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In a recent post on NPR, John Hamilton explored how our brain controls our perception of pain. David Linden, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University, claims that “our perception of pain is shaped by brain circuits that are constantly filtering the information coming from our sensory nerves”.
For more, listen to the story via the link below.
Previous research we’ve highlighted on our blog suggested that humans are quite good at reading their pet dog’s facial expressions. But what about the other way around? How good are dogs at reading their owners’ emotions?
Up until now, scientific evidence and research in this realm was lacking, but a new study finds that dogs are able to tell the difference between happy and angry human facial expressions.
Biologist Corsin Muller of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Austria and his colleagues tested 11 dogs using a touchscreen. They trained the dogs to touch either a happy or angry face for a treat. They presented the dogs with their the top half or the bottom half of the faces to ensure the animals weren’t just responding to a smile or baring of the teeth.
The pets trained to pick out happy expressions could do so when presented with different halves of a face, as well as when presented with faces the animals hadn’t seen before.
The dogs trained to respond to angry faces were also able to pick out angry expressions among the choices they were asked to make. However, it took them longer to learn their task than the dogs trained on happy faces.
Researchers don’t yet know whether the dogs’ ability to discriminate between the two expressions is because of past experiences or the result of the domestication process. While primates are known to recognize faces, dogs may have been especially adapted for emotional sensitivity to humans during their domestication. The researchers plan to investigate how common this ability is by testing pigs and other animals.
Ever heard the phrase “You are what you eat”?
In an article written by Maya Dangerfield written for Greatist, she outlines how foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids are not only super healthy, but can also increase happiness, lessen symptoms of depression, and quell anxiety.
So can eating certain food really improve our mood? Research seems to point to “yes” and that is all comes down to the brain. A healthy cognitive system is essential to regulating mood, and certain nutrients have a profound impact on maintaining normal brain function.
So what are these 10 nutrients that have been proven to combat depression and boost your mood? We outline them below.
1. Calcium: the most abundant mineral in your body. Low levels of calcium may play a role in PMS-related depression in particular.
Foods that have large sources of calcium: kale, yogurt, milk, collard greens
2. Chromium: helps the body metabolize food and plays and important role in increasing the brains’ level of serotonin, norepinephrine, and melatonin, which help the brain regulate emotion and mood.
Foods that have large sources of chromium: broccoli, potatoes, grape juice
3. Folate: helps the body create new cells and supports serotonin regulation. Serotonin helps the brain manage a variety of functions, from determining mood to regulating social behavior.
Foods that have large sources of folate: spinach, black eyed peas, asparagus, brussels sprouts, avocado
4. Iron: transports oxygen to supporting energy levels and aids muscle strength. Low levels of iron can lead to feelings of fatigue and depression.
Foods that have large sources of iron: soybeans, lean red meat, lentils, oatmeal
5. Magnesium: deficiency can cause irritability, fatigue, mental confusion and predisposition to stress.
Foods that have large sources of magnesium: almonds, spinach, cashews, peanuts, edamame
6. Omega-3s: deficiency symptoms include fatigue, mood swings, memory decline and depression.
Foods that have large sources of omega 3s: fish (trout, herring, salmon), chinese broccoli, spinach, chia seeds
7. Vitamin B6: essential for regulating brain function, which influences our emotions.
Foods that have large sources of vitamin B6: chickpeas, chicken breast, yellow fin tuna, salmon
8. Vitamin B12: low levels can cause short-term fatigue, slowed reasoning, and paranoia
Foods that have large sources of vitamin B12: rainbow trout, swiss cheese, mozzarella cheese, tuna
9. Vitamin D: helps regulate cell growth, protects bones. Low levels are associated with depressive symptoms.
Foods that have large sources of vitamin D: egg, salmon, swordfish, milk
10. Zinc: plays an important role in decreasing depressive symptoms.
Foods that have large sources of zinc: roasted pumpkin seeds, cashews, king alaska crab, pork loin