š Did you know that expressing gratitude can literally rewire your brain? According to a study, individuals who practiced gratitude writingālike sending heartfelt lettersāshowed increased activity in the brainās medial prefrontal cortex, the region associated with empathy, moral cognition, and decision-making. Whatās even more remarkable is that these changes lasted for months after the intervention. Expressing it not only spreads joy but strengthens your brainās capacity for empathy and resilience. š§ āØSources: Kini, P., Wong, J., McInnis, S., Gabana, N., & Brown, J. W. (2016). The effects of gratitude expression on neural activity. NeuroImage, 128, 1-10.Fox, G. R., Kaplan, J., Damasio, H., & Damasio, A. (2015). Neural correlates of gratitude. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1491.
2 weeks ago, the FDA approved a groundbreaking new medication called COBENFYā¢ (xanomeline and trospium chloride) for treating schizophrenia, marking a major milestone in psychiatric care. šUnlike traditional antipsychotics, COBENFYā¢ works on muscarinic receptors in the brain. This approval highlights how much more there is to learn about the brain and the potential for new therapies. Letās keep pushing the boundaries of whatās possible.
A recent study revealed that higher use of social media apps correlates with reduced dopamine synthesis capacity in the brainās striatum, particularly in the putamen. š§ This suggests that the way we engage in digital social interactions could be linked to critical neurobiological processes, offering new insights into how our day-to-day smartphone behaviors may be connected to dopamine regulation, a key player in mood and behavior. Study reference: Westbrook et al. āStriatal dopamine synthesis capacity reflects smartphone social activity.ā Current Biology, 2024.
Want-to goals šÆ make resisting temptations easier. A 2015 study shows that people who pursue goals out of genuine desire (āwant-to motivationā) experience fewer temptations and obstacles compared to those driven by external pressures (āhave-to motivationā). This shift happens not because of increased self-control, but due to the reduced attraction to temptations, making long-term goal achievement more likely and less effortful. š Study reference: Milyavskaya et al., Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2015.
Taking frequent micro-breaks of 10 minutes or less could be the key to boosting your well-being at work, according to a recent meta-analysis. šThis study reviewed over 2,300 participants and found that micro-breaks significantly enhance vigor (by 36%) and reduce fatigue (by 35%), making you feel more energized throughout the day. However, when it comes to improving performance, the effects are smaller, and the benefits are mainly seen in tasks with lower cognitive demands. Interestingly, the longer the break, the better the performance boostāespecially for tasks that require less intense focus, like clerical work or creative activities. For cognitively demanding tasks, short breaks alone might not be enough to recharge fully, and longer pauses might be necessary. ā±ļø
A comprehensive review of 218 studies shows that exercise, particularly walking/jogging, strength training, and yoga as effective treatments for depression. Notably, moderate to vigorous intensity exercise yields the best results. Exercise can complement or replace antidepressants and psychotherapy, with few side effects and broad accessibility.
Can the WORDS š£ļø you use today interfere with your EMOTIONS in the future?This recent study explores this topic (see reference below). Over two experiments with 467 participants, individuals responded to open-ended questions about their recent experiences, using their own words. These narratives were analyzed for emotional tone by human raters and AI tools, including ChatGPT š¤. Results showed that more negative sentiment in participantsā writing was associated with an increase in depressive symptoms three weeks later, even after accounting for their initial depressive state.
The COVID-19 š¦ lockdowns may have significantly impacted adolescent brain š§ development, particularly in young women. A study from the University of Washington revealed accelerated cortical thinning, a marker of brain aging, with young women šš»āāļø showing an average of 4.2 years of brain maturation compared to 1.4 years in young men. These findings highlight the need for targeted mental health support for adolescents, particularly those under pressure who experienced extended isolation.
A study of U.S. children aged 9-11 found that increased screen timeš± was linked to higher odds of suicidal behaviors two years later. For each additional hour of screen time above average (4h), the risk of suicidal behaviors increased by 9%. Specific activities showed stronger associations: texting raised the odds by 36%, video chatting by 30%, and watching videos by 21%. š§
Smiling Through Stress: A Study on Facial Expressions and Stress Recovery. This study explored whether holding a positive facial expression, specifically a smile š, could impact physiological and psychological responses to stress. Participants held chopsticks š„¢ in their mouths in a way that produced a Duchenne smile (a smile that reaches the eyes), a standard smile, or a neutral expression while completing stressful tasks. The results showed that all smiling participants experienced lower heart ā¤ļø rates during stress recovery than the neutral group, with Duchenne smiles offering a slight advantage. Smiling, even without conscious awareness, also helped maintain a more positive affect during stress.
A new study involving over 700,000 Finnish š«š® adolescents showed that teens who had one or more classmates with a diagnosed mental disorder, like anxiety, depression, or eating disorders, were at a higher risk of developing similar conditions later in life. š§ The study found a 5% increase in risk when more than one peer was diagnosed, and the impact was strongest in the first year after exposureš.
Research shows that even when we arenāt using our phones š±, their mere presence can reduce our cognitive capacity, making it harder to focus and perform tasks. The more dependent we are on our devices, the greater this ābrain drainā effect.
