A psychology professor reveals the 5 surprising habits of original thinkers

 

Have you wondered what separates original thinkers from the rest?
Some people say it’s I.Q. Other people say it’s confidence.
But according to psychologist Adam Grant, it’s none of these things.
In fact, he says that what really separates original thinkers is their habits.

The best bit?

We can all adopt these habits into our life to be more creative, rational and self-confident.
So the question is, what the hell are these habits?
Check out the TED talk below to find out.

 TED TALKS link:   https://youtu.be/fxbCHn6gE3U 

Don’t have time watch the riveting TED talk above? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a text summary:
Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist who has been studying “originals” for some time.

According to Grant, originals are nonconformists who not only have new ideas but take action to champion them. They stand out, they speak up and they drive change. They’re the people you want to bet on.


So the first habit is…procrastinating. Yep, you read that right.
Leondardo da Vinci was a chronic procrastinator. It took him 16 years to complete Mona Lisa. He felt like a failure. But some of the diversions he took in optics transformed the way he modelled light and made him into a much better painter.
What about Martin Luther King, Jr.? The night before the biggest speech of his life, he was up past 3 am rewriting it.

He was sitting in the audience waiting for his turn to go onstage and still scribbling notes. When he got onstage, 11 minutes in, he leaves his prepared remarks to utter four words that changed the course of history: “I have a dream”.
That was not in the script.

By delaying the task of finalizing the speech until the very last minute, he left himself open to the widest range of possible ideas. The text wasn’t set in stone and he had freedom to improvise.
Procrastinating can be a vice when it comes to productivity, but it can be a virtue for creativity. According to Grant, “originals are quick to start, but slow to finish”.


The second habit is that while originals look confident on the outside, behind the scenes, they feel the same fear and doubt that the rest of us do. They just manage it differently.
Grant says there are two different types of doubts: Self-doubt and idea-doubt.

Self-doubt can be paralyzing but idea-doubt can be energizing. It motivates you to test, experiment and refine, like MLK did. Instead of saying, “I’m crap,” you say, “The first few drafts are always crap, and I’m just not there yet”.


The third habit you might not like…but here it is.
Research has found that Firefox and Chrome users significantly outperform Internet Explorer and Safari users. Why? It’s not about the browser itself, but how you got the browser. 

If you use Internet Explorer or Safari, you’re accepting the default option that came preinstalled on your computer. If you wanted Firefox or Chrome, you had to doubt the default and ask, is there a better option out there?

Of course, this is just a small example of someone who takes the initiative to doubt the default and look for a better option.


The fourth habit is something called vuja de…the opposite of deja vu.
Vuja de is when you look at something you’ve seen many times before and all of a sudden see it with fresh eyes. You start to see things you haven’t seen before. Buddhists call this the ‘Beginner’s Mind.’
Your mind is opened up to possibilities that you might not have considered before.


And the fifth habit concerns fear.
Yep, originals feel fear, too. They’re afraid of failing but what sets them apart from the rest of us is that they’re even more afraid of failing to try.
As Adam Grant says, “they know that in the long run, our biggest regrets are not actions but our inactions”.

And if you look throughout history, the great originals are the ones who fail the most, because they’re the ones who try the most.

As Adam Grant says, “being original is not easy, but I have no doubt about this: it’s the best way to improve the world around us.”

A psychologist explains the best way to rewire your brain to let go of negative thoughts

You already know that positive thinking leads to a more fulfilling life.
That much is clear.
But how do you actually think positive when your mind is consistently stuck on the negative?
And how can you do it naturally…without using medication or alcohol?
Well…that’s exactly what Alison Ledgerwood talks about in this TEDx talk today.
As a professional people watcher (social psychologist) Alison Ledgerwood always wondered why the human mind swayed to the negative.

She even noticed it herself when she was publishing papers. When her paper got rejected, it still weighed on her mind, even after a different paper was accepted.
What’s going on here? Why does the failure seem to stick in our mind so much longer than a success?
Watch the brilliant talk below to find out why as well as the best strategy to deal with it:

For those of you who don’t have time to watch the talk, here is it in text:
We all know intuitively that there are different ways of thinking about things. The same glass, the saying goes, can be seen half full or half empty.
Much research has shown that depending on how you describe the glass to people, it changes how you feel about it.
But have you wondered what happens when you try to switch from thinking about it one way to thinking about it another way? Can we shift back and forth? Or do we get stuck on a particular label?
To investigate this question, Alison Ledgerwood conducted a few simple experiments.
One of the experiments involved telling participants about a new surgical procedure.
The first group of participants were told about the surgical procedure in terms of gains (70% success rate), while the other group were told in terms of losses (30% failure rate).
Unsurprisingly, the gains group liked the procedure a lot more.
However, after this the first group were then told that there is a 30% failure rate, and they immediately didn’t like it.

