Most people understand that it is common sense to avoid drugs and alcohol during pregnancy. Various drugs and other substances have been shown to cause birth defects and developmental problems among babies. It is well documented that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to birth defects, and even smoking marijuana while pregnant could put a child …
Long ago it was unknown that humans could grow new brain cells. Years later it was discovered that through a process called “neurogenesis,” new brain cells could be created, even in adults. These days scientists are learning more ways in which people are able to grow new neurons as well as deciphering the degree to …
People who expect bad things to happen may not actually be able to control a pessimistic outlook. Recently, British researchers discovered an area of the brain called the “habenula” warns us that something bad will happen. Although this tiny (smaller than a pea) sized region is useful for helping us learn from bad past experiences, …
Suboxone (Buprenorphine) is a medication that is primarily used to help individuals that are struggling with opiate addiction. This substance works as a semi-synthetic opioid agonist on the Mu receptor of the brain. In high doses it works to treat people that are trying to kick their addiction with opiates. In lower doses, it can …
Nicotine is a highly potent stimulant drug that is commonly absorbed when people use various types of tobacco products. Popular tobacco products include both cigarettes and (smokeless) chewing tobacco. Nicotine itself is a nicotonic acetylcholine receptor agonist and acts as a stimulant in mammals at low doses. Most people hypothesize that the “stimulant” effect is …
It is important to know that all humans display five different types of electrical patterns or “brain waves” across the cortex. The brain waves can be observed with an EEG (or an “electroencephalograph”) – a tool that allows researchers to note brain wave patterns. Each brain wave has a purpose and helps serve us in …
Delta brain waves oscillate between 0 Hz and 4 Hz (cycles per second) and are regarded as the slowest brain waves that humans can produce. They are typically produced during the deep stages of sleep (stage 3 and stage 4) and are involved in regulating unconscious bodily processes such as heart beat regulation, kidney functioning, …