d suggest following up the links provided or learning from a teacher (perhaps in a Vipassana retreat).] Ideally, one is to sit on a cushion on the floor, cross-legged, with your spine erect; alternatively, a chair may be used, but the back should not be supported. The first aspect is to develop concentration, through samatha practice. This is typically done through breathing awareness. Focus all your attention, from moment to moment, on the movement of your breath. Notice the subtle sensations of the movement of the abdomen rising and falling. Alternatively, one can focus on the sensation of the air passing through the nostrils and touching the upper lips skin – though this requires a bit more practice, and is more advanced. As you focus on the breath, you will notice that other perceptions and sensations continue to appear: sounds, feelings in the body, emotions, etc. Simply notice these phenomena as they emerge in the field of awareness, and then return to the sensation of breathing. The attention is kept in the object of concentration (the breathing), while these other thoughts or sensations are there simply as “background noise”. The object that is the focus of the practice (for instance, the movement of the abdomen) is called the “primary object”. And a “secondary object” is anything else that arises in your field of perception – either through your five senses (sound, smell, itchiness in the body, etc.) or through the mind (thought, memory, feeling, etc.). If a secondary object hooks your attention and pulls it away, or if it causes desire or aversion to appear, you should focus on the secondary object for a moment or two, labeling it with a mental note, like “thinking”,  “memory”, “hearing”, “desiring”. This practice is often called “noting”. A mental note identifies an object in general but not in detail. When you’re aware of a sound, for example, label it “hearing” instead of “motorcycle,” “voices” or “barking dog.” If an unpleasant sensation arises, note “pain” or “feeling” instead of “knee pain” or “my back pain.” Then return your attention to the primary meditation object. When aware of a fragrance, say the mental note “smelling” for a moment or two. You don’t have to identify the scent. When one has thus gained “access concentration”, the attention is then turned to the object of practice, which is normally thought or bodily sensations. One observes the objects of awareness without attachment, letting thoughts and sensations arise and pass away of their own accord. Mental labeling (explained above) is often use as a way to prevent you from being carried away by thoughts, and keep you in more objectively noticing them. As a result one develops the clear seeing that the observed phenomena is pervaded by the three “marks of existence”: impermanence (annica), insatisfactoriness (dukkha) and emptiness of self (annata). As a result, equanimity, peace and inner freedom is developed in relation to these inputs. Learn more: Types of Vipassana (read the answer from Anh-Minh Do) Vipassana Dhura (very in-depth article) Vipassana for beginners (Goenka style) Mindfulness in Plain English (free eBook) Visit a Vipassana center near you Is it for me? Vipassana is an excellent meditation to help you ground yourself in your body, and understand how the processes of your mind work. It is a very popular style of meditation. You can find plenty of teachers, websites, and books about it, as well as 3~10 days retreats (donation based). The teaching of it is always free. There are no formalities or rituals attached to the practice. If you are completely new to meditation, Vipassana or Mindfulness are probably good ways for you to start. Mindfulness Meditation   Origin & Meaning Mindfulness Meditation is an adaptation from traditional Buddhist meditation practices, especially Vipassana, but also having strong influence from other lineages (such as the Vietnamese Zen Buddhism from Thich Nhat Hanh). “Mindfulness” is the common western translation for the Buddhist term sati. Anapanasati, “mindfulness of breathing”, is part of the Buddhist practice of Vipassana or insight meditation, and other Buddhist meditational practices, such as zazen (source: Wikipedia). One of the main influencers for Mindfulness in the West is John Kabat-Zinn. His Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR) – which he developed in 1979 at the University of Massachusetts Medical School – has been used in several hospitals and health clinic on the past decades. How to do it Mindfulness meditation is the practice of intentionally focusing on the present moment, accepting and no3n-judgmentally paying attention to the sensations, thoughts, and emotions that arise. For the “formal practice” time, sit on a cushion on the floor, or on a chair, with straight and unsupported back. Pay close attention to the movement of your breath. When you breath in, be aware that you are breathing in, and how it feels. When you breath out, be aware you are breathing out. Do like this for the length of your meditation practice, constantly redirecting the attention to the breath. Or you can move on to be paying attention to the sensations, thoughts and feelings that arise. The effort is to not intentionally add anything to our present moment experience, but to be aware of what