This article was originally published on The Conversation by Ali Hill. Read the original article here.
Media via Getty Images (1, 2), The ConversationTo master new skills, follow these 4 psychologist-backed tips
Expert musicians practice deliberately to master new skills. Their technique can be applied to anything.
The ten-thousand hour rule, made famous by Malcolm Gladwell in his 2008 book Outliers hasn’t aged well. In 2019, the scientist behind the study that inspired that rule explained that if you really want to master a skill, it’s not about the number of hours you practice your chosen skill, it’s about how you practice.
Continue ReadingScientists discover a “therapeutic gold mine” in one surprising place
Everyone hates it, but snot might solve many of our woes.
As Inverse reported in October of this year, snot does more than block pathogens from entering the body, as previously thought.
Continue ReadingScientists traced procrastination's deep biological roots in the brain
Procrastination is not just poor time management.
A July 2019 study found that the urge to put things off is partially linked to a gene that regulates the neurotransmitter dopamine. In a sample of 297 people, they found that women with a certain single nucleotide variant in the gene were more likely to report procrastination-like behavior than those who didn’t have did not
Continue ReadingScientific breakthrough may push an aphrodisiac mushroom into the mainstream
The fungus can be found protruding from the corpse of a dead caterpillar.
This is what it’s like to wake up during surgery
Evidence suggests that 1 in 20 people may be awake when doctors think they’re under.
One day, for instance, she was waiting in the car as her daughter ran an errand, and realized that she was trapped inside. What might once have been a frustrating inconvenience sent her into a panic attack. “I started screaming. I was flailing my arms, I was crying,” she says. “It just left me so shaken.”
Continue ReadingStudy reveals what happens to the brain on LSD
The psychedelic experience has a lot in common with sensory overload.
The overwhelming hallucinations, euphoria, and dream-like state that are the hallmarks of a lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) trip may stem from the brain going into sensory overload.
That’s the takeaway from a paper published in January 2019 which laid out evidence for a leading theory of what happens to the brain on LSD, suggesting that the chemical alters how a specific region of the brain that helps us make sense of sensory information works.
Continue ReadingIs intermittent fasting the longevity life hack we’ve been waiting for?
Diving into the science behind 2019's favorite diet.
Intermittent fasting was Google’s top-searched diet of 2019. A growing number of people are curious about — and trying — the restrictive eating pattern, but the science is struggling to catch up.
As Inverse reported in July 2019, preliminary research suggests intermittent fasting leads to an array of health benefits, including better metabolism, longer life, a healthier brain, and less inflammation.
Continue ReadingThe surprising health benefit of feeling sick
And it's called "lassitude."
You know what it’s like to be sick. You feel fatigued, maybe a little depressed, less hungry than usual, more easily nauseated, and perhaps more sensitive to pain and cold.
The fact that illness comes with a distinct set of psychological and behavioral features is not a new discovery. In medical terminology, the symptom of malaise encompasses some of the feelings that come with being ill. Animal behaviorists and neuroimmunologists use the term sickness behavior to describe the observable behavior changes that occur during illness.
Continue ReadingWhy it's hard to keep holiday drinking in check for so many people
It's no wonder the lead reindeer has a red nose.
Of course, drinking isn’t limited to a single season, but it holds a prominent place during the holidays. Across a few short weeks, consumption of spiked cider, boozy nog, wine, beer, cocktails, and variations thereof may be higher than at any other point in the year. One industry study suggested that drinking doubles at this time of year. During this party time, we see up close the drinking habits of our partners, co-workers, relatives, and, of course, ourselves.
Continue ReadingRaising the tobacco age to 21 could have lasting effects on teen brains
"There is definitely a difference in the brain of an 18-year-old versus a 21-year-old."
The United States’ Congress is set to make a radical change to the way that 18 year-olds across the country buy nicotine products (mostly vapes, they’re teens after all). From 2020, the legal smoking age is expected to rise to 21 across the country.
While each state and city has the ability to implement a higher smoking age if they so desire (it’s already 21 in New York and San Antonio), the blanket age across the US has been 18 since the 1980s.
Continue ReadingHow copulating rabbits helped reveal the evolutionary roots of female orgasms
A rabbit called Frank and his female partners co-wrote a new chapter in the history of orgasms.
In a study published in September 2019, scientists revealed that the roots of the orgasm run deep in the brain and stretch back thousands of years in animals’ evolutionary history. It appears the orgasm evolved as a kind of tool to help species reproduce. In humans, it no longer serves that purpose — but the study also hints at why orgasms became more about pleasure than utility, at least in our species.
