August 23, 2016
Story at a glance 1. New advances in MRI scanning reveal the level of intelligence in the brain. 2. The more that different parts of the brain frequently connect with each other the higher the person’s level of IQ and creatively is. 3. This has the capacity to markedly advance the technology of Artificial Intelligence. It used to be that the only way you could work out if you qualified for a MENSA membership was by filling out a complicated IQ test, but not anymore. These days there’s a far more effective and simpler way of working out if you’ve […]
August 18, 2016
Story at a glance By combining four different scanning technologies researchers have been able to ascertain an unprecedented level of precision in identifying areas of the brain Whilst different scanning techniques show different sections, say connectivity or specialisation, what we haven’t been able to do up until now is to accurately compare the scans This mapping has allowed these scientists to increase the number of known areas in the cortex from 83 to 180, enabling them to add different areas to the brain that we previously thought had already been classified This means that we now have the opportunity […]
August 18, 2016
Story at a glance 1. Extracurricular activities may be depriving your children of using their innate imagination and intelligence. 2. Psychologists are suggesting that over scheduling kids is unnecessary and ultimately a disservice to them. 3. Boredom is crucial for developing internal stimulus, which then allows for true creativity. “Mum I’m bored!” It’s probably the catch cry of the school holidays, not to mention the weekends and anytime after school that your kids are not booked into some sort of extracurricular class. Particularly in our middle class world, there’s a propensity towards over committing our children to a rigorous engagement […]
August 16, 2016
Story at a glance Scientists at Yale University have been studying the effects of the rhinovirus, the common cold virus. The rhinovirus multiply far more aggressively in colder temperatures than they do at higher temperatures. Our antiviral response system is lower in colder temperatures and more robust at higher ones. Winter has well and truly set in and as we rug up against the cold. Those common signs of sneezing and sniffling are all around us, so is it true, does the cold weather make us more susceptible to catching colds? Or is it just an old wives’ tale? Turns […]
August 11, 2016
Story at a glance The gut has a diverse range of bacteria, called gut micorbiota. A healthy gut is full of balanced micorbiota. Dysbiosis is the shift away from normal micorbiota, which may cause some diseases. Scientists are studying microbiota to help understand the nature of gastrointestinal, autoimmune and even brain disorders. The health of your gut influences mental health and vice versa. In our previous blog we discussed the scientific discovery of the second brain, not located in your noggin where you’ll find your first brain, but oddly, in your gut. The lining of the gut with its complex […]
August 9, 2016
Story at a glance The human gut has a brain of its own. Scientist are now calling it the ‘second brain.’ Gut instinct is a biological function of the ‘second brain.’ 90% of your body’s serotonin lies in your gut. We’ve heard it a dozen times if not a million. Trust your gut instincts; listen to your gut feelings. Why do we keep referring to our gut as a source of wisdom and insight? Well science might have something to say about that. We all know that connection between our brain and our gut. It can be as heavy as […]
August 9, 2016
Story at a glance Denmark rated happiest place to live by UN World Happiness report after rating highest in seven categories. They have strong economic growth that is harnessed by paying high taxes that are used to support the general community at large. They have a national word Hygge that means self-care, cosiness and enjoying life, which underpins their social fabric. No small task to be the happiest place on earth but the Danes seemed to have romped it in, coming first on the UN World Happiness Report for 2016. So what’s so special about Denmark that has all […]
August 4, 2016
Think of BDNF as a high performance protein powder that helps you build muscles at the gym, but for your brain cells. Instead of it influencing the size of your biceps it influences the quality and quantity of your brain cells. Your brain pumps out a series of neurotrophins. Neurotrophins are a family of proteins that are involved in making neurons. Whilst there are a variety of neurotrophins at work in your brain, BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) is regarded as the most active and the most important protein in your body. Without it you cannot make new brain cells. And […]
August 2, 2016
Story at a glance: Walking through doorways does really cause us to forget Events are processed one at a time and concentrating on something takes up most of our thought processes Different parts of memory compete with each other Ever had that moment where you walk into a room to get something only to completely forget why you’re there? You’ve probably done it so many times you might even start wondering if you’ve got a dodgy memory! Well there’s two pieces of good news, one, you don’t. Your memory is fine! And two, you’re not alone! In fact you’re […]
August 2, 2016
The quest for health and wellness has many of us heading down the road of the organic or low chemical. It’s a smart choice, as pesticides and herbicides are thought to have some very real effects on health. But often, it’s the little things that sabotage our organic efforts. Ground zero can be cosmetics – the chemical soups that we put on our skin in order to ‘get cute’ of a morning. First up, know beauty comes from the inside. Therefore you’re cute already (insert other beauty-related platitudes here). If you’re still not keen on quitting cosmetics (and we don’t […]
July 29, 2016
Click here to read more about this published study.
