Neuroscience In The News On May 30

These are articles that I found of interest relating to news about Neuroscience.  In this issue, I have highlighted articles about fighting addictions through the gut-brain axis, information processing through the cannabinoid receptor in the hippocampus and the neuroscience secret to happiness.

Please check out the article links below and feel free to comment with other information related to these subjects.  I enjoy learning as much as I can about the brain and passing this information on to everyone else that shares these passions.

This is for the week beginning May 30, 2016.

Please come back each week and hopefully I will have some more highlights.  Feel free to share with me ones that you have found and I may highlight those as well.

Feel free to check out the highlighted articles from May 23, 2016

Addiction Through Gut-Brain Axis

“We are what we eat”. This piece of folk knowledge is true in more ways than one. In fact, it is well known that food, through action on the enteric system, has direct effects on the brain. The mechanisms underlying this exchange are no longer a mystery since a large body of scientific literature highlights the functional crosstalk between the periphery and the brain. In particular, the so-called gut-brain axis consists of bidirectional communication between the brain and the enteric system, linking the emotional and cognitive centers of the brain with peripheral intestinal functions (and vice versa). Insights into the gut-brain crosstalk have revealed an extremely fascinating communication system that is thought to be involved in many routine functions and systems within the healthy body, as well as in many diseases.

Article Link:

• Fighting addiction through the gut-brain axis…the future?
• Source:  www.eurekalert.org
• Plos Neuro Community Blog, Giuseppe Gangarossa

Information Processing in Cannabinoid Receptor

In the brain, there is a delicate interplay of signaling substances and cellular activity. Scientists of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have now identified another key player within this ensemble. In a laboratory study they found that the “cannabinoid type 2 receptor” influences information processing inside the hippocampus. This area of the brain plays a crucial role in the generation of long-term memories.

Article Link:

• Neuroscientists discover previously unknown function of cannabinoid receptor
• Source:  www.healthcanal.com
• Professor Dietmar Schmitz, Neuroscience Research Center of the Charité.

Neuroscience Secret To Happiness

In his book, The Art of Happiness, the Dalai Lama wrote: “We need to learn how to want what we have, not to have what we want in order to get steady and stable happiness.” And the wise man might have been proved right by science.

According to neuroscientist Jaak Panskepp, it is the road to happiness, rather than the act of reaching the destination, which makes us happy. The neuroscientist claims that the fulfillment of desires may not cause happiness in the long run.

Article Link:

• Neuroscience’s secret to happiness
• Source:  www.deccanchronicle.com

World Happiness Index

I came across a link to a story from one of my twitter followers today and well, it made me happy!  Of course, the country I live in which is the United States didn't rank as high as it could have.  For some reason, we have a lot of angry people in the US and it is more than politics in my view.

Thanks to Wendy (@WendyESlater) for sharing this.

Wow interesting... I want to live in a "happy place" https://t.co/KgxAi1Gx58 - World Happiness Index

— Don Shetterly (@mindbodythought) April 2, 2016

I find it interesting that the places which have more cold weather than we do are ranked higher in the happiness index out of all the places in the world.  I know, weather probably isn't a big determination, but if you put me in the middle of a very cold place, I'm not going to be happy.  I like warm weather much better.

The top places were Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Finland.  They were followed by Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden.  The United States ranked 13 behind Israel and Austria.

Some of the factors including how people ranked their level of happiness were the GDP, life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom, and corruption.  One would hope our country would excel at many of these things, but we do not.

I think that sometimes in the United States we chase money far too much.  I'm not knocking anyone who makes a lot of money, but sometimes I think that money becomes our sole focus in life.  We easily lose touch with what truly matters and unless there is some crisis we donate to, we aren't the most generous people at times.  You can disagree with me if you want.  That is fine with me!  I just am writing what I observe through my own eyes.  I've seen far too many people hungry and lying on the streets in the cold.

It feels like our political races and politics in general have gotten so divisive that we hardly see each other as human.  We just tend to see each other as opponents and we degrade each other.  This is hardly the making of happiness.  The politics of hate has been building for many years because "hate" gets people to the polls.  Unfortunately those in the US succumb to the hate that is alive and well in these political campaigns.