But when the second group were told that there is a 70% success rate, they still didn’t like the procedure. They were stuck in the initial lost frame.
According to Alison Ledgerwood , these studies show that our view of the world has a fundamental tendency to tilt towards the negative.
It’s pretty easy to go from good to bad but far harder to shift from bad to good.
We literally have to work harder to see the upside of things. It takes effort but you can train your mind to do this better.
There is research out of U.C Davis showing that just writing for a few minutes each day about things that you’re grateful for can dramatically boost your happiness and wellbeing.
We can also rehearse good news and share it with others. It’s no secret that a lot of us complain. It’s like we’re addicted to it, but when we’re talking to others we tend to forget about sharing the good things.
But that’s exactly what our mind needs to practice. It’s about intentionally reshaping the stories in our mind to be more positive.
In other words, start a gratitude journal and talk about your joys!
We also need to think about this from other people’s perspective. We need to be aware that the bad tends to stick. One mean comment can stick with somebody all day or all week. Somebody snaps at you and you snap back and you snap at the next guy too.
But what if the next time somebody snapped at you, you forgave them? What if the next time you had a really grumpy waitress, you left her an extra large tip? Who knows the ripple effect you can create with one small act of kindness
We can retrain our minds to be more positive, more forgiving, and more thankful for the beautiful opportunity that life is.
Do you have any ideas for training your mind to be more positive? Let us know in the comments so we all can learn from each other. 
She even noticed it herself when she was publishing papers. When her paper got rejected, it still weighed on her mind, even after a different paper was accepted.
What’s going on here? Why does the failure seem to stick in our mind so much longer than a success?
Watch the brilliant talk below to find out why as well as the best strategy to deal with it:

For those of you who don’t have time to watch the talk, here is it in text:
We all know intuitively that there are different ways of thinking about things. The same glass, the saying goes, can be seen half full or half empty.

Much research has shown that depending on how you describe the glass to people, it changes how you feel about it.
But have you wondered what happens when you try to switch from thinking about it one way to thinking about it another way? Can we shift back and forth? Or do we get stuck on a particular label?
To investigate this question, Alison Ledgerwood conducted a few simple experiments.
One of the experiments involved telling participants about a new surgical procedure.

The first group of participants were told about the surgical procedure in terms of gains (70% success rate), while the other group were told in terms of losses (30% failure rate).
Unsurprisingly, the gains group liked the procedure a lot more.
However, after this the first group were then told that there is a 30% failure rate, and they immediately didn’t like it.

But when the second group were told that there is a 70% success rate, they still didn’t like the procedure. They were stuck in the initial lost frame.
According to Alison Ledgerwood , these studies show that our view of the world has a fundamental tendency to tilt towards the negative.

It’s pretty easy to go from good to bad but far harder to shift from bad to good.
We literally have to work harder to see the upside of things. It takes effort but you can train your mind to do this better.

There is research out of U.C Davis showing that just writing for a few minutes each day about things that you’re grateful for can dramatically boost your happiness and wellbeing.
We can also rehearse good news and share it with others. It’s no secret that a lot of us complain. It’s like we’re addicted to it, but when we’re talking to others we tend to forget about sharing the good things.
But that’s exactly what our mind needs to practice. It’s about intentionally reshaping the stories in our mind to be more positive.

In other words, start a gratitude journal and talk about your joys!
We also need to think about this from other people’s perspective. We need to be aware that the bad tends to stick. One mean comment can stick with somebody all day or all week. Somebody snaps at you and you snap back and you snap at the next guy too.
But what if the next time somebody snapped at you, you forgave them? What if the next time you had a really grumpy waitress, you left her an extra large tip? Who knows the ripple effect you can create with one small act of kindness?
We can retrain our minds to be more positive, more forgiving, and more thankful for the beautiful opportunity that life is.

How To Make Alkaline Water To Fight Fatigue, Digestive Issues And Cancer

Some experts claim various health benefits of alkaline water… they say it can help slow the aging process, regulate your pH level, and even prevent chronic diseases like cancer. But what’s really an alkaline water?

“Alkaline” as stated in the actual name, it refers to the pH level, and pH level is a number that evaluate how acidic or ‘alkaline’ a substance is on a scale from 0-14. If 1 is highly acidic, then pH of 13 is very alkaline.
Alkaline water has a higher pH level than regular drinking water. Because of this, some advocates of alkaline water believe it can neutralize the acid in your body. Normal drinking water is generally a neutral pH of 7. Alkaline water generally has a pH of 8 or 9.
Why does this matter? Simple, the more acidic your body the more likely you are to experience fatigue, digestive issues and weight gain.
In addition, if the environment in our bodies is too acidic for too long, our otherwise healthy cells can become toxic and in the worst case scenario become cancerous.

