Alix Sugarman on ART
Today we talk with licensed creative arts therapist Alix Sugarman who has used art in a creative healing program for military service personnel, military sexual trauma survivors, and family members. She now uses those same techniques in the framework of Accelerated...
The Science of Psychotherapy June 2020
The Science of Psychotherapy June 2020 The Roman goddess, Juno, lends her name to the month of June. This gave me pause to consider what sort of ethereal blessing she might give to provide some comfort as we continue to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic. Juno was...
The Dream Completion Technique
Today we chat with Dr Justin Havens who has developed what he calls the Dream Completion Technique to deal with unresolved nightmares and disturbing dreams. Justin is a psychological therapist accredited by BACP and EMDR Europe. He has worked within the NHS, the...
Tracing the Brain-To-Gut Connection
Using rabies virus injected into the stomach of rats, researchers trace the nerves back to the brain and find distinct ‘fight or flight’ and ‘rest and digest’ circuits. These results explain how mental states can affect the gut, and present new ways to treat gastrointestinal problems.
Potent pain-suppression center in the brain is found by neurobiologists
Response of dozens of pain-promotion centers is dampened by single OFF switch.
Reid Wilson on Anxiety
Reid Wilson has been an expert on anxiety and self-help for a long time now. His website anxieties.com has been established for many years and is the number one go-to place on the web for information and help with anxiety issues. We caught up with Reid to talk about...
Compared to males, females exhibit more intense subjective cannabis cravings
Researchers also found preliminary evidence that ovarian hormones may modulate the differential response in women and may be related to different levels of estrogen.
Scientists square off against gamers in a game of neuron-tracing
Veteran players of ‘Mozak’ are pitted against Allen Institute researchers — well-versed in neuroscience but new to the online game — in a work-and-game-at-home challenge.
Motor Skill Learning Via Changes in Brain’s Transmitters is Boosted by Exercise
Switch in chemical messaging is key prelude to motor skill acquisition according to research
Daryl Chow on getting better results
About Daryl Chow All I care about is to be of service. My work is guided by this principle. Specifically, be it for clients or professionals, I’m interested in helping people become better versions of themselves. I’m currently based in Western Australia, banded...
Symptom-specific Targets for Treatment of Depression is Identified By Researchers
Improvement of separate clusters of depressive symptoms is linked to therapeutic stimulation of distinct brain circuitry epression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, striking as many as one in...
Communicating differently is a subset of retinal neurons
New research has found that a subset of retinal neurons sends inhibitory signals to the brain. Before, researchers believed the eye only sends excitatory signals.
Neural circuit that drives physical responses to emotional stress are found by researchers
A key target for treating stress-related disorders such as panic disorder and PTSD is what this neural circuit could become.
Deb Dana on connecting
Deb Dana has brought the Polyvagal Theory to life in a very accessible way for therapists. Today we catch up with Deb and talk about a number of things including the difficulties and opportunities of co-regulation over the internet in a time of lock down. See Deb...
Explaining Parkinson’s dyskinesia mechanism
Study finds involuntary movements caused by dopamine replacement therapy can be alleviated through suppression of RasGRP1.
Molecular switch plays crucial role in learning from negative experiences
Neurobiologists at KU Leuven have discovered how the signalling molecule Neuromedin U plays a crucial role in our learning process. The protein allows the brain to recall negative memories and, as such, learn from the past. The findings of their study on roundworms have been published in the journal Nature Communications.
Social Anxiety Disorder Patient’s Large Differences Personality Traits
Compared to others, different personality traits exist in individuals with social anxiety disorder. According to a new study from Uppsala University, Emotional instability and introversion are hallmarks.
The Emergence of the Social Brain
The more we’ve come to understand how our brains work, the more we’ve realized that significant portions are dedicated to connecting us with others. Go to the download (members free) The brain has long been the subject of human fascination—this has never been as...
How the heart affects our perception
Brain and heart constantly communicate. For example, signals from the brain make sure that the heart beats faster when we encounter a dangerous situation. The heart slows down when we relax. Interestingly, vice versa – even though the underlying mechanisms are unclear, the heartbeat also affects the brain. It has now been identified by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS) in Leipzig and Berlin School of Mind & Brain that two mechanisms underpinning how the heart influences our perception, the brain, and how these mechanisms differ between individuals.
Lou Cozolino and his pocket guide to neuroscience
It's always a treat to have Lou on the show and to tap into his years of experience in the field and in his extensive research he does for his many books. Once again Lou Cozolino releases another book! This time it's the Pocket Guide to Neuroscience for...
Now we understand vision better because of mapped neural circuits found in the eye
The function of a special group of nerve cells which are found in the eye and which sense visual movement have been discovered by researchers from Aarhus University. A completely new understanding of how conscious sensory impressions occur in the brain has been acquired through the study. The development of targeted and specific forms of treatment in the future for diseases which impact the nervous system and its sensory apparatus, such as dementia and schizophrenia, needs this kind of insight.
Dreams, Synchrony, and Synchronicity
This excerpt taken from A Fractal Epistemology for a Scientific Psychology - Bridging the Personal with the Transpersonal edited by Terry Marks-Tarlow, Yakov Shapiro, Katthe P. Wolf. Published by Cambridge Scholars. Reproduced with permission of the publisher. ...
The Science of Psychotherapy May 2020
In the month since writing my last editorial the world has experienced an almost unprecedented turmoil. The covid-19 virus has affected us all, as it infected millions. Sadly, many lives have been lost. It is hard to imagine this extent of loss of life. In my 66 years...
The Adult Brain Repairs Itself by Going Back to the Beginning When Damaged
Using a mouse model, adult neurons in corticospinal injuries begin a natural regeneration process by reverting back to an embryonic state and that regeneration is sustained by a surprising gene.