Counseling From A to Z

May 16, Nutrition Counseling and the Body Media Suite

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:57:45 GMT

Beginning week five of the Body Media experience and I am at minus 10 pounds. Very amazing to me that after all these years of not being able to consistently pay attention to my food intake, or eating on a deliberate schedule, that the addition of this simple arm band, and writing down what I eat and when I eat has resulted in what is becoming a regular part of my daily lifestyle. I am amazed. As I settle into new habits, the goal I have of 60 pounds of weight loss does not appear so far fetched, nor does in induce such anxiety about "got to lose 5 pounds today". I will keep you posted.

May 14, Weight Loss Counseling for Me-Part 2

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:03:05 GMT

The research I quote below really hits home for me. When I was first building my business, after graduate school, I saw every client who I could, often scheduling appointments until later in the evening, which meant I would finish my day at 9:00 or even 10:00p.m. and then head home tired and hungry. My evening meal would consist of meat and potatoes and I would eat while reading the paper, not paying attention to nutritional value or fullness. So I would eat when my circadian clock said I should be resting, and I would eat high fat foods and actually I was eating for comfort rather than nutrition. I actually trained my body to be hungry at that time, and it will still feel hungry at that time, even if I have eaten within a couple of hours. Breaking that circadian habit takes some attention and choice behaviors on my part, and I do believe that in the last month, I have begun to significantly reduce the impact of that signal from my body. "ScienceDaily (Nov. 6, 2007) — Our body's 24-hour internal clock, or circadian clock, regulates the time we go to sleep, wake up and become hungry as well as the daily rhythms of many metabolic functions. The clock -- an ancient molecular machine found in organisms large and small, simple and complex -- properly aligns one's physiology with one's environment. Now, for the first time, a Northwestern University and Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH) study has shown that overeating alters the core mechanism of the body clock, throwing off the timing of internal signals, including appetite control, critical for good health. Animals on a high-fat diet gained weight and suddenly exhibited a disruption in their circadian clocks, eating extra calories during the time they should have been asleep or at rest. The study, which will be published in the Nov. 7 issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, also shows that changes in metabolic state associated with obesity and diabetes not only affects the circadian rhythms of behavior but also of physiology. Probing beyond the behavioral level, the researchers observed actual changes in genes that encode the clock in the brain and in peripheral tissues (such as fat), resulting in diminished expression of those genes."

May 13, Weight Loss Counseling For Me.

Sun, 13 May 2012 11:33:24 GMT

Hello everyone, sorry it has been so long, but I have been auditing my site to conform with Panda and Penguin updates, with not a great deal of success, so I am just going to do what I have always done, and not worry about Google. If you remember back to last Oct., I posted quick updates from Science Daily, usually about brain fitness research. Since my brain is 64, I want to keep it as fit as possible. My most current brain fitness adventure? I gained a lot of weight when I was making my career change in the '90's, getting my Master's degree, and I have never taken it off, although I exercise regularly. But a month ago, I ran across an article in Wired Magazine about a tool called Body Media, which Wired recommended. The Body Media tool is an arm band that one wears 24/7 which records physiological activity and has a website where one can record meals and set up a target exercise and calorie intake and calorie burn daily record. Since there was an affiliate program, I decided to try it out, and ran to tell my wife, Julie, about it. Of course, Julie already had the tool, although she hadn't been using it. Anybody relate? So she resurrected hers and we began to use them regularly and support each other, and low and behold, I have lost 10 pounds in the last month. Julie has lost 9 pounds. More surprisingly for me is that having the arm band on has tipped me just enough into awareness of cravings and scheduling meals that I am eating the right kind of foods at the right time and feeling full. That is a behavioral change of major proportions for me, and I am only one month into it, actually still getting it firm. I am back about 2 belt loops on my old belt, and feeling confident that this is a program that I can sustain, even with whiny kids who think fast food from Culvers is the best. They are great and persistent temptors. I also have a friend locally who has lost over 100 pounds in the last year using a secret ingredient, a meal replacement shake, which is from an mlm company. I decided to try it out, and started a week ago to use it (but not sell it), just to give me some insurance, and when I mixed it the way I was supposed to, it left me feeling full without eating a meal. That was really amazing. So stay tuned for updates.

May 11, pinterest

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:12:29 GMT

Nov 6, Dede Smith, MA, LPC, CCLS

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:58:57 GMT

Hi Mike, Wow, oh wow! I found this website by googling techniques for counseling children, and now I'm hooked, beyond hooked--hopelessly addicted! In

Nov 2, New hope for treatment of cocaine addiction

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:26:23 GMT

Amazing what we keep discovering about the human brain. I know when I was in the addictions field, we taught clients some tools to handle relapse thoughts, like call your sponsor, or go to a meeting, use the AA slogans, like Let Go and Let God, which actually change the brains focus, and don't go around slippery places if you do not want to slip. I know there were some folks who were on medication even way back then to help with the physical side of addiction, and there was some controversy in the recovering community about that, and there probably always will be, but I do not think this drug can alter your mood, so it should be OK with recovering folks. "ScienceDaily (2011-07-15) -- Researchers have discovered that a common beta blocker, used to treat people with hypertension, has shown to be effective in preventing the brain from retrieving memories associated with cocaine use in animal-addiction models. Cocaine is one of the worst drug addictions to kick, with about 80 percent of those trying to quit experiencing a relapse within six months...A common beta blocker, propranolol, currently used to treat people with hypertension and anxiety, has shown to be effective in preventing the brain from retrieving memories associated with cocaine use in animal-addiction models, according to Devin Mueller, UWM assistant professor of psychology and a co-author with James Otis of the research."

Nov 1, Amino Acid May Help Reduce Cocaine Cravings

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:52:16 GMT

The brain is so plastic, and is constantly changing based on the environment...and it looks like it can remember what used to be before cocaine and return to that. This is very interesting research, and I will follow up on it for you. "ScienceDaily (2009-10-23) -- A new study in rats has found that N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a commonly available and generally nontoxic amino acid derivative, reverses changes in the brain's circuitry associated with cocaine addiction. The reversal appears to lessen the cravings associated with cocaine, thus providing protection against relapse...ocaine is a highly addictive drug characterized by frequent relapses. Recent advances in brain imaging are helping scientists uncover what happens in the brain when an addicted person is exposed to the drug-associated "cues" that trigger craving -- and lead to relapse. They've found that repeated exposure to psychoactive drugs such as cocaine causes an imbalance in the brain circuits regulating reward and cognitive control. One of these circuits is a pathway involving the neurotransmitter glutamate. In the current study, Moussawi and his colleagues found that NAC restored normal functioning to this circuit in rats that had been previously addicted to cocaine. In addition, after receiving NAC, the previously cocaine-addicted rats did not reengage in drug-seeking behavior, even in the presence of drug-associated cues."