I really don't think that we spend enough time relaxing and enjoying life.   We are too tied to our smart phones, ipads and computers to take time away.  I'm just as guilty of this as the next person.  Try disconnecting for a day and see how that goes.  We just keep our minds far too actively engaged on tasks that really don't make a difference in our day.

Is there any wonder why we don't rank higher on the happiness index?  I think that each one of us can change this by changing our own life and what we do in a day or how we focus.  It isn't up to some leader or religion or circumstance to make us happy.  It is something that we choose and it comes from within us.

Our actions do speak louder than the words we portray.  Our actions speak louder than what we claim we are for or what we stand against.  It is how we treat others that we show who we are.  The more we are who we are, the more happiness we have in our lives.  It isn't about the other people.  It is about how we treat others that matters most.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Therapy Turning Point In Life - Part 3

(Continued from Therapy Turning Point In Life - Part 2).  Please don't think I'm telling you to go and stop doing whatever it is that you're doing to make it in life.  However, I will offer a challenge to you that you seek out more than what you are currently doing.

There is healing we can find from the inside out that is more powerful than anything known to modern medical treatment today.  We just have to open our eyes and see the bigger picture.  (Please note that I'm not tearing down the medical establishment.  I just want to push them further to integrate all forms of healing).

Unfortunately, until we wake up to life, we will continue to do the things that numb us and hold the locked energy within our body.  You can't get happy long-term, just by thinking it.  It needs to come from within the cells of your body and the neuropathways that bring you to true happiness.  Too many think a mantra is all you need, but that's like trying to balance a teeter-tater with one person.

Money Is Not The Source Of Happiness

These days, in our materialistic culture, many people are led to believe that money is the ultimate source of happiness. Consequently, when they don’t have enough of it they feel let down. Therefore, it is important to let people know that they have the source of contentment and happiness within themselves, and that it is related to nurturing our natural inner values.  (as posted on http://www.facebook.com/DalaiLama )

We Numb Gratitude And Happiness

Brene Brown is one of my favorite speakers.  You may know her from the TED conferences where she likes to talk about vulnerability and shame which happens to really resonate with me personally.  In a talk she gave, there was a quote that was very profound.

When we numb [hard feelings], we numb joy, we numb gratitude, we numb happiness. (Brené Brown) - from The Power Of Vulnerability

You see, numbing is something we all do as humans.  It is part of our biology and it is an unconscious act which replicates itself most likely every day of our life.  We are usually unaware that we are doing it, but it runs like fine tuned software program.

Love Is Your Way Of Life

The world is very beautiful and very wonderful. Life can be very easy when love is your way of life. You can be loving all the time. This is your choice. You may not have a reason to love, but you can love because to love makes you so happy. Love in action only produces happiness. Love will give you inner peace. It will change your perception of everything. (Pg 127-128, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz)

Finding Happiness In 2012 With A Smile

Finding Happiness
Give A Smiley Project

By the time you see this post, several days will have already went by in 2012.  We will be past the New Year celebrations and after the stress of the holiday season, many will be settling back into the routine of life.  Hopefully you haven't already forgotten about your New Year's resolutions or whatever it is that you focused on as the calendar ticked forward.

As we inch forward in our lives, I hope that each day is a new year of celebrating in our life of what possibilities lie ahead.  It should not just be about one moment in time that we hoop, holler and jump up and down.  It should be something we carry through each and every day.

I wrote an article that was published right before 2012 started.  The title was "Finding Happiness In 2012 With A Smile".  You see, I'm a believer that as we find happiness in our own life, that it will radiate forward and we'll end up sharing it with others.  Most likely we will share it before we even think about it.

One such way of sharing that happiness from our life in the year of 2012 is by offering a smile to others we meet.  There is a movement that is off to a wonderful start called the Give A Smiley Project.  The hope of this movement is that by one smile at a time, we can change the world.

All Men Are Created Equal

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their CREATOR, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

--Declaration Of Independence, July 4, 1776

Abundance Or Wealth

Too often, we equate "abundance" with "wealth", and that to be abundant means you have wealth or money. However, abundance implies a spiritual concept of being fulfilled in life, versus wealth that is having great sums of financial resources. Abundance does not necessarily imply that you are wealthy, but all too often these days, it is twisted into that definition.

