Sleep hygiene, which includes practices like providing a cool and quiet sleeping environment or reading before bed time to help kids unwind, is increasingly popular among parents looking to ensure their children get a good night’s rest. But are these practices all they’re cracked up to be? University of British Columbia sleep expert and nursing professor Wendy Hall recently led a review of the latest studies to find out. Continue reading “Importance of good sleep routines for children”
Your brain on imagination: It’s a lot like reality, study shows
Imagine a barking dog, a furry spider or another perceived threat and your brain and body respond much like they would if you experienced the real thing. Imagine it repeatedly in a safe environment and soon your phobia — and your brain’s response to it — subsides. Continue reading “Your brain on imagination: It’s a lot like reality, study shows”
Narcissists less likely to support democracy
New research suggests that people with a narcissistic self-view are more likely to demonstrate lower support for democracy. Continue reading “Narcissists less likely to support democracy”
To predict the future, the brain uses two clocks
That moment when you step on the gas pedal a split second before the light changes, or when you tap your toes even before the first piano note of Camila Cabello’s “Havana” is struck. That’s anticipatory timing. Continue reading “To predict the future, the brain uses two clocks”
New information about infant brain structure
Infant brain development is still poorly understood. Thus, research on the topic is vital as developing brains are sensitive to early environmental factors. Recognising this, the FinnBrain imaging study conducted in Turku explores brain structure in newborns. Continue reading “New information about infant brain structure”
Maternal stress at conception linked to children’s stress response at age 11
A new study published in the Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease finds that mothers’ stress levels at the moment they conceive their children are linked to the way children respond to life challenges at age 11. SFU health sciences professor Pablo Nepomnaschy led an interdisciplinary research team on this first cohort study. Continue reading “Maternal stress at conception linked to children’s stress response at age 11”