Showing posts with label Neuropsychology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Neuropsychology. Show all posts
Sleeping should be one of the most relaxing moments of the day. We put ourselves to bed, we feel always more comfortable and lose the connection with the world around us to abandon ourselves into the arms of Morpheus. But sometimes, just before falling completely asleep, we have the sensation of falling and feel a sort of spasmodic movement.

It is a small gasp, as when we walk and put our foot wrongly because we misjudged the distance. Although it’s a normal phenomenon, many people are scared or even experience a panic attack. In fact, in extreme cases, when the hypnic jerk is very violent and fast, the person wakes up completely and can no longer fall asleep.



The hypnic jerk: A legacy of our ancestors?

The feeling of falling while we sleep is part of what is known as "hypnic jerk" and in some cases may also be accompanied by visual hallucination, which makes it even more baffling. It is estimated that 70% of people feel often this sensation when it's about to fall asleep, although many do not remember it.

Usually a spasm occurs when muscles, usually in the legs, contract very quickly and unintentionally, something similar to what happens when we’re shoved or suffer a muscle spasm.

One of the theories that attempt to explain this phenomenon refers to the evolutionary point of view. According to this perspective, the movements and sensations that cause the rude awakening would help us monitor our environment for the last time, to ensure that we are definitely safe. That way helps us avoid falling asleep in a dangerous place, simply because we were overwhelmed by fatigue.

In addition, according to evolutionists, the hypnic jerk served our ancestors also to confirm that they had chosen a stable position to sleep. In practice, it was an ancestral mechanism to make sure they have selected a sufficiently strong and stable point of support before falling asleep completely.

But in recent times, thanks to progress in neuroscience, another theory appeared that attempts to find the explanation of the hypnic jerk in the brain.

The brain never disconnect permanently

Neuroscientists, on their side, believe that these movements simply point out that our physiological system is giving up to sleep. In fact, when we sleep, as a precaution, it is produced a paralysis in our body, called "sleep paralysis". During REM sleep, which is the deepest, when we dream, the brain is "disconnected" from the main muscle groups, so we can not imitate the movements we do while dreming and avoid to harm ourselves.

In this regard, the sensation of falling and those jerky movements would be a signal that we are moving from the active muscle control to a state of total relaxation.

But there are some factors that can increase the chance to experience the hypnic jerk or have a more intense feeling of it.

- When we don’t sleep regularly or go to bed too tired.

- When we consume an excessive amounts of stimulants such as coffee and tea, especially in the evening, and do intense physical activity always in the evening.

- When are interferences of external stimuli such as lights and sounds while we are about to enter the deepest stage of sleep.

In all these cases, sleep is interrupted, it develops an irregular pattern that implies that the organism enters the REM stage before being prepared, and this can cause an hypnic contraction or the sensation of falling into the void. In fact, it was seen that the hypnic jerk is more common when the person falls quickly asleep. In practice, our body falls asleep so quickly that the brain is not able to follow the pace and go through the different stages of sleep, so that there is a sort of "short circuit".

Finally, it should be clear that while the hypnic jerk is a natural phenomenon of sleep, which usually decreases with age, it can still become annoying for both the person who suffers it and those sleeping next. In these cases it is advisable to consult a sleep specialist as the cause may be another disorder such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.

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Why we have the feeling of falling before falling asleep?

personal growth

In life there are situations beyond our control and may cause us great pain, move deep in sadness or beget a deep anger. Everyone, sooner or later, will have to live these experiences.

However, there are people who focus on these issues, and come to believe that life is just suffering. Others, however, prefer to focus on the things they can control, prefer to do everything’s possible to be happy or at least try.

If we assume this perspective, we can understand that happiness is a personal decision that we take every day. And to achieve this is essential to be aware of these behaviors and attitudes that eventually can turn our life bitter.

What differentiates people who bet on happiness?


