(Medical Xpress) — Our ability to imagine and plan our future depends on brain regions that store general knowledge, new research shows.
stress
Well-connected brains make you smarter in older age
Brains that maintain healthy nerve connections as we age help keep us sharp in later life, new research funded by the charity Age UK has found.
Weight struggles? Blame new neurons in your hypothalamus
New nerve cells formed in a select part of the brain could hold considerable sway over how much you eat and consequently weigh, new animal research by Johns Hopkins scientists suggests in a study published in the May issue of Nature Neuroscience.
Songbirds’ learning hub in brain offers insight into motor control
To learn its signature melody, the male songbird uses a trial-and-error process to mimic the song of its father, singing the tune over and over again, hundreds of times a day, making subtle changes in the pitch of the notes. For the male Bengalese finch, this rigorous training process begins around the age of 40 days and is completed about day 90, just as he becomes sexually mature and ready to use his song to woo females.
How To Effectively Battle Against Daily Stress
There are many types of stress, including family stress, financial stress and job stress. Do not expect to completely eliminate stress from your life. What are you supposed to do when you’re facing unrelenting stress? The answer to that question is in this article.
Visual imagery can be a great stress reduction tool. Research has shown that using positive imagery works very well when trying to rid yourself of stress. Envision a place where you feel the most relaxed, whether it is having a hot shower or lying on the beach catching some sun. Feel the stress wash away from you as you relax in your happy place. Simply shut your eyes and allow yourself a few minutes of imagining yourself in a desirable location, whenever you need it most. This can largely impact how much stress you feel.
Alcohol is never the answer to a stressful day. Having a few drinks with a friend is okay, but you should not drink every day. It can lead to a cycle of becoming more stressed, and in the worst cases can even lead to addiction.
Be careful not to drink too much caffeine in a day. Caffeine can increase hormones that cause stress, you can feel more stressed by drinking more coffee. Instead of coffee, replace that with green tea as a stress reducer.
Drink some orange juice or eat your favorite citrus to calm your nerves. Citrus fruits contain vitamin C, which can ward off coughs and colds, and help you to avoid the stress caused by sickness.
If you are currently dealing with stress by diverting your attention to unhealthy activities, you should replace these activities with ones that are more healthy and productive. Over-eating, for example, can easily be turned into a quick walk or a few push-ups as a means of combating stress. If you use good coping skills, instead of bad ones, you will feel much better.
Alleviate your stress by engaging in an activity you love on a daily basis. Read on your iPad, listen to music on your iPod or walk through the neighborhood while you talk to a friend on your iPhone. Even if you are very busy, it is imperative to find outlets to improve the way that you feel as the day wears on.
In conclusion, there are many things in life that will cause stress, and some of them cannot be avoided. Use the guidance provided in this article, and you will be well on your way to tuning out many of the stress triggers in your daily existence, and gain a new sense of peace.