Fall is in the air (at least in the Northern Hemisphere), bringing with it the sights and smells of the changing season. One of those smells (for almost 20 years now) has been the smell of the pumpkin spice latte conceived of by Starbucks. Why? Scientists who specialize in perception say it’s because pumpkin spice is a strong smell, and smells are closely associated with memory. So, when we smell pumpkin spice, our brains recall nostalgic visions of autumn experiences. It’s also interesting that there is no actual pumpkin in pumpkin spice. What we call pumpkin spice is a blend of seasonings—typically cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice—and our brains interpret that smell as pumpkins. Pretty smashing, I’d say. Are you a pumpkin spice fan? Learn more about why that might be! Do you associate pumpkins with Halloween? You can learn about the “Brain on Fear” in this column and video. |
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Best regards, Jeff Zimman Co-founder Posit Science |
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| | Changes in Vision Can Affect Cognitive Function When you can’t see with precision, it’s more work for the brain to figure out what’s happening around you. And more and more research indicates that can take a toll on memory, attention, and other cognitive functions. These cognitive changes may also be partly due to the fact that many people with vision loss often limit their social and physical activity—both of which are good for brain health. What can we do about this? Find out. |
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Myth Busted: You Use Your Whole Brain, Not 10% For more than a century, people have repeated the myth that people use just 10% of their brains. Now, scientists (and many others) know that is simply not true: we use every part of the brain. Still, the myth persists. Where did it come from, and how did it get definitively disproved? Find out. |
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The Brain on Sugar Whether sugar is addictive is currently under debate. What’s not debatable, though, is that sugar consumption has profound effects on the brain, especially in the release of the “reward” chemical dopamine. When people suddenly quit sugar, they often report “withdrawal” symptoms such as depression, brain fog, and anxiety—probably due to the sudden drop in dopamine levels in their brains. Learn more about what sugar consumption—and stopping sugar—does to the brain. |
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The Cognitive Cost of Sexual Assault for Women Scientists have already shown that women who have experienced sexual assault more often suffer from depression and other mental health issues. Now, new research reveals that they have a significantly higher risk of a certain type of brain damage, too. The researchers looked at the brains of midlife women who were sexually assaulted earlier in life, and found that their brains have more “white matter hyperintensities.” These markers indicate small vessel disease, which in turn is linked to dementia, stroke, and cognitive decline. Learn more. |
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More on the “Second Brain” You may have heard about the “second brain,” the sensory system in the gut. Discovered relatively recently, the second brain lives in the stomach and intestines. While the brain in your head is still the boss, it constantly communicates with the nervous system in your gut to make decisions on what to eat, how to sleep, and more. Learn more about the “second brain” and its role in your well-being. |
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News from BrainHQ: Progress Icons Unlocked! Recently, our engineers made new progress icons available to everyone using BrainHQ! These icons make it easy to keep track of your progress, your milestones, and more. Learn all about them on our blog! |
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Book of the Month: The Stress Overload Solution: A Proven, Neuroscience Method for Optimal Well-Being (2019) Laurel Mellin, PhD In The Stress Overload Solution, Dr. Laurel Mellin calls on the science of “emotional brain training” (EBT) to help readers overcome high levels of stress and to change their relationship with the high-stress provocateurs in their life—whether that’s a challenging job, a difficult relationship, or a bad habit. Her goal is to help you rewire your brain for joy—as her research has helped many others to do. Learn more. |
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