1. Happy people accept the change. Unhappy people fear it

Accepting change is one of the most difficult challenges we face in life. For most people it is easier to stay sheltered in their comfort zone, where they know exactly what to expect and have everything relatively under control. But in that area happiness is scarce, because happiness is to live new experiences, to have the courage to go beyond our limits and to be in constant evolution. In fact, happiness is not inconsistent with fear and anxiety, but is intertwined with these to allow us to grow.

2. Happy people talk about ideas. Unhappy people speak of the others

Happy people are focused on themselves, they strive to have clear what they want and mark the path to achieve it. In fact, one of the greatest secrets of happiness is to abandon unhealthy criticism, the unhealthy need to depend on others and, above all, the belief that we are superior and we can become the judges of the behaviors and attitudes of others. Unhappy people, by contrast, are dedicated to criticize others, so that they waste valuable energy that could be used to improve their lives.

3. Happy people take responsibility for their mistakes. Unhappy people blame the others

In our society there is the belief that mistakes are something negative, making it very difficult to people to assume them voluntarily. But blaming others is the most direct route to unhappiness. Conversely, happy people have an internal locus of control that allows them to take responsibility for their actions, without feeling that they have failed or have shouldered the burden of guilt. These people understand that mistakes are opportunities to learn and take the opportunity to grow. So, when they are wrong, rather than crying over spilled milk, or look for a culprit, learn the lesson and go on providing a set of tools that will help them to live more fully.

4. Happy people forgive. Unhappy people hold resentment

One of the most damaging feelings we can experience is the resentment, it is like be consumed on a low heat for our own will. Resentment not only makes us unhappy, but also triggers a series of physiological reactions that increase our propensity to disease. So happy people know they have to forgive and move on. In fact, forgiveness is deeply liberating because prevents us from remaining prisoners of the past and enables us to live fully in the present. If we are not able to forgive we remain prisoners of resentment, we are tied to this situation that made us so much harm and keep doing it.

5. Happy people focus on the positive. Unhappy people see only spots on the sun

Happy people are not naive optimists, on the contrary, can become very realistic and are able to keep their expectations under control. But they rather focus on the positive aspects of situations, because they know they can motivate themselves and feel better. These people are aware that the glass is half empty, but choose to focus on the fact that it is also half full. In contrast, unhappy people focus on the negative aspects of situations, so they end up developing a pessimistic view of the world that ends up bittering their life. These people prefer to see the spots on the sun, instead of appreciating the warmth and light that gives us.

6. Happy people are taking advantage of opportunities. Unhappy people cross their arms and complain

One of the keys to have a full and happy life is to seize the opportunities. Happy people know this and are always willing to consider alternatives. These people know they can make mistakes, but they prefer to risk rather than sit idly by and then repent for not having seized the opportunity. In contrast, unhappy people wallow in bitterness and leave that opportunity pass next to them and are constantly inventing excuses to complain for their “bad luck”, they do not realize that they are those who build their own destiny.

7. Happy people follow their dreams. Unhappy people remain tied to the opinions of others

Happy people dream as if they could live forever, and live as if they were to die tomorrow. This means they have big plans for the future but, at the same time, do not miss out on the here and now. They do not postpone happiness or subject it to a distant goal, but they know how to take advantage of the little things that give them joy and satisfaction. In contrast, unhappy people let others dictate their goals, rely on their opinions and insights. This is the most direct route to dissatisfaction, bitterness and remorse, follow a trail blazed by others, and depend on their opinions. The key to true happiness is to know what we really need and have the courage to fight to get it.

Benjamin Franklin already told it, “human happiness is not achieved with great blows of unexpected luck, which rarely occur in life, but with little things that happen every day”.
 artikel,http://psychology-spot.blogspot.co.id/2016/07/happy-people-happiness.html

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7 things happy people don’t do

bilingualism

In recent decades, our understanding of bilingualism has changed a lot. At first it was thought that mastering two vocabularies were causing language disorders in children. However, it has been shown that it is false. In fact, bilinguals perform better in school activities that require a good deal of attention, short-term memory and inhibition of impulses, it is what is known in psychology as “executive control”.

