Can we talk?

There is a scientific reason why it helps to talk about your feelings when you are sad, or angry. There's also a reason why hanging around people with "negative vibes" can be bad for you. It's because of your right ventrolateral prefontalcortex and your amygdala.

Activating your right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex helps calm down the amygdala response.

Just thinking about your feelings to yourself and identifying them by name has the same calming, healing effect. Which is why Buddha, who achieved nirvana with lots of mindful meditation, is so chill and mellow.

In other words, talking about your negative feelings takes away the negative vibes you feel. And that's a good thing!

Do you doodle?

A recently published study finds that people who doodle during boring meetings remember more of the meeting later.

The author of the study, Jackie Andrade, Ph.D, notes, "This study suggests that in everyday life doodling may be something we do because it helps to keep us on track with a boring task, rather than being an unnecessary distraction that we should try to resist doing."

Perhaps by engaging both halves of the brain - one half for the dry facts being presented, one half for the creation of amusing doodles - we remember more.

Think And Grow Smarter

Do you think you're losing neurons to old age, drinking, or the hard-partying lifestyle you're used to? Maybe you are. But don't worry! The human brain can bounce back. A report suggests six ways you can help nurture your brain.

1. Excercise.
2. Eat foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., blueberries, walnuts, salmon).
3. Drink caffeinated coffee or tea.
4. Play video games.
5. Listen to music.
6. Practice meditation.