Continue ReadingThis may be the fastest way to learn something new, according to science
Perfection is not the ultimate goal of learning, researchers say.
Optimal learning happens when learners make errors about 15 percent of the time, the study suggested.
Continue ReadingLove isn't universal: 2,474 languages reveal 8 different emotional meanings
Depending on where you are in the world, emotional words don't always translate the same emotions.
8 scientist-recommended gifts that give your brain a mental hug
A positive well-being gift guide.
With the holidays here, the time for gift-giving is now.
Inverse spoke with mental health professionals about what gifts you can give that can also alleviate stress and improve mood.
Each gift on this list ranges in price, but is aimed to boost the well-being of the receiver. Not sure what to get an overworked sister? We got you. Not sure what to get your shy nephew? We got you, too.
Consider the eight items (and one extra something) below, and maybe pick out something for yourself too.
A STATIONARY BIKE
Dr. Jonathan Terry, a psychiatrist based in central California, recommends gifting a stationary bike. Terry tells Inverse that regular cardiovascular activity is “essential for good brain and emotional health.” Plus, he points out that a stationary bike is a good option for at-home cardio without needing to brave the cold.
While the expensive options like Peloton or NordicTrack s22i are out there, there are more affordable options, like this holiday special at Costco.
PRESENTED BY A COLORING BOOK FOR ADULTS
Terry also says you could pick up your person a coloring book. Coloring books, he explains, support mental health in several ways: Some studies, suggest that coloring can reduce depressive symptoms and anxiety, even if you’re coloring only 10 minutes again.
People interested can start off with Terry’s own coloring book — a capybara-themed romp whose sales go toward free clinics and women’s and children’s shelters.
A MANTRABAND
For holiday gift-giving, one of Dr. Jennifer Newman’s go-to items is a bracelet from MantraBand, an inspirational jewelry company. Newman, a clinical psychologist and an assistant professor at the New York University School of Medicine, notes that MantraBand’s offerings are versatile for both men and women.
“Mantras are a powerful tool that can help us be aware of our own power, goals, strengths, and resilience,” Newman tells Inverse. “I love giving these bracelets to friends, colleagues, and family — and have gotten feedback that they will wear them on days they need a boost.”
BOOKS
Dr. Melanie Badali, a psychologist at North Shore Stress and Anxiety Clinic in Vancouver, tells Inverse that as a bookworm, she was delighted to learn of research showing that reading fiction, particularly literary fiction, can increase empathy, interpersonal understanding, and social skills. This is particularly true of books that include in-depth portrayals of a character’s inner thoughts and feelings.
Inverse recommends checking out the “Southern Reach Trilogy” by Jeff VanderMeer, which is at its heart a collection of thrilling — and very weird — character studies.
Books are also a good option if you’re looking for a gift for a child. Dr. Rebecca Sachs, a clinical psychologist, tells Inverse she’s “in love with the ‘Daniel Tiger’ book series” which “do a fabulous job at targeting social and emotional learning.” They’ve given Sachs’ own daughter a chance to grow her emotional vocabulary, as well as the chance to make connections between her experiences in her life to those of the book’s characters.
You could also check out the The Greatest Chair, a book by children’s psychiatrist Dr. Kathleen Friend.
AN EMOTION FLIPBOOK
Another option for kids is something called an “emotion flipbook.” Dr. Ryan DeLapp, an attending psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center, tells Inverse that “parents often express concerns about their children and teens struggling with sharing emotions.”
Creating a home environment where emotions are intertwined into how kids and their families discuss daily experiences is important for development.
Emotion flipbooks can be helpful, DeLapp says, because they “help children notice the range of their emotional experience and provide families with a menu of emotional experiences.”
A LIGHT THERAPY BOX
Cynthia Branch, a mental health clinician based out of Brooklyn, New York, recommends a light therapy box that can be kept at home or at the office. She tells Inverse this is ideal for those who live in areas that experience shorter days in winter — and perhaps have seasonal depression.
A JOURNAL
Dr. Sandra Pimentel, an associate professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, tells Inverse that “a gift that is timeless is a journal.” She explains that research is pretty clear on the benefits of a regular journaling practice, which include improved stress management, self-efficacy, and even immune functioning.
And if you’re shopping for a teenager or child, it could be best to pick out journals that come with targeted prompts that promote creativity. These can help boost confidence, while prompting introspection along the way.
AN EXPERIENCE
And if products aren’t for you, then you can always go the way of giving your person an experience. Clinical psychologist Dr. Vaile Wright tells Inverse that she encourages people “to think about gifts that the other person may want, but maybe reluctant to gift to themselves for whatever reason.”