Oct 31, Brain mechanism linked to relapse after cocaine withdrawal

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:06:14 GMT

This is one of those frustrating research articles. On the one hand it is great to know the information in this article, and on the other hand, I want some ideas or tools or tactics that I and my clients can implement immediately, and there are none offered here. But there are lots of links to other research articles, though, so maybe one of them will offer up a tool that can be tried out this afternoon. Yes, your basic still suffering addict wants something to eleviate the pain that fast. "ScienceDaily (2010-09-08) -- Addictive drugs are known to induce changes in the brain's reward circuits that may underlie drug craving and relapse after long periods of abstinence. Now, new research uncovers a specific neural mechanism that may be linked to persistent drug-seeking behavior and could help to guide strategies for development of new therapies for cocaine addiction...revious research has shown that the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a brain region that is activated when cocaine users experience a craving for cocaine after being exposed to cocaine-associated cues. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which receives input from the VTA via circuits that use the "reward" neurotransmitter dopamine, has also been implicated in drug craving after cocaine withdrawal. Further, increases in the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been observed in the VTA and mPFC in rats after withdrawal from repeated cocaine exposure."

Oct 30, Frontal cortex dysfunction may contribute to compulsive sexual behavior, study suggests

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:37:39 GMT

The research mentioned below would seem to fit with yesterday's article, about addiction being a brain issue, rather than a moral failing, for example. Wondering if committing to a lifestyle of attention to thoughts and breathing and feelings can help offset the lesion or the brain disorder involved in addiction? It appears to have worked for millions involved in 12 Step programs. The 12 Step kind of practice certainly has to build new circuitry in the brain that eventually becomes stronger than the compulsion, if I read the brain fitness gurus, correctly. "ScienceDaily (2010-06-10) -- Sex "addiction" is a concept that has had particularly high visibility recently with the publicity associated with Tiger Woods. Persons with addictive or compulsive disorders frequently display an inability to inhibit behaviors once they become maladaptive, despite adverse consequences of their behavior. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a brain region involved in decision-making and behavioral flexibility, and it has been identified as a potential mediator of behavioral inhibition...Collectively, these data suggest a general role for the mPFC in regulating the compulsive seeking of reward, and may contribute to a better understanding of a common pathology underlying impulse control disorders."

Oct 29, New definition of addiction: Addiction is a chronic brain disease, not just bad behavior or bad choices

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 11:55:35 GMT

So some of the powers that be in the addictions field have noticed that the brain pleasure circuits are involved and that addiction has neuroplastic aspects? Very cool. So I wonder if living a brain fit lifestyle is preventive, or if a brain fit lifestyle can be part of recovering paradigms? It would seem to me that there are many overlaps between the 12 Step Programs and the Pillars of Brain Fitness, which boils down to doing things that encourage the growth of new neurons (neurogenesis) and the growth of new circuits which is called neuroplasticity. New circuits can happen within minutes when new learning occurs...the brain is very invested in surviving, so any new learned changes neuorons and fast. ScienceDaily (2011-08-15) -- When people see compulsive and damaging behaviors in friends or family members -- or public figures such as celebrities or politicians -- they often focus only on the substance use or behaviors as the problem. However, these outward behaviors are actually manifestations of an underlying disease that involves various areas of the brain, according to a new definition...Two decades of advancements in neurosciences convinced ASAM that addiction needed to be redefined by what's going on in the brain. Research shows that the disease of addiction affects neurotransmission and interactions within reward circuitry of the brain, leading to addictive behaviors that supplant healthy behaviors, while memories of previous experiences with food, sex, alcohol and other drugs trigger craving and renewal of addictive behaviors. Meanwhile, brain circuitry that governs impulse control and judgment is also altered in this disease, resulting in the dysfunctional pursuit of rewards such as alcohol and other drugs. This area of the brain is still developing during teen-age years, which may be why early exposure to alcohol and drugs is related to greater likelihood of addiction later in life."

Oct 28, Bilingual benefits reach beyond communication

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:59:44 GMT

So learning a second language as a kid has benefits into old age, as does learning a second language as an adult. While it takes more practice for us as an adult to learn a second language, remember, you do not have to become conversant in it as an adult to derive the neuroplastic and neurogenetic benefits of learning a second language. Just remember the pillars of brain fitness, which are physical exercise, nutrition including lots of omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants, good sleep, and novel learning experience, which is usually characterized as the kind of learning that happens when we learn a new language or a new instrument. Those pillars make it possible for us to form new connections between neurons and grow new neurons. "ScienceDaily (2010-11-09) -- Speaking two languages can be handy when traveling abroad, applying for jobs, and working with international colleagues, but how does bilingualism influence the way we think?...The authors note that “when a bilingual speaks two languages regularly, speaking in just one of these languages requires use of the control network to limit interference from the other language and to ensure the continued dominance of the intended language.” The bilingual advantage in attention and cognitive control may have important, long-term benefits. Preliminary evidence even suggests that their increased use of these systems may protect bilinguals against Alzheimer’s."

Oct 27, Speaking More Than One Language May Slow The Aging Process In The Mind

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:29:11 GMT

I suppose that most of us who are not scientists have to appreciate the lengths that scientists go to say something like..."Well, these are the results of our research, but more research is needed." If you happen to search out the entire article, you will understand what I am referring to. The researcher went to some trouble to qualify the results, but the bottom line is, learning a new language at any age is good for neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. "ScienceDaily (2008-05-07) -- Children who speak a second or third language may have an unexpected advantage later in life, a new study has found. Knowing and speaking many languages may protect the brain against the effects of aging... Exercising the Brain A person who speaks more languages is likely to be more clear-minded at an older age, she says, in effect “exercising” his or her brain more than those who are monolingual. Languages may create new links in the brain, contributing to this strengthening effect. The research was based on a survey taken in 1989 on people between the ages of 75 and 95. Each person was asked how many languages he or she knew, what his or her mother tongue was, and which language he or she spoke best. The researchers compared bilingual speakers to tri- and multilingual speakers. Analyzing the results, the researchers found that the more languages a person spoke, the better his or her cognitive state was. A person’s level of education was also strongly associated with cognitive state, but the number of languages contributed to the prediction of cognitive fitness beyond the effect of education alone."

Oct 26, You are what you eat: Low fat diet with fish oil slows growth of human prostate cancer cells, study suggests

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:16:35 GMT

Another use for fish oil. I remember back about 12 years ago, when I was doing EEG Brainwave biofeedback, I had a client with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome who reported the fish oil helped her CFS, so I bought some and tried it. The delivery system then was not as good as it is now, so when I took the supplement, it made me burp really fishy burps. That is not the case anymore, and you will see references to fish oil as part of the nutritional regimen for many health related issues, and the brain fitness writers are saying getting fish oil in your diet or supplementing for it is a mandatory for neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. ScienceDaily (2011-10-25) -- A low-fat diet with fish oil supplements eaten for four to six weeks prior to prostate removal slowed down the growth of prostate cancer cells -- the number of rapidly dividing cells -- in human prostate cancer tissue compared to a traditional, high-fat Western diet, according to a new study.

