The Science of Psychotherapy March 2021
What is time? Physicists say it is the procession of events or experiences that produce an increase in complexity that makes sense to our conscious mind. Over time, we develop a “self” to whom those events and experiences happen and allows us to realize that there are...
Signal Coupling Between Neuron-glia Super-network May Lead to Improved Memory Formation
Tohoku University scientists have shown that neuronal and glial circuits form a loosely coupled super-network within the brain. Activation of the metabotropic glutamate receptors in neurons was shown to be largely influenced by the state of the glial cells. Therefore,...
A weak heart makes a suffering brain
Evidence of Disturbed Gene Activity in the Brain as a Result of Heart Problems Göttingen/Germany, February 26, 2021. Heart problems cause disturbed gene activity in the brain’s memory center, from which cognitive deficits arise. Researchers at the German Center for...
Sleep is vital to associating emotion with memory
When you slip into sleep, it’s easy to imagine that your brain shuts down, but University of Michigan research suggests that groups of neurons activated during prior learning keep humming, tattooing memories into your brain. U-M researchers have been studying how...
A sleep disorder associated with shift work may affect gene function
Going on holiday can affect shift workers on the level of gene function: a new study indicates that resting during a holiday period restored functions associated with DNA regulation in shift workers suffering from sleep deprivation. Long-term sleep deprivation is...
Sharie Coombs talks about kids, language and COVID
Today we talk to Dr Sharie Coombs who is an educator, psychotherapist and author of many books for children with a psychoeducation mission. She is based in England and has a private practice as well as consulting therapists and authors. It was great to catch up with...
The Science of Us: Addiction & Attachment
This is our first of a series called "The Science of Us" where we explore some of the most interesting topics in the mental health arena. Today we look at the relationship between addiction and attachment - an emerging paradigm that is changing the way we...
How messenger substances influence individual decision-making
A research team of psychologists and physicists from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg investigated the neurobiological processes in different types of decision-making. In the journal Nature Communications, they...
Mediterranean diet linked to thinking skills
People who eat a Mediterranean-style diet—particularly one rich in green leafy vegetables and low in meat—are more likely to stay mentally sharp in later life, a study shows. Closely adhering to a Mediterranean diet was associated with higher scores on a range of...
Peter Mabbutt talks hypnosis
Today we go to England to talk to the President of the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis and his work teaching at the London School of Clinical Communication and Hypnosis. You can find out more about the London School of Clinical Communication and Hypnosis here -...
Happy childhood? That’s no guarantee for good mental health
It’s well understood that a difficult childhood can increase the likelihood of mental illness, but according to new research from the University of South Australia, a happy and secure childhood does not always protect a child from developing a mental illness later in...
Scientists propose new way to detect emotions using wireless signals
A novel artificial intelligence (AI) approach based on wireless signals could help to reveal our inner emotions, according to new research from Queen Mary University of London. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, demonstrates the use of radio waves to...
Blink! The Link between Aerobic Fitness and Cognition
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba find that spontaneous eye blink activity explains the link between physical activity and cognitive function Tsukuba, Japan - Although exercise is known to enhance cognitive function and improve mental health, the neurological...
Youth with autism see sharp decline in physical activity between ages 9-13
A recent study from Oregon State University has found that to best help kids with autism maintain healthy rates of physical activity, interventions should be targeted during the ages of 9 to 13, as that’s when kids show the biggest drop in active time. The study is...
Teaching pupils empathy measurably improves their creative abilities
Teaching children in a way that encourages them to empathise with others measurably improves their creativity, and could potentially lead to several other beneficial learning outcomes, new research suggests. We clearly awakened something in these pupils by encouraging...
We analysed almost 500,000 police reports of domestic violence. Mental health was an issue
by George Karystianis, UNSW and Tony Butler, UNSW Rare access to almost half a million police reports of domestic violence has revealed a hidden picture of mental health issues in perpetrators and victims. This is academics’ first attempt in the world to use computers...
What is bipolar disorder, the condition Kanye West lives with?
by Ian Hickie, University of Sydney American rapper Kanye West had been making headlines mid 2020 as he mounted a campaign to be elected president of the United States. We’ve saw a series of chaotic and emotional public outbursts, including during his first...
A New Realm of Personalized Medicine with Brain Stimulation
Millions of patients suffering from neurological and mental disorders such as depression, addiction, and chronic pain are treatment-resistant. In fact, about 30% of all major depression patients do not respond at all to any medication or psychotherapy. Simply put,...
Genetic analysis of symptoms yields new insights into PTSD
Attempts to identify the genetic causes of neuropsychiatric diseases such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through large-scale genome-wide analyses have yielded thousands of potential links. The challenge is further complicated by the wide range of symptoms...
The Profound Nature of Fractals
Editor’s Note: It is always a thrill when one of our authors receives recognition for excellence. Terry Marks-Tarlow and colleagues, Harris l. Friedman, Yakov Shapiro, & Katthe P. Wolf, have had their book, Fractal Epistemology for a Scientific Psychology...
Welcome to 2021
Richard and Matt have been busy writing their book but are now back and ready to take on 2021. If you are interested in all of the material we have available on our academy site, check out thescienceofpsychotherapy.net The papers mentioned by Richard: Ventura-Junca,...
The undervaluing and professional capture of psychotherapy in Australia
Last Word by Richard Lakeman Psychology belongs to everyone, but what about psychotherapy? A discussion of the undervaluing and professional capture of psychotherapy in Australia. [excerpt] IntroductionAustralia has made a huge investment in mental health through...
Using machine learning to detect ADHD with near perfect accuracy
A new study led by a University at Buffalo researcher has identified how specific communication among different brain regions, known as brain connectivity, can serve as a biomarker for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The research relied on a deep...
Love & Well-Being
Love & Well-Being with Trudy Goodman Kornfield and Jack Kornfield The final Lifespan Learning Institute’s IPNB conference, usually held at UCLA campus, was held in Marina del Rey in April, 2019. The theme was Timeless Wisdom, Timely Action. I have been...