It is believed that the advantage of “bilingualism” is not due only to learning a new language, but, above all, to the systematic use of both. But there are still many people who doubt this, so neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center have decided to establish if indeed speaking two languages ​​is so beneficial for the brain.

In the experiment it was measured the volume of gray matter of the monolinguals and bilinguals. So they found that, in fact, people who speak two languages ​​have more gray matter in the frontal and parietal lobes, which are the areas of the brain involved in executive control.

What is the function of gray matter?


The gray matter is found mainly in the cerebral cortex, the most complex area of ​​the nervous system. The cells that make up the gray matter does not contain myelin, so they can not quickly transmit nerve impulses. Their function is to process information and facilitate the reasoning. So it has been associated the amount of gray matter with intelligence and ability to solve problems.

But the most interesting is that the volume of gray matter that exists in the brain depends largely on the experiences that people are living throughout life. In fact, a study conducted at University College London found that taxi drivers have more gray matter in areas of the brain involved in spatial navigation, which is not surprising since for their profession are forced to use a lot more of these areas of the brain.

Why speaking two languages ​​is so beneficial for the brain?


These neuroscientists have wondered if the increase in gray matter volume was due to speaking two languages ​​or rely on some unique vocabulary learned. To find an answer, they are not limited to analyze the brains of bilingual and monolingual people, but also worked with people who dominated their mother tongue and also knew sign language.

In this way they discovered that only those who speak two languages ​​have a greater volume of gray matter. These results suggest that changes in the brain are not simply due to the acquisition of a larger vocabulary, but depend on the effort made by our brain when we speak, since it is forced to disconnect a language to turn the other, thus involving different areas brain.

In fact, a previous study conducted at the University of Kentucky showed that bilinguals are better at multitasking because they can connect and disconnect rapidly. They are also more flexible and can adapt more quickly to unexpected changes. What's more, it is known that these skills are maintained into adulthood, so that learning a second language also protects the brain from dementia.

These studies reveal that our brain has an enormous plasticity and changes depending on the stimuli, even in adulthood. Therefore, if you do not know a second language you still have time to learn it and, above all, practice it.


Sources:
Olulade, O. A. et. Al. (2016) Neuroanatomical Evidence in Support of the Bilingual Advantage Theory. Cerebral Cortex; 26 (7): 3196-3204.
Gold, B. T. et. Al. (2013) Lifelong Bilingualism Maintains Neural Efficiency for Cognitive Control in Aging. The Journal of Neuroscience; 33(2): 387-396.
Fergur, I. M. et. Al. (2010) Delaying the onset of Alzheimer disease. Bilingualism as a form of cognitive reserve. Neurology; 75(19): 1726-1729.
Maguire, E. A. et. Al. (2006) London taxi drivers and bus drivers: a structural MRI and neuropsychological analysis. Hippocampus;16(12): 1091-1101.

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Do you speak two languages? Then you have more gray matter

genes DNA

For decades we have heard that children are like sponges. Now science shows that this statement is true. But this enormous capacity to adapt to the environment is a double-edged sword. In the early years of life neurons have an enormous plasticity, which means that the brain can develop a great potential or, on the contrary, can undergo a damage difficult to repair. And parents have a crucial role to tilt the balance in one direction or another.

The relationship that parents establish with the child, their ability to satisfy his emotional needs and also his state of mind during the early years, influence the psychological development of the small boy and leave a deep mark that probably will accompany him throughout life.

In fact, several studies have linked maternal depression with the onset of mental disorders in children. It is also known that when parents have marital problems and often argue, their children become emotionally insecure and have difficulty establishing healthy relationships in adulthood. In addition, it is also seen that when parents are subject to high stress is more likely that children develop an emotional problem.

Now, a new study conducted at the University of Wisconsin revealed that problems are not limited to psychological level, the parental stress may also alter the genetics of their children by making sure that in their brain will be forming connections that will eventually affect their reaction to adversity.

In fact, it is the first time that scientists find a link between parental stress and DNA of children. This study shows that parents, and our experiences in general, may affect our genetics.