Oct 25, Whether we know it or not, we can 'see' through one eye at a time

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:22:53 GMT

Remember that old saying that your parents taught you about..."Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear"? Well, now I guess we are going to have to ask ourselves which eye we are seeing through before we can decide which half of what we see we are going to believe. Truth is just getting too complicated. I am not surprised though that our experience of visual reality is much more complicated than previously assumed. Keep looking I say. "ScienceDaily (2011-10-18) -- Although portions of the visible world come in through one eye only, the brain instantaneously takes all that information and creates a coherent image. As far as we know, we "see" with both eyes at once. Now a new study suggests that the brain may know which eye is receiving information -- and can turn around and tell that eye to work even harder...The findings, says Zhang, suggest some intriguing things about the visual system. "Maybe there are binocular neurons in the brain" -- neurons that take in and collate information from both eyes -- "that also know which eye that information is coming from and can feed back to that eye," telling it to pay closer attention. In other words, the mechanisms of visual perception, and the communications between eye and brain, may be even more flexible and powerful than scientists thought."

Oct 24, Juggling languages can build better brains

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:18:02 GMT

What I have been reading in regards to brain fitness for the last several years says that we can encourage neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, or the growth of new neurons and connections between neurons by taking care of the pillars of brain fitness, which are physical exercise, nutrition inclucing omega 3 fatty acid and antioxidants, good sleep, stress management, and novel learning experience. The novel learning experience has routinely included the concept that learning a new language or new instrument was good for neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. The research mentioned below would seem to confirm that. "ScienceDaily (2011-02-18) -- Once likened to a confusing tower of Babel, speaking more than one language can actually bolster brain function by serving as a mental gymnasium, according to researchers...Recent research indicates that bilingual speakers can outperform monolinguals--people who speak only one language--in certain mental abilities, such as editing out irrelevant information and focusing on important information, said Judith Kroll, Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Penn State. These skills make bilinguals better at prioritizing tasks and working on multiple projects at one time. "We would probably refer to most of these cognitive advantages as multi-tasking," said Kroll, director of the Center for Language Science. "Bilinguals seem to be better at this type of perspective taking."

Oct 23, Bilinguals see the world in a different way, study suggests

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 10:19:18 GMT

I had never thought about how world view would change when learning a new language. Maybe that is what is meant when the brain fitness folks say that learning a new language is important for neurogenesis, or the growth of new neurons. How do bilingual folks determine which world view to apply in their day to day activities? You would think that would be dictated by the language situation they were in, but maybe there is an amalgam world view that bilingual folks enjoy, running in the background of their day to day activities? Very curious indeed. "ScienceDaily (2011-03-14) -- Scientists have found that regularly speaking in a second language makes you literally see the world in a different way. Color perception is an ideal way of testing bilingual concepts because there is a huge variation between where different languages place boundaries on the color spectrum...As well as learning vocabulary and grammar you're also unconsciously learning a whole new way of seeing the world," said Dr Athanasopoulos. "There's an inextricable link between language, culture and cognition. "If you're learning language in a classroom you are trying to achieve something specific, but when you're immersed in the culture and speaking it, you're thinking in a completely different way." He added that learning a second language gives businesses a unique insight into the people they are trading with, suggesting that EU relations could be dramatically improved if we all took the time to learn a little of each other's language rather than relying on English as the lingua-franca."

Oct 22, Master of Arts in Addiction Counseling

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:30:36 GMT

The link below represents a bit of a change for me in my blog entries. If you follow it, you will be taken to a page with a video from the Hazeldon Foundation, where you can get some excellent training in the addictions field. So many of my clients come to me with addiction issues. It is crucial to assess whether or not an addiction is at the root of a mental health issue or accerbates it. Let me know if you enjoy. The Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies educates future leaders in addiction counseling. The Master of Arts in Addiction Counseling is a full-time, one-year program or part-time, two-year program at Hazelden's Center City, Minnesota campus. Clinical placements within and outside of Hazelden provide practice opportunities focusing on youth services, outpatient treatment and long-term care, corrections, cultural diversity, and mental health. Students are positioned to pursue entry-level licensure in addiction counseling.

Oct 21, Language Driven By Culture, Not Biology, Study Shows

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:05:16 GMT

My business involves language, so I am curious about research on language. The research mentioned below makes me wonder about our self-talk, the dialogue I usually have running in the back of my head while I am involved in the day to day stuff of life. How does that get started and how can I turn it off are questions of importance to me, because the words chosen in self-talk have a huge impact on your feelings, and I like to feel good. Is self-talk a genetically based behavior? Is it socially learned? My kids are not able to see into my head to see my self-talk, nor I theirs, so do they have it? They sure seem to have some thoughts when playing, which can get translated into behaviors. "ScienceDaily (2009-01-19) -- Language in humans has evolved culturally rather than genetically, according to a new study. By modeling the ways in which genes for language might have evolved alongside language itself, the study showed that genetic adaptation to language would be highly unlikely, as cultural conventions change much more rapidly than genes. Thus, the biological machinery upon which human language is built appears to predate the emergence of language...According to a phenomenon known as the Baldwin effect, characteristics that are learned or developed over a lifespan may become gradually encoded in the genome over many generations, because organisms with a stronger predisposition to acquire a trait have a selective advantage. Over generations, the amount of environmental exposure required to develop the trait decreases, and eventually no environmental exposure may be needed - the trait is genetically encoded."

Oct 20, Predicting what people are about to say

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:55:45 GMT

What could research like that mentioned below mean to folks my age, who are working on sustaining their memory through working on the Pillars of Brain Fitness? One of those pillars is 'novel learning experience' which is usually characterized as the kind of learning that I experience when learning a new language or a new instrument. Learning a new language is good for neuroplasticity, or the brain's ability to formulate new connections, because of the need for regular practice and there is an increasing level of challenge, so think of a course for folks who want to learn conversational Spanish that includes predicting how another might finish a sentence? Adds a level of interest not there with the usual drills, right? "ScienceDaily (2010-03-29) -- Researchers have made novel discoveries about the human ability to predict what other people are about to say. Their findings could have significant applications for educators, speech therapists, entrepreneurs, and many others interested in communication and comprehension...This intrinsic ability to predict based on probability has implications for language comprehension. Educators engaged in foreign language instruction might effectively focus their initial efforts on the most probable sentence constructions. Entrepreneurs engaged in marketing their products or services might use the most probable phrases in preparing their advertising messages. These research findings on linguistic probability may also be helpful in making computerized language more natural. Another practical application would be in the refinement of tools used in profiling and diagnosing those with language disorders. As noted by the authors in an interview, "Linguistic patterns are important in predicting comprehension. If we can make better use of these patterns to enhance comprehension, then we can improve people's ability to understand one another."