This could be something like taking someone to a pedicure or a concert. Wright also notes that another gift-giving approach is offering “acts of service,” or the giving of your time or personal resources to someone else. These acts could be as simple as offering to babysit for a new parent, or offering to help someone with their yard work.
“These gifts can feel more personalized,” Wright says, “and the giving of time is something that everyone can use.”
Aw, nuts! Here's exactly how your peanut allergy can kill you.
Tasty for most, treacherous for some.
Food allergens are the scourge of the modern school lunchbox. Many foods contain proteins that can set off an oversized immune reaction, and one of the fiercest is the humble peanut.
Around three percent of children in Australia have a peanut allergy, and only 1 in 5 of them can expect to outgrow it. For these - people, even trace amounts of peanut can trigger a fatal allergic reaction.
Continue Reading9 common myths about exercise, debunked
There are a lot of reasons people don’t exercise — and even more misconceptions.
9. I was fit once, so I don’t need to exercise. Unfortunately, the health benefits of exercise won’t last if you don’t sustain your exercise regime. A significant reduction or drop out can cause a marked loss of initial benefits, such as cardiovascular fitness and endurance. Consistency is the key. Mix it up and keep it interesting, as maintaining high levels of physical activity throughout your life is associated with the best health.
Continue ReadingStudy pinpoints biological link between therapy and longevity
Cognitive behavioral therapy may have a surprising effect on your telomeres.
Like the plastic tip at the end of a shoelace, telomeres are stretches of DNA that cap the ends of chromosomes. Each time a cell divides, telomeres get shorter — a process that is part of natural aging. Shorter telomeres are also linked to mood and anxiety disorders — but new research suggests there may be a way to slow down the process.
Continue ReadingTwenty years ago, researchers watched people get it on in an MRI for science
Eight brave couples provided some hands-on anatomy lessons — and the learning keeps on coming.
Research conducted in functional MRI machines have taught scientists a lot about sex in the brain, including how arousal works, and what happens when a person watches porn.
But an MRI study published in December 1999 answered some more… physical… questions about what happens in the body during sex. The method? You guessed it. Couples had sex inside an MRI machine while researchers looked on.
Continue ReadingFrequent marijuana use could literally change a person's heart
This early study isn't conclusive, but its findings could have grave implications.
Sports leagues, state legislators, and universities are changing the way they treat and punish marijuana use largely because the drug is increasingly perceived as harmless. But preliminary research suggests cannabis may have a dangerous side effect on one critical organ: the heart.
The new study, which evaluated the health of 3,407 people in the United Kingdom, suggests a link between regularly using marijuana — defined as daily or weekly use within the past five years — and changes to the heart’s structure and functions. It was published Wednesday in the journal JACC Cardiovascular Imaging.
Continue ReadingIn the future, tiny glowing dots could record medical records in your skin
Your doctor — or anyone with the right tool — could one day identify whether, and when, you have been vaccinated.
A team of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a tool capable of recording medical information on the skin using microneedles. The tool creates an invisible “quantum dot” pattern on the skin that can be revealed using a near-infrared light. In experiments done on synthetic skin and animals, the researchers found these dots can linger for up to nine months, but they likely persist for as many as five years.
Continue Reading726 teen brains show alcohol had one surprising, long-term effect
Alcohol and the teen brain are a dangerous mix.
While the novelty of binge-drinking in a basement can wane as teens transition into young adulthood, those early drunken moments stick around as physical traces in the brain. Thanks to the brain scans of 726 teenagers entering their binge-drinking phase, new research also shows that early drinking behavior lingers in another way — in this case, affecting the way that people behave years after their first drink.
Continue ReadingStudy exposes anxiety's roots in the brain — and points way to treatment
"We are getting closer to defining the cells and molecules producing or preventing anxiety."
Six-fingered people exemplify why an extra digit means a better hand
Some polydactyly people have "superior" abilities.
Though Elon Musk’s neuralink brain network is a step towards true human-computer fusion, 2019 is coming to a close and humans are still, for the most part, made of organic material. But if we ever do decide to enhance our bodies with technology, we might be better off focusing on our hands before our brains.
Continue ReadingSleep scientists offer a surprising opinion on the dangers of blue light
Is blue light being "demonized"?
As day turns to night, twilight casts dim, cool tones. This transition signals to humans that it’s time to sleep, but some studies suggest that people are interrupting this process with one persistent habit: looking at their screens.
Typically the blue light that emerges from screens is cast as the villain in this scenario, threatening a good night’s sleep. However, new research suggests that blue light may not be as disruptive to sleep as previously thought. The study, conducted in mice, was published this week in the journal Current Biology.