is going on, without losing ourselves in anything that arises. Your mind will get distracted into going along with sounds, sensations, and thoughts. Whenever that happens, gently recognize that you have been distracted, and bring the attention back to the breathing, or to the objective noticing of that thought or sensation. There is a big different between being inside the thought/sensation, and simply being aware of it’s presence. Learn to enjoy your practice. Once you are done, appreciate how different the body and mind feel. There is also the practice of mindfulness during our daily activities: while eating, walking, and talking. For “daily life” meditation, the practice is to pay attention to what is going on in the present moment, to be aware of what is happening – and not living in “automatic mode”. If you are speaking, that means paying attention to the words you speak, how you speak them, and to listen with presence and attention. If you are walking, that means being more aware of your body movements, your feet touching the ground, the sounds you are hearing, etc. Your effort in seated practice supports your daily life practice, and vice-versa. They are both equally important.  Learn more: Psychology Today (more details on how to practice) Palouse Mindfulness (MBSR free online course) Mindfulness exercises Mindful Schools Is it for me? For the general public, this is perhaps the most advisable way to get started with meditation. It is the type of meditation that is most taught at schools and hospitals, as far as I am aware. The “mindfulness movement” as practiced nowadays in society at large, is not Buddhism, but an adaptation of Buddhist practices due to their benefits in good physical and mental health and general wellbeing. For most people, Mindfulness Meditation may be the only type of meditation they will like, especially if their focus is only the physical and mental benefits of meditation, as it is usually taught dissociated from several of the eastern concepts and philosophies that traditionally accompanied the practice. And for that it is great – it will bring many good things to your life. If your focus is a deeper transformation and spiritual development, however, then mindfulness meditation may be just an initial step for you. From here you can then move into Vipassana, Zazen, or other types of meditation. Loving Kindness Meditation (Metta Meditation) Origin & Meaning Metta is a Pali word that means kindness, benevolence, and good will. This practice comes from the Buddhist traditions, especially the Theravada and Tibetan lineages. “Compassion meditation” is a contemporary scientific field that demonstrates the efficacy of mettaand related meditative practices. Demonstrated benefits include: boosting one’s ability to empathize with others; development of positive emotions through compassion, including a more loving attitude towards oneself; increased self-acceptance; greater feeling of competence about one’s life; and increased feeling of purpose in life (read more in our other post). How to do it One sits down in a meditation position, with closed eyes, and generates in his mind and heart feelings of kindness and benevolence. Start by developing loving-kindness towards yourself, then progressively towards others and all beings. Usually this progression is advised: oneself a good friend a “neutral” person a difficult person all four of the above equally and then gradually the entire universe The feeling to be developed is that of wishing happiness and well-being for all. This practice may be aided by reciting specific words or sentences that evoke the “boundless warm-hearted feeling”, visualizing the suffering of others and sending love; or by imagining the state of another being, and wishing him happiness and peace. The more you practice this meditation, the more joy you will experience. That is the secret of Mathieu Richard’s happiness. “For one who attends properly to the liberation of the heart by benevolence, unarisen ill will does not arise and arisen ill will is abandoned.” – The Buddha9 In this article, Emma Seppälä, Ph.D explores the 18 scientifically proven benefits of Loving-Kindness meditation. Learn more: Wikipedia on Metta Meditation Metta Institute (Buddha’s word on metta) Huffington Post article on the benefits of metta Is it for me? Are you sometimes too hard on yourself or on others? Or feel like you need to improve your relationships? Loving-kindness meditation will help you. It is beneficial both for selfless and self-centered people, and it will help increase your general level of happiness. You cannot feel loving-kindness and depression (or any other negative feeling) at the same time. It is also often recommended, by Buddhist teachers, as an antidote to insomnia, nightmares, or anger issues. 