Oct 19, The 'bumpy ride' of linguistic change

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:00:34 GMT

Counseling is a language game, and how different folks respond to different words and gestures is fascinating to me. I think that building a container of trust is very important for counselors and clients, and trust and safety come after there is attention paid by the counselor to issues that impact trust, like introductions, confidentiality and a bit self-disclosure. As clients make changes, their verbal and non-verbal language changes too, to a more hopeful and confident language. This process can be impacted by cultural factors, so both parties need to work to find a common understanding of key terms. Malidoma Some and Martin Prechtel speak to the impact of a new language on an older indigenous language. "ScienceDaily (2010-06-21) -- A recent study of an ancient language provides new insights into the nature of linguistic evolution, with potential applications for today's world...Dr. Kiparsky's research focuses on the reasons why languages change over time, and the mechanisms by which this change occurs. Linguistic change differs from biological evolution and socio-cultural change because of the way language is organized and learned. Languages are passed on by example, but each is governed by a coherent set of rules that conform to a common set of organizing principles. Linguistic change is typically initiated by children as they make "intelligent" errors in seeking the simplest way of navigating the languages they are learning. By studying linguistic change, we gain new insights into how language is organized and how children learn language."

Oct 18, What was that again? A mathematical model of language incorporates the need for repetition

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:32:26 GMT

When I teach the concepts I want to teach in my domestic violence and anger management clients, I find myself repeating the concepts that clients seem to identify with. Sometimes I repeat the concepts that no one appears to be getting also, so I was curious about what the research below talks about. The information was a bit disappointing because it does not seem to take into account the non-verbal communication between speaker and listener. My experience says to me that the non-verbal cues from the other folks in the room are very importatnt in terms of what gets repeated. In other words there is a system involved, and the research below does not seem to take that into account. My guess is that if someone were to craft a message based on a formula, we would be sharp enough to catch on, although advertisers my fool us. "ScienceDaily (2011-08-29) -- Human language can appear to be a chaotic and confusing jumble of words. Fortunately, order -- or loss of entropy -- may increase in a predictable and mathematically consistent manner if communication lines are left open long enough...Dębowski connects this power-law growth of entropy to a similar power-law growth in the number of distinct words used in a text. The two concepts -- entropy and vocabulary size -- can be related by the idea that humans describe a random world, but in a highly repetitive way. Dębowski shows this by examining a block of text as a dynamic system that moves from randomness toward order through a series of repetitive steps. He theorizes that if a text describes a given number of independent facts in a repetitive way then it must contain at least the same number of distinct words that occur in a related repetitive fashion. What this reveals is that language may be viewed as a system that fights a natural increase in entropy by slowly constructing a framework of repetitive words that enable humans to better grasp its meaning."

Oct 17, Psychopathic killers: Computerized text analysis uncovers the word patterns of a predator

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:03:45 GMT

The information discussed below makes me very curious, and I cannot say I am surprised, but I would like to know a lot more about the research and the patterns it looks for and discovers...because the stakes are high. I know in my practice I pay very close attention to the non-verbal patterns of communication and whether or not they are congruent with the spoken word. I cannot be diagnostic with my impressions, but I sure do trust to ask many more questions of my client when there is an incongruence. "ScienceDaily (2011-10-15) -- As words can be the soul's window, scientists are learning to peer through it: Computerized text analysis shows that psychopathic killers make identifiable word choices -- beyond conscious control -- when talking about their crimes. This research could lead to new tools for diagnosis and treatment, and have implications law enforcement and social media."

Oct 16, Spiritual Effects Of Hallucinogens Persist, Researchers Report

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 11:32:14 GMT

So maybe all of those Shaman's were on to something when they advocated the use of hallucinogens as part of a spiritual pursuit. Of course, we in the West need to approach this type of work, if we are going to do it, with the local traditions and reverence in mind. The use of hallucinogens is not a short cut to enlightenment, but part of the path, just like daily prayer and meditation. The article below indicates that folks who are at risk of psychopathology should not use a tool like this. Other researchers, notably Stan Grof, M.D. used it in psychiatric institutions. I think there is great potential in the Grof model, which can be done without the drug. "ScienceDaily (2008-07-02) -- In a follow-up to research showing that psilocybin, a substance contained in "sacred mushrooms," produces substantial spiritual effects, scientists report that those beneficial effects appear to last more than a year...Writing in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, the Johns Hopkins researchers note that most of the 36 volunteer subjects given psilocybin, under controlled conditions in a Hopkins study published in 2006, continued to say 14 months later that the experience increased their sense of well-being or life satisfaction. "Most of the volunteers looked back on their experience up to 14 months later and rated it as the most, or one of the five most, personally meaningful and spiritually significant of their lives," says lead investigator Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., a professor in the Johns Hopkins departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Neuroscience."

Oct 15, Hallucinogen can safely ease anxiety in advanced-stage cancer patients, study suggests

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:58:28 GMT

Here is a link to the Science Daily article, which is very interesting to me. Wonder what the strict supervision mentioned below is like? Wonder what the impact for grieving survivors would be from using a tool/treatment like this? "ScienceDaily (2010-09-07) -- In the first human study of its kind to be published in more than 35 years, researchers found psilocybin, an hallucinogen which occurs naturally in "magic mushrooms," can safely improve the moods of patients with advanced-stage cancer and anxiety...esearchers conducted extensive investigations of psychedelic drugs in the 1950s and 1960s and found promising improvements in mood and anxiety, as well as a diminished need for narcotic pain medication among advanced-stage cancer patients. The research was abandoned in the early 1970s in the wake of widespread recreational usage that led to stiff federal laws regulating hallucinogens. "Political and cultural pressures forced an end to these studies in the 1970s," said Dr. Grob. "We were able to revive this research under strict federal supervision and demonstrate that this is a field of study with great promise for alleviating anxiety and other psychiatric symptoms."