Alkaline Water: How It All Works

Our bodies are designed to thrive in a slightly alkaline environment of 7.4.
Various organs and systems, however, thrive with different pH levels. For example, your saliva has a pH range from 6.5-7.0 (more acidic in order to help digest foods), your skin typically has a pH of 5 (although, according to a 2006 study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, it should actually be lower—4-4.5—as this allows the bacteria required to help heal and fight off infections, live on your skin).
And, as you can imagine, the pH of your digestive tract can vary anywhere from 1.5-7.0, which is dependent on many things, but especially, the food you eat.
Read After: The TOP 27 Alkaline Foods On The Planet! (Eat More To Prevent Cancer, Obesity And Heart Disease)

Why Alkaline Is So Important

We have known for a century that food can determine our overall pH levels, hence our overall health. In 1931, Dr. Otto Warburg, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery that 90-95 percent of all cancers are caused by an acidic environment and that cancer simply cannot grow or survive in an alkaline environment (your body) when your pH is around 7.36.
Since then, studies have determined the various pH levels of foods and drinks and how they react in the human body, either contributing to its alkalinity or acidity.
As Warburg pointed out almost 100 years ago, over-acidity (acidosis) is linked to not only the formation of cancer but as well heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis, and almost every chronic disease people typically suffer from today.

How Do You Know if Your Body is Too Acidic?

Basically, there are two very simple ways to determine if your body is acidic: you can use regular pH paper to do a saliva test, or, if you are suffering from the following chronic symptoms:

• Muscle pain or cramping after walking short distances
• Constant fatigue
• Easily running out of breath
• Often feeling like you can’t get enough air

When your pH level falls, your body naturally attempts to regulate itself (to create homeostasis) by capturing and storing excessively acidic substances in your organs such as your kidneys, liver and lungs, thereby maintaining an optimal pH of between 7.35-7.45.

These acidic substances, however, ultimately begin to attack your healthy cells, causing them to become toxic, damaged and sick.
Over time, if the issue is not addressed, these cells can metastasize—grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts or organs in your body.

Your Diet Is Too Acidic

One of the biggest reasons for chronic acidosis is our 21st-century diet consisting of sugar, caffeine, highly processed foods and alcohol. The additives, pesticides and growth hormones used to make and grow our food are also highly acidic to our bodies.
One of the best ways to counter this, however, (apart from changing your diet) is to flush your body with alkaline water.

Since your body is around 70% water, when you ensure that this water is alkaline, you are helping your body create homeostasis.
Read More: 4 Signs Your Body is TOO Acidic and How to Fix it!

How to Make Alkaline Water

Ingredients:

• 1 organic lemon (it is important to use only organic lemons as they are pesticide-free)
• 2 L of purified water (an osmosis filter is good if you have one, but water that is free of all chemicals and additives is the goal)
• 1 tablespoon Himalayan salt (which you can find at most health food stores)
• 1 large glass jar (it must be glass as plastic contains chemicals and impurities that are acidic to your body)

Directions:

• Fill the glass jar with the water
• Slice the lemon and add it to the water. (do not squeeze out the juice)
• Add the Himalayan salt.
• Cover the jar and leave it at room temperature for 12-24 hours.
•  

After the water has had time to sit, drink 3 glasses of this alkaline water on an empty stomach. It is always best to do this first thing in the morning before you start your day or put anything else in to your body.
You can also drink alkaline water throughout the day. Over time, you will begin to see a difference in how you feel (more energy), your skin will become clearer, and your brain more alert—you will generally feel more alive.
If you couple this with a healthier diet, one in which you avoid processed foods, sugar and additives, it won’t be long before you begin to see a healthier (more alkaline) you.
Originally published on Daily Health Post

A neuroscientist explains the best way to stay calm when you’re feeling stressed

When it comes to dealing with stress, I’m sure you’ve heard enough about positive thinking and yoga for one lifetime.
But if you’re looking for some practical strategies that you can use today, then you’ll love this TED talk from Daniel Levitin.

It’s a simple strategy that neuroscience has proven to help those dealing with stressful situations.
Daneil Levitin, a neuroscientist by training, knows a great deal about how the brain performs under stress.

He says that it releases cortisol which raises your heart rate, modulates your adrenaline levels and clouds your thinking.
After dealing with stressful situations in his life, he came up across a strategy from friend Garly Klein, a trained psychologist.

It’s something called “prospective hindsight”. It’s also called the pre-mortem.
I’m sure you all know what postmortem is: When there’s a disaster, a team of experts come in and they try to figure out what went wrong.

Well, in a pre-mortem, you look ahead and try to figure out all the things that could go wrong and then you try to figure out what you can do to prevent those things from happening, or to minimize the damage.

In this brilliant TED talk, Daniel Levitin explains how you can do a pre-mortem. Some of them are obvious. Some of them aren’t.

Check it out here:

For those of you who can’t watch the TED talk right now, he offers some examples of what a pre-mortem could be:
First he says that around the home, designate a place for things that are easily lost.
Now this sounds like common sense and it is, but a lot of science backs this up.
There’s a structure in the brain called the hippocampus, which evolved tens of thousands of years ago, to keep track of locations of important things.

