Immune System, Sound Filtering, and Language Development
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology has been exploring the way our nervous system communicates vs our immune system, and new developments are leading to a better picture of their intercommunication (https://norwegianscitechnews.com/2019/08/immune-system-and-mental-health-are-connected/). What they are finding is our previous assumptions about cytokines and neurotransmitters are incorrect and that mental health plays a direct role in our immune system's capabilities. This points to possible improvements in a client's immune health following mental health improvements!
Scientists from the Université de Genève have been researching into how the brain filters similar sounds and hearing attenuation (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190906092755.htm). They recently discovered that attenuation of similar sounds occurs not in the frontal cortex, but in the brain stem. They tested this on mice, found the same results, then tested with mice with 22q11 deletion syndrome, a common precursor to schizophrenia. They discovered that without the gene, there was no signal attenuation for similar sounds at the brain stem. This points to the brain stem being a major player in sound attenuation, possibly a new target for neuromodulation therapies for clients with hearing issues.
The French National Centre for Scientific Research recently published a study showing that an older brother slows language development in younger siblings (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190905124522.htm). This could point to reasons that younger siblings may be developing linguistically slower than their older brother, one of their hypotheses being the competition for attention. Food for thought.
Memory, Feeding and Mood, and High-Fat Diets
Researchers at University of Greifswald, using hair cortisol levels and a yes-no picture recognition test, found that increased levels of stress adversely affects your memory (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201909/the-hidden-costs-stress-your-memory). They tested hair cortisol levels and compared memory capabilities in participants to find that higher levels of cortisol corresponded with decreased memory acuity.
A researcher from Baylor College of Medicine has found a brain circuit that connects the feeding and mood centers of mouse brains (https://neurosciencenews.com/feeding-mood-stress-14871/). What they discovered were POMC neurons in the hypothalamus (responsible for regulating feeding behavior) had physical connections that extended into another part of the brain that had numerous dopamine receptors. They found that when mice had depression, the POMC neurons were active which led to the inhibition of the dopamine neurons. When they inhibited the POMC connections, the mice ate more, gained weight, and were happier.
A study published from Yale found hypothalamic inflammation (a result of high-fat diet) led to changes in the mitochondria of microglial cells which stimulated animals to eat more of a high-fate diet (https://neurosciencenews.com/high-fat-diet-brain-14886/). The core cause was a protein, Uncoupling Protein 2 (UCP2), which when inhibited, cause the animals to eat less and start losing weight.
Gut Microbiome
Multiple studies have recently been released showing the influence of anti-depressants on the gut microbiome (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326299.php https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190906092809.htm). Both of these studies defined the changes in bacterial growth in the gut when taking different anti-depressants, but the long term effects of the increase or reduction in various bacteria was not described. In addition, another study from the NIH found that getting a flu vaccine after a regimen of antibiotics resulted in a weaker immune response to the vaccine (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190906172413.htm). Their research pointed to disrupted gut microbiome being a major player in vaccine effectiveness.
Duh Article of the Week
European College of Neuropsychopharmacology researchers announced that "Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation", or dTMS, has been shown to improve symptoms of OCD (https://neurosciencenews.com/ocd-brain-stimulation-14883/). Their definition of dTMS is what the neurofeedback field calls: pEMF! They haven't announced their methods yet, but for those of us with systems like the Brainmaster MicroTesla, NeuroField X3000, iMRS2000, or any other pEMF system, this should be familiar territory.
An interesting part of their study was deliberate provoking of patients, to push them into an OCD episode before treatment began. We have had quite a bit of success with state-dependent therapy in the past, and it is useful to have another positive study to share.
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