Oct 14, Single dose of 'magic mushrooms' hallucinogen may create lasting personality change, study suggests

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:39:37 GMT

Haven't seen anything about hallucinogens in research for awhile. I know LSD research was stopped when LSD became a class X drug way back in the Nixon administration, when there were reports of significant positive change in psychopathology as a result of the use of LSD with psychiatric patients. Of course that use was in carefully controlled circumstances, like the research mentioned below, so do not run off to try this on your own. I know that folks dealing with cancer have used drugs like this to help them make sense of the process. So let's keep an eye on this, shall we? ScienceDaily (2011-09-29) -- A single high dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin, the active ingredient in so-called "magic mushrooms," was enough to bring about a measurable personality change lasting at least a year in nearly 60 percent of the participants in a new study, according to researchers...Griffiths says he believes psilocybin may have therapeutic uses. He is currently studying whether the hallucinogen has a use in helping cancer patients handle the depression and anxiety that comes along with a diagnosis, and whether it can help longtime cigarette smokers overcome their addiction. "There may be applications for this we can't even imagine at this point," he says. "It certainly deserves to be systematically studied"

Oct 13, Funny Brain Jokes

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:37:12 GMT

Funny Brain Jokes "He who laughs last, thinks slowest." An old couple was watching TV one evening, and the husband got up to go to the kitchen. His wife told him to get her some iced tea, and knowing that the years had taken their toll on his memory, she told him to write it down. "I can remember iced tea," he protested. "But I want sugar in my tea too," she told him, "so write it down." He told her he could remember iced tea with sugar. "I want a slice of lemon too." she said, "Just write it down." He left the room grumbling to himself. A few minutes later he came back with a plate full of mashed potatoes for her. "Now look what you've done!" she yelled at him, "You forgot my gravy!" Brain Teaser One-Liners - On the other hand, you have different fingers. - He was lost in thought because it was unfamiliar territory. - Nothing is really foolproof for a sufficiently talented fool.

Oct 12, New evidence that caffeine is a healthful antioxidant in coffee

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:59:18 GMT

Coffee drinkers, unite. We now have a thinly veiled excuse to continue drinking down pots of our favorite early morning/mid-morning/evening potable. The research mentioned below does not actually say that antioxidants are delivered, but I have seen other research articles that do, so get your big cup refilled. "ScienceDaily (2011-05-04) -- Scientists are reporting an in-depth analysis of how the caffeine in coffee, tea and other foods seems to protect against conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and heart disease on the most fundamental levels...Annia Galano and Jorge Rafael León-Carmona describe evidence suggesting that coffee is one of the richest sources of healthful antioxidants in the average person's diet. Some of the newest research points to caffeine (also present in tea, cocoa, and other foods) as the source of powerful antioxidant effects that may help protect people from Alzheimer's and other diseases. However, scientists know little about exactly how caffeine works in scavenging the so-called free radicals that have damaging effects in the body."

Oct 11, Brain Food for Your Kids

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:48:07 GMT

I know that working on my own brain fitness means cutting out processed foods, with their appetite stimulants and high fructose corn syrup included. I do not feel good after eating packaged food anymore, and it is hard to avoid at family gatherings for example. We have struggled at my house for sometime with eliminating the unhealthy parts of our children's diets. Part of that is just the kids being kids and disliking anything mom and dad want to incorporate into their diet, and part of it is mom and dad having a little high fructose corn syrup issue of their own. We have accumulated recipes like the ones in the New York Times article linked to above and never made it a policy to regularly use them, so if your struggle is like ours, I hope you enjoy the article mentioned above, and perhaps come back to our nutrition counseling pages. Mike

Oct 10, Exercise Creates a Stronger Faster, Brain

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:42:47 GMT

I know that after reading the headline above, you are all heading to your treadmill or elliptical trainer, or perhaps just heading out to walk around the block several times because you want to emulate the mice in the study...hope you got a giggle. And I hope you will read further. Adult neurogenesis happens in humans too, and we can make that process more effective if we engage in aerobic exercise. Not sure about you, but at 63 I can use all the new neurons I get, so I am headed to the gym, plus I love how I feel after a good workout. "The Morris water maze is the rodent equivalent of an I.Q. test: mice are placed in a tank filled with water dyed an opaque color. Beneath a small area of the surface is a platform, which the mice can’t see. Despite what you’ve heard about rodents and sinking ships, mice hate water; those that blunder upon the platform climb onto it immediately. Scientists have long agreed that a mouse’s spatial memory can be inferred by how quickly the animal finds its way in subsequent dunkings. A “smart” mouse remembers the platform and swims right to it. n the late 1990s, one group of mice at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, near San Diego, blew away the others in the Morris maze. The difference between the smart mice and those that floundered? Exercise. The brainy mice had running wheels in their cages, and the others didn’t. Scientists have suspected for decades that exercise, particularly regular aerobic exercise, can affect the brain. But they could only speculate as to how. Now an expanding body of research shows that exercise can improve the performance of the brain by boosting memory and cognitive processing speed. Exercise can, in fact, create a stronger, faster brain."

Oct 9, How Exercise Can Strengthen the Brain

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 13:36:54 GMT

More evidence supporting the need for regular exercise. Growing extra mitochondria is so cool. Do I sound like a scientist? Hope not, hope I sound like a counselor who is 63 and worried about the signs of growing older and old that he is experiencing, and is delighted today to find the article linked to above. Those of you who follow my blog know that I seldom link to a resource outside my website, so my doing that means I think the idea discussed in the article above is of great value. I know I will be getting some good exercise today pushing my lawn mower around, and tomorrow, I will be at the YMCA for more mitochondria building.

Oct 8, Jonesing for java: Could caffeine use predict risk for cocaine abuse?

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:32:29 GMT

The research quoted below has a certain level of "You didn't know that?" built into it. But maybe those researchers have never been around folks who are very early in their recovery, who go to AA or NA meetings armed with cigarettes and smoke several during a meeting, and drink several cups of coffee, and perhaps that coffee is well doctored with sugar and creamer. As I have watched that phenomenon over the years, I have wondered if the coffee and cigarette routine is a comforting habit or if there is actually some chemistry in the brain going on. I know that the creamer has appetite stimulants in it, and I know I feel better after a few cups of black coffee in the mornings, but that is hardly a scientific relationship, and certainly cannot be used to predict the intensity of my reaction to other stimulants, although in my college days, I did manage to enjoy my very limited experiences with a pharmaceutical amphetamine. This research builds some science into my personal observations. "ScienceDaily (2011-10-07) -- A new study that examined responses to stimulants is the first to demonstrate that caffeine reinforcement prospectively predicts the positive effects of another drug...While these data do not mean that every coffee lover is at risk for proceeding to cocaine abuse," says Sigmon, "this study does show that individuals vary markedly in their subjective and behavioral response to psychomotor stimulants, and those for whom a modest caffeine dose serves as a reinforcer are the same folks who subsequently report more positive subjective effects of d-amphetamine. Future research will be important to examine whether caffeine reinforcement predicts vulnerability to reinforcement and abuse of classic psychomotor stimulants such as amphetamine and cocaine."

Oct 7, Brain Fitness Tip # 4-Compliments of Posit Science.