Our hippocampus is really good for things that don’t move, but not so good for things that move around. So, in the home, designate a spot for your keys, passport etc.
If you designate a spot, your things will always be there when you look for them.

What about travel? Levitin suggests to take a cell phone picture of your credit cards, your driver’s license, your passport, and mail it to yourself so it’s in the cloud.

If these things are lost or stolen, you can facilitate replacement.
Now these are obvious according to Levitin but you need to remember that when you’re under stress, the brain releases cortisol. Cortisol is toxic and it clouds your thinking.
So part of the practice of the pre-mortem is to recognize that under stress you’re not going to be at your best and you need to put systems in place.

As another example, Levitin talks about a medical situation.
At some point you’re going to be stressed about a medical condition, even if it’s not you.
Levitin goes on to talk about a particular medical condition of high cholesterol.

Now, you could take a drug that reduces cholesterol. The problem is something called NNT. It’s the number of people that need to take a drug or undergo a surgery or any medical procedure before one person is helped.

And I know what you’re thinking. The number should be one. But medicine doesn’t work that way. Glaxosmithkline estimates that 90 percent of the drugs work in only 30 to 50 percent of the people. So the number needed to treat for the most widely prescribed statin is 300.

Yep, 300 people have to take the drug for a year before one heart attack, stroke, or over adverse event is prevented.
This is just one question that you need to prepared to ask when you consider your options and the side effects of drugs etc.

Remember your brain doesn’t think clearly when it’s under stress so you need to be prepared.
So in conclusion, to reduce stress, plan ahead and consider all the risk factors and pros and cons that you can. Then you will be better prepared to deal with stress and make the correct decisions in the moment.

11 Bizarre Home Remedies Our Grandparents Used That Actually Work!

11 Bizarre Home Remedies Our Grandparents Used That Actually Work!

Below are some of the bizarre solutions that people’s grandmas have come up with but actually work! Discover the words of wisdom below.

Raisins for Arthritis

That’s right, the little wrinkly, dried up berries usually found in scones or kids lunch boxes can apparently ease the symptoms of arthritis!

Grandparents say all you have to do is soak golden raisins overnight in a couple of spoonfuls of gin. The vitamins from the raisins mixed with the anti-inflammatory effects of the juniper berries used to make gin will help reduce swelling and ease your pain. [1] No, you won’t get drunk! But it is a good excuse to consume delicious gin all day long!

Celery for Bad Breath

According to one, or maybe many grandmas and grandpas, celery is the answer for bad breath. No need to keep buying packets and packets of gum, just stick a bunch of celery in your mouth, give it a good chew and your bad breath will dissipate. Discover other foods that will battle bad breath here!

Lemons for Earache

This is another bizarre combination. Apparently, if you squeeze some lemon juice onto an ear bud and pop it into your ear for a minute or so, you can alleviate the problems of an earache. [2] The lemon juice is meant to stabilize pH levels in your ears making them feel as good as new.

Nettles Cure Hair Loss

There is some evidence behind this bizarre remedy as ‘nettle leaf also contains high levels of protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and beta-carotene and high amounts of the vitamins A, C, D, and B complex’. Many of these vitamins and minerals are great for hair growth and hair maintenance. Our hair is mostly made up of proteins so it’s no wonder nettle leaves can help keep it strong, luxurious, and on our heads! [3]

Just brew a kettle of boiling water, put 4-6 nettle leaves in a mug, pour the hot water over, and enjoy!
Please note: Nettle leaves are high in silica, which can be harmful at high doses, so don’t go TOO crazy with the nettle tea!

Yams for Menopause

It may be easy to confuse yams with sweet potatoes but be aware! They are not, in fact, the same. Yams tend to have a thicker rougher skin and are darker in color.  They are nutritionally high in vitamin C, contain some vitamin A which will help balance out your hormones and tons of dietary fiber which will help lower cholesterol. [4]

Find a yummy roasted yam recipe here!

Olives for Motion Sickness

Now this one definitely sounds like an old wives tale! But there are actually facts surrounding some of the claims because olives are high in tannins, which can help stop the production of too much saliva. [5] We all know that feeling you get before you’re going to be sick or when your feeling ill, with too much saliva in your mouth. So go to the deli and find yourself some delicious, juicy olives to take on your next car journey! Grandparents around the world would be proud.

Baking Soda for a Urinary Tract Infection

Grandparents really do have the answers to everything! Here is another top tip that is meant to work. Add a sprinkling of baking soda to a glass of water and feel the UTI symptoms disappear in no time. The baking soda actually annoys the infection and makes your bladder more alkaline which prevents the harmful bacteria from multiplying. [6]
However, if the symptoms are consistent or extremely painful, then you are going to want to consult your doctor.