Continue ReadingKava and anxiety: What science says about the popular plant supplement
Drinking a ground root could help anxiety — but be careful.
Kavasutra looks like most other bars in Manhattan’s East Village, with its welcoming neon sign and dimly lit, intimate atmosphere. But the “bar” is missing a key ingredient of the typical scene — alcohol. Instead, the establishment serves kava, a drink made from a root typically found in the Pacific Islands.
Continue ReadingGrit may be the "secret sauce" for success
Passion and perseverance keep people performing, even when the going gets tough.
High achievers with track records of success under pressure tend to share one underestimated trait: grit. That’s the upshot of a November 2019 study on students at the United States’ elite military academy, West Point.
In certain contexts, success hinges on “passion and perseverance for long-term goals of personal significance,” the study suggests.
Continue ReadingThe secret to finding your ideal job may be in your phone
Scientists built an "atlas of career aptitude" from one popular social network.
Whether you’re a college senior staring down graduation or a worker facing automation, choosing a new career that is fulfilling and lucrative can be daunting. However, it may not have to be: Recently researchers created an “atlas of career aptitude” to help people navigate professional decisions — all based on social media.
Continue ReadingThis spicy vegetable could lower risk of death by 23 percent — study
"We may encourage people who usually add chilies to their food to continue doing so."
If you happen to enjoy the burn of a hot pepper as it blazes through your digestive system, there’s some good news. It’s increasingly clear that spice that positive effect on health and longevity — meaning that you’re no masochist for wanting the burn, you’re just being healthy.
Case in point: In a sample of 22,811 Italians who ate a variety of diets (some less healthy than others), those who ate chili peppers at least four times per week had 23 percent lower risks of death from any cause, and had 34 percent lower chances of death from cardiovascular disease.
Continue ReadingBrain scans show how "collective narration" shapes our memories
The "themes" of memories leave distinct patterns on the brain.
How healthy are non-alcoholic drinks? 2 surprising stats
Alcohol-free beer and wine are certainly healthier options. But does that mean they’re good for you?
Afew years ago, alcohol-free beers and wine were a rarity. And what was available was pretty execrable. Today, the market is booming and you can order a pint of alcohol-free IPA, with all its rich hoppiness, or a glass of “de-alcoholized” merlot that actually tastes like wine, not jumped-up grape juice.
In the UK, a drink can be classed as alcohol-free if it has less than 0.05 percent ABV (alcohol by volume). This is considerably less than alcohol-containing versions (beer has about four to five percent and wine around 13 percent). Given the negative effect, alcohol can have on your health, particularly over the long term, alcohol-free beer and wine are certainly healthier options. But does that mean they’re good for you?
Not everyone is aware that alcoholic drinks contain calories. A standard glass of wine, for instance, has nearly as many calories as a jam doughnut, and that’s just from the alcohol it contains. But how does a glass of alcoholic-free wine compare?
Free sugar
There are different sugars in the diet. One type we need to be careful of, and that we tend to have too much of, is free sugar. This term is used to describe the sugar that is added to food or drink, or the type that’s found in fruit juices, honey, and syrup.
UK guidelines suggest that adults should get less than five percent of their daily calories from free sugars, which works out to about six or seven teaspoons of sugar. That should be the most you get from all the food and drink that you have on an average day.
Your daily allowance of free sugar.1. A pint of alcohol-free lager contains one and a half teaspoons of free sugars — a quarter of your recommended maximum in just one glass. If you polish off a bottle of alcohol-free chardonnay over lunch, you’ve had eight teaspoons. And in some cases, that may even be more than its alcohol-containing alternative.
2. With soft drinks, as with alcohol-free beers and wine, the sugar content varies from product to product. A glass of lemonade contains about two teaspoons of free sugar, while the same amount of cola is nearer five. If you want to avoid sugar completely, you might prefer water or sugar-free versions of soft drinks.
In the UK, Public Health England challenged the food and drink industry to reduce the sugar content of their products by 20 percent before 2020. And last year the government introduced a sugar tax. As a result, the average sugar content of these drinks has decreased by 28 percent as manufacturers look to reformulate their products to make them healthier. But some drinks, such as milkshakes, fruit juices, and smoothies, aren’t affected by the levy — and neither are alcohol-free drinks.
Perspective needed
Health cannot be quantified by any one aspect of nutrition. The sugar or calorie content of a drink you have doesn’t necessarily make it, or you, unhealthy. The bigger picture of your life is more important than a snapshot. And the role of a drink in your health depends on how much and how often you have it, as well as what else you’re eating or drinking.