2) HINDU MEDITATION (Vedic & Yogic) Mantra Meditation (OM Meditation)   A mantra is a syllable or word, usually without any particular meaning, that is repeated for the purpose of focusing your mind. It is not an affirmation used to convince yourself of something. Some meditation teachers insist that both the choice of word, and its correct pronunciation, is very important, due to the “vibration” associated to the sound and meaning, and that for this reason an initiation into it is essential. Others say that the mantra itself is only a tool to focus the mind, and the chosen word is completely irrelevant. Mantras are used in Hindu traditions, Buddhist traditions (especially Tibetan and “Pure Land” Buddhism), as well as in Jainism, Sikhism and Daoism (Taoism). Some people call mantra meditation “om meditation”, but that is just one of the mantras that can be used. A more devotion oriented practice of mantras is called japa, and consists of repeating sacred sounds (name of God) with love. How to do it As most type of meditations, it is usually practiced sitting with spine erect, and eyes closed. The practitioner then repeats the mantra in his mind, silently, over and over again during the whole session. Sometimes this practice is coupled with being aware of the breathing or coordinating with it. In other exercises, the mantra is actually whispered very lightly and softly, as an aid to concentration. As you repeat the mantra, it creates a mental vibration that allows the mind to experience deeper levels of awareness. As you meditate, the mantra becomes increasingly abstract and indistinct, until you’re finally led into the field of pure consciousness from which the vibration arose.Repetition of the mantra helps you disconnect from the thoughts filling your mind so that perhaps you may slip into the gap between thoughts. The mantra is a tool to support your meditation practice. Mantras can be viewed as ancient power words with subtle intentions that help us connect to spirit, the source of everything in the universe. (Deepak Chopra) Here are some of the most well-known mantras from the Hindu & Buddhist traditions: om so-ham om namah shivaya om mani padme hum rama yam ham You may practice for a certain period of time, or for a set number of “repetitions” – traditionally 108 or 1008. In the latter case, beads are typically used for keeping count. As the practice deepens, you may find that the mantra continues “by itself” like the humming of the mind. Or the mantra may even disappear, and you are left in a state of deep inner peace.  Learn more: Wikipedia article on Mantra Seven Ways to Meditate with OM Mantra Yoga and Primal Sound (book) Mantras: Words of Power (book) Is it for me? People usually find that it is easier to focus with a mantra than with the breathing. Because a mantra is a word, and thoughts are usually perceived as words, it can be easier to keep the focus on a mantra rather than on the breathing. It is useful especially when the mind is racing with many thoughts, since it mantra meditation demands constant attention. Meditating with a mantra can also make it simpler to  integrate your meditative state into your daily life. In whatever activity you find yourself into, it can be as simple as repeating the mantra in your mind.  Transcendental Meditation (TM)   Origin & Meaning Transcendental Meditation is a specific form of Mantra Meditation introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1955 in India and the West. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Maharishi achieved fame as the guru to the Beatles, The Beach Boys and other celebrities. It is a widely practiced form of meditation, with over 5 million practitioners worldwide, and there is a lot of scientific research, many sponsored by the organization, demonstrating the benefits of the practice. There are over 600 scientific papers, many of them peer-reviewed, and I have used part of their research when composing my benefits of meditation page. However, there are also critics of the Maharishi and his organization, and some accusation of cultish behavior and doubtful research practices.[Image from NurseTalkSite.com] How to do it Transcendental meditation is not taught freely. The only way of learning it is to pay to learn from one of their licensed instructors. The support given seems to be good, though. In general, however, it is known that TM involves the use of a mantra and is practiced for 15–20 minutes twice per day while sitting with one’s eyes closed. The mantra is not unique, and is given to the practitioner based on his gender and age. They are also not “meaningless sounds” – rather, they are Tantric names of Hindu deities. This probably is irrelevant for most people. This is the official site of the movement: TM site. There is another similar technique, called Natural Stress Relief, which was created in 2003 by a former TM Teacher, and is much cheaper to learn (47 USD instead of 960 USD), and has stripped out some mystical elements of the practice of TM, such as the initiation (puja) and yogic flying (part of TM-Siddhi). You can learn more about NSR in comparison to TM here and here. Is it for me? Personally I don’t feel comfortable advising anyone to try Transcendental Meditation anymore, especially if you are looking to go deep into meditation. To know more, check out this answer I wrote in Quora. If you wish to try something similar, for a fraction of the cost or for free, have a look at NSR (above), or Mantra Meditation.  