Information is stored in different regions of our brain. Bran scans reveal that once stored, our memories of past experiences activate various parts of the Frontal and Temporal Lobes (Fink Et al., 1996). Retrieving a telephone number and holding it in working memory activates a region of the left FrontalContinue Reading
The idea that our mind consists of a conscious and unconscious began many centuries ago, even before the ancient Greeks. It has been the subject of philoshophical debate for the last two hundred years. In 1807 German philosopher Georg Hegel stated that consciousness of self depends on the presence ofContinue Reading
The characteristics of the process of thought were defined and explained by William James, the Father of Psychology, over one hundred years ago. He began by stating that “every thought is part of a personal consciousness.” However personal consciousness was one of the terms he could not define. He saidContinue Reading
Does life experience develop our human traits, or are we born with them? It’s quite fascinating that in the 21st century this question still has no conclusive answer. This debate actually goes all the way back to the ancient Greeks. Plato assumed that character and intelligence are mostly inherited andContinue Reading
Thoughts cause feelings, according to conventional psychology. This is the essential insight of modern cognitive therapy. Nearly all of the cognitive techniques that have been developed and refined over the last seven decades flow out of this simple idea that thoughts cause feelings, and that many emotions are preceded andContinue Reading
Psychologists, researchers and dream theorists have a few explanations. Noted psychoanalyst Sigmud Freud (1856-1939) believed that dreams are a type of wish-fulfillment, and that dreams provide a psychic safety valve that discharges otherwise unacceptable feelings. Ambitions, desires and other content that would be threatening if expressed in the normal manner.Continue Reading
Just like an ocean, life has rhythmic tides. Over various time periods, our body and mind fluctuates. These biological rhythms – biorhythms are controlled by our “internal clocks” and include long and short cycles: Annual cycles – Typical annual cycles influence most animals and plant life. Cycles influence the migrationContinue Reading
Feeding babies and small children a low cholesterol, low fat diet meant to protect adults at risk for heart dsease can actually cause serious harm to their small, delicate brains. The average adult brain uses nearly twenty percent of the calories we consume every day to power the more thanContinue Reading
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in the mesolimbic system of our brain that controls all natural reinforcing behaviors such as learning, eating, drinking, pleasure, motivation and sexual activity. It is also the primary neurotransmitter that most addictive drugs are known to release. Dopamine plays an important role in reinforcement andContinue Reading
What causes our brain to be addicted? The human brain contains billions of special cells called neurons making up its complex communication network. The neurons exchange signals throughout the brain and our entire body. All of our thoughts, feelings, perceptions, emotions, and drives travel through our neurons. Each neuron resemblesContinue Reading