Irritable Bowel Syndrome Pt.2: Mental Health and IBS: Promising Psychological Treatment Options
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Pt.2: Mental Health and IBS: Promising Psychological Treatment Options

Now we’ve got an understanding of some of the key brain-based elements of irritable bowel syndrome, we’re going to unpick some of them in more detail. Last time, we touched on how stress can be a significant contributing factor to many common IBS symptoms. Today, we’re going to look deeper into the intricate connection between mental health and this complex gastrointestinal condition. We’ll also discuss some proven effective psychological interventions that can help address it.

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Vitamin B12 and the Three M’s: Mind, Mood, and Memory
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

Vitamin B12 and the Three M’s: Mind, Mood, and Memory

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient for overall health, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell formation, but it also plays an often-overlooked role in sustaining optimal brain and nervous system function. So today, let’s talk about why B12 is crucial for cognitive function and helps maintain memory and mental health.

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Cause for Celebration: Why it’s Good for Us
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

Cause for Celebration: Why it’s Good for Us

Forms of celebration are present in almost every human society and culture across the globe. They are a way to mark significant events, milestones, and achievements, creating moments of joy and togetherness. But what does science say about celebration? Today, we’re here to talk about all the incredible benefits of celebration, its impact on our brains, and why we should do it more!

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The Yerkes-Dodson Law Pt. 2: How to Find Balance in Your Life
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

The Yerkes-Dodson Law Pt. 2: How to Find Balance in Your Life

Last time, we discussed what the Yerkes-Dodson Law is and how it relates to the brain. Today, we’ll be looking at the implications of low and high arousal levels and detailing how you can utilize the law within your life to achieve the ideal balance for a healthy, happy brain.

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The Color Series Part 2: The Emotional Effects of Color
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

The Color Series Part 2: The Emotional Effects of Color

In our last post, we learned how the brain processes colors and how they impact our cognitive performance and physical body. And today, we’ll be talking about how the variety of colors affect our moods, and more deeply, our mental health. We’ll also be exploring the functional uses of certain colors in real-life settings, so let’s get into it.

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The Importance of Empathy for Mental Health
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

The Importance of Empathy for Mental Health

Did you know that promoting empathy within both individuals and communities can result in better mental health outcomes? Last time, we dived into the intricate workings of the neural circuits and brain regions that make up our capacity for compassion. Today, we’re touching on just how fundamental empathy is when it comes to good mental health and a happier society.

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Help Others to Help Yourself
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

Help Others to Help Yourself

Not only is volunteering a great way to help out and grow your social connections, but it’s also fantastic for the health of your brain. In this week’s blog post, we’ll reveal how altruistic behaviors can positively impact mental health, cognitive function, and foster greater neurological resilience over time.

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Cultivating a Healthy Brain: The Psychological Benefits of Gardening
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

Cultivating a Healthy Brain: The Psychological Benefits of Gardening

Gardening. It helps produce flourishing flowers and can even keep us fed with home-grown produce. But did you know that it can also do brilliant things for your brain? In this post, we’re going to delve in to the incredible psychological influence that gardening has, exploring how this simple activity can profoundly impact both our mental well-being and our cognitive health.

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How Good Gut Health Leads to Better Mental Health
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

How Good Gut Health Leads to Better Mental Health

Ever experienced that “gut-wrenching” sensation when feeling intense emotions? Struggle with digestive disruption when your stress levels get high? All of this and more can be explained by the gut-brain axis.

In part two of our gut and brain series, we’re going into detail about how the elaborate connection between the brain and the gut plays a pivotal role in shaping our mental health.

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What’s Happening in Your Brain When you Feel Isolated and Lonely?
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

What’s Happening in Your Brain When you Feel Isolated and Lonely?

Humans are innately social creatures. But the demands of an ever-changing world have dramatically changed the way we interact. Instead of working together in communities, many now work from home, and busy schedules can make it difficult to prioritize social exchanges. Ultimately, there are several reasons that a person might become isolated socially. But what’s the cognitive impact?

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Can Light Therapy Heal the Brain?
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

Can Light Therapy Heal the Brain?

Exciting research has been and is currently being performed on the benefits of red-light therapy for the brain. Photobiomodulation, or PBMT for short, may be able to encourage healing within the brain and promote overall good brain health

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How Vibration Therapy Can Improve Your Cognitive Function
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

How Vibration Therapy Can Improve Your Cognitive Function

Vibration therapy is on the rise and has been shown to have several body and brain benefits. If you haven’t heard of it, or just aren’t quite sure how it works, this post is for you. Let’s delve in and explore whether vibration therapy could become part of your brain health arsenal.

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How Smiling Benefits Your Brain
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

How Smiling Benefits Your Brain

Smiling is a natural human expression of happiness or joy that happens largely involuntarily. Your favorite song comes on the radio, you get that job offer, you see a treasured old friend, or a silly joke hits just the right spot. Whatever the reason, we can all agree that it feels good. And there’s a reason for that. Cracking a smile is good for your brain. Let’s find out why that is.

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Binaural Beats for the Brain
Yelena Gidenko, PhD Yelena Gidenko, PhD

Binaural Beats for the Brain

Today we’re looking at how binaural beats can affect your brain and overall well-being. We’ll cover what they are, how they work, and how they could improve your ability to meditate, focus, fall into a deep slumber, and much more.

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