Yoga Meditations Origin & Meaning There is not one type of meditation which is “Yogic Meditation”, so here it is meant the several meditation types taught in the yoga tradition. Yoga means “union”. Tradition goes as far as 1700 B.C, and has as its highest goal spiritual purification and Self-Knowledge. Classical Yoga divides the practice into rules of conduct (yamas and niyamas), physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and contemplative practices of meditation (pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi). The Yoga tradition is the oldest meditation tradition on earth, and also the one with the widest variety of practices. How to do it Here are some types of meditation practiced in Yoga. The most common and universal Yoga meditation one is the “third eye meditation”. Other popular ones involve concentrating on a chakra, repeating a mantra, visualization of light, or gazing meditations.  Third Eye Meditation — focusing the attention on the “spot between the eyebrows” (called by some “the third eye” or “ajna chakra”). The attention is constantly redirected to this point, as a means to silence the mind. By time the “silent gaps” between thoughts get wider and deeper. Sometimes this is accompanied by physically “looking”, with eyes closed, towards that spot. Chakra Meditation — the practitioner focuses on one of the seven chakras of the body (“centers of energy”), typically doing some visualizations and chanting a specific mantra for each chakra (lam, vam, ram, yam, ham, om). Most commonly it is done on the heart chackra, third eye, and crown chackra. Gazing Meditation (Trataka) — fixing the gaze on an external object, typically a candle, image or a symbol (yantras). It is done with eyes open, and then with eyes closed, to train both the concentration and visualization powers of the mind. After closing the eyes, you should still keep the image of the object in your “mind’s eye”. This meditation is so important and powerful, that I wrote this post on the subject. Kundalini Meditation — this is a very complex system of practice. The goal is the awakening of the “kundalini energy” which lies dormant on the base of the spine, the development of several psychic centers in the body, and, finally, enlightenment. There are several dangers associated with this practice, and it should not be attempted without the guidance of a qualified yogi. Kriya Yoga — is a set of energization, breathing, and meditation exercises taught by Paramahamsa Yogananda. This is more suited for those who have a devotional temperament, and are seeking the spiritual aspects of meditation. To learn it, you can apply to receive the Self-Realization lessons, free of charge. Sound Meditation (Nada Yoga) — focusing on sound. Starts with meditation on “external sounds”, such as calming ambient music (like Native American flute music), whereby the student focuses all his attention on just hearing, as a help to quieten and collect the mind. By time the practice evolves to hearing the “internal sounds” of the body and mind. The ultimate goal is to hear the “Ultimate Sound” (para nada), which is a sound without vibration, and that manifests as “OM”. Tantra — unlike the popular view in the West, most Tantra practices have nothing to do with ritualized sex (this was practiced by a minority of lineages. Tantra is a very rich tradition, with dozens of different contemplative practices. The text Vijnanabhairava Tantra, for instance, lists 108 “meditations”, most of them more advanced (already requiring a certain degree of stillness and mind control). Here are some examples from that text: Merge the mind and the senses in the interior space in the spiritual heart. When one object is perceived, all other objects become empty. Concentrate on that emptiness. Concentrate on the space which occurs between two thoughts. Fix attention on the inside of the skull. Close eyes. Meditate on the occasion of any great delight. Meditate on the feeling of pain. Dwell on the reality which exists between pain and pleasure. Meditate on the void in one’s body extending in all directions simultaneously. Concentrate on a bottomless well or as standing in a very high place. Listen to the Anahata [heart chakra] sound. Listen to the sound of a musical instrument as it dies away. Contemplate on the universe or one’s own body as being filled with bliss. Concentrate intensely on the idea that the universe is completely void. Contemplate that the same consciousness exists in all bodies. Pranayama — breathing regulation. It is not exactly meditation, but an excellent practice to calm the mind and prepare it for meditation. There are several different types of Pranayama, but the simplest and most commonly taught one is the 4-4-4-4. This means breathing in counting up to 4, holding for 4 seconds, breathing out for 4 seconds, and holding empty for 4 seconds. Breathe through your nose, and let the abdomen (and not the chest) be the one that moves. Go through a few cycles like this. This regulation of breathing balances the moods and pacifies the body, and can be done anywhere. Yoga is a very rich tradition, with different lineages, so there are many other techniques. But the ones above are the most well-known; the others are more specific or complex. For a start, this video is an excellent resource on how to do Yoga style meditation, and it combines breathing, body awareness, mantra, and chakra meditation. Learn more: Meditations from the Tantras (book) Chakras: Seven Chakras, Mind Body Green, Wikipedia article, Chakra Meditation Trataka (LiveAndDare post) Meditation