Jeremy Dean's Blog, page 798

A Blood Test for Depression

Connection found between a brain network implicated in depression and levels of serotonin in the bloodstream.

→ Dr Jeremy Dean is a psychologist and author of PsyBlog. His latest book is
"Making Habits, Breaking Habits: How to Make Changes That Stick"

Related articles:
Autism: Vital Link Found Between Vitamin D and Serotonin Production
Mindfulness: 6 Steps to Better Memory, Verbal Reasoning and Improved Concentration
Mindfulness at School Decreases Chance of Developing Depression
The Peanut Butter Test for Alzheimer’s Disease
Yoga’s Powerful Influence on Mood

Get Motivated to Exercise: Here’s a Simple Mental Trick You Can Do Right Now

First study to test the effects of activating autobiographical memory on exercise habits.

→ Dr Jeremy Dean is a psychologist and author of PsyBlog. His latest book is
"Making Habits, Breaking Habits: How to Make Changes That Stick"

Related articles:
Power Up: The Performance Benefits of a Simple Mental Exercise
Exercise Can Improve Long-Term Memory
Mindful Photography: A Simple and Fun Exercise That Boosts Well-Being
Forecasting Myopia: Why Exercise is More Fun Than We Predict
Movie-and-Talk: Can This Simple Exercise Help Save a Marriage?

The Facial Expression That Fights Memory Loss

It fights the stress hormone which damages the brain's ability to learn and remember.

→ Dr Jeremy Dean is a psychologist and author of PsyBlog. His latest book is
"Making Habits, Breaking Habits: How to Make Changes That Stick"

Related articles:
Can Having Sex Make You Smarter?
The Facial Expression That Makes You Appear Smarter
Green Tea Improves Working Memory
Memory is Not Like a Video Camera: Rather The Present Can Be Spliced into the Past
The Surprising Power of an Emotional ‘Memory Palace’

Get Your Elders Online For Their Mental Health

Despite the psychological benefits, 70% of US retirees are not online, study finds.

→ Dr Jeremy Dean is a psychologist and author of PsyBlog. His latest book is
"Making Habits, Breaking Habits: How to Make Changes That Stick"

Related articles:
Psychedelic Drug Use Not Associated With Mental Health Problems
Urban Living: Green Spaces Improve Your Mental Health
Meditation Can Reduce Loneliness in the Elderly
“Is the Internet Good/Bad For You?” and Other Dumb Questions
Higher Risk of Mental Illness for Those With Older Fathers

How to Set Goals That Lead to Happiness

People are wrong about the type of goals that will make them happiest.

→ Dr Jeremy Dean is a psychologist and author of PsyBlog. His latest book is
"Making Habits, Breaking Habits: How to Make Changes That Stick"

Related articles:
Why You Should Keep Your Goals Secret
How to Avoid Being Distracted From Your Goals
4 Dark Sides To The Pursuit of Happiness
Our Genes Respond Positively to The Right Kind of Happiness
How To Set Better Goals: Avoid Four Common Mistakes

6 Intriguing Types of Synesthesia: Tasting Words, Seeing Sounds, Hearing Colours And More

Some of the most common and most rare forms of synesthesia.

→ Dr Jeremy Dean is a psychologist and author of PsyBlog. His latest book is
"Making Habits, Breaking Habits: How to Make Changes That Stick"

Related articles:
Synesthesia Could Explain How Some People See ‘Auras’
Our Memory for Sounds is Worse Than Touch or Sight
Why Do We Enjoy Listening to Sad Music?
The Psychology of Nostalgia (in under 300 words)
The Psychology of Flow (in under 300 words)

Why Smells Evoke Memories So Vividly

Brain regions are synchronized as neurons fire at a common frequency.

→ Dr Jeremy Dean is a psychologist and author of PsyBlog. His latest book is
"Making Habits, Breaking Habits: How to Make Changes That Stick"

Related articles:
Possibility of Selectively Erasing Unwanted Memories
Fearful ‘Memories’ Passed Between Generations Through Genetic Code
A Better Way to Cope With Persistent Bad Memories
Childhood Amnesia: The Age at Which Our Earliest Memories Fade
Unique Human Brain Area Identified that Separates Us From Monkeys

What Your Coffee Order Says About Your Personality

Survey of 1,000 coffee drinkers reveals which type are "people-pleasers" and which are the most laid-back.

→ Dr Jeremy Dean is a psychologist and author of PsyBlog. His latest book is
"Making Habits, Breaking Habits: How to Make Changes That Stick"

Related articles:
Comedians Have Psychotic Personality Traits
5 Habits Proven to Reduce Risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Happy Habits: How to Fix Bad Moods
Tidy or Messy Desk: Which is Best For The Mind?
10 Simple Habits Proven to Make You Happier

The Positive Effect of Creative Hobbies on Performance at Work

Why photography, cooking or other creative hobbies might help you get on at work.

→ Dr Jeremy Dean is a psychologist and author of PsyBlog. His latest book is
"Making Habits, Breaking Habits: How to Make Changes That Stick"

Related articles:
10 Ways To Be Happier at Work
Why People Secretly Fear Creative Ideas
The Incubation Effect: How to Break Through a Mental Block
4 Life-Savouring Strategies: Which Ones Work Best?
The Well-Travelled Road Effect: Why Familiar Routes Fly By

The Age At Which You Reach Peak Cognitive Performance

...but there's a silver lining for those over the magic age.

→ Dr Jeremy Dean is a psychologist and author of PsyBlog. His latest book is
"Making Habits, Breaking Habits: How to Make Changes That Stick"

Related articles:
The Myth of Cognitive Decline: Elderly Know More and Use it Better
Irregular Bedtimes Reduce Children’s Cognitive Performance
Boosting Your Brainpower in Old Age: Do Scientists Really Think Mental Workouts Can Help?
Green Tea Improves Working Memory
Higher Risk of Mental Illness for Those With Older Fathers