Executive Intelligence – Characteristics
We usually envision academic intelligence when we think of intelligence. That’s a good student with high scores or a person with a university degree or a scientist who does research. But this way of perceiving intelligence doesn’t include everything in…
The Four Types of Attention
Understanding that there are multiple types of attention is important. Most people believe attention is the ability to focus. Anytime someone is distracted or simply not listening to you, you say they’re “not paying attention”. But here’s our question: is…
Neurotic and Psychotic Defense Mechanisms
Defense mechanisms are automatic psychological processes. They protect you from anxiety and the perception of internal/external dangers or stressors. Defense mechanisms are the intermediary between the individual response to emotional conflict and internal and external stressors. While neurosis and psychosis…
The Psychology of Language
How often do you stop and think about how important communication? When language fails, it affects you on a cognitive, emotional, and behavioral level. That’s why many different disciplines study language and seek to understand it better. One of those…
MR Therapy for Sleep Paralysis
MR therapy helps treat sleep paralysis (SP). This sleep disorder involves a state of muscular paralysis. It can either happen when you first go to sleep or right after waking up. It comes from a problem in the brain mechanisms that…
Discover How Worrying Affects Your Brain
How worrying affects your brain is better described in one word: toxic, even though it’s a natural emotion when you perceive a threat. However, many of your concerns are unfounded and even obsessive. Furthermore, they lead you to high levels…
A Brief History of Neuroscience
The history of neuroscience started many, many years ago. In the 5th century B.C., Alcmaeon of Croton was dissecting an animal when he discovered the optic nerve. His findings led him to theorize that thoughts and feelings reside in the…
Four Keys to Help You Train Your Focus
According to Daniel Goleman, you need to train your focus to start identifying what goes on inside and outside your head. In a demanding world, full of stimuli and pressures, Goleman believes you may be neglecting that internal universe comprised…
The Psychology of Aggressive Behavior
You see aggressive behavior everywhere. It is, in one way or another, part of your surroundings. You see it on the news, on the street, in social media. Aggressiveness seems to be a natural part of life that is present…
Unlearning: The Key to Move On
Learning, unlearning. You obtain knowledge, learn from experience, and also learn traditions and habits. You have to experience ways to think and things to believe in. You’ve learned from your family and friends. All of that learning molds who you…
Being Bilingual Can Help Prevent Alzheimer’s
Being bilingual has many social and psychological advantages. But did you know that it’s also good for the brain? Scientists have discovered some very interesting cognitive effects of being bilingual. For example, speaking two languages helps you recover more quickly…
Five Ways to Improve Your Mental Focus
Concentration and mental focus minimize distractions and improve performance. With a little practice and insight, you can improve these abilities. Just as your muscles, your mind requires exercise. The more you work it out, the stronger it becomes. As you…
Herpes Simplex Virus and Cognitive Impairment
Researchers estimate that approximately 417 million people under the age of 50 have the herpes simplex virus. Now, what does this have to do with cognitive impairment? Although you may not believe it, they’re related. One study reports that certain…
Conversion Disorder and La Belle Indifférence
Conversion disorder, or la belle indifférence, is a functional disorder, but its symptoms are physical, almost as if it was an organic disease. Somatic symptom disorders are derivatives of hysterical neurosis disorders. Conversion disorder is a symptomatology where bodily functions…
Transdiagnostic Therapy for Anxiety
In the last decade, clinical psychology has seen numerous advances in the types of treatments available to help patients. One of them is transdiagnostic therapy. Usually, therapists learn to use a specific treatment for each psychopathology. However, some studies have…
Psychological Benefits of Reading Biographies
This article discusses the psychological benefits of reading biographies. We all know that reading, in general, has many psychological and emotional benefits. It’s a very effective way to keep our brain active and improve our empathy and creativity. It boosts…
The Difference Between Motives and Motivation
Why do you do what you do? What are your motives? What motivates you to act a certain way? Are motives and motivation the same things? Motives and motivation are two related terms, but they don’t have the same meaning.…
What is a Neuropsychological Evaluation?
Neuropsychological or cognitive evaluation is a diagnostic method designed specifically to explore people’s cognitive function. It provides valuable information that might not show up in other kinds of studies. As such, healthcare providers use it as a complement to neuroimaging or…