“Listen to your heart.” That might sound overly romantic, but it could also be one way to improve your mental health. . . . . . at least, according to a study by researchers at the University of London. Led by Manos Tsakiris, PhD, researchers set out to see how paying attention to the rhythms […]
Neuroplasticity and trauma: Can brain science give us a new perspective on healing?
We owe the brain a lot. The brain is always looking out for us. It’s wired to help us survive – alerting us to threats and ramping up our amygdala to help us take action. But that same survival trigger makes healing from trauma difficult, says Pat Ogden, PhD. In fact, the very systems that […]
Brain health: You don’t need to be a neuroscientist to make it possible
You don’t need to be a neuroscientist to make brain change possible. When we set out to put together the New Brain Science series, that was our “big idea.” We wanted to prove that anyone can unlock the brain’s potential to change. And it’s because of my friends Joan Borysenko, PhD and Ron Siegel, PsyD […]
A healthy brain with green tea? The brain science of natural medicine
It’s always a treat to relax with a cup of green tea. And we’ve known about its health benefits for a while. But here’s a new one: there’s a chemical found within green tea that might prevent Alzheimer’s disease. A team of researchers led by Jo Rushworth, PhD, looked at the effects of chemicals found […]
Rewiring the brain after stroke
How far does neuroplasticity go? We’ve talked before about improving the brain’s abilities over time. On this blog, we’ve looked at how neuroplasticity allows for boosts in memory, thinking skills, and emotional regulation. But what about recovery after a major trauma – like stroke? Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, led by Steven Zeiler, MD, PhD, […]