Ever known someone who was totally fearless? Justin Feinstein, a clinical neuropsychologist at the University of Iowa, studied a woman who never felt fear. This woman had Urbach-Wiethe disease, a condition that causes the amygdala to calcify – it hardens and shrivels up. Now, we know that the amygdala is responsible for processing stimuli related […]
Rewiring the brain for health – with computers?
You’ve probably heard of the benefits of “brain training” as we age. Whether it’s simple puzzles like crossword or sudoku, or a more involved intellectual hobby, lots of people want to do whatever we can. But brain training isn’t just a folk theory, and a group of researchers from Aix-Marseille University in France wanted to […]
Neuroplasticity: Powerful possibilities . . . with a dark side
We often see neuroplasticity as one of our brain’s greatest assets. The neuroplastic potential to restore function after trauma, resist the deterioration that comes with aging, and bolster core capabilities borders on miraculous. But there’s another side to neuroplasticity . . . In fact, many of the things that bother us about ourselves – our […]
Is There a Willpower Miracle Cure? Practical Brain Science from Kelly McGonigal, PhD
Is there such a thing as a “willpower miracle cure”? Kelly McGonigal, PhD shared a surprising “willpower miracle” in this week’s webinar. And judging from the comments we received, many of you found it pretty remarkable, too. So we wanted to share it with you one more time – I think you’ll find it inspiring. […]
Brain health boosted by exercise: True or false?
“Exercise is good for your brain.” You’ve probably heard that a couple times before. But what kind of exercise is best? Should you do some light jogging, or lift weights? What effect do different kinds of exercises have on your brain? Led by graduate student Lindsay Nagamatsu, a team of researchers at the University of […]