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:27:19 GMT

I first came across Merzinich's work when I read a great book by Norman Doidge,M.D. titled "The Brain That Changes Itself". Doidge interviewed Merzenich extensively about his thoughts on the concept of neuroplasticity, or how our brain re-wires itself every time we learn something new. In other words, the brain is a high performance engine, which loses its high performance capacity when we do not challenge it with the kinds of things Merzenich talks about below. Most writers working in the neurogenesis and neuroplasticity fields say that the kind of learning that is best for neurogenesis and neuroplasticity is the kind of learning we engage in when we learn a new language or a new instrument, because of the increasing challenge level and regular practice that is required. The point is that the brain is truly a use it or lose it organ. "Speed It Up- Sorry to say, our brains naturally start slowing down at the cruelly young age of 30 (yes, 30). It used to be thought that this couldn't be helped, but a barrage of new studies show that people of any age can train their brains to be faster and, in effect, younger. "Your brain is a learning machine," says Michael Merzenich, PhD, a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Francisco. Given the right tools, we can train our brains to act like they did when we were younger. All that's required is dedicated practice: exercises for the mind. "Anything that closely engages your focus and is strongly rewarding," says Merzenich, will kick your brain into learning mode and necessarily notch it up. For his part, Merzenich, 64, has "4,000 hobbies," including a wood shop and a vineyard"

Oct 6, Anti-Aging Tips to Keep Your Brain Young.

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:07:40 GMT

This is a Reader's Digest Article that I found on the Posit Science Brain Fitness site. The great thing about the exercise that is required is that it does not have to be olympic training caliber exercise. Extra walking, a little further, a little faster, the kind that gets you breathing deeply enough to make it hard to talk and walk at the same time is necessary. One more trip around the block, part a little further away, one more trip up and down the stairs, ect...go for it, your dendrites will thank you. "The No. 1 Thing You Can Do? 1. Move It Quick -- what's the No. 1 thing you can do for your brain's health? Differential calculus, you say? Chess? Chaos theory? Nope, the best brain sharpener may be ... sneakers? Yup. Once they're on your feet, you can pump up your heart rate. "The best advice I can give to keep your brain healthy and young is aerobic exercise," says Donald Stuss, PhD, a neuropsychologist and director of the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care in Toronto. Mark McDaniel, PhD, professor of psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, agrees, but adds, "I would suggest a combined program of aerobics and weight training. Studies show the best outcomes for those engaged in both types of exercise." As we age, our brain cells, called neurons, lose the tree-branch-like connections between them. These connections, or synapses, are essential to thought. Quite literally, over time, our brains lose their heft. Perhaps the most striking brain research today is the strong evidence we now have that "exercise may forestall some kinds of mental decline," notes McDaniel. It may even restore memory. Myriad animal studies have shown that, among other brain benefits, aerobic exercise increases capillary development in the brain, meaning more blood supply, more nutrients and -- a big requirement for brain health -- more oxygen. The preeminent exercise and brain-health researcher in humans is Arthur Kramer at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In a dozen studies over the past few years, with titles such as "Aerobic Fitness Reduces Brain Tissue Loss in Aging Humans," Kramer and his colleagues have proved two critical findings: Fit people have sharper brains, and people who are out of shape, but then get into shape, sharpen up their brains. This second finding is vital. There's no question that working out makes you smarter, and it does so, Kramer notes, at all stages of life. Just as important, exercise staves off heart disease, obesity, diabetes and other maladies that increase the risk of brain problems as we age. "

Oct 5, Brain Fitness Tip #3-Compliments of Posit Science

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:50:49 GMT

The task: Choose a song with lyrics you enjoy but don't have memorized. Listen to the song as many times as necessary to write down all the lyrics. Then learn to sing along. Once you've mastered one song, move on to another! The reason: Developing better habits of careful listening will help you in your understanding, thinking and remembering. Reconstructing the song requires close attentional focus and an active memory. When you focus, you release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a brain chemical that enables plasticity and vivifies memory. If you are my age, then you listened to Louie, Louie six hundred times to try and figure out the sexy bits, so I know you can do this. Progress not perfection here, do not drive yourself crazy. There will be stronger practices and weaker practices. Either is OK.

Oct 4, Brain Fitness Tip #1.

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:10:22 GMT

One of my favorite brain fitness programs is the Posit Science Brain Fitness Program, and I also love their blog, and website. One of the pages is a listing of 50 brain fitness tips, and number one is listed below. Enjoy. Mike The task: Add some dark chocolate to your diet. The reason: When you eat chocolate you activate the systems in your brain that pump dopamine, an important brain chemical. These systems enable learning and memory, and help keep your brain sharp and fit.

Oct 3, Young adults want to recover from addiction but need help to make it happen, study suggests

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:32:23 GMT

It is difficult to sustain commitment to recovery related activities. Our culture teaches us that we need to get our happiness externally, from consuming something or going somewhere or being with friends consuming something of going somewhere, and I was very susceptible to that as a kid. I felt very anxious when I thought I might be missing something 'out there', and reading a book, or doing a meditation, or studying were not acceptable antidotes to the anxiety. But a good list of recovery related activities could be just the ticket to the anxiety. ScienceDaily (2011-09-30) -- A new study suggests that strong motivation to change may exist from the get-go among young adults with severe addiction problems entering residential treatment, but the know-how and confidence to change come through the treatment experience...The findings suggest residential treatment provides the boost that the young people need. By reducing their psychological distress, developing their recovery-focused coping skills, increasing their commitment to AA and other groups, and by enhancing their overall confidence to stay clean and sober, young people make meaningful changes in treatment that position them for improved outcomes. Because self-efficacy was a strong predictor of abstinence, it may serve as a useful clinical summary indicator to monitor change and relapse potential among young adults in treatment.

Oct 2, 'Weapons Of Mass Production', I Mean, 'Mass Destruction!' How The Brain Prevents Verbal Errors

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 10:44:35 GMT

I have been known to utter the occasional 'verbal error' myself, much to the continuing delight of my children, who will remind me for weeks. I guess I should be complimented that they are thinking about me, and my humanity so much. Or maybe my kids are just vindictive. However, I catch myself doing this in my practice also, very quickly, in microseconds quickly, becoming aware of a word choice that doesn't fit, or is down right wrong. Sometimes I apologize, sometimes I double check the word, sometimes I ask my clients to make sure I did not conjure up an reasonable likeness of the word I really want, so my experience certainly supports the research discussed before...I mean below. "ScienceDaily (2008-11-05) -- New research illuminates how the brain prevents verbal errors. Our brain is fairly good at preventing mistakes in speech. Unfortunately it does make the odd mistake. George W. Bush, famous for his verbal errors, made the mistake of referring to weapons of 'mass production' instead of 'mass destruction'. Former UK deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, had the same problem when he spoke of solving industrial disputes through 'meditation' instead of 'mediation'...The researchers showed that the brain responds to such faulty utterances with a specific electrophysiological signal. It was already known that this wave occurs when making behavioural errors, such as pressing a wrong button by accident. This wave, called Error-Related Negativity, is informally known as the 'Oh-shit' wave. The brain registers at once that something is amiss. The most important conclusion of the study is that the way in which the brain uses language is not fundamentally different from how other actions such as grabbing or walking are carried out. The 'Oh-shit' wave registers errors so rapidly that they can sometimes be corrected in time. In this way you can stop yourself from falling down the stairs or saying the wrong thing."

