Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Scientists at State University of New York at Downstate Center have discovered a molecular mechanism that maintains memories in the brain. By inhibiting the molecule, researchers say they can erase long-term memories, much as you might erase a computer disc.

The molecule called “protein kinase M zeta” preserves long-term memories through persistent strengthening of synaptic connections between neurons. This is enzyme is similar to the mechanism-storing information of 0’s and 1’s in a computer’s hard disc.

By inhibiting the enzyme, scientists were able to erase a memory that had been stored for one day, or even one month. The article abstract can be found in Science Magazine

This research may be a breakthrough treatment for acute trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain, just to name a few. And this discovery may unlock the mystery to Alzheimer's Disease and other memory loss disorders.

I love research, but I can't help but think of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind , the movies
Paycheck and Total Recall , where memories were erased.

I hope this newfound research will be used for "good" purposes.



Resources
Science Daily

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Thin Is Out

Organizers of Spain's top annual fashion show, the Pasarela Cibeles, rejected five models as being too thin to appear in this year's event.

Organizers worked with Dr. Susana Monereo of Spain's National Endocrinology Society and Dr. Basilio Moreno, an obesity consultant at Gregorio Maranon Hospital, to medically assess the models.

Organizers said they wanted to project an image of beauty and health, rather than a waif-like, heroin chic look - and to help diminish eating disorders that plague girls and women world-wide.

Any model who had a body mass index below that which was considered normal, not just by the Spanish endocrinology society, but also by the limits set by the World Health Organization guidelines , were rejected from the show.

A British Cabinet minister hoped that London's Fashion Week would follow Madrid's lead.

The Indian Health Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, chimed in on this subject, saying India does not want waif-like young women on catwalks, acting as role models for thousands of girls who are starving themselves.

And Milan's mayor, Letizia Moratti, told a newspaper this week that she may bring the Spanish ban on underweight models to Italian shows.

On different, yet similar note, Hollywood is reporting that Flab is Fab. Actors like Jack Black, Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell and Paul Giamatti are helping to make the "realistic" man more marketable.

Hmmm....maybe the tide is turning.


Resources

BBC

New York Observer

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Perception and Illusion

Time for more fun
with the mind's eye.




Can you see the word?










I love this one.







Can you read two words?

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The Smell of Fear

Did you know that there was a real reason your Mom always knew when you were in upset as a child?

According to the journal Chemical Senses , women can detect the smell of fear better than their male counterparts. This is due, in part, to women's hard-wiring in the brain. Being able to sense fear enables the female to protect her babies from danger or soothe them when they were fragile.

It is well documented that animals experiencing stress and fear produce chemical warning signals that are sensed by other animals ~ and now research shows us that humans distinguish between fear and other emotional "chemo-signals" based on the sense of smell.

Of the human senses, smell is perhaps the least appreciated. In fact, a poll demonstrated that the least valued sense people would be most willing to lose -- is smell.

I have a fantastic sense of smell.

Do You?



Footnotes

[1] Synnott, A. (1994). Roses, coffee and lovers: The meanings of smell. In Compendium of Olfactory Research 1982-1994, pp. 117-128.

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The Rich Rewards of Pro Bono Work

Pro Bono is a a Latin phrase meaning "for the good".
Actually, the complete phrase is Pro Bono Publico "for the public good."

Offering Pro Bono professional services means that a person or company voluntarily provides services without payment to people in the community.

The legal profession has a long standing history of doing Pro Bono work. So do the fields of medicine, mental health, teaching, engineering and business. Part of the ethical standards within these professions asks its members to provide services to those who could otherwise not afford such services.

I have always found providing Pro Bono therapy to be extremely meaningful.

But did you know that volunteering is also good for your health?

It’s true.

Helping others benefits more than just the people receiving the assistance.

Research confirms that those who do volunteer derive physical, mental, and social benefits from their efforts. And many national and worldwide programs, like Kids with A Cause are reaching out to help instill the value of volunteering at early ages.

Volunteering need not be done in a big way, small efforts are very meaningful too. So, consider "paying it forward". It can do great things for you and the one you're helping.

References

Luks, A. & Payne, P. (2001). The healing power of doing good: The health and spiritual benefits of helping others. iuniverse

Rhode, D.L. (2005). Pro bono in principle and in practice: Public service and the professionals. CA: Stanford University Press.

