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Neuroscience in Everyday Life

How the Brain Gives Rise to Thoughts, Emotion, Behaviors, and Relationships

Motivation
A Paradigm Shift for Lasting Change

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on December 30, 2023

Consider a radical shift in your approach to resolutions. Keep your goals private, explore life's purpose, and prioritize values over finite goals.

Consider a radical shift in your approach to resolutions. Keep your goals private, explore life's purpose, and prioritize values over finite goals.

Imposter Syndrome
The History of Imposter Syndrome

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on August 22, 2023

Feeling like an imposter has been linked to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and decreased job satisfaction. Here's what can be done to combat imposter syndrome.

Feeling like an imposter has been linked to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and decreased job satisfaction. Here's what can be done to combat imposter syndrome.

Resilience
10 Strategies to Conquer Anxiety After Failure

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on July 9, 2023

Failure is a universal experience, and it's our response to it that determines our growth and resilience. These strategies can help you effectively reduce anxiety.

Failure is a universal experience, and it's our response to it that determines our growth and resilience. These strategies can help you effectively reduce anxiety.

ADHD
New Treatment for Long-COVID Brain Fog?

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on December 28, 2022

ADHD drug shows promise for treating brain fog. However, known mechanisms of long COVID and ADHD are different. Future treatments should target neuroinflammation in COVID patients.

ADHD drug shows promise for treating brain fog. However, known mechanisms of long COVID and ADHD are different. Future treatments should target neuroinflammation in COVID patients.

Anxiety
Anxiety, Depression, and Strokes in the COVID Aftermath

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on October 8, 2022

A recent study found that long COVID increases the risk for neurological and psychological conditions by over 40 percent, even in patients who had a mild infection.

A recent study found that long COVID increases the risk for neurological and psychological conditions by over 40 percent, even in patients who had a mild infection.

Coronavirus Disease 2019
Could COVID-19 Increase the Risk for Alzheimer's Disease?

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on September 15, 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the cause of COVID-19, enters the brain and can cause damage there. Pathologies resulting from the virus can manifest as many symptoms, including neural and psychiatric ones.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the cause of COVID-19, enters the brain and can cause damage there. Pathologies resulting from the virus can manifest as many symptoms, including neural and psychiatric ones.

Anxiety
Inside the Socially Anxious Mind: Shame

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on July 4, 2022

There is a strong relationship between social anxiety and shame. One is unlikely to suffer from clinical social anxiety without experiencing considerable shame.

There is a strong relationship between social anxiety and shame. One is unlikely to suffer from clinical social anxiety without experiencing considerable shame.

Stress
Can Stress Make Us More Selfish?

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on May 31, 2022

People who are especially skilled at reading others' mental states may be more likely to behave selfishly when stressed, research finds.

People who are especially skilled at reading others' mental states may be more likely to behave selfishly when stressed, research finds.

Oxytocin
The Possible Role of Oxytocin in Long COVID

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on February 21, 2022

"Long COVID" symptoms can lead to distress and chronic pain. Oxytocin and behaviors promoting its release may be protective.

"Long COVID" symptoms can lead to distress and chronic pain. Oxytocin and behaviors promoting its release may be protective.

Trauma
Exposure to a Single Traumatic Stressor Can Change the Brain

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on January 14, 2022

Severe stressors can decrease communication efficiency in the logical centers of the brain and increase connections in emotional and memory areas—both of which can lead to anxiety.

Severe stressors can decrease communication efficiency in the logical centers of the brain and increase connections in emotional and memory areas—both of which can lead to anxiety.

Memory
What Are the Best Exercises for Brain Aging?

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on October 11, 2021

Cognitive training and physical exercise are both promising interventions to slow down brain aging. Evidence suggests that they bolster different mental abilities and target different brain regions.

Cognitive training and physical exercise are both promising interventions to slow down brain aging. Evidence suggests that they bolster different mental abilities and target different brain regions.

Anxiety
Health Anxiety: "Is My Cough A Sign of Lung Cancer?"

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on September 13, 2021

Patients with pathological health anxiety misinterpret bodily symptoms as serious illnesses. They repeatedly seek reassurance from medical professionals—and the disorder can escalate.

Patients with pathological health anxiety misinterpret bodily symptoms as serious illnesses. They repeatedly seek reassurance from medical professionals—and the disorder can escalate.

Memory
Can Walking Reverse Brain Aging?

Marwa Azab Ph.D. on August 11, 2021

Older adults who remain sedentary may experience consistent decline in their brain's white matter, a new study finds. Luckily, low-intensity aerobic exercise can reverse the trend.

Older adults who remain sedentary may experience consistent decline in their brain's white matter, a new study finds. Luckily, low-intensity aerobic exercise can reverse the trend.