Dried Apricots for Indigestion

This is one my grandfather absolutely lives by. He has exactly five apricots after his dinner every single day and says it helps him digest his food better. Dried apricots are super high in dietary fiber which helps your stomach digest its food and prevents bloating. So if you’re not feeling too good after your meals then shove a handful of apricots in your mouth and carry on with your day! [7]

Potatoes for Spider Bites

Your grandparents may be on to something here … Raw potatoes are meant to have anti-itch and anti-inflammatory properties, exactly what you will need after being bitten by a spider. [8]  Just wrap a raw, sliced potato is a bandage or thin cloth, then gently rub it on the affected area for a few minutes.

So next time you’re doubting your grandparents logic, just give it a go! You never know if it will work, even if it sounds completely bonkers!

Something extraordinary is happening in the world, and not many people have noticed

Most of us haven’t quite realized there’s something extraordinary happening in the world.
We’re so caught up in the demands of daily life, coping with impossible workloads, demanding personal relationships, feelings of alienation and vague constant worry that we seldom pause to question our perspective.
Things are happening too fast, we say. I can’t keep up. Where is it all going to end? There’s so much wrong with the world. But are things so bad? Can you trust your perspective? Is there another perspective? One that says the world is showing signs of positive change.
Here are just five of the many ways the world is getting better that you might not have taken the time to properly consider.

1. The Internet is creating a global village of informed people

Keeping in mind that the Internet is not in full use across the globe, this most impactful invention has brought many positive changes to our lives.  The Internet gave rise to the Age of Information as people everywhere gain access to kinds of information. Anybody can find out anything, no one needs to be ignorant. In providing a platform for communication, the exchange of information around the globe is fast and continuous. Access to the Internet is showing people that they can improve their conditions, that there are ways to reconcile. It has given a voice to everyone. The Internet has shrunk the world and brought us closer by making others and their circumstances more real through images and videos.

2. A new de-centralized model is halting unabated consumerism

Disillusionment with consumerism (also fuelled by communication on the Internet) has given rise to the sharing economy exemplified by companies like Air BnB and Uber. These companies and others like them, cut costs of services by allowing individuals to directly provide services without the involvement of a third-party, or even the necessity for a place of business.
The sharing economy has people making money, renting out their homes or cars, hitching rides with others and swapping clothes instead of buying new ones or throwing them away. Renting out cars and hitching rides with others means fewer cars are on the road, so air pollution is also being tackled.

3. A better work model is emerging

People are fed-up with the existing work model and technology is giving them a way out. The general workforce is overworked and overstressed. Many don’t see the value in the work they’re doing or feel undervalued in their current roles. The brave are quitting their jobs to start out on their own. The sharing economy that makes working space available with access to Wi-Fi and other amenities makes setting up your own office without owning one possible. Online platforms like Upwork and Freelancer provide opportunities for people to work remotely and many companies are now allowing their employees to work some days of the week from home.

4. We have access to healthy food again

The madness of GMO foods is coming to an end. According to the Organic Trade Association organic food sales  in the US increase by double digits annually, far outstripping the growth rate of the overall food market. Europe is also showing a double digit growth in the organic food market. Farmers markets are becoming popular again and people are streaming to them to buy real food from local farmers.
Growing awareness of what goes into food has led to consumer pressure that has seen fast food companies like McDonalds lose market share. But, don’t’ stress. Fast food is not going away. There are startups looking at ways to provide us with healthy fast food!

5. We don’t have to be manipulated by mainstream news media anymore

Alternative news media is providing us with news we can trust. Increasingly people interested in knowing what’s really going on, are shunning mainstream news media and turning to alternative news sources. Netizens, suspicious of government sponsored news reports are turning to websites where independent journalists report on issues not covered by mainstream media. This trend has spawned a new wave of investigative journalism that uncovers the truth and publishes it, not edited versions thereof.

Neurons Can Learn Temporal Patterns

Neuroscience NewsMay 29, 2017

FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles4 min read

Summary: Researchers find the brain’s capacity to learn is created than previously thought.
Source: Lund University.
Individual neurons can learn not only single responses to a particular signal, but also a series of reactions at precisely timed intervals. This is what emerges from a study at Lund University in Sweden.

“It is like striking a piano key with a finger not just once, but as a programmed series of several keystrokes”, says neurophysiology researcher Germund Hesslow.
The work constitutes basic research, but has a bearing on the development of neural networks and artificial intelligence as well as research on learning. Autism, ADHD and language disorders in children, for example, may be associated with disruptions in these and other basic learning mechanisms.

Learning is commonly thought to be based on strengthening or weakening of the contacts between the brain’s neurons. The Lund researchers have previously shown that a cell can also learn a timed association, so that it sends a signal with a certain learned delay. Now, it seems that a neuron can be trained not only to give a single response, but a whole complex series of several responses.


The brain’s learning capacity is greater than previously thought

“This means that the brain’s capacity for learning is even greater than previously thought!” says Germund Hesslow’s colleague Dan-Anders Jirenhed. He thinks that, in the future, artificial neural networks with “trained neurons” could be capable of managing more complex tasks in a more efficient way.

