Mindfulness has become the psychological buzzword of the 21st century, embraced by  Neuro-Linguistic Programmers and snake oil salesman the world over. It’s a new idea based  on old knowledge and involves emptying your mind and listening to the world around you.  You imagine you are able to hear the faint sounds of a still summers […]

Believe it or not, chocolate is good for you!   Researchers at Harvard University studied 8,000 men aged 65 and over and found that  those who ate modest amounts of chocolate lived almost a year longer than those who  didn’t eat any! And at the Cognition and Research Centre at Middlesex University,  scientists are investigating a […]

Thomas Edison tapped into the creative imagination more than 100 years ago. He found that taking a quick snooze boosted his creativity, and a new study finds the famous inventor may have been on to something! He would hold a ball in his hands while napping and when his muscles relaxed, the ball fell from […]

The great psychologist and cocaine addict Sigmund Freud believed that one’s personality was dictated by the astrological star sign you were born under! Meanwhile, in other news, other research has proved over and over again that music lessons and musical training from an early age can improve spatial awareness. Research has shown that the motor […]

Can Nightclub drugs cure depression? Meditation and mindfulness are now regularly recommended complementary therapies for common mental health concerns but new research has added weight to scientists’ growing interest in the potential positive effects of psychedelic drugs on mental health.  As the incidence of mental health issues climbs ever higher, doctors, scientists and patients are […]

Crime, it seems, is a family affair. People are willing to vary their sense of right and wrong when it comes to their own family — even if it means breaking the law! A study from the University of Michigan found that when a member of the family behaves abhorrently, their nearest and dearest are often […]

Misophonia is a condition where certain sounds, noises or behaviours can trigger extremely strong, even overpowering, negative feelings and emotions that are hard to control.  Anxiety and Misophonia are distinct conditions but there are links between them and both  conditions can affect anyone. However, research indicates it’s more common in female and is most likely […]

Many people may experience dissociation (dissociate) at some stage in their life.  Dissociation is one way the mind copes with extreme stress. Everyone’s experience of  dissociation is different, but typical signs are feeling disconnected from yourself and the  world around you, feeling detached from your body or feeling the world around you isn’t  real.  Experiences […]

There’s a simple questionnaire designed for over 16s to detect general traits of Autism.  It consists of ten questions that focus on social skills and communication. It’s estimated  that around 700,000 adults and children in the UK have been diagnosed with autism  diagnosis, with thousands more having it without knowing they have it.   With numbers […]

An estimated two million people in the UK are thought to be living with undiagnosed  ADHD, and being unlucky in love online could be a tell-tale sign of the condition. In fact  researchers found that over a fifth of singletons with ADHD are more likely to be feel  overwhelmed by dating apps and three in […]

There are four reasons depression feels even worse at this time of year, but there are things you can do about it! Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs as the days ge shorter and colder. The cause of SAD is thought to be because the shorter days set off chemical changes […]

An average brain starts to decline from age 60, but it is possible to slow this decline down. Some brain aging results from everyday habits, such as repetitive routines, lack of social interaction, stress, not enough exercise, lack of quality sleep, and an unhealthy lifestyle. Engaging with other people keeps areas of the brain linked […]