July 26, 2016
What is a brain? This might seem like a stupid question – it’s that thing between your ears, the grey matter, the master controller of the nervous system that sits atop the spine and under your skull. Behavioural modelling expert and author Marvin Oka has an interesting claim to make on this seemingly simple issue – that we actually have three brains. They reside in the head, the heart and the gut. All three have massive networks of neurons and very distinct roles. It explains the clash between what we think and what we often feel. Only by understanding the […]
July 26, 2016
There was a time in the history of food when ‘fat’ was the dietary equivalent of a swear word. As monounsaturated fats make up 77% of the calories in the humble avocado, its popularity waned [1]. However, the role of good fats in the healthy human diet are making a welcome comeback and with it comes a surge of research as to the health benefits of foods like the avocado. Among them is the news that avocado consumption may reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that raises a person’s […]
July 21, 2016
Did you have to sing the alphabet song to learn it? Or perhaps recite the times tables out loud. These tasks were commonly met with more than a few eye-rolls, but it turns out the teachers were on to something. A study recently published in the Journal of Consciousness and Cognition revealed that the simple act of repeating something to someone else can help you remember it. Memory loss has been treated as a part of aging for quite some time. But now we know that neural plasticity can offset this. Various strategies like exercise and sleep have been known […]
July 21, 2016
Tall Poppy Syndrome is a cultural marker long ingrained in Australian society. We are a good natured bunch, but our tendency is to cut down those whose successes shine brightly. In fact, the glory of success isn’t often in its attainment but rather in the struggle. If you’re a good Aussie battler, you’re great. If you’re winning then all of a sudden, your friends are going to have something to say about it. It’s true in many areas of life: from business, to purpose, career and family. So what do you do about it, short of putting Taylor Swift’s “Shake […]
July 14, 2016
If you think money can’t buy happiness, you aren’t spending it right. That’s the claim made by Michael Norton, a professor at Harvard and PhD holder in the field of psychology. It might stand in stark contrast to conventional wisdom, but it seems that science backs this claim. Apparently money can buy happiness, it just might not happen quite the way you thought it would. To put this to the test, Norton and his colleagues went out on campus to find students from the University of British Columbia who might be interested in being in an experiment. Of those who […]
July 14, 2016
A recent study has proven the addictive qualities of many popular foods. Unsurprisingly, highly-processed foods, or foods high in sugar, fat or glycaemic load were found to trigger areas of the brain involved with addiction. The actual top ten list varied somewhat from the perceived top ten list, but still the study revealed why certain foods keep us running back to the fridge despite our repeated vows to give them up. The answer appears to be the link between glucose levels and the areas of the brain involved with addiction. The speed at which sugar and fat can be absorbed in the system can trigger […]
July 12, 2016
Here’s a statement you may not expect to read in the Harvard Business Review: “Expressing your vulnerability makes you stronger [1].” It’s wisdom that may have been around for a while, but it’s been popularised by the recent work of researcher Brené Brown. It appears that vulnerability can be a real advantage when it comes to many aspects of life. Brown is a renowned psychologist and researcher, whose work led her to author the book ‘Daring Greatly: how the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent and lead.’ Brown’s work shows that we do best in […]