The Lund researchers’ study focuses on the neurons’ capacity for associative learning and temporal learning. In the experiments, the cells learned during several hours of training to associate two different signals. If the delay between the signals was a quarter of a second, the cells learned to respond after a quarter of a second. If the interval was half a second, the cells responded after half a second, and so on.

The researchers now show that the cells can learn not only one, but several reactions in a series. “Signal – brief pause – signal – long pause – signal” gives rise to a series of responses with exactly the same intervals of time: “response – brief pause – response – long pause – response”.

The researchers now show that the cells can learn not only one, but several reactions in a series. NeuroscienceNews.com image is for illustrative purposes only.

The cells studied by the researchers are called Purkinje cells and are located in the cerebellum. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls bodily position, balance and movement. It also plays an important role in learning long series of complicated movements which require precise timing, such as the movements of the hands and fingers when playing the piano.

About this neuroscience research article

Source: Lund University
Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is in the public domain.
Original Research: Full open access research for “Learned response sequences in cerebellar Purkinje cells” by Dan-Anders Jirenhed, Anders Rasmussen, Fredrik Johansson, and Germund Hesslow in PNAS. Published online May 22 2017 doi:10.1073/pnas.1621132114

Cite This NeuroscienceNews.com Article

 

Lund University “Neurons Can Learn Temporal Patterns.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 29 May 2017.
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Abstract
Learned response sequences in cerebellar Purkinje cells
Associative learning in the cerebellum has previously focused on single movements. In eyeblink conditioning, for instance, a subject learns to blink at the right time in response to a conditional stimulus (CS), such as a tone that is repeatedly followed by an unconditional corneal stimulus (US).

During conditioning, the CS and US are transmitted by mossy/parallel fibers and climbing fibers to cerebellar Purkinje cells that acquire a precisely timed pause response that drives the overt blink response. The timing of this conditional Purkinje cell response is determined by the CS–US interval and is independent of temporal patterns in the input signal.

In addition to single movements, the cerebellum is also believed to be important for learning complex motor programs that require multiple precisely timed muscle contractions, such as, for example, playing the piano. In the present work, we studied Purkinje cells in decerebrate ferrets that were conditioned using electrical stimulation of mossy fiber and climbing fiber afferents as CS and US, while alternating between short and long interstimulus intervals.

We found that Purkinje cells can learn double pause responses, separated by an intermediate excitation, where each pause corresponds to one interstimulus interval. The results show that individual cells can not only learn to time a single response but that they also learn an accurately timed sequential response pattern.

“Learned response sequences in cerebellar Purkinje cells” by Dan-Anders Jirenhed, Anders Rasmussen, Fredrik Johansson, and Germund Hesslow in PNAS. Published online May 22 2017 doi:10.1073/pnas.1621132114

8 Brutally Honest Truths You Need to Hear If You Want To Get Your Shit Together

8 Brutally Honest Truths You Need to Hear If You Want To Get Your Sh*t Together

No matter how much we believe we have our “shit” together, life carries many harsh truths, and no matter how much we may wish to run away from them, it is only through accepting them that we can take full responsibility for our lives.

You may be aware of some of these already, but for the rest, I’m willing to be the blunt bastard that tells them to you. You may hate me today, but you’ll thank me tomorrow.
For the record, this isn’t meant to be a pessimistic rant about how tough life is. It’s meant to motivate you to take action armed with this knowledge.
Here are 8 brutally honest truths you need to hear if you want to get your shit together in both video and written form:

1. You’re Going to Regret How Much Time You Spend on Social Media

Social media is amazing, and I’m as addicted to it as you are. But social media is also making us all more disconnected than we’ve ever been before through the illusion of increased connection. Yes, we are able to communicate with thousands of people with ease, but with what depth?

Social media is robbing way too many of us of real connection and real life experiences. Rather than looking at the world as we walk somewhere or ride public transit, we regress to what the digital world has to offer. If our addiction level stays the same, things could become really scary, and this doesn’t even take into account the potential repercussions of so much exposure to technology.

2. Your Reactions Are the Problem

Yes, shit happens. And quite often that shit really sucks to have to go through or deal with. But regardless of how challenging something is, it’s always our reaction to it that will dictate how much it is going to impact our lives.
You decide how much, and for how long, getting cut off on the highway is going to piss you off, and you decide how much someone’s poor opinion of you is going to make you shell up in insecurity. Let your natural reactions happen, but then consciously choose how long you want to let them impact everything else.

3. The Riskiest Thing You Can Do Is Avoid Risks

Whether or not you consider yourself a risk-seeker, there is nothing more risky than complacency. I’m not suggesting that you cannot get to a point where you are truly happy with your life and therefore simply want to sustain that lifestyle, but I’m suggesting that never taking any risks is about as dangerous as it gets.
Stop playing small if you know you want to play big, and stop telling yourself “this is good enough” if you know deep down you would love to do, create, and have so much more. The cost of taking that risk is your long-term happiness.

