Research finds that people with anorexia have distortions in spatial perception

Eating disorders are misunderstood.

They aren’t an intense diet or plan and they can take over a person’s life, mentally and physically. NAMI ( the National Alliance on Mental Illness) reports that around 1 in 20 people will be affected by an ED at some point in their lives.

Anorexia (AN) is a common eating disorder and it’s a condition where a person will literally starve themselves and over-exercise to lose weight. Because their goal is to get and stay thin by any means necessary. it’s a condition that is very extreme and incredibly motivated. Though not classified as an ED, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a condition in which where a person will obsess over their physical appearance to a point of dysfunctionality.

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To conform or not to conform, that is the question

I have always listened to all genres of music: Rock, rap, show tunes, country—you name it. I never thought anything of it until one day in high school, when I was listening to some top 40 songs and a classmate of mine told me it was weird that I still listened to popular commercial music. I asked what she meant, and she said that she hadn’t listened to pop music in years because it was “too mainstream,” and that she was “really only into alternative music right now.” Don’t get me wrong; I love alternative music, too.

I just found it bizarre that she made a comment criticizing the fact that I was listening to a certain kind of music because it was too popular.

This was my first experience with the sort of fad that nonconformity had become. Since then, the concept of conforming versus not conforming has become a topic of discussion in the social sciences as well as in my everyday life.

Conformity is behavior in compliance with a set of socially accepted norms, or “rules.” In the realm of the social sciences, there are two types of conformity: normative conformity, in which the goal is to fit in with a group even though we might privately disagree with the views of the group, and informational conformity, in which we look to a group for guidance in times of uncertainty and accept the views of the group as our own.

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What if memories could be erased, while others created?

What if I told you the way you perceive memories was about to change drastically? The ability to remember varies for everyone. Some people’s memories may be fragmented, while others’ are quite vivid and rich with detail. How exactly could we change what our brains have already stored? And are memories not just the psychological residue of what once was? Isn’t what we remember something that is merely out of our control?

Where science is currently taking us in its research pertaining to memory and just how flexible our brains can be, will disturb some and fascinate others. How would you perceive a world in which it is possible to create memories without you even being a part of them?

Memory creation by cortical stimulation is real, tested, and possible.

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Ketosis: The fascinating & simple diet that can help you lose weight, reduce appetite, combat seizures, improve memory and so much more

While we often worry about how what we eat affects our weight, what if how we eat could affect our brains? As wild of a statement as that may be, if it weren’t for ketosis, we wouldn’t have the developed brains that we do, nor would we have an array of knowledge that proves that not only is everything we know about dieting wrong, but wow, were we really wrong. While maintaining it’s guidelines requires an initial thorough analysis of one’s nutritional routine, it will keep your brain running when you have no glucose and it even alters the way you think. To put it simply, there is no diet better than Ketosis.

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How microaggresions single people out

We all have uncomfortable moments in life.

It may involve realizing we had a stain on our shirt all day, or accidentally pushing on a ‘pull’ door but those moments hardly ever cross the line from embarrassing to painful. However, when those cases are pointedly aimed at a particular group, because of color or identity, the line is crossed regularly. A comment made ‘in good fun’ could in fact be disturbing to the one addressed. Such actions are called ‘microaggressions.’

Dr. Derald Sue, a professor of psychology and education, classifies microaggressions  as “the everyday slights, indignities, put-downs, and insults that people of color, women, LGBT populations, or those who are marginalized experience in their day-to-day interactions with people.”

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How sensory deprivation tanks can make you zen

Music blaring, phones buzzing, cars honking, computer screens shining, people talking, and talking..

Our daily lives are typically consumed with distracting sensory stimuli such as these.

Our brain is a powerfully complex organ that will absorb the surrounding sensory input and process it in an orderly fashion, but what if our brains were given a little break from all the sensory stress? What if we were given the opportunity to float in space like an astronaut and ponder the mysteries of the universe? How would depriving the brain of all senses affect physical and psychological functioning? Maybe the thought of this intrigues you, maybe it causes anxiety, but neurophysiologist, John Lily, found a way to remove all sensory input and create an illusion of floating in space.

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Do time management apps help or hurt our productivity?

Modern day society values the qualities of a well-rounded person.

Universities and jobs are constantly looking for someone who did well in school, excelled in athletics, participated in an internship, and is an active volunteer. How does one balance all of these expectations? Is it even possible? It’s no wonder that society is constantly struggling to manage time and stay happy.

Time management apps have recently become very popular. However, there are over a thousand of these free apps that promise to help its users relieve anxiety and be more productive. This is when we face some tough questions, such as, how do we find the right app and how many of these apps are enough? Do they become more of a distraction or an excuse to use our phones? The apps range from daily planners to time management apps specifically for adults with ADHD to health apps that manage the amount of water you drink a day.

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Setting the bar high involves more than we think

“You can do it.” Such a simple yet positive affirmation of one’s capability can often lead to great and unexpected accomplishments. Sometimes, expectations that are set on us can directly affect our own behaviors and actions, for better or worse. Just as well, you may not even be aware of it. In the field of Social Psychology, a popular phenomenon known as the Pygmalion Effect shows that greater expectations often lead to greater efforts. Borrowing from famed psychological studies, integrating this knowledge into your daily life could create new habits that reinforce a better lifestyle.

Derived from poetic Roman origins, Pygmalion was a sculptor who fell in love with a statue of his own creation.

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