Summary: Researchers report promising results treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military veterans by combining noninvasive brain stimulation with immersive virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy. In a double-blind clinical trial, veterans who received low-current transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeted to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex during standardized warzone VR sessions showed greater and faster reductions … Read more

Painful emotions and unwelcome thoughts can be hard to tolerate. Often our instinct is to avoid or try to eliminate these experiences, which frequently increases distress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people build a healthier relationship with difficult internal experiences and commit to living a meaningful life (Harris, 2011). If you’re considering ACT training, … Read more

Summary: A new mouse study identifies the Necdin (Ndn) gene as a causal driver in autism associated with 15q11–q13 chromosomal duplication. Source: Kobe University A research team led by Professor Toru Takumi and Assistant Professor Kota Tamada in the Physiology Division of Kobe University’s Graduate School of Medicine (with Professor Takumi also a Senior Visiting … Read more

Emotional blackmail is a dysfunctional form of manipulation used to demand compliance by threatening harm, withdrawal, or punishment. The underlying message is often: if you don’t do what I want, you will suffer. The term was popularized by Susan Forward, Ph.D., in Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt … Read more

Summary: A recent study from McGill University shows that vitamin D deficiency during childhood can accelerate aging of the thymus — the organ responsible for educating T cells. As the thymus ages prematurely, it becomes less effective at eliminating immune cells that might attack the body’s own tissues, which increases the risk of autoimmune disorders … Read more

When we listen to a story, we are transported into its situations and identify with the characters’ feelings. Until recently, the precise brain processes that support this immersive experience were not fully accessible. Using functional MRI (fMRI), researchers Roel Willems and Annabel Nijhof have now measured how individual listeners process a literary narrative. The peer-reviewed … Read more

Summary: Researchers report a causal connection between running speed and improved associative learning in mice. Run Faster, Learn Better: Increased Locomotion Boosts Cerebellar Learning in Mice A team at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon, Portugal, has published a study in Nature Neuroscience demonstrating that faster running speeds accelerate and enhance learning in … Read more

Schema Therapy (ST) is an integrative approach designed to help clients who have not fully responded to standard Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Its primary aim is to reduce distressing symptoms and support clients in building a satisfying, well-functioning life (Arntz & Jacob, 2013). At the heart of Schema Therapy is the concept of early maladaptive schemas: … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that a brain-penetrant experimental drug being developed as a cancer therapy can promote regeneration of damaged nerves and restore function after spinal cord injury in preclinical models. Source: University of Birmingham Overview Scientists at the University of Birmingham have demonstrated in laboratory and animal studies that AZD1390, an orally available, brain-penetrant candidate … Read more

Life coaching is a collaborative process that supports learning, growth, and improved performance for the person being coached (Lennard, 2010). It helps clients create balance and wellbeing by guiding them toward living their fullest potential. Unlike many forms of therapy that concentrate on diagnosing or treating problems, coaching emphasizes strengths and future-focused solutions. Coaches work … Read more