017 - Ganzflicker, Misinformation, Canine Cognition, and Happiness
What Your Dog Wants
+Dogs understand our behavior better than we do theirs. The article What Your Dog's Behavior Means (gift article) gives insight into what your canine companion might be thinking.
+An article that resonated for me (and Theodore and many of his pals): The Pet-Name Trend People Can't Resist.
Ganzflicker and Hallucinations
For millennia, humans have sought alternate states of consciousness. Most of us are aware of the effect of psychedelic drugs on consciousness. Here is an article about using light to achieve altered states: What is ganzflicker? The strange history of hallucinating without drugs. Although ganzflicker sounds risky for those prone to light-induced seizures, (and perhaps seizures are the reason for the hallucinations), I'm increasingly fascinated by the effect of repetitive light and sound on human physiology: Alzheimer's Disease and Gamma Waves.
How to Help Someone you Love With Their Depression
An estimated 21 million adults in the United States have suffered at least one bout of depression. How to Help Someone With Depression (gift article) has some tips on how to recognize the illness with others and some things to do to help.
Tips to Improve your Sleep
The NY Times published the article, How to Get Better Rest, According to a Sleep Expert (gift article) with helpful tips to combat sleep disruption and insomnia. If you're interested in the topic, read Matthew Walker's book, Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
Prebiotic Primer
I often find myself explaining the difference between prebiotics and probiotics. Now I may refer folks to the N.Y. Times article: What Are Prebiotics And How Do They Work? (gift article)
Resilience First, Then Happiness
+For whatever reason, my inbox has recently overflowed with stories about happiness. Parents: Don't focus on happiness, help build resilience instead argues that to cultivate happiness in our children (and ourselves), we should focus on resilience. After all, cultivating happiness depends on one's ability to regulate distress.
+The happiness paradox, explained in 7 minutes is from a different source with an identical message.
Fermented and Fibrous Foods May Lessen Stress
+John Cryan is a prolific scientist who has published a great deal on food, the microbiome, and how they likely influence cognitive and mental health (for an overview, see his Tedx talk and his list of publications: ). This week, he published a brief overview of his most recent paper on how eating particular foods may lower perceived stress levels: Fermented foods and fiber may lower stress levels.
+Here's a story on foods to improve gut health: Best Foods For Gut Health
Cultivating Levity
Humor and levity are essential for well-being. Why Humor and Levity Are Important, According to Experts (gift article) has tips to cultivate more.
The Evolution of Laughter
+Why do we laugh? And why is laughter contagious? Why Is That Funny, describes the phenomenon and evolution of laughter. ^a2a14a
Understanding the Science Behind Complementary Health Approaches
If you are using (or thinking about using) a complementary approach to your health, read these fact sheets from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science of Complementary Health Approaches.
Triskaidekaphobia
Everything you might want to know about the number 13: Why is 13 considered unlucky? The power behind this notorious number.
What Makes a Song Great, Beato, and Dylan
+Music plays an integral part in my well-being. Bob Dylan wrote a book, The Philosophy of Modern Song. Here is a summary article in The Atlantic: Bob Dylan Reveals Himself Through 66 Songs.
+Although quite a different animal, the premise of Dylan's book reminded me of Rick Beato's YouTube Channel. My favorite feature of Beato's channel is "What Makes This Song Great," where he dissects classic rock songs. If you'd like to see a list of the songs he's covered, see: Rick Beato - What Makes This Song Great Playlist
How to Make Life More Transcendent
People traditionally turned to religious and spiritual behaviors to gain a sense of meaning in a confusing world. Religious belief correlates with searching for and finding purpose in life. Although, as a whole, our society is less religious than previous generations, it is still possible to infuse transcendence into your life: What Transcendent Experiences Do to Your Brain.
SuperForecasting
I enjoyed reading the book Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction, as mentioned in my newsletter 016 - Vampire Hormones, Zombie Fungi, Micromorts, and Bugs in Space. IARPA, the U.S. government's Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity heavily influenced the subject matter. IARPA is to the intelligence community what DARPA is to the Department of Defense. The book offered a fascinating integration of math, history, economics, psychology, positive psychology, and a whole host of other domains. I'm always a sucker for a Dark Horseand Philip E. Tetlock is one.
Why do We Believe Misinformation
WaPo had a good article on the psychology of misinformation entitled Why do we believe misinformation? I learned the concepts of the "illusionary truth effect" and the "continued influence effect." The article is well worth a read especially since political misinformation is so abundant these days.
Quote of the Week
"It is only possible to live happily ever after on a daily basis." —Margaret Bonanno
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