The Power of Reaching Out - The APA Monitor

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Trauma, Triggers and Flashbacks

A trigger is something that sets off a memory transporting a person back to the event of the original trauma. A flashback can take the form of pictures, sounds, smells, body sensations, feelings, or numbness.

And, for those who may be teetering on the edge of these traumatic responses, The University at Alberta has some suggestions:

1. Tell yourself that you are having a trigger response or a flashback.

2. Remind yourself that the worst is over. The feelings and sensations you are experiencing are memories of the past. The actual event has already occurred and you survived. Now it is the time to let out the terror, rage, hurt, and/or panic. Now is the time to honor your experience.

3. Get grounded. This means stamping your feet on the ground to remind yourself that you have feet and can get away now if you need to. (There may have been times before when you could not get away, now you can.) Being aware of all five senses can also help you ground yourself.

4. Breathe. When we get scared we stop normal breathing. As a result our body begins to panic from the lack of oxygen. Lack of oxygen in itself causes a great deal of panic feelings; pounding in the head, tightness, sweating, feeling faint, shakiness, and dizziness. When we breathe deeply enough, a lot of the panic feeling can decrease. Breathing deeply means putting your hand on your diaphragm, pushing against your hand, and then exhaling so the diaphragm goes in.

5. Reorient to the present. Begin to use your five senses in the present. Look around and see the colors in the room, the shapes of things, the people near, etc. Listen to the sounds in the room: your breathing, traffic, birds, people, cars, etc. Feel your body and what is touching it: your clothes, your own arms and hands, the chair, or the floor supporting you.

6. Get in touch with your need for boundaries. Sometimes when we are having a flashback we lose the sense of where we leave off and the world begins; as if we do not have skin. Wrap yourself in a blanket, hold a pillow or stuffed animal, go to bed, sit in a closet, any way that you can feel yourself truly protected from the outside.

7. Get support. Depending on your situation you may need to be alone or may want someone near you. In either case it is important that your close ones know about flashbacks so they can help with the process, whether that means letting you be by yourself or being there.

8. Take the time to recover. Sometimes flashbacks are very powerful. Give yourself time to make the transition form this powerful experience. Don't expect yourself to jump into adult activities right away. Take a nap, a warm bath, or some quiet time. Be kind and gentle with yourself. Do not beat yourself up for having a flashback.

9. Honor your experience. Appreciate yourself for having survived that horrible time. Respect your body's need to experience a full range of feelings.

10. Be patient. It takes time to heal the past. It takes time to learn appropriate ways of taking care of yourself, of being an adult who has feelings, and developing effective ways of coping in the here and now.



References
University of Alberta:Triggers and Flashbacks

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Sign Language Benefits

Sign Language is undergoing a rebirth as a way for new parents to understand the needs of their hearing babies long before they can talk.

Hearing babies exposed to Sign Language were able to communicate more complex messages through the use of signs than they could verbally.

Sign Language is used along with verbal language to help solidify communication. Just like with Deaf babies, these techniques have be shown to be instrumental in making communication between parent and child soar.

Signs like "stop", "gentle", and "share" help toddlers learn how to play together more cooperatively. And signs like "milk", "eat", and "hot" help babies communicate their needs before verbal language ever enters the picture.

While the Baby Sign Language trend is growing world-wide, some people wonder whether Sign Language delays speech.

Well, I can tell you that Sign Language facilitates the learning of verbal language. My doctoral dissertation, almost 20 years ago, was on Sign Language and the benefits of language acquisition for Hearing and Deaf children. And research since then has shown that teaching Sign Language to Hearing children offers many positive outcomes.

Signing has been shown not only to motivate babies to talk, but a National Institute of Health Study also showed Hearing 8-year-olds who had been signing at an early age had higher IQs, greater self-esteem, higher frustration tolerance, enriched parent-child bonding, and more sophisticated play experiences. Signing babies also displayed an increased interest in books.

Even Baby Einstein, the influential maker of educational toys for babies, has introduced a "Baby Wordsworth" DVD, featuring Deaf actress Marlee Matlin, designed to teach 25 signs to babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Sesame Street, Blues Clues and a host of other child-oriented television shows incorporate Sign Language as well.

I think it'd be great if the teaching of Sign Language could continue beyond the childhood years so that Deaf and Hearing worlds could connect more easily.



References
Acredolo, L. P., & Goodwyn, S.W. ( 2000). The long-term impact of symbolic gesturing during infancy on IQ at age 8. Paper presented at the meetings of the International Society for Infant Studies, Brighton, UK. Study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Baby Einstein

BBC News

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