The stress response is partly determined by genes


The idea that stress can damage DNA and brain development comes from a study conducted in 2004 at McGill University. These researchers worked with mice and found that when mothers cared carefully their sons it was activated a gene in their brain that triggered a mechanism through which young mice developed increased tolerance to stress, they were able to better adapt to changes, showed less fear and were more likely to explore their environment.

Subsequently, a study of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute made with human, revealed that child abuse and parental neglect can also mute the receptors of stress hormones in the brain. It was noted that in children who had suffered abuse in childhood and who later committed suicide, the gene that had to activate the receptors of stress hormones remained inactive.

The problem is when this gene is silenced, the response to stress natural system does not work properly, so it is more difficult to address the problems and adversity, and these people are more likely to develop psychological disorders and commit suicide.

In fact, another study conducted at the University of British Columbia found that when mothers are depressed or anxious, the gene responsible for receptor activation of stress hormones tended to be inactive in infants. As a result these children are more fearful, they find it difficult to adapt to changes and will have problems to deal with stressful situations.

Stressed mothers, children less resilient


This new study reveals that to experience some changes at the DNA level is not necessary that children suffer physical abuse. These researchers analyzed hundreds of parents for more than a decade. Parents completed a series of questionnaires at different times during the life of their children when they were infants, 3 and 4 years of age and later, upon reaching adolescence. Through questionnaires, the researchers assessed the level of parental stress. After they had reached the age of 15 years, the scientists analyzed the DNA of these 109 adolescents.

Thus they found differences in the DNA of young people whose parents had shown greater levels of stress. It was also noted that the stress of both parents did not affect in the same way. In fact, a high level of stress in mothers during the first years of children's lives was related with alterations in 139 genes. Fathers’ stress accounted less, although it could be related to changes in 31 genes. This difference may be due to the fact that many fathers are less involved in raising children, so it is likely that the impact of their emotional state is minor.

Another important finding indicates that stress of mothers and fathers does not cause significant changes in the expression of genes when took place after 3 years of age. This could be due to the fact that the first three years of life are the phase of maximum plasticity of the brain, when the brain regions are able to adapt more and also assume the functions of other sectors if the subject suffer any brain damage. From this age, the brain continues to change, but it does so at a slower pace.

Among the altered genes (normally silenced) by stress have been met two which are particularly important for brain development and behavior as they are related to cellular communication and the membranes of neurons. One of the genes involved is the Neurog1, which stimulates the growth of new neurons, which is crucial for growth, learning and memory.

Researchers explain that these changes in the expression of DNA affect the way in which neural connections are established, and then, the functioning of the brain. In practice, silencing the gene responsible for receptor activation of stress hormones, the child will not have the necessary tools to neruological level to cope with difficult situations. If there are not enough receptors for hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, they remain active, causing damage to the body, while the brain is unable to find an appropriate solution. Therefore, it is likely that the child will be more irritable, impulsive and fearful.

However, it should be clear that our brain has an amazing plasticity, so despite changes in gene expression it does not mean that these children can not learn to manage stress assertively developing a more resistant attitude when they reach adolescence or adulthood, but it will be more difficult.

In any case, the message for parents is clear: stress is harmful not only for adults but also for children, especially if they are very small.


Sources:
Essex, M. J. et. Al. (2013) Epigenetic Vestiges of Early Developmental Adversity: Childhood Stress Exposure and DNA Methylation in Adolescence. Child Development; 84(1): 58-75.
McGowan, P. O. et. Al. (2009) Epigenetic regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor in human brain associates with childhood abuse. Nature Neuroscience; 12: 342-348.
Oberlander, T. F. et. Al. (2008) Prenatal exposure to maternal depression, neonatal methylation of human glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) and infant cortisol stress responses. Epigenetics; 3(2): 97-106.
Preston, S. L. & Scaramella, L. V. (2006) Implications of timing of maternal depressive symptoms for early cognitive and language development. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev; 9(1): 65-83.
Weaver, I. C. (2004) Epigenetic programming by maternal behavior. Nature Neuroscience; 7(8): 847-854.
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Mother's stress changes the son's genes

reading

Reading is one of the best habits you can develop, one of the best gifts we can do to ourselves. In fact, it has been shown that a good novel is like a massage for our neurons. However, it is not worth reading just to pass the time, reading anything that comes to hand does not bring benefits, both at the cognitive level and emotional. It is therefore important to be as selective as possible in choosing what we read.