and Mantras (book) Raja Yoga (book) Kriya Yoga (Self-Realization Fellowship) Nada Yoga: Spirit Sound, The Practice of Nada Yoga (book), Wikipedia,  Bindu Magazine (compreenshive article) The Science of Pranayama (book) Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy (book) List of meditation objects in Yoga (George Feuerstein) Is it for me? With all these types of meditation in Yoga, you are likely to find one that you like. If you are a musician, perhaps nada yoga is something that will attract you. If you are a devotional person, kriya yoga is a good option. Kundalini and Chakra meditation should only be attempted with a teacher. Probably the simplest one to try is the “third eye meditation”, which is simple and yields results fairly quickly. For the other types you would probably need more instruction, either of a teacher or a good book (see references above). Besides, Pranayama is definitely something anyone can benefit from.  Self-Enquiry and “I Am” Meditation   Origin & Meaning Self-Enquiry is the English translation for the Sanskrit term atma vichara. It means to “investigate” our true nature, to find the answer to the “Who am I?” question, which culminates with the intimate knowledge of our true Self, our true being. We see references to this meditation in very old Indian texts; however, it was greatly popularized and expanded upon by the 20th-century Indian sage Ramana Maharshi (1879~1950). The modern non-duality movement (or neo-advaita), which is greatly inspired in his teachings – as well as those of Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897~1981) and Papaji – strongly uses this technique and variations. Many contemporary teachers to employ this technique, the most famous ones being Mooji  (whom I’ve personally been with and recommend), Adyashanti, and Eckhart Tolle. How to do it This practice is very simple, but also very subtle. When explaining it, however, it may sound very abstract. Your sense of “I” (or “ego”) is the center of your universe. It is there, in some form or another, behind all your thoughts, emotions, memories, and perceptions. Yet we are not clear about what this “I” is – about who we truly are, in essence – and confuse it with our body, our mind, our roles, our labels. It’s the biggest mystery in our lives. With Self-Enquiry, the question “Who I am?” is asked within yourself. You must reject any verbal answers that may come, and use this question simply as a tool to fix your attention in the subjective feeling of “I” or “I am”. Become one with it, go deep into it. This will then reveal your true “I”, your real self as pure consciousness, beyond all limitation. It is not an intellectual pursuit, but a question to bring the attention to the core element of your perception and experience: the “I”. This is not your personality, but a pure, subjective, feeling of existing – without any images or concepts attached to it.Whenever thoughts/feelings arise, you ask yourself, “To whom does this arise?” or “Who is aware of _____ (anger, fear, pain, or whatever)?” The answer will be “It’s me!”. From then you ask “Who am I?”, to bring the attention back to the subjective feeling of self, of presence. It is pure existence, objectless and choice-less awareness. Another way of explaining this practice is to just focus the mind on your feeling of being, the non-verbal “I am” that shines inside of you. Keep it pure, without association with anything you perceive. On all other types of meditation, the “I” (yourself) is focusing on some object, internal or external, physical or mental. In self-enquiry, the “I” is focusing on itself, the subject. It is the attention turned towards its source.There is no special position to practice, although the general suggestions about posture and environment are helpful for beginners. Learn more: Guided “I am” Meditations with Mooji: Teachings of Ramana Maharishi: Happiness of Being, David Godman’s blog, Sri Ramanasram official site Nisargadatta Maharaj: Enlightened-Spirituality Quotes apps (iOS) Be As You Are (book or Ramana’s teachings) I Am That (book of Nisargadatta Maharaj, a modern spiritual classic) Is it for me? This meditation is very powerful in bringing inner freedom and peace; yet, if you don’t have previous experience with meditation, you may find it very hard to follow through. As an initial aid to give you a feeling for it, I would advise following some guided meditations from Mooji, in YouTube. 3) CHINESE MEDITATION Taoist Meditations Origin & Meaning Daoism is a Chinese philosophy and religion, dating back to Lao Tzu (or Laozi). It emphasizes living in harmony with Nature, or Tao, and it’s main text is the Tao Te Ching, dating back to 6th century B.C. Later on some lineages of Taoism were also influenced by Buddhist meditation practices brought from India, especially on the 8th century C.E.. The chief characteristic of this type of meditation is the generation, transformation, and circulation of inner energy. The purpose is to quieten the body and mind, unify body and spirit, find inner peace, and harmonize with the Tao. Some styles of Taoist Meditation are specifically focused on improving health and giving longevity. Image from InternalArtsInternational.com   How to do it There are several different types of Taoist meditation, and