Oct 1, How your brain reacts to mistakes depends on your mindset

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:36:26 GMT

Where does nature vs nurture enter into the research mentioned below? I am of the school that says "progress not perfection" so I will seek to learn from my mistakes. I cannot remember a time when I wasn't that way, so it seems foreign to me to give up. I often will contemplate a problem and then come back to it later and the solution or process will seem much easier. And did you notice that all this happens in 1/25th second? Your brain is fast isn't it? "ScienceDaily (2011-09-30) -- "Whether you think you can or think you can't -- you're right," said Henry Ford. A new study finds that people who think they can learn from their mistakes have a different brain reaction to mistakes than people who think intelligence is fixed...hile doing the task, the participant wore a cap on his or her head that records electrical activity in the brain. When someone makes a mistake, their brain makes two quick signals: an initial response that indicates something has gone awry -- Moser calls it the "'oh crap' response" -- and a second that indicates the person is consciously aware of the mistake and is trying to right the wrong. Both signals occur within a quarter of a second of the mistake. After the experiment, the researchers found out whether people believed they could learn from their mistakes or not."

Sep 29, Why are men more susceptible to alcoholism? It may be in their dopamine

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:10:40 GMT

The research mentioned below really fits with what David Linden seems to be saying in his book, "The Compass of Pleasure", that the brain develops a neuroplastic circuit in the pleasure centers of the brain which do involve dopamine. In the early days of dealing with the issues of chronic addiction, it is perhaps helpful to understand this information, which can help the drying out wino make sense of his behavior, but within short order, new circuitry stimulating an appropriate dopamine release needs to be worked on. I think that is where those old AA platitudes can be of value, like the Attitude of Gratitude. Would appreciate your thoughts. "ScienceDaily (2010-10-18) -- Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused substances, and men are up to twice as likely to develop alcoholism as women. Until now, the underlying biology contributing to this difference in vulnerability has remained unclear. A new study reveals that dopamine may be an important factor...Despite similar consumptions of alcohol, the men had greater dopamine release than women. This increase was found in the ventral striatum, an area in the brain strongly associated with pleasure, reinforcement and addiction formation. "In men, increased dopamine release also had a stronger association with subjective positive effects of alcohol intoxication," explained Dr. Nina Urban, corresponding author for this study. "This may contribute to the initial reinforcing properties of alcohol and the risk for habit formation." Dr. Anissa Abi-Dargham, senior author on this project, notes that "another important observation from this study is the decline in alcohol-induced dopamine release with repeated heavy drinking episodes. This may be one of the hallmarks of developing tolerance or transitioning into habit."

Sep 28, Stress drives alcoholics' children to drink, study suggests

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:32:16 GMT

The research mentioned below makes sense, doesn't it? Especially if you grew up or are growing up in a house where there are stressors not attended to, and nobody teaches you the value of practicing relaxation. I love working with the men in my DV groups and introducing the work of Mantak Chia to them, about becoming multi-orgasmic. That always captures the attention of all the participants, and the elements of becoming multi-orgasmic are learning how to manage your attention and your breath. No magic potions or wands, just deeper more regular breathing, which is also good for your neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. Breathe like a little baby. ScienceDaily (2011-09-24) -- If either of your parents has a drink problem, there is a greater risk that you will consume more alcohol after stressful situations, new research from Sweden suggests.

Sep 27, People garden to improve mood, enhance the environment, Taiwanese study finds

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:07:23 GMT

Based on my personal experience, I would agree to the research mentioned below. We do not have a big garden, but we do have a big yard, and mowing it and being out in and on it were two of the reasons I wanted this house...and I enjoy going out on a Sunday afternoon and weeding and planting grass seed where the big weeds were growing. I am not very scientific in this activity, because I am enjoying the feel of the sun, the breeze, the cool earth, the grass, and even the weeds...very soothing for the savage beast. "ScienceDaily (2011-01-15) -- People engage in gardening and related activities for both psychological and environmental reasons, says a new Taiwanese study. Researchers found that engaging in gardening provides opportunities for people to forget worries and escape their everyday lives. Respondents rated the dimension of 'increasing positive mood' highest, indicating an emphasis on psychological benefits as the essence of their perspective on horticultural activities. Participants also rated 'improving the environment' as a critical dimension of their attitudes toward gardening."

Sep 26, Tranquil scenes have positive impact on brain

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 20:52:09 GMT

So how will research like that mentioned below impact the urban planners or the parents of families who are located near a major expressway who want their kids to do well? I guess I as a parent could play recorded music emphasizing ocean sounds while they studied or slept, right? Scientific Daily- "Using brain scanning that measures brain activity researchers showed that the natural, tranquil scenes caused different brain areas to become `connected´ with one another – indicating that these brain regions were working in sync. However, the non-tranquil motorway scenes disrupted connections within the brain."

Sep 24, A Prison for Your Own Thoughts

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 16:25:48 GMT

Some very interesting wisdom I found online today, actually on a Facebook page called Rivers in the Ocean. "The river has no shape, but it takes on the boundaries which it carves out for itself, so is the mind boundless until it creates a prison for its thoughts." The quote is credited to Samuri Warrior Wisdom I think the quote is a neat way of addressing what we in my business call automatic negative thoughts. Automatic negative thoughts can appear as if related to actual sensory perception, and in that respect, they are like a prison. Automatic negative thoughts do have survival value, as they help us sort of standardize our thinking and responses to the world, but they are not actual responses to the current situation. How do I know I am having and automatic negative thought rather than a perception like the Samuri Warrior has? The emotional response is very much greater than the immediate situation warrants. More on that on the link below.

Sep 22, Blame it on the alcohol? Maybe not, study suggests

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:18:51 GMT

So as a counselor, how do I make use of this? I know in my domestic violence and anger management groups, I hear every once in awhile that because there was drinking going on, there should be no accountability, and I can confront that pretty quickly. I also get the client who wears his intoxication like a badge, and that is also easily confronted. I like the idea of how the ethyl alcohol impacts the brain as a focus of the work. "A new study out of the University of Missouri College of Arts and Sciences sheds light on how the brain processes mistakes in the presence of alcohol. In a finding that runs contrary to previous thinking, it turns out we still know we are making mistakes when intoxicated. We just don’t care as much. “I suppose the main implication is that people shouldn’t assume ‘I was drunk’ is a good excuse for doing things one knows he or she shouldn’t be doing,” wrote the study’s author, Dr. Bruce Bartholow of the University of Missouri, in an e-mail. The study will be published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. “It’s not as though people do drunken things because they’re not aware of their behavior, but rather they seem to be less bothered by the implications or consequences of their behavior than they normally would be,” Bartholow added...I wondered whether alcohol's effects on error processing were less about reducing awareness of errors and more about reducing the distress that normally accompanies errors,” Bartholow said.

