Anorexia Nervosa is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by a distorted body image and an intense fear of weight gain, leading to self-imposed caloric restriction and excessive weight loss. Current treatments, including nutritional rehabilitation, psychotherapy, and pharmacological interventions, exhibit low long-term recovery rates. Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) offers a promising...
Psychedelics are emerging as an effective way to combat mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance abuse. Psychedelics such as psilocybin can decrease overactivity in regions of the brain that are associated with anxiety and depression; for instance, psilocybin acts as an agonist on brain receptors to induce consciousness-altering neural responses. Compared to...
The world of Korean shamanism is made up of ancient rites and practices that serve as the foundation for its age-old customs. This study explores the origins, evolution, and rituals that are woven into the fabric of shamanistic rites, identifying their significance in spiritual healing, communal cohesiveness, and the preservation of Korea's cultural legacy. Within the field of Korean shamanism,...
The purpose of this investigation is to ask the question of what the short-term and long-term effects of psychedelics on consciousness are and how these effects influence individuals' metaphysical beliefs, perceptions of reality, and brain functions. Information and investigations relating to this question were found through the usage of search engines like Google Scholar and Ebsco Host. While...
Social psychologists have been unveiling the various psychological components to the optimal wellbeing of an individual. Arguably, optimism and happiness have been associated with proper interventions that lead to one’s health by pursuing mindfulness meditation and exercise, which have positively led to a well-supported cognition, brain, and neural functions. Researchers have also witnessed how...
Sleep disorders are topics of important discussion as they apply to a function crucial for the growth and development of individuals. Sleep plays a pivotal role in one's long-term health but various disorders may limit or prevent high-quality sleep for children and adults. One of these common disorder groups is parasomnias. As there is still much to learn in medicine when it comes to...
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an often debilitating condition caused by a person’s exposure to traumatic events. Symptoms of PTSD include intrusive thoughts, suicidal ideation, and highly negative and distressing emotional states. Current treatments for PTSD such as cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, and SSRIs and SNRIs are ineffective for a large chunk of patients who seek out...
Positive neuroscience focuses on the flourishing and optimized human brain. Despite this optimization being a result of higher conscious states, often caused by meditation or creative flow, the neuroscience field lacks research comparing these two unique brain states. Therefore, through an exploratory content analysis, this research will reveal what neural mechanisms can potentially...
Alzheimer’s Disease is a very pressing disease that presents neurodegeneration of those affected, with no foreseeable cure as of yet. While there are many treatments that may reduce the level of neurodegeneration, or treat some of the root causes, a definitive solution to Alzheimer’s Disease does not exist. Therefore, its harmful effects must be minimized to the greatest extent possible. As...
Important exams often cause increased test anxiety in high school students, which further negatively affects their learning and academic performance. The practice of mindfulness meditation guides one to focus on the present moment, allowing them to calm their mind and concentrate at the same time. Although several studies have previously been done on meditation, mental health, and test anxiety,...
While it is well-known that high stress levels detrimentally impact overall health, recent research reveals that elevated prenatal stress levels not only negatively affect the mother's health but also impair the cognitive and behavioral development of children. Mindfulness-based interventions are key in reversing these adverse effects. These interventions can be an effective way to manage...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a method used to teach machines to process and experience data/information the way humans do. The claustrum, the cellular unit of the nervous system that communicates with the body through electrical patterns, is an excellent model for AI when trying to derive consciousness. It has been used as a model for neural networks to teach machines to process, experience,...
70% of high school students see anxiety and depression as a “major problem” among their peers (Pew Research Center). Meditation decreases anxiety and stress according to Harvard researchers. Stress and memory are very much connected as a recent study concluded that non-stressed people remember more items on average than stressed people. Although several studies have been done on the impacts of...