4. You Should Always Have Enough Money for What Matters

“I would love to attend that seminar or buy that course that can change my life, but money is too tight right now.” As true as that may be, you should always have more than enough to do the things that really matter.
The biggest obstacle is the way we instead spend it on the things that don’t. We don’t process buying a $7 premium coffee daily as an investment in nothing, but we do overthink and see spending a couple hundred dollars on something life-changing as too much. I’m not suggesting we start spending recklessly, or never treat ourselves, but rather that we do reassess how we currently spend our money.

5. People Are Going to Hate You No Matter What You Do

You can try and people please your entire life, but no matter what, some people are always going to dislike you. So rather than wasting your time trying to match what you think is the most acceptable, spend that time accepting exactly who you are.

6. Blaming Only Makes You Weaker

In the moment, to unjustly direct blame towards a circumstance or other person may seem relieving, but in the long term it really takes its toll. The less you take responsibility for your actions and decision making, the weaker you become mentally.
Taking responsibility may come with some immediate repercussions, but over time, it builds a life founded on honesty, and it strengthens your ability to tackle challenges when they do arise.

7. People Don’t Think of You as Much as You Think They Do

From our perspective, the whole world revolves around us, but there are 7 billion people who see it the same way. While we are not all inherently selfish or self-obsessed, we are all far more concerned with how we are perceived by others than how we perceive them.
So once again, embrace your true self and find peace in knowing that people are too concerned with themselves to give you as much as attention as you think they are.

8. Not Even the Perfect Relationship Is Going to Complete You

I have close friends whose long-term romantic relationships I not only admire, but also hope to one day experience. But even they, who seem to have found “the one,” recognize that true happiness comes from within and can never be filled in by another.
Relationships are an extension of our happiness and not the basis of it, so focus on strengthening the one with yourself and all of the others will follow accordingly.

Previously published by Thought Catalog at www.thoughtcatalog.com.

8 Things Men Only Do With The Woman They Love

Men and women show that they care in very different ways. If a man is willing to publicly display his love for a woman, he is not messing around. It takes extreme vulnerability for a man to show and express exactly what he is feeling on such a large scale.
There are at least 8 things a man will only do for the woman he sincerely loves.

1. He listens

If you ever think that men sometimes behave like children, you’re not entirely wrong. Most men only concentrate on things they are passionate about. If they love you, your voice is music to their ears and all you have to do is say something that really matters and they are hooked.
The man who really loves you will not only hear you but will pay attention to your words. You will notice that he follows your advice and respects your thoughts.

2. He fights with you

Yes, that is correct. Fights are not always a sign that the relationship is going through a bad time. If he truly loves you and is invested in your relationship, he will take the time to fight, discuss and find solutions for your relationship. Occasional discussions are a sign that he wants to make things work. You want to find a middle ground where you both can be happy.

3. He makes sacrifices for your happiness

This is one of the biggest signs that a man loves a woman. If he changes his plans from something he would like to do for something he knows would make you happy, he is showing that he loves and respects you and is willing to always put you first.

4. He fights for your love

A man in love will take the punches as they come and fight to keep your love. He will weather the coldest winters and the rainiest spring showers just to be with you. A man in love feels lucky to have you in his life and makes it known that losing you is the last thing he would ever want.

5. He’s proud of your achievements

When a man loves a woman, everything she does feels like his own achievements. It’s almost like the pride a mother feels when their child does something kind or new for the first time. A man in love does not compete with the woman he loves, a man in love wins with the woman he loves.

6. He thinks you look beautiful even on your worst days

A few weeks ago, one of my coworkers had a cold sore on her top lip. She did not feel comfortable enough to meet her boyfriend that day because she did not want him to see her like that. However, after gathering the opinion of the whole office, the consensus was that if she met up with him with the sore and he did not care, it would be a sign that he was really interested in her for her and not just her looks. When a man really loves a woman, she always looks beautiful no matter what.

7. He cares about your family and friends because you do

A man in love understands that the people you love are important to you, and if they are happy, you will be too. If he loves you, he will patiently listen as you share detailed stories about your friends’ lives. He will recognize their importance in your life and will offer solutions to their problems with genuine interest.

8. He’s not afraid to be vulnerable

Men do not like to be vulnerable–ever–but if he loves you, he will not have a problem with showing you that he is afraid to lose you.

Everything You Need to Know About Every Thyroid Disorder: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Everything You Need to Know About Every Thyroid Disorder: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Hyperthyroidism vs Hypothyroidism

Our hormones are the messengers of our bodies. It is thanks to them that our different systems can talk to one another. Endocrine disorders, which are characterized by dysfunction of these messengers, have been estimated to affect 12% of the US population (6). It’s possible you’ve already heard about the symptoms associated with thyroid disorders since they are one of the most prevalent of the endocrine disorders. Hypothyroidism affects 4.6% (5) of the US population and hyperthyroidism impacts 1.2 percent (4).
Due to the integrated network that these hormones are part of when one hormone goes haywire, it will often affect other systems. This is why, for holistic healing to occur in treatment, it is very important to address the root causes that may be at play.

