Black Belt Brain

Traumatic Brain Injury

Concussion in Combat Sports Is an Iceberg Under the Ring

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on April 11, 2022

While the Titanic unknowingly sailed towards its doom, education in concussion can alter the imminent arrival of brain injury in combat athletes.

While the Titanic unknowingly sailed towards its doom, education in concussion can alter the imminent arrival of brain injury in combat athletes.

Sleep

Skill Learning Is Consolidated During Sleep at All Ages

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on March 12, 2022

Regardless of age, a good night's sleep goes a long way.

Regardless of age, a good night's sleep goes a long way.

Body Image

Batman and Body Image: Inner Physical Capacity Not Outward Appearance

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on March 3, 2022

Be like the original Bruce Wayne and stop buying into the confusion illusion about fit, fat and function. Body form comes from trained capacity and capability.

Be like the original Bruce Wayne and stop buying into the confusion illusion about fit, fat and function. Body form comes from trained capacity and capability.

Aging

Raising Your Perception with Respiration and Perspiration

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on February 19, 2022

Breathing can affect our emotional state and memory. No matter if the focus is breath, brain or body, you can get them all if you do it right and keep it up as you get older.

Breathing can affect our emotional state and memory. No matter if the focus is breath, brain or body, you can get them all if you do it right and keep it up as you get older.

Health

Can You Raise Resilience With a Roundhouse Kick?

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on December 11, 2021

Can martial arts training positively impact resilience of school students? A little training can be a powerful stimulus.

Can martial arts training positively impact resilience of school students? A little training can be a powerful stimulus.

Aging

Bruce Lee Did Not Grow Old Yet Still Helps Seniors

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on November 26, 2021

The interest and popularity in martial arts that Bruce Lee helped foster is now being leveraged for therapeutic application in older adults.

The interest and popularity in martial arts that Bruce Lee helped foster is now being leveraged for therapeutic application in older adults.

Dementia

Preserve Tomorrow's Function With What You Do Today

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on October 31, 2021

When you are out there karate-kicking, going for a run, or gardening, keep in mind that you are helping your mind with movement. Your future self says thanks.

When you are out there karate-kicking, going for a run, or gardening, keep in mind that you are helping your mind with movement. Your future self says thanks.

Bias

Anti-Vax Bias Is Partly a Failure of Science Communication

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on October 17, 2021

Few things are actually impossible but a lot of things are improbable. While it looked unlikely, scientific efforts produced a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.

Few things are actually impossible but a lot of things are improbable. While it looked unlikely, scientific efforts produced a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.

Sport and Competition

Doping, Captain America, and the Science Olympics

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on August 17, 2021

It is beyond ironic to decry doping to “artificially” enhance performance while simultaneously requiring some athletes to “dope down” to artificially reduce natural levels.

It is beyond ironic to decry doping to “artificially” enhance performance while simultaneously requiring some athletes to “dope down” to artificially reduce natural levels.

Bias

The Olympics Are Unfair Because They Reflect Life

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on July 21, 2021

The only way to move equitably forward is to stop pretending there’s a true normal that's just a stand-in for discrimination.

The only way to move equitably forward is to stop pretending there’s a true normal that's just a stand-in for discrimination.

Health

Why It's So Hard for Humans to Get Physically Active

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on July 13, 2021

Just like other animals, we're wired to expend as little energy as possible. But that doesn't mean we have to accept it.

Just like other animals, we're wired to expend as little energy as possible. But that doesn't mean we have to accept it.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Avengers Inoculate: Superheroes Use Science and Vaccinate

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on May 29, 2021

Vaccination is a simple process of getting a brief injection to trigger your immune system to arm itself to protect you. Avengers Inoculate and so should you.

Vaccination is a simple process of getting a brief injection to trigger your immune system to arm itself to protect you. Avengers Inoculate and so should you.

Mindfulness

Time to Slow Down Your Brain by Slowing Your Body

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on May 1, 2021

Can we time travel with Tai Chi Chuan? Deliberately moving slowly can slow our perception of time and provide a meditative mindfulness.

Can we time travel with Tai Chi Chuan? Deliberately moving slowly can slow our perception of time and provide a meditative mindfulness.

Genetics

Are You a Worrier or a Warrior?

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on April 25, 2021

Regardless of your genetic predisposition to be a warrior or a worrier, what you do makes all the difference.

Regardless of your genetic predisposition to be a warrior or a worrier, what you do makes all the difference.

Memory

The Relationship Between Respiration and Memory

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on March 13, 2021

Breath, brain, and memory lane: Nasal respiration is nothing to turn your nose up at. Instead, it has an important role to play in overall behavioral memories and responses.

Breath, brain, and memory lane: Nasal respiration is nothing to turn your nose up at. Instead, it has an important role to play in overall behavioral memories and responses.

Aging

Tom Brady Is the Batman of Football

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on February 7, 2021

Without a doubt, Tom Brady on the gridiron reflects the skills, abilities, and will to succeed we see in the fictional Guardian of Gotham, the Dark Knight Detective Batman.

Without a doubt, Tom Brady on the gridiron reflects the skills, abilities, and will to succeed we see in the fictional Guardian of Gotham, the Dark Knight Detective Batman.

Health

Damn You and Your Dumb Dualism, Descartes

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on January 27, 2021

Rene Descartes' misguided musings on dualism sent us in the wrong direction 400 years ago and continue to engender mental health stigma.

Rene Descartes' misguided musings on dualism sent us in the wrong direction 400 years ago and continue to engender mental health stigma.

Traumatic Brain Injury

What's With Wonder Woman and Concussion?

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on December 18, 2020

Dismissive, disingenuous, and dangerous attitudes that women are just "little men" when it comes to concussion management have to be forcefully refuted.

Dismissive, disingenuous, and dangerous attitudes that women are just "little men" when it comes to concussion management have to be forcefully refuted.

Meditation

What If Everybody Really Was Kung Fu Fighting?

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on November 6, 2020

Part 3: If everybody was Kung Fu fighting, there would be less actual fighting.

Part 3: If everybody was Kung Fu fighting, there would be less actual fighting.

Neuroscience

What If Everybody Really Was Kung Fu Fighting?

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on October 31, 2020

Part 2: Can punching and kicking like the Little Dragon drive activity-dependent plasticity in the nervous system? Martial arts training also benefits brain health.

Part 2: Can punching and kicking like the Little Dragon drive activity-dependent plasticity in the nervous system? Martial arts training also benefits brain health.