they are sometimes classified in three: “insight”, “concentrative”, and “visualization”. Here is a brief overview: Emptiness meditation — to sit quietly and empty oneself of all mental images (thoughts, feelings, and so on), to “forget about everything”, in order to experience inner quiet and emptiness. In this state, vital force and “spirit” is collected and replenished. This is similar to the Confucius discipline of “heart-mind fasting”, and it is regarded as “the natural way”. One simply allows all thoughts and sensations arise and fall by themselves, without engaging with or “following” any of them. If this is found to be too hard and “uninteresting”, the student is instructed with other types of meditation, such as visualization and Qigong Breathing meditation (Zhuanqi) — to focus on the breath, or “unite mind and qi”. The instruction is “focus your vital breath until it is supremely soft”. Sometimes this is done by simply quietly observing the breath (similar to Mindfulness Meditation in Buddhism); in other traditions it is by following certain patterns of exhalation and inhalation, so that one becomes directly aware of the “dynamisms of Heaven and Earth” through ascending and descending breath (a type of Qigong, similar to Pranayama in Yoga). Neiguan (“inner observation; inner vision”) — visualizing inside one’s body and mind, including the organs, “inner deities”, qi (vital force) movements, and thought processes. It’s a process of acquainting oneself with the wisdom of nature in your body. There are particular instructions for following this practice, and a good book or a teacher is required. These meditations are done seated cross-legged on the floor, with spine erect. The eyes are kept half-closed and fixed on the point of the nose.Master Liu Sichuan emphasises that, although not easy, ideally one should practice by “joining the breath and the mind together”; for those that find this too hard, he would recommend focusing on the lower abdomen (dantian). Learn more: 1stHolistic.com (detailed practical information) Wikipedia article (Overview of historical development of different Taoist meditation practices) Is it for me? People that are more connected with the body and nature may like to try Taoist meditation, and enjoy learning a bit about the philosophy behind it. Or if you are into martial arts or Tai Chi, this might be of your interest. However, Taoist centers and teachers are not as easy to find as Buddhist and Yoga ones, so it might be a challenge to follow through. Qigong (Chi kung) Origin & Meaning Qigong (also spelled chi kung, or chi gung) is a Chinese word that means “life energy cultivation”, and is a body-mind exercise for health, meditation, and martial arts training. It typically involves slow body movement, inner focus, and regulated breathing. Traditionally it was practiced and taught in secrecy in the Chinese Buddhist, Taoist and Confucianist traditions. In the 20th century, Qigong movement has incorporated and popularized Daoist meditation, and “mainly employs concentrative exercises but also favors the circulation of energy in an inner-alchemical mode” (Kohn 2008a:120). For a deep study on Qigong history, theory, and philosophy, I recommend The Root of Chinese Qigong. Daoist practices may also employ Qigong, but since Qigong is also applied in other Chinese philosophies, I decided to treat it as a separate subject. How to do it There are thousands of different Qigong exercises cataloged, involving over 80 different types of breathing. Some are specific to martial arts (to energize and strengthen the body); others are for health (to nourish body functions or cure diseases); and others for meditation and spiritual cultivation. Qigong can be practiced in a static position (seated or standing), or through a dynamic set of movements – which is what you typically see in YouTube videos and on DVDs. The exercises that are done as a meditation, however, are normally done sitting down, and without movement. To understand more about Qigong and learn how to do it, I’d recommend getting a book or DVD set from Dr. Yang Jwing Ming, such as this one. But here goes an introductory overview of the practice of seated Qigong meditation: Sit in a comfortable position. Make sure your body is balanced and centered. Relax your whole body – muscles, nerves, and internal organs Regulate your breathing, making it deep, long, and soft. Calm your mind Place all your attention in the “lower dantien”, which is the center of gravity of the body, two inches below the navel. This will help accumulate and root the qi (vital energy). Where your mind and intention is, there will be your qi. So, by focusing on the dantien, you are gathering energy in this natural reservoir. Feel the qi circulating freely through your body. Other famous Qigong exercises are: Small Circulation (also called “microcosmic circulation”) Embryonic Breathing Eight Pieces of Brocade (see this book excerpt  & Wikipedia article) Muscle Tendon Changing (or “Yi Jin Jing”, taught by Bodhidharma) The first two are seated meditation, while the latter two are dynamic Qigong, integrating body stretches. Learn more: Wikipedia article Yang Jwing Ming DVDs (YouTube) The Qigong Institute Qigong Forum Is it for me? Qigong meditation may be more attractive to people