The "light" content doesn’t give anything


A study conducted at the University of Florida has issued a warning: it was discovered that the readings of the university students directly influence their level of writing. These psychologists have found that not only count how often we read but also the quality of the content.

In practice, young people who read magazines and academic literature write with greater sophistication and commit fewer errors than those who only read news and web content. As a result, these psychologists have made a distinction between “deep Reading” and “light Reading”.

Deep reading is slow and engaging, rich in sensory detail, emotional and moral, is a complex interpretation that goes beyond the simple decoding of words. We can talk about deep reading when it contains metaphors, allusions and complex concepts, both cognitively and emotionally. When a novel is deep we can put ourselves in its pages, and promotes reflection and empathy.

However, the “light” reading doesn’t offer these advantages as it is fast, usually receives little attention and is forgotten after a few minutes. These psychologists believe that many of the daily news, entertainment magazines and most insignificant content that can be found on the Internet, can be classified as “light” reading because they do not promote reflection and do not generate emotional involvement.

Deep reading, an explosion of sensations to the brain


Deep reading is an explosion of sensations to our brain. In fact, it was found that activates the various centers of the brain that have to work together so that we can understand what we read and experience firsthand. Reading activates the Broca's area, which allows us to feel the rhythm and syntax, even active Wernicke's area, which is involved in our perception of the words and their meanings, as well as the angular gyrus, which is critical for the perception and the use of language.

What's more, the profound reading also activates other brain areas related to perception and emotions, which indicates that we not only understand what we read, but we are living the adventures into the characters shoes. A good novel is able to activate the brain areas associated with physical sensations and motor systems, as well as the emotional brain, allowing us to laugh or cry along with the characters.

Therefore, it’s not surprisingly to find that a good novel increases the level of the person's empathy, who’s able to better understand the ideas of others, even if different from his own, and share emotional states.

Poetry is a good example of “deep Reading”. Recently, neuroscientists have discovered that all the writings activate what is called the “reading network”, which allows you understand the text, store it and think about it.

But compared to prose, poetry activates areas of the brain which are completely different, especially when it comes to a poetry that we like. In fact, poems activate the posterior cingulate cortex and the medial temporal lobes, parts of the brain linked to introspection, as well as some specific regions of the right hemisphere, the same that react to music.

Therefore, the next time you dedicate a few minutes to read, make sure it's worth it. Choose a material that is exciting for you, that makes you think, awakens your curiosity and you can enjoy.


Sources:
Douglas, Y. & Miller, S. (2016) Syntactic Complexity of Reading Content Directly Impacts Complexity of Mature Students’ Writing. International Journal of Business Administration; 7(3).
Adam, Z. et. Al. (2013) By Heart An fMRI Study of Brain Activation by Poetry and Prose. Journal of Consciousness Studies; 20(9-10): 132-158.

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What you read is more important than you think

rage

In our society, anger is considered a negative emotion. As children we are taught that we should not get angry. But the truth is that anger is a feeling of defense, is present in conflictual situations and is activated when we think of being treated unfairly, when we feel hurt or when something doesn’t go as we would like.

In fact, anger is a powerful emotion that has a strong dynamic effect. That is, it gives us the motivation and the necessary strength to fight against what we consider unjust or threatening, in order to protect ourselves.

Therefore, the anger itself is not bad, if we don’t grasp it, because in this case it can be very dangerous, even for ourselves. However, what is really dangerous is aggression.

What differentiates anger from aggressivity?


To understand the difference between anger and aggressivity we have to keep in mind that anger, like all emotions, provides three types of reactions.

