People with lifelong anxiety disorders often have genetic polymorphisms that cause abnormal activation of various neural circuitry and changes in neurotransmission, provoking excessive fear. While fear in appropriate situations such as getting attacked by a lion is beneficial in that it helps us survive by giving us superhuman abilities (e.g. endurance, strength, thinking), many people …
Neurofeedback is a technique that involves training an individual to consciously alter the electrical activity (brain waves) within their brain. The technique can be used as an intervention to improve symptoms of a variety of psychological conditions, including depression. Individuals with depression tend to have abnormal brain wave activity compared to those without any preexisting …
Fermentation is considered the conversion of carbohydrates to organic acids using yeast and/or bacteria. During the fermentation process, millions of tiny microorganisms become infused with the food so that when consumed, those bacteria enter your gut. While all the health effects associated with consumption fermentation of foods remain unknown, most evidence suggests that regular consumption …
Neurofeedback is a practice devised to optimize the electrical activity within a person’s brain a.k.a. adjust their brain waves. It is based on the premise that abnormal electrical activity in certain regions of the brain may contribute to various psychological conditions and may compromise mental performance. The goal of neurofeedback is to correct electrical abnormalities …
Antipsychotics are drugs that alleviate symptoms of schizophrenia and psychotic episodes. These medications are considered highly effective interventions for mitigating “positive symptoms” such as hallucinations (e.g. hearing voices) and various types of delusions (e.g. assuming others are plotting against you). Approved uses for antipsychotics include treating individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and cases of …
Gabapentin is a drug that was formally approved in 1993 for the treatment of epilepsy. It is still commonly used as an anticonvulsant drug, generally as an adjunct. Roughly a decade later, the drug was approved for the treatment of neuropathic pain. It is considered to function via modulation of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the …
Gabapentin is a drug that was approved by the FDA in 1993 as an adjunct treatment for epileptic seizures. It has since attained approval for the treatment of partial seizures in adults and children. In addition to its mechanism as an antiepileptic drug, Gabapentin functions as an analgesic, and was approved in 2004 for the …