Summary: People who live close to urban parks, nature reserves and other green spaces report higher life satisfaction, greater happiness and a stronger sense of self-worth than those who live farther away. Source: University of Warwick Living within 300 m of urban green space—such as parks, nature reserves or play areas—is linked to higher life … Read more

High error rate on production line triggers slowdown Living cells function like miniature factories, producing more than 25,000 distinct proteins that must fold into precise three-dimensional shapes to work correctly. When cellular stresses overwhelm these production systems, proteins can be synthesized incorrectly and remain unfolded or misfolded, which impairs function and can trigger broader cellular … Read more

In recent decades, interest in mindfulness has grown steadily among healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and mental health specialists. Research and clinical practice increasingly recognize mindfulness as an effective element in healing and in supporting emotional and psychological wellbeing. This Article Contains: Mindfulness in Counseling Explained 4 Mindfulness-Based Counseling Techniques How to Apply Mindfulness … Read more

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