Sep 21, Brain Fitness Food #10: Spinach and Other Vegetables

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:22:41 GMT

The following information is taken from the Mind Sparke blog, by Martin G. Walter. I had never heard of leptin receptors until I read this. I am only part of the way home with this one, as I exercise regularly, and eat a big salad daily, but I have not been able to quit using a commercial dressing, and I know that dressing has high fructose corn syrup and appetite stimulants in it, and my kids will eat lots of baked potatoes, sometimes to the exclusion of the rest of the meal. So I and my family need to get serious about this. For more information on Martin's Mind Sparke program, for your increased IQ, please click the link below. Mike Toxins and other harmful stressors can damage our brain's Leptin receptors causing Leptin resistance. Leptin resistance is bad. New research shows that Leptin has a tremendous impact on brain functioning and brain health. Leptin is essential to neurogenesis and the regulation a compound that accumulates in the brains of people with Alzheimer's! A well-functioning Leptin system improves brain fitness, mental sharpness, leads to better memory, and enhances mood. You can take supplements to remove toxins from the body and protect your leptin regulators! To balance your leptin levels naturally: * Decrease sugar and grain consumption: sugar, high fructose corn syrup and heavy doses of grains, such as wheat, oats, rice, and starchy vegetables, will increase leptin resistance. * Steer clear of trans-fats. * Eat plenty of non-starchy vegetables and healthy fats, such as avocados, extra-virgin coconut and olive oils, grass-fed meat, free-range eggs, almonds, Brazil nuts, pecans, walnuts, and hemp, flax and chia seeds. * Do high-intensity exercise for short stints. This will stimulate large secretions of human growth hormone, which boost fat-burning mechanisms and help to regulate leptin levels. * Get a good night's sleep. Leptin levels typically rise during sleep.

Sep 19, Brainfitness for Life

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:36:56 GMT

Haven't talked much about brain fitness per se for awhile so I am going to get up on my soap box today, and say that when you are living a brain fit life, or a life where you are attending to the pillars of brain fitness, which are physical exercise, good nutrition including lots of antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids, good sleep, stress management, and novel learning experiences, chances are that you are living a healthy balanced life, and that your brain is gleefully depositing new neurons into itself, which can be very important for your senior years. In other words you are building cognitive reserve. If you are like me though, and have had sixty some odd years of marketing hype to filter through, you read the marketing claims and think to yourself that this is just more snake oil. If you are a book reader, I recommend either the hard copy or the e-book, Brainfit for Life, by Simon Evans,Ph.D. and Paul Burghardt, Ph.D. for some very intersting information about the pillars of brain fitness. The expense is $17.00 for the e-book, and the payoff could be extraordinary for you. Look in the right column for "The Book on Brainfitness" link. Two other good books are The Brain That Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge, M.D. and Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain by Sharon Begley. Enjoy.

Sep 18, SharpBrains

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 15:01:02 GMT

Sep 16, Elderly Aerobics

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:01:34 GMT

Based on this research, the walkers did better than folks who just stretch/gently lift small weights...so my treadmill and lawn mowing is good for me, and will help me to keep all my memories and words about those memories closer as I get really old...just a Boomer now. I like to lift weights though, and not just light weights. Wonder what the research says about lifting heavier weights in combination with walking? "Elderobics" – Pedestrian Power-Study In a sedentary group of people aged 60 to 75, University of Illinois researchers introduced them to a fitness regime. For six months the elders had either an aerobic or non-aerobic workout for up to 90 minutes, three times a week. "We chose couch potatoes," said the study's lead author, cognitive neuroscientist Arthur Kramer. The 214 healthy adults hadn't been involved in any physical exercise for the previous 5 to 10 years. "Indeed most of our subjects hadn't done any formal exercise for more like 30 or 40 years." One group took long walks three times a week, and the other only did gentle toning and stretching exercises using weights. Walkers, who completed an hour-long loop around the university, improved significantly in the mental tests, as well as being fitter. An improvement of only 5-7% in cardio-respiratory fitness led to an improvement of up to 15% in mental tests. The non-walkers, however, did not gain any benefits for their brains."

Sep 14, Brain Training Games are the New Exercise Craze

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:17:34 GMT

Wow, this article sure piques my curiosity. I know that athletes have used Mind Sparke and Lumosity and biofeedback tools like Heartmath for peak performance, but this sounds like the fighter was using it to counter-act a closed head injury, or even Traumatic Brain Injury? Wonder what the brain scientists think about that, wonder who suggested Lumosity to the athlete, and I sure hope there is some credibility given to the tools.... I know Lumosity has gotten more sophisticated in the last two years or so. "From USA Today-Montreal-based boxer Sylvera "Sly" Louis suffered a knockout late last year that could have ended his fighting career. But three months later he returned to the ring, a feat he credits to hard workouts — on brain-training software. Louis spent countless hours on Lumosity, a brain-training program from Lumos Labs that includes more than 35 games and exercises aimed at increasing alertness, sharpening memory skills, improving concentration and thinking faster. The boxer says he improved his reaction times. "Every little moment matters," Louis says. Louis is part of a new club that takes exercise for the brain every bit as seriously as exercise for the body. It's a growing movement that's swept up 15 million users of Lumosity. Smaller rivals such as Posit Science and MindSparke are also vying in this arena."

Sep 10, Mind & Brain -- Psychologists Test Effects of Household Noise on Children's Verbal Development

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 02:11:10 GMT

Maybe they can explain why my children can watch Sponge Bob and get winning scores on computer games at the same time. The phone however gets undivided attention. ScienceDaily () -- Psychologists think that children who grow up in noisy homes may have lower verbal skills. New studies aim to test whether the constant background noise of a TV set or of other children playing learn to speak later and with poorer vocabulary...BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that infants learn language faster when what they see is synchronized to the sound that they hear. The visual clues also help infants cope with learning a language in noisy environments. HOW WE LEARN LANGUAGE: Babies start to babble in strings of words at around six or seven months, but even before that, infants are busy sorting out the sounds and shapes of words and sentences. Unlike the printed word, speech doesn't use commas, spaces or periods to separate words and concepts. So if there is background noise, it's harder for the infant to known when one word ends and another begins.