Neuroscience in Everyday Life

ADHD

New Treatment for Long-COVID Brain Fog?

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on December 28, 2022

ADHD drug shows promise for treating brain fog. However, known mechanisms of long COVID and ADHD are different. Future treatments should target neuroinflammation in COVID patients.

ADHD drug shows promise for treating brain fog. However, known mechanisms of long COVID and ADHD are different. Future treatments should target neuroinflammation in COVID patients.

Anxiety

Anxiety, Depression, and Strokes in the COVID Aftermath

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on October 8, 2022

A recent study found that long COVID increases the risk for neurological and psychological conditions by over 40 percent, even in patients who had a mild infection.

A recent study found that long COVID increases the risk for neurological and psychological conditions by over 40 percent, even in patients who had a mild infection.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Could COVID-19 Increase the Risk for Alzheimer's Disease?

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on September 15, 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the cause of COVID-19, enters the brain and can cause damage there. Pathologies resulting from the virus can manifest as many symptoms, including neural and psychiatric ones.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the cause of COVID-19, enters the brain and can cause damage there. Pathologies resulting from the virus can manifest as many symptoms, including neural and psychiatric ones.

Anxiety

Inside the Socially Anxious Mind: Shame

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on July 4, 2022

There is a strong relationship between social anxiety and shame. One is unlikely to suffer from clinical social anxiety without experiencing considerable shame.

There is a strong relationship between social anxiety and shame. One is unlikely to suffer from clinical social anxiety without experiencing considerable shame.

Stress

Can Stress Make Us More Selfish?

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on May 31, 2022

People who are especially skilled at reading others' mental states may be more likely to behave selfishly when stressed, research finds.

People who are especially skilled at reading others' mental states may be more likely to behave selfishly when stressed, research finds.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

The Possible Role of Oxytocin in Long COVID

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on February 21, 2022

"Long COVID" symptoms can lead to distress and chronic pain. Oxytocin and behaviors promoting its release may be protective.

"Long COVID" symptoms can lead to distress and chronic pain. Oxytocin and behaviors promoting its release may be protective.

Trauma

Exposure to a Single Traumatic Stressor Can Change the Brain

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on January 14, 2022

Severe stressors can decrease communication efficiency in the logical centers of the brain and increase connections in emotional and memory areas—both of which can lead to anxiety.

Severe stressors can decrease communication efficiency in the logical centers of the brain and increase connections in emotional and memory areas—both of which can lead to anxiety.

Aging

What Are the Best Exercises for Brain Aging?

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on October 11, 2021

Cognitive training and physical exercise are both promising interventions to slow down brain aging. Evidence suggests that they bolster different mental abilities and target different brain regions.

Cognitive training and physical exercise are both promising interventions to slow down brain aging. Evidence suggests that they bolster different mental abilities and target different brain regions.

Anxiety

Health Anxiety: "Is My Cough A Sign of Lung Cancer?"

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on September 13, 2021

Patients with pathological health anxiety misinterpret bodily symptoms as serious illnesses. They repeatedly seek reassurance from medical professionals—and the disorder can escalate.

Patients with pathological health anxiety misinterpret bodily symptoms as serious illnesses. They repeatedly seek reassurance from medical professionals—and the disorder can escalate.

Aging

Can Walking Reverse Brain Aging?

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on August 11, 2021

Older adults who remain sedentary may experience consistent decline in their brain's white matter, a new study finds. Luckily, low-intensity aerobic exercise can reverse the trend.

Older adults who remain sedentary may experience consistent decline in their brain's white matter, a new study finds. Luckily, low-intensity aerobic exercise can reverse the trend.

Anxiety

Acids in the Brain: A Cause for Anxiety?

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on June 7, 2021

Studies suggest that acid-base imbalances in the brain could be linked to panic attacks and ongoing panic disorders.

Studies suggest that acid-base imbalances in the brain could be linked to panic attacks and ongoing panic disorders.

Loneliness

We Crave Interacting With People the Same Way We Crave Food

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on March 4, 2021

An fMRI study suggests that people who are forced to be socially isolated crave interactions with people in the same way a hungry person craves food.

An fMRI study suggests that people who are forced to be socially isolated crave interactions with people in the same way a hungry person craves food.

Motivation

The Hidden Power of Pandemics: Mortality Motivation

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on January 9, 2021

Different cultures and religions disagree on how many times we live, but they all agree that we die once. Instead of YOLO (you only live once), I prefer YODO (you only die once).

Different cultures and religions disagree on how many times we live, but they all agree that we die once. Instead of YOLO (you only live once), I prefer YODO (you only die once).

Motivation

Meaning and Purpose in Life (Not Goals) Protect the Brain

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on January 1, 2021

People with strong sense of meaning in life have more efficient brains and are less likely to have suicidal ideation or develop anxiety, depression, dementia or heart attacks.

People with strong sense of meaning in life have more efficient brains and are less likely to have suicidal ideation or develop anxiety, depression, dementia or heart attacks.

Chronic Pain

Why Don't We Take Black People's Pain Seriously?

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on December 15, 2020

Even medical students and residents endorsed beliefs such as "Black people have thicker skin than white people."

Even medical students and residents endorsed beliefs such as "Black people have thicker skin than white people."

Academic Problems and Skills

Poverty Shrinks the Brain

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on November 25, 2020

Poverty is related to a thinning of the cortex and less efficient brain organization.

Poverty is related to a thinning of the cortex and less efficient brain organization.

Relationships

You Are Genetically Similar to Your Friend

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on November 3, 2020

A friend is "functional kin" — someone we may have subconsciously selected to be similar in some genes to enhance liking, yet dissimilar in other genes to complement genetic vulnerabilities.

A friend is "functional kin" — someone we may have subconsciously selected to be similar in some genes to enhance liking, yet dissimilar in other genes to complement genetic vulnerabilities.

Fear

Red Versus Blue Brain: Neuropolitics

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on October 2, 2020

Conservatives may be more likely to have a larger amygdala and the size of the amygdala has been related to sensitivity to threat and fear.

Conservatives may be more likely to have a larger amygdala and the size of the amygdala has been related to sensitivity to threat and fear.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

What After Surviving COVID-19? Brain Fog, Fatigue, and Pain

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on July 16, 2020

Positivity over recovered cases ought to be tempered by emerging studies of long-term effects of COVID-19. Studies suggest neurological long-term complications beyond recovery.

Positivity over recovered cases ought to be tempered by emerging studies of long-term effects of COVID-19. Studies suggest neurological long-term complications beyond recovery.

Persuasion

The Brain Under the Influence of Power

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on June 9, 2020

The brain under the influence of power in individualist societies seems to de-individuate the powerless and allow the powerful to practice full individuation.

The brain under the influence of power in individualist societies seems to de-individuate the powerless and allow the powerful to practice full individuation.