Strobe Lights Induce Visual Hallucinations

Wired U.K. featured a story about Dreamachine, where people experience hallucinatory effects through stroboscopic lights and music. The project aims to explore the impact of stroboscopic lights on the brain and investigate the neural basis of visual experience. Participants, even with closed eyes, reported vivid and kaleidoscopic visual experiences. The Dreamachine's potential applications extend to mental health therapy due to the reported common emotion of peace experienced by participants. This Machine Makes You Hallucinate | WIRED

Erasing Psychedelic Trips for the Good of Science

To address criticisms of psychedelic research, scientists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances conducted a pilot study involving eight individuals, exploring the possibility of combining psychedelics with memory erasure. The study addresses the challenge of studying psychedelics in traditional randomized clinical trials due to the subjective nature of the experiences and the role of expectations. By exploring innovative study designs, scientists strive to better understand psychedelics' effects and potential therapeutic applications. Scientists Gave People Psychedelics—and Then Erased Their Memory

The Whimsy of Honoring Body Donors

Medical students and faculty members across the United States are organizing gratitude ceremonies to honor body donors who have contributed to medical research and education. These ceremonies involve music performances, speeches, and artistic expressions, allowing students to express appreciation for the donors who have served as their "first patients." The ceremonies aim to re-humanize the donors, recognizing their selfless acts and the sacrifice made by their families. The events provide closure and foster a sense of gratitude while imparting essential lessons in ethics and professionalism. Honoring the Body Donors Who Are a Medical Student's 'First Patient' (gift article)

Conversational Receptiveness: Mastering the Art of Disagreement

To have better disagreements, change your words – here are four ways to make your counterpart feel heard and keep the conversation going discusses the importance of changing our words and behaviors during disagreements to foster productive conversations. Instead of solely focusing on persuading others, the research suggests adopting a communication style called "conversational receptiveness." This style involves four key elements: hedging claims, emphasizing agreement, acknowledging the opposing perspective, and reframing to the positive. By employing these techniques, conversations become less confrontational and more constructive, allowing both parties to feel heard and maintaining relationships.

Rousing Revelations: Some Mental Illness May Have Autoimmune Origin

WaPo published a story about a groundbreaking case involving April Burrell, a catatonic woman diagnosed with schizophrenia. Researchers discovered that lupus, an autoimmune disease, attacked April's brain, leading to severe symptoms. After targeted treatments, including immunotherapy, April regained consciousness after being trapped in her mind for over two decades. This discovery has the potential to revolutionize the care for psychiatric patients worldwide and reshape the way mental illnesses are diagnosed and treated, bringing hope to "forgotten souls" who were deemed untreatable. How autoimmune disease can attack the brain, cause psychiatric symptoms - The Washington Post (gift article)

Function Over Flaws

A revolutionary new health metric called human functioning could alter the treatment of chronic illnesses. Traditionally, health has been measured based on morbidity and mortality rates, focusing solely on disease and death. However, the proposed metric considers a person's illness and available resources to gauge their condition's impact on daily life activities. This approach aims to shift the healthcare system toward a patient-centered approach, promoting well-being and enabling individuals to live their best lives. This New Metric For Health Could Revolutionize How We Treat Chronic Illnesses

Byte-Size Nutrition

Artificial intelligence (A.I.) nutritionist apps are revolutionizing healthy eating by offering personalized diet solutions. These apps use A.I. algorithms to analyze data on an individual's blood sugar, microbiome, and other metabolic measurements. By understanding how different foods affect each person's body, these apps can suggest healthier meal options. While personalized nutrition is still evolving, A.I. programs hold the potential for addressing obesity, heart disease, and other health concerns. Here Come the Artificial Intelligence Nutritionists

+A reminder, buyer-beware when it comes to A.I. advice (although the chatbot mentioned in this article is different than ChatGPT): An Eating Disorder Chatbot Is Suspended for Giving Harmful Advice^4a50c0

Music and Health: The Evidence

The NCCIH has a web page focused on Music and Health: What You Need To Know.

Nature at Home: A Prescription for Well-being

WaPo had an article about the science-backed concept of "biophilic design" that promotes connecting with nature indoors. 7 ways to bring nature into your home, according to science. (gift article)

Green Brain: Brain Aging Delayed with Mediterranean Diet

A recent study reveals that a Mediterranean diet can slow brain aging. The research indicates that a mere 1% reduction in body weight resulted in brains appearing almost nine months younger. Greener Diet, Younger Brain: Mediterranean Diet Slows Brain Aging.

Ultra-processed Food and Sleep Quality

"No study had previously investigated what happens if we consume an unhealthy diet and then compare it to the quality of sleep after that person follows a healthy diet." In this small preliminary study, an unhealthy diet impacted each individual's sleep quality. Junk Food vs. Sleep: New Study Reveals Impact of Diet on Sleep Quality.