Two Main Types of Thyroid Disorders

Hypothyroidism: What is it? What are the symptoms?

Hypothyroidism means that your thyroid gland is underactive and there is too little of the thyroid hormone in the blood (2). Symptoms do vary from person to person, but a clear signal that you may have hypothyroidism is the inability to lose weight despite a healthy diet and regular exercise.  

With low thyroid hormone in the blood, many systems processes slow down. Therefore, a lack of energy, sluggishness and tiring very easily are common. Without a revving metabolism, the body temperature of those affected is lower so they often feel cold, especially in the hands and feet (2). A telltale sign of low thyroid hormone is when the eyebrows are thinning on the outer edges (2). Due to the slowing down of all systems, a common complaint from one with this disorder is constipation. Anxiety and depressive episodes are also possible among those who suffer from hypothyroidism (2).

Hyperthyroidism: What is it? What are the symptoms?

Hyperthyroidism means that there is too much thyroid hormone present, or that the thyroid is overactive (1). Just as hypothyroidism affects our metabolism, so does hyperthyroidism but in the opposite way by speeding up functions.
Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism aren’t surprising given that your system is on hyperdrive. Those with hyperthyroidism can experience nervousness, anxiety and irritability, increased perspiration and heart palpitations (1). Trouble sleeping, thinning of the skin and fine brittle hair, as well as, muscle weakness may also appear (1). Women may also have a lighter menstrual cycle or not one at all. Initially one may experience a lot more energy. However, with time, this increased metabolism eventually wears on the body and lack of energy emerges (1).

Causes of Thyroid Disorders

The traditional health system looks to a variety of reasons for the cause of the development of thyroid disorders. Some cases of these disorders are due to the body’s immune system mistaking thyroid gland cells and their enzymes as attackers to the system. This type of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (2). Cases with too low of thyroid hormone is called Graves disease which affects 70% of those with hyperthyroidism (1). Both these types of thyroid disorders run in families and there are still questions as to why people develop them.

Hyperthyroidism may also arise due to the development of nodules on the thyroid that gradually grow and increase the output of thyroid hormones in the system (1). Theses lumps are called goiters. Some individuals must undergo surgical removal or radiation treatment to the thyroid because of goiters or treat thyroid cancer. This consequently leads to a lack of thyroid hormone production (1).
Other causes include having too little or too much iodine in the system, being born with it (congenital), inflammation of the thyroid gland and damage to the pituitary gland (1, 2, 8).

How to Detect and Treat

If someone is presenting with some of the symptoms listed above, blood work is done to confirm if the thyroid hormones are within a ‘normal’ range. 

Listen to your body if something doesn’t feel quite right. Symptoms of these disorders can often be missed or misdiagnosed for general fatigue. It is estimated that 60% of those who have a thyroid disorder don’t even know it (3)!

Doctors typically test for thyroid-stimulating hormone, or TSH (2). It is also common to look at T3, the active form of thyroid hormone, and T4, a precursor to T3 (2). To rule out one of the autoimmune disorders, antibodies may also be tested (2). 

Conventional treatment of hypothyroidism is the prescription of a synthetic hormone called levothyroxine (2, 7). This mimics the action of your own T4. When treating hyperthyroidism the treatment varies based on the patient.  Anti-thyroid drugs, that block production of your own thyroid hormones, may be used (1). In other instances, beta-blockers, radioactive iodine or surgeries are used (1).

Addressing the Root Causes

Although conventional treatment of prescription can work for some, we are still not getting at the root cause of thyroid disorders by simply taking a pill. In my personal experience of dealing with this disorder myself and from talking to clients, I have learned that many people suffering do not feel their best when treated solely with medication. 
A complete treatment of thyroid disorders involves looking at the root causes and making diet and lifestyle changes that help the body thrive under its circumstances. Furthermore, these disorders have a strong link to the expression of emotions, so be ready to look deeper.


Functional medicine doctors and holistic nutritionists can look at the big picture and help clients reinstate balance to the body and enhance optimal living. Many holistic practitioners look to a variety of potential root causes. Certain key environmental factors that play a big role include leaky gut, diet, toxins, infection, and stress (8).
 If the holistic practitioner suspects the disorder may be autoimmune in nature, food sensitivities, especially gluten, and digestion are looked at (8). The thyroid also needs several key nutrients to function at its best so it is possible that addressing nutrient deficiencies, such as selenium and zinc, may be a factor in treatment (8). 
Other hormones, like cortisol and the sex hormones, should also be tested due to the integrated nature of the endocrine system (8).

In the treatment of thyroid disorders, keep in mind that your body has its own ‘normal’ and finding a good practitioner that will help support you in examining all possible root causes is key to achieving it.