One of the things that I loved from the movie, "I Am", is their explanation of money, and if you apply this to abundance, wealth or happiness, it really speaks volumes. To have twice as much money as you do at this moment, would you be twice as happy? That is essentially the question they were asking in one part of the movie. After all, if money is happiness, abundance or peacefulness as many suggest, then to have twice as much money would mean you have twice as much happiness, abundance, or peacefulness.

I'm sure that most would probably roll their eyes at this and say, "well if I had $20 in my pocket before and now I have $40, I would not necessarily feel twice as happy." You might feel a little more bounce in your step but not twice as much. If you had not worked in a year and $40 meant a great deal to you, then you might be extremely happy.

Consider this example to illustrate my point. What if some person was living out in the woods and had built a home from the trees, fished in the nearby lake for their dinner, and lived off the land? To this person, they had everything that they needed. Now, someone comes along to explain spiritual concepts of abundance to them and says that they need to do these things to feel abundant and to expect "money" or "wealth" to come their way if they do.

Do you think that person would say, why of course I do? After all, they live off the land which gives them everything they need, and they feel fully fulfilled. They have no desire for anything because everything is already provided by the land.

Yet, to many in the abundance movement, this person would be lacking "money" and they most likely would say, "well with money you could do more in life." Again, the person living off the land feels fulfilled.

You see, I think we mix up the terms abundance and wealth. They are two different concepts. We have people come along that offer courses for $999 or $97 or other amounts and we jump at it because they are an expert, and so they have to have the answers. Yet, we fail to see that we are after "wealth" and not necessarily abundance. We feel that if we have more "money" that we'll be much more happy.

There are many people that have much wealth and many of them will say that they don't feel wealthy. There are many people who have won the lottery and thought it would solve their problems, only to find themselves penniless and near homeless a few years later, with no friends.

Money does not buy happiness. It, however, can bring us things to enjoy, but if all those things were gone tomorrow, what would life be to you? If you have not lost everything in life, that is a question which is hard to answer.

If you want happiness, go within yourself and work on healing the parts of your body and mind that are disconnected and unaware. Look within to find happiness and if you do not like what you see, then work to change it.

If you keep looking externally for wealth and abundance, you will never find it! It will always elude you and escape from your grasp. Happiness is what you glean from your experiences in life as you fulfill your life's purpose on this planet. Abundance is a result of that, and wealth is something you pick up along the way!


Further Reading:
1) Movie Review: I AM Documentary (Blog Post 6/28/11)
2) Unlimited Abundance (Blog Post 5/13/11)
3) Happiness And Abundance (Blog Post 6/22/11)



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Blog Post & Images (c) 6/22/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

If any part of this post is used or shared, a link back to this site is required.
http://mindbodythoughts.blogspot.com/
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Happiness And Abundance

So many times, I see people trying to play the field of one side or the other in life. Many feel that you have to be happy, abundant and worry free to really have life under control. In many circles, there is an expectation that if you are spiritual, than you really need to be worry free and wealthy.

If everyone tomorrow had a million dollars, it could be easy to assume we are all wealthy. After all, a million dollars is a lot of money to most people. However, if everyone had a million dollars, no one would feel wealthy because it would change the economic structure of our world in a drastic way.

In the case of happiness, if everyone had absolutely no worries and were completely happy, how would we know it? If we did not know what it was to be "sad" , how would we see the difference and know that we were happy?

Much goes for grief and death versus birth and life. It is hard to have one without the other. There is a time of creation and a time of destruction. There is a time of busyness and a time of rest. However, if you have one without the other, we would not be able to tell the difference.

I hate the thought that anyone should have to suffer, be poor or go through the heartaches and horrible moments that we do. I've been through plenty in my life and at one time, I lost everything that was anything in my life. However, without going through those times, I would not be where I am today or experiencing the things that I am.

In many ways, abundance and happiness are about embracing poverty and sadness. It is about acceptance in that to have one, there must be some experience of the other side. While we want to think happy thoughts and proclaim that abundance is what you should seek, I think we are missing out on some of the greatest moments of life.

The greatest moments do not come in where we are currently at in our life. Our greatest moments come from how we have endured and what we have learned on our journey. What we have gleaned from life is our abundance and the moments of enjoyment in life, is our happiness.



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Blog Post & Images (c) 6/13/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

If any part of this post is used or shared, a link back to this site is required.
http://mindbodythoughts.blogspot.com/
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