Why do some people lose their short-term memory with age, while others remain unaffected?
A link between the stress hormone cortisol and short-term memory problems has been found by a new study. Although cortisol is a natural hormone that spikes when we are stressed to help us deal with challenging situations, over time its long-term effects may be detrimental to short-term memory. This is the first study to link long-term exposure to cortisol with short-term memory problems. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Iowa and published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found that high levels of cortisol were associated with a loss of synapses in the prefrontal cortex, a structure that’s important for short-term memory (Anderson et al., 2014). The findings are based on a study of rats which were 21 months old — this meant their brains were roughly equivalent to that of a 65-year-old human. In the study, rats’ corticosterone levels were measured. Continue reading. Originally posted on PsyBlog.
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IF YOUR HARD-TO-PLEASE BOSS IS A LITTLE TOO HEAVY-HANDED WITH THE CRITICAL FEEDBACK, TAKE THIS ADVICE ON HOW TO DEAL.
Nobody likes being criticized, but it's inevitable at work and in relationships. People have different ways of doing tasks at work, and expectations for how projects should be completed. How you interpret and react to criticism is important, says Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., a psychology professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Whitbourne recently examined the topic for Psychology Today, and suggests five strategies to keep in mind the next time you’re being criticized. 1. EVALUATE WHAT WAS ACTUALLY SAID VERSUS YOUR PERCEPTION If you already feel insecure about your presentation skills, having someone criticize them can make you extra sensitive and prone to overreaction. Take a step back and make sure you’re not projecting your own insecurities onto the criticism, Whitbourne advises. Listen to what’s being said instead of what you think you heard or was being inferred. Continue reading. Originally posted on Fast Company. When we're worried about something, "What if?" is the enemy. What if we mess up at work? What if we can't complete our goals? What if everything falls apart?
Our default is to dwell on the potential of bad outcomes. As psychologist Rick Hanson explains in his book "Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm and Confidence," our brains have a natural negativity bias -- and before we know it, one troublesome thought can spiral out of control, leading to even more anxiety. For those who deal with anxiety and anxiety disorders on a daily basis, it can be challenging to put an end to a fearful thought before it shifts into chronic stress. Fortunately, there are ways to train your brain to stop a worry-ridden thought in its tracks, says Peter Norton, a professor of psychology at the University of Houston. "The more you look for something or expect something to be there, the more likely you are to find evidence of it, so sometimes people can mislead themselves [when they're having an anxious thought]," Norton tells The Huffington Post. Our deep trust in our own thinking is what leads us astray -- but it's also what can help us get back on track, he explains. Continue reading. Originally posted on Huffington Post. A new study done suggests a stress hormone is linked to short-term memory loss as we age.
The hormone is cortisol and the study from University of Iowa reveals that having high levels of cortisol, a natural hormone in our body whose levels rise when we are stressed, can lead to memory lapses as we age. Dr. Nicolas Bazan, professor and director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans agrees with the research. "This hormone increases in our blood as we are exposed to stress," Dr. Bazan said. "So the message is stress and aging don't go well together when the stress is sustained." He believes the study is important in Alzheimer's disease as well. "I believe the study adds to the knowledge that we need, in order to be able to conquer this disease that has had such a tremendous and emotional impact on families and a huge burden on our health care system," noted Dr. Bazan. Continue reading. Originally posted on WWL.Com. It is true that hypnosis can achieve all sorts of fascinating effects. Amongst other things, people can:
But much of what many people believe about hypnosis is total and utter rubbish. Here are 8 very common myths: Myth 1: Only the mentally weak can be hypnotised. This isn’t true. In fact the exact reverse is probably truer. The higher your intelligence and the stronger your self-control, the more easily you are hypnotised. That’s because entering a hypnotic trance is all about concentrating, so people with mental health problems can find it difficult. However finding it hard to enter a hypnotic state doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. People naturally vary in how susceptible they are to hypnosis. Studies have shown that around 30% of people are relatively resistant to being hypnotised. Although, with effort, the state can usually be achieved, eventually. Continue reading. Originally posted on Psyblog. Sleeping well is a crucial factor contributing to our physical and mental restoration. SWS in particular has a positive impact for instance on memory and the functioning of the immune system. During periods of SWS, growth hormones are secreted, cell repair is promoted and the defence system is stimulated. If you feel sick or have had a hard working day, you often simply want to get some good, deep sleep. A wish that you can't influence through your own will – so the widely held preconception.
Sleep researchers from the Universities of Zurich and Fribourg now prove the opposite. In a study that has now been published in the scientific journal Sleep, they have demonstrated that hypnosis has a positive impact on the quality of sleep, to a surprising extent. "It opens up new, promising opportunities for improving the quality of sleep without drugs", says biopsychologist Björn Rasch who heads the study at the Psychological Institute of the University of Zurich in conjunction with the "Sleep and Learning" project. Continue reading. Originally posted on Medical Xpress. |
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June 2023
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