that like to integrate a more active body and energy work into the practice. If seated meditation is unbearable for you, and you prefer something a bit more active, try some of the more dynamic forms of Qigong. Again, there are several styles of Qigong out there, and you may need to try with different teachers or DVDs to find the one that suits you.Some people have a taste of dynamic Qigong through the practice of Tai Chi. 4) CHRISTIAN MEDITATION In Eastern traditions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Daoism) meditation is usually practiced with the purpose of transcending the mind and attaining enlightenment. On the other hand, in the Christian tradition the goal of contemplative practices is, one may say, moral purification and deeper understanding of the Bible; or a closer intimacy with God/Christ, for the more mystic stream of the tradition. Here are some forms of Christian contemplative practice: contemplative prayer — which usually involves the silent repetition of sacred words or sentences, with focus and devotion contemplative reading — or simply “contemplation”, which involves thinking deeply about the teachings and events in the Bible. “sitting with God” — a silent meditation, usually preceded by contemplation or reading, in which we focus all our mind, heart and soul on the presence of God To read more about this, check out our post on Contemplative Prayer and Christian Meditation. 5) GUIDED MEDITATIONS   Origin & Meaning Guided Meditation is, in great part, a modern phenomenon. It is an easier way to start, and you will find guided meditations ba sed on several of the above traditions. The practice of meditation requires some dose of determination and will-power. In the past, people that were into meditation were more committed to it, and also had strong ideals fuelling their motivation. Their life was more simple, with less distractions. We live in very different times now. Our life is busier. Will power is a less common personal asset. Distractions are everywhere, and meditation is often sought as a means to develop better health, enhance performance, or improve oneself. For these reasons, guided meditation can indeed be a good way to introduce you to the practice. Once you get the hang of it, and wish to take your practice to the next level, I would urge you to try meditation unassisted by audio. It is up to you to decide when you feel like taking this step. Guided Meditation is like cooking with a recipe. It’s a good way to start, and you can eat the food you make like this. But once you understand the main principles and flavors, you can cook your own dish. It will have a different, unique taste; it will be tailored for you, and more powerful. And then you will not want to use the recipe anymore – unless if you are trying a dish of another cuisine.  [Image from BinauralBeatsMeditation.com] How to do it Guided meditation usually comes in the form of audio (file, podcast, CD), and sometimes audio and video. You will find that any guided meditation will fall in one of below categories (with some overlap, obviously). Traditional Meditations — With these types of audios, the voice of the teacher is simply there to “illustrate” or “guide” the way for your attention, in order to be in a meditative state; there is more silence than voice in it, and often no music. Examples are the ones offered by Thich Nhat Hanh and Tara Brach, which are rooted in authentic Buddhist practices. The purpose is to develop and deepen the practice itself, with all the benefits that come with it. Guided Imagery — Makes use of the imagination and visualization powers of the brain, guiding you to imagine an object, entity, scenery or journey. The purpose is usually healing or relaxation. Relaxation & Body Scans — Helps you achieve a deep relaxation in your whole body. It’s usually accompanied by soothing instrumental music or nature sounds. In Yoga these are called yoga nidra. The purpose is relaxation and calmness. Affirmations — Usually coupled with relaxation and guided imagery, the purpose of these meditations is to imprint a message in your mind. Binaural Beats — Binaural beats were originally discovered in 1839 by physicist Heinrich Wilhelm Dove. He discovered when signals of two different frequencies are presented separately, one to each ear, your brain detects the phase variation between the frequencies and tries to reconcile that difference. This is used to generate alpha waves (10 Hz), which is the brain wave associated with initial levels of meditation. There is scientific research into why and how binaural beats work. While they all have their merits, it is the first type that most naturally evolves into individual unguided practice. Learn more: UCLA Free Guided Meditations Head In The Clouds (big collection of free guided meditations) Free Binaural Beats Yoga Nidra (YouTube) Headspace app (Guided meditations on your phone!) Is it for me? If you feel traditional meditation is a bit too hard, or you are unsure where to start, then guided meditations can be the way for you to begin. Or if you are seeking some very specific experience or benefit – like improving self-esteem, working through a trauma, or just letting go of some tension in your body – you can also find some guided meditation that suits you.