Category Archives: Neuroscience

August 13

Food for Thought: Docosahexaenoic Acid

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This series is dedicated to exploring nutrients that improve cognitive function. This month, we kick off with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and its effects on neuroplasticity.

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August 01

Glued to Your Bed

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As we know, sleep is essential for the proper functioning of our brain. Although sleep deprivation has never been found to be fatal in humans, a lack of sleep has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, as well as delirium and hallucinations (1). This is why a lot of research delves into how […]

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July 18

Operation PTSD

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The full-scale invasion of Ukraine that started in 2021 has had devastating impacts on the daily lives of those in Ukraine, and this includes a dramatic increase in those suffering from PTSD in this war-torn country. Although 2021 was not the beginning of the tensions between Russia and Ukraine (1), as the war rages on, […]

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July 11

The World in 3D: A Glimpse Into Depth Perception

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We see the world around us in three dimensions. These dimensions can be described as different planes in physical space, extending from any central point in not only vertical and horizontal directions, but also in depth. By using our vision to assess how near or far something is from us, and interpreting objects in three-dimensional […]

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June 20

When Illusions Help

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What can pushing the limits of reality do for you? There has been a lot of interest recently in using the mind-altering properties of a class of drugs known as psychedelics in the treatment of many psychiatric and neurological disorders. Currently, psychedelics are being explored as a novel treatment for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, […]

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January 25

Chasing a Runner’s High 

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5ks, 10ks, half marathons, full marathons, ultra marathons… These terms bring a smile to the face of people who enjoy running, but the same words may strike up a reasonable sense of dread in others. Distance running is a popular hobby for people all over the world hoping to maintain and improve their cardiac fitness, […]

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December 28

Into the Flow: Insights into the elusive Flow State 

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Have you ever been so absorbed in an activity that time stops; you are completely dialed in and acutely aware of every movement of your body; you’re performing at your highest level, but you feel no effort; you are completely in the moment, and it feels incredible! This is flow. What is Flow? I experienced […]

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November 10

From Fear to Fascination: Why We Find Pleasure in Experiencing Horror 

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Why do some people willingly subject themselves to the unsettling world of horror? This article is a deep dive on the neurological basis of fear and why some people find pleasure in experiencing horror.

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October 12

Ten Years in the Making

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10 years ago, I was in a medically induced coma. On life support, my life rested in the hands of the incredible staff at Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego (RCHSD). On October 8th, 2013, I suffered a severe traumatic brain injury due to a suicide attempt: I had jumped 3 stories from the parking garage […]

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September 07

You can’t win if you don’t play

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When I think about the happiest moments from my childhood, I’ll often reflect on the times my sister and I played “school” (as the younger sibling, I was always the student…), when my best friend and I played with Barbies and dress-up clothes in her basement, or when we played hide-and-seek with other kids in […]

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