A recent study done on 24 people at UC Berkeley has revealed that people who are sleep-deprived are more likely to select higher calorie foods to eat compared to people who are not sleep-deprived. Not enough sleep was associated with increased activity in the reward centers of the brain, particularly the area of the frontal […]
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“I’m so bipolar :(“
Disregarding the annoying background music (you can’t unhear that now), this pop culture event brings up two really good questions: 1) What effect does using the term “bipolar” as an adjective have? and 2) Can the popularity of this usage actually be a good thing? Everyone probably remembers when people used to say “that’s so […]
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The Scent of Joy?
It’s well known that whiffing a familiar scent can evoke nostalgic memories, but the effects of scent transcend much further. A recent study conducted with 26 Japanese males subjects explored the physiological and psychological effects produced by exposure to a Japanese plum blossom fragrance. In order to better reflect how people experience scents in daily […]
Many of us are familiar with the terms anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder but what about women who don’t receive these labels but who are engaging in dangerous patterns of restriction or purging? The term these women receive is EDNOS or ‘Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.’ What is the prevalence of women […]
When I was growing up, we always learned in school that Canada prides itself on being culturally diverse. We learned that Canada, as a single entity, was comprised of all sorts of different people from all sorts of different cultures. In a way, it united us and gave us that great sense of patriotism that […]
On Friday, the front cover of the Globe and Mail caught my attention. In the Arts section, there was an article dedicated to an artist’s online comic that reveals her personal experience with severe depression. I grabbed the Arts section and flew out the door to catch the bus. The cartoonist is Allie Brosh and […]
A recent article from USA Today suggests that people with Type 2 Diabetes have a harder time performing memory tasks. The study was able to find a correlation between chronic high glucose levels and poor memory in the participants, among which the mean age was 63 (but remember that correlation does not always imply causation – this is […]
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“Burdened” by Guilt….Literally?
While guilt is useful in regulating moral behaviour, it can bring with it unwanted feelings of tension and regret. A recent study by Princeton researchers Martin Day and Ramona Bobocel has shown that unethical, guilt-inducing memories may affect specific physical sensations in the body. Participants were told to recall personal unethical acts, while other participants […]
An article in the Huffington Post titled “Why Mental Illness Goes Much Farther Than Research Tells Us” critiques the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey on Mental Health, specifically stating its exclusionary sample is creating a rather convenient picture of mental health in Canada. As any science student and professional knows, having a representative sample is, […]
In today’s busy world, it’s difficult for most people to be alert and productive unless they have their morning cup of coffee. Various negative effects of excessive caffeine consumption are widely known, such as dehydration and withdrawal symptoms. However, a recent study by the Swiss National Science Foundation has revealed further implications. The study involved […]