1. Physical. Our body is activated for the defense or the attack: the heart rate increases, our breathing speeds up, muscles are stretched and blood flow is activated. It is a state of excitement that predisposes us to act impulsively, because the amygdala takes control of the situation and can produce an “emotional kidnapping”, meaning it “turns off” the control of the frontal lobes. In fact, a study conducted at the University of Chicago revealed that people who have anger problems show an overactive amygdala, which leads them to respond impulsively, without thinking.

2. Cognitive/emotional. This is our interpretation of the situation, the emotional value and the meaning we give it. Thus, emotions are a function of our thoughts, so that when a situation is interpreted as an obstacle, an injustice, abuse or disrespect, we get angry. Thoughts like “it’s intolerable” or “how dare you treat me this way?” feed anger and increase the chances that we lose control and react aggressively.

3. Conductual. When we experience anger our instinctive reaction is to defend ourselves. Therefore, an internal energy is created that drives us to destroy the obstacle that is generated. Aggressivity is one of the several ways to express anger, and also one of the most destructive. But there are other behaviors that solve the problem without using aggressivity.

Why do we lose control?


If you get angry and often lose control reacting aggressively, it is likely that the problem is in the interpretation of the situation. The key may lie in the way your brain processes situations.

A study by neuroscientists at the University of Chicago found that white matter in a brain region called the arcuate fasciculus has a lower density and volume in people who suffer from intermittent explosive disorder compared to “normal” individuals.

This region is responsible for connecting the frontal lobe, responsible of decision making, emotional control and the consequences of actions, with the parietal lobe, where are processed language and the sensory information. In practice, it is the highway which is linking these parts of the brain.

In addition, the white matter is important because promotes the connection and transmission of information in the brain. Therefore, what these researchers have found is that the brains of people who are prone to anger is “wired” differently.

This could be the reason why people who have anger problems tend to misunderstand the intentions of others in social interactions. They think that others are hostile, and draw the wrong conclusions about their intentions. This misinterpretation further increases their anger.

It is also shown that these people are not able to process all the details of social interactions, such as non-verbal language, or a few words. In practice, they only perceive the signals that reinforce their belief that the other person is challenging them. So they respond aggressively in situations that others would consider neutral.

The problem in the connection between these lobes of the brain affect the processing of social situations, leading these people to misunderstand the little clues sent by people in social interactions.

How to learn to manage anger


Getting angry is not negative. In fact, we must pay attention to this emotion and reflect on its origin. The key is learning to manage our emotional reactions, cognitive and behavioral.

So if you often get angry and lose control, the first step is to ask yourself if you're misinterpreting the signals sent by the others. If we think that the world is conspiring against us, we will probably see only the negative signals, ignoring the positive ones.

In fact, it has been noticed that people who are often angry tend to have great emotional outbursts, but the truth is that during the day they usually remain constantly in a state of irritability and frustration, which turns them into real time bombs ready to explode at the slightest provocation.


Sources:
Lee, R. et. Al. (2016) White Matter Integrity Reductions in Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology.
Coccaro, E. F. et. Al. (2007) Amygdala and orbitofrontal reactivity to social threat in individuals with impulsive aggression. Biological Psychiatry; 62(2): 168-178.


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Do you get angry often? Maybe your brain perceives only hostility

complaining

Why do people complain? Certainly not to torture the others with their negativity, as many might think. Most people complain because doing so they better externalize their emotions and thoughts, or at least they think so.

However, science says that they are wrong. Complaining is not good for us, expressing negativity can make us feel worse. In fact, in some cases complaining may seem like a good idea, but ultimately, it never is, both for the person who complains and for the listener.

The problem resides in the brain. Complaining alters our neural networks and can have serious repercussions for our mental health. In fact, some neuroscientists have stated that complaints can come to kill us, literally.

Complaining strengthens the synapses of negativity


At this very moment in our brain we are producing many synapses. When we think of something, a neuron releases a series of neurotransmitters, through which it communicates with another neuron and establishes a sort of bridge through which passes an electrical signal. This is how the information is transmitted in the brain.

