Mindfully Healing

Our environment may change the brain’s structure and function in a positive way. Living near a forest keeps the brain healthier, new research finds. Even city dwellers who lived closer to a forest had a healthier amygdala, an area of the brain where emotion and stress are processed. This suggests a link between living near trees and being able to cope with stress. Ms Simone Kühn, the study’s first author, said: “Research on brain plasticity supports the assumption that the environment can shape brain structure and function. That is why

New theory may explain the complex set of symptoms seen in autism. People with autism often display a complex and confusing range of symptoms, including hypersensitivity to sound, problems interacting with others and repetitive behaviours. Scientist have long wondered what all these — and other, seemingly unrelated symptoms — have in common. Now MIT researchers are testing a brand new theory: that autistic children have difficulties predicting what is going to happen next, and it’s this problem that is at the root of autism (Sinha et al., 2014). Without the

Survey of 1,000 coffee drinkers reveals which type are “people-pleasers” and which are the most laid-back. Black coffee drinkers are old-school purists who are patient and efficient but can be a little quiet and moody, finds a survey. While latte drinkers were generous with their time but didn’t always take the best care of their health. These are amongst the findings from a recent survey of 1,000 coffee drinkers conducted by clinical psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula. The survey looked at different facets of personality along with the types of coffee