Black Belt Brain

Neuroscience

Sticks and Stones Break Your Bones But Words Hurt Your Brain

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on October 7, 2023

Separating the brain from the body is a fallacy. Humans, like all animals, are integrated, holistic beings, and the pain from social experiences is real.

Separating the brain from the body is a fallacy. Humans, like all animals, are integrated, holistic beings, and the pain from social experiences is real.

Cognition

Your Brain Thinks Change Is as Good as Rest

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on September 24, 2023

Changing up what you're doing could be the answer to powering through fatigue.

Changing up what you're doing could be the answer to powering through fatigue.

Cognition

Be Quick but Never in a Hurry

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on August 10, 2023

To be as effective as possible with the best possible actions, we want to be deliberate and in the moment, not a misplaced reaction waiting to happen.

To be as effective as possible with the best possible actions, we want to be deliberate and in the moment, not a misplaced reaction waiting to happen.

Animal Behavior

Stand Up Straight, Your Neurons Are Watching

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on July 7, 2023

Don't slouch! How well you walk and talk is affected by neurons in your spinal cord that detect fluid movement related to posture.

Don't slouch! How well you walk and talk is affected by neurons in your spinal cord that detect fluid movement related to posture.

Anxiety

Moving Your Body Stimulates Energy in the Brain

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on June 10, 2023

Moving generates hormonal and neural signals that connect cellular systems across the body and brain and affects the mind through the activity of mitochondria.

Moving generates hormonal and neural signals that connect cellular systems across the body and brain and affects the mind through the activity of mitochondria.

Environment

Outdoor Exercise May Be More Effective Than Indoor

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on May 12, 2023

It turns out my mom was right all along. Growing up, she would always tell me to get outside and do stuff. Now, cognitive research supports her in ways I never considered.

It turns out my mom was right all along. Growing up, she would always tell me to get outside and do stuff. Now, cognitive research supports her in ways I never considered.

Education

Practice Improves the Potential for Future Plasticity

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on April 30, 2023

The first stage of learning new motor skills, from a Mozart piano piece to martial arts, is learning how to learn. Then you learn the things you need to know.

The first stage of learning new motor skills, from a Mozart piano piece to martial arts, is learning how to learn. Then you learn the things you need to know.

Sport and Competition

Are We Nearing the End of Baseball?

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on March 27, 2023

A Personal Perspective: How a new pitching clock could strike out America's pastime.

A Personal Perspective: How a new pitching clock could strike out America's pastime.

Meditation

How Can Training in Violence Make You Peaceful?

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on February 25, 2023

Meditation found in Zen practice and commonly associated with many martial arts traditions require the clarifying effect of living in the present moment.

Meditation found in Zen practice and commonly associated with many martial arts traditions require the clarifying effect of living in the present moment.

Intelligence

Variety Is the Spice of Brain Health

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on February 3, 2023

Across the lifespan, but especially in older adults, participating in a wide variety of physical activities is critical for the maintenance of fluid intelligence and healthy aging.

Across the lifespan, but especially in older adults, participating in a wide variety of physical activities is critical for the maintenance of fluid intelligence and healthy aging.

Cognition

Going for a Walk Will Help Your Brain With Social Networking

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on January 7, 2023

When we acknowledge and embrace our animal nature of moving, conserved by evolution, we best provide the cues needed to survive and thrive.

When we acknowledge and embrace our animal nature of moving, conserved by evolution, we best provide the cues needed to survive and thrive.

Race and Ethnicity

Zen and the Art of Turning the Wheels of Time

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on January 1, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Moving forward by reinvention from going in circles.

A Personal Perspective: Moving forward by reinvention from going in circles.

Education

Life and Learning Require an Empty Cup

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

You can't put anything into something that is already full. An open and receptive mind is fundamental to acquiring new knowledge and a growth mindset.

You can't put anything into something that is already full. An open and receptive mind is fundamental to acquiring new knowledge and a growth mindset.

Stress

It's Easier To Remember When It's More Difficult To Do

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

Although Yoda says "do or do not...there is no try", the empirical data show that trying and trying to try actually lead to succeeding at the doing.

Although Yoda says "do or do not...there is no try", the empirical data show that trying and trying to try actually lead to succeeding at the doing.

Attention

Slowing Your Breathing To Speed Up Your Balance

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on October 21, 2022

How you breathe affects not just how you move and function but also how you react to external perturbations.

How you breathe affects not just how you move and function but also how you react to external perturbations.

Motivation

Sense and Sensibility Shape Our Experience of Effort

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on September 23, 2022

How we evaluate the success of what we do influences our perceptions and can change over time.

How we evaluate the success of what we do influences our perceptions and can change over time.

Health

How Much Work Is Needed to Maintain a Positive Health Habit?

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on September 15, 2022

The key to maintaining change is to keep taking steps towards something but be mindful of intensity. On our journey, in addition to steps, we need regularly to do some skips and jumps.

The key to maintaining change is to keep taking steps towards something but be mindful of intensity. On our journey, in addition to steps, we need regularly to do some skips and jumps.

Meditation

Calming Your Brain Through Breathwork

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on August 6, 2022

To help calm your mind, let go of attempts to control things you can't directly influence and slow down what you can control.

To help calm your mind, let go of attempts to control things you can't directly influence and slow down what you can control.

Mindfulness

In Sports and Real Life All We Can Control Is Our Effort

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on May 28, 2022

We can empower our efforts at the moment when we realize acceptance is about what is, not about what might, could, would, or should be.

We can empower our efforts at the moment when we realize acceptance is about what is, not about what might, could, would, or should be.

Career

Therapeutic Benefits of Martial Arts Training in Aging

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on April 30, 2022

Martial arts are meaningful activities that have clear therapeutic benefits and should be considered strongly as activities for healthy aging.

Martial arts are meaningful activities that have clear therapeutic benefits and should be considered strongly as activities for healthy aging.