Psychology of setting goals: contrary to popular ideas

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The common advice given to people attempting to lose weight is to set modest goals to achieve better results. However, new study conducted by researchers at Utrecht University, Netherlands, showed exactly opposite results: the higher weight loss goals effort resulting in more weight loss. Source: De Vet, E., Nelissen, R. M., Zeelenberg, M., & de Ridder, D. (2012). Ain’t no mountain high enough? Setting high weight loss goals predict effort and short-term weight loss. Journal of Health Psychology.

Meditation shifts the brain operation mode from a sympathetic to a parasympathetic

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Expansion of awareness during the practice of meditation techniques can be linked to the Default Mode Network (DMN), a network of brain regions that is active when the one is not focused on the outside world and the brain is restful yet awake A model is presented illustrating the dynamic mind-body response before and after mindfulness meditation, and connections are made with prefrontal cortex activity, the cardiac and respiratory center, the thalamus and amygdala, the DMN and cortical function connectivity. The ...

The skin input to the brain autonomic balance

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  We report results of studies into effects of mechanical cutaneous stimulation, a technique developed over 40 years ago by Ivan Kuznetsov and modified in 1990s in USA. Recently, Swedish researchers reported relaxing, pro-parasympathetic effects of this method (1). We discuss this promising modality from the standpoints of the hypotheses, which may apply to other bodywork techniques and to other physiological and psychological outcomes corresponding to the benefits of parasympathetic activation. Main conclusion:  Manipulations with the skin, an organ closest to the environment, is a non-invasive therapeutic approach known for at least three thousand years as acupuncture. Recently, it is getting recognition as more controlled research becomes available. Next steps:  Last decade brought forward the idea of hormesis explaining the U-shaped strength-response curve of many physical influences. It is observed that physical and physiological stressors, when repeatedly applied with a weaker strength, work as both ...

Food addiction: what macronutrient is to blame?

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A commentary on "Obesity and the brain: how convincing is the addiction model?" by Ziauddeen, H., Farooqi, I. S., and Fletcher, P. C. (2012). Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 13, 279–286. An article published in April 2012 by the Nature Reviews Neuroscience (Ziauddeen et al., 2012) calls for cautiousness in applying the addiction model to obesity. This scrupulous review described the highly consequential results from B. Hoebel’s lab concerning binge-like eating behaviors of rats (Avena et al., 2008, 2009; Bocarsly et al., 2011). Referring to these results, Ziauddeen and colleagues concluded that the binge behaviors relate to the palatability of the foods independently of their macronutrient composition. Earlier, also basing on the works of Hoebel and colleagues, I have been able to draw quite a different conclusion – fat per se, although highly palatable, is not as addictive as carbohydrates and is not ...

Hormesis, phytochemicals, phytonutrients

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