The interesting fact is that every time there is a synapse, this process gets underway. This will create real neural highways in our brains that allow us, for example, to drive automatically or walk without having to think about how to move our feet.

These circuits are not static, they can vary according to the practice, getting weakened or strengthened. Obviously, the more solid the connection, the more rapidly will be transmitted the information and we will be more efficient in this activity.

The problem is that when we complain and we are full of negative thoughts, we are promoting precisely those neural networks, thus feeding the negativity that leads to depression. The more we complain the more black we see the world, because we are just enhancing these neural pathways at the expense of others, that would be more positive and beneficial for our emotional health.

In fact, researchers at Yale University found that in people under stress or suffering from depression, there is a deregulation of synapses and it is produced a neural atrophy. In the brains of these people it is increased the production of a transcription factor called GATA1, which reduces the size, the projections and the complexity of dendrites, which are essential to transmit messages from one neuron to another.

You are a reflection of those around you


Complaining not only affects neuronal connections of the person who complains, but also of those around him. In fact, it is likely that after hearing a friend complaining for several hours, we feel like we’re emptied, as if our Energy were drained. It’s also likely that at that time we have a somewhat more pessimistic view of the world.

This is because our brain is programmed to be empathetic. Mirror neurons are responsible for us to experience the same feelings of the person that we face, whether joy, sadness or anger. Our brain tries to imagine what feels and thinks that person, in order to act accordingly and modulate our behavior.

In these cases, empathy becomes a double edged sword that we wield to ourselves, because when we hear a person complaining, in our brain are released the same neurotransmitters that are released in his. So, we end up being prisoners of his complaints.

The brain, a command center that controls the entire body


Complaining consolidates the “negative” synapses in the brain and these have a major impact on our health. When we feed sadness, resentment, anger and hatred, all of these emotions are reflected in our body. In fact, recently a group of reserchers of the Aalto University has created a body map of emotions, where you can see how these are reflected in specific areas.

We also must not forget that behind feelings and negative emotions often is hidden cortisol, a neurotransmitter that also acts as a hormone whose high levels have been linked with a depressed immune system, increased blood pressure and increased risk of developing diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Cortisol also impairs memory, increases the risk of suffering from depression and anxiety and, of course, reduces life expectancy.

There are no vegetarian lions


Clearly, this does not mean that we must never complain and that we must repress our emotions and feelings. In fact, sometimes complaining can be extremely liberating. But we must make sure it does not become a habit and, above all, that words are followed by actions.

So, the next time in your mind peeps a complaint, remember that “the lions are not vegetarians”. This means that, as you complain on their diet won’t change. If you really want to change something and do not transform yourself into their dinner, you better look for alternative strategies.

In other words, the universe is chaotic, sometimes terrible and unpredictable things happen over which we have no control. We can sit and cry and complain, or, on the contrary, we can take a proactive approach by asking what can we do to cope as best as possible the problems and if possible, to learn from them. The decision is in our hands.


Sources:
Duman, R. S. (2014) Pathophysiology of depression and innovative treatments: remodeling glutamatergic synaptic connections. Dialogues Clin Neurosci; 16(1): 11–27.
Nummenmaaa, L. et. Al. (2014) Bodily maps of emotions. PNAS; 111(2): 646-651.
Duman, R. S. (2012) Decreased expression of synapse-related genes and loss of synapses in major depressive disorder. Nature Medicine; 18: 1413–1417.
Christoffel, D. J. et. Al. (2011) Structural and synaptic plasticity in stress-related disorders. Pathophysiology of depression and innovative treatments: remodeling glutamatergic synaptic connections. Rev Neurosci; 22(5): 535-549.
Schoorlemmer, R. M. et. Al. (2009) Relationships between cortisol level, mortality and chronic diseases in older persons. Clin Endocrinol; 71(6): 779-786.


source;http://psychology-spot.blogspot.co.id/2016/09/how-to-quit-complaining-so-much.html



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Complaining poisons your brain

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