Something about stress

stress gives less connectivity in brain – especially in memory region
stress leads to more fat in abdomen area – obesity can leads to diabetes, etc.
stress reduces immunity – so increase in stomach bacteria and also less recovery of stomach walls damaged cells – causes ulcer
stress is higher in a org when the person is in low ranking (atleast felt that he/she is)comparing the higher ranking person
stress – shows less pleasure region in brain – decreased dopomine between neurons in brain.
multi tasking leads to more stress
stress in mom could change the nervous system of child in fetus and this could make the child being stressed who will have all above symptoms even after 6 decades

stress can damage the ends of chromosomes – chronic stress – telemiours

not being agressive and not showing your face just becoz of your problems and also giving more than expecting anything can change your stress pattern and can save your life. So try to ignore about your small status and think about life outside your world and help others.

Friends share personal details to strengthen relationships in United States, but not in Japan

To test this idea, Schug recruited university students in both Japan and the United States to answer questions about their relationships. They indicated how likely they would be to tell either their closest friend or a family member about their biggest secret, their most embarrassing experience, and so on. They also described how the relationships around them work-for example, how much they think that people in their neighborhood, workplace, or other environment can voluntarily choose who they interact with. In another experiment, volunteers also shared the number of new friends and acquaintances they had formed in the previous three months.

Schug wrote the study with Masaki Yuki of Hokkaido University and William Maddux of INSEAD. The work is published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Schug and her colleagues found that Japanese people were indeed more likely to feel that relationships were stable and because of this, were less likely to share so much information with their closest friend. However, Americans shared more information with friends than the Japanese because they saw their relationships as more fragile and shifting more often, thus requiring more maintenance via self-disclosure. Schug says the study presents an interesting paradox: Although the United States is a more individualistic country than collectivist Japan, investing in relationships may actually pay higher dividends in cultures that place an emphasis on the individual.

Note the last statement again…

source: brain mysteries

Need a study break to refresh? Maybe not

It could happen to students cramming for exams, people working long hours or just about anyone burning the candle at both ends: Something tells you to take a break. Watch some TV. Have a candy bar. Goof off, tune out for a bit and come back to the task at hand when you’re feeling better. After all, you’re physically exhausted.

But a new study from Stanford psychologists suggests the urge to refresh (or just procrastinate) is – well – all in your head.

In a paper published this week in Psychological Science, the researchers challenge a long-held theory that willpower – defined as the ability to resist temptation and stay focused on a demanding task – is a limited resource. Scientists have argued that when willpower is drained, the only way to restore it is by recharging our bodies with rest, food or some other physical distraction that takes you away from whatever is burning you out.

Not so, says the Stanford team. Instead, they’ve found that a person’s mindset and personal beliefs about willpower determine how long and how well they’ll be able to work on a tough mental exercise.

“If you think of willpower as something that’s biologically limited, you’re more likely to be tired when you perform a difficult task,” said Veronika Job, the paper’s lead author. “But if you think of willpower as something that is not easily depleted, you can go on and on.”

from – brain mysteries

introspection – decision-making – yoga ??!!??

A specific region of the brain (anterior prefrontal cortex) appears to be larger in individuals who are good at turning their thoughts inward and reflecting upon their decisions, according to new research published in the journal Science. This act of introspection — or “thinking about your thinking” — is a key aspect of human consciousness, though scientists have noted plenty of variation in peoples’ abilities to introspect.

Fleming and the researchers designed the task to be difficult, so that participants were never completely sure if their answer was correct. They reasoned that participants who are good at introspection would be confident after making correct decisions about the patch, and less confident when they were incorrect about the patch. By adjusting the task, the researchers ensured all of the participants’ decision-making abilities were on par with each others’ — only the participants’ knowledge of their own decision-making abilities differed.

“It’s like that show, ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'” said Weil. “An introspective contestant will go with his or her final answer when they are quite sure of it, and perhaps phone a friend when they are unsure. But, a contestant who is less introspective would not be as effective at judging how likely their answer is to be correct.”

While meditation has long been in use in the traditional form of medication in various cultures, it is only recently that the conventional physicians have come to realize as well as acknowledge the advantages of meditation or self-introspection for our body and mind. Different people may describe meditation differently, but precisely speaking the term basically denotes introspecting oneself or self examination. Meditation may be called a process whereby you stop worrying about the external apprehensions and alarm and concentrate your mind on the tranquility present in yourself. If you think that mediation is an intricate process and cannot be performed without the help of a trainer, you are awfully wrong. On the contrary, meditation is a simple process and one may start meditating by trying to listen and going along with the sound of your inhaling and exhaling. Initially, you may find it difficult to concentrate on the job for long and get distracted. Don’t allow this to worry you, but simply ignore the causes of distraction, concentrate your thoughts and carry on with the process again.

Omkar chanting and its benefits

Omkar chanting improves the memory power. It increases the mental strengths. It arouses the Kundalini.

How to do this:

Omkar is very significant in our lives. The letters A, U and M collectively make this word. Om should be chanted for introspection, produce energy in the body and circulate the strength.

Inhale and chant A (ahhhh), then slowly closing the mouth and say U (ooooo) and then close and say M (immmm).

Stressing on the letter A, U and M cures the diseases of stomach, chest and brain respectively.

It is useful for improving the memory power.

Cobra Asana

How to :
Breath In and lift your upper body upwards looking upwards stretching your back as much you can. Remember your lower abdominal region and groin area is touching the floor. Hold your breath in and stay in this position as long as you can. But initially stay in this position for 10-15 seconds and increase it up to 30 to 45 seconds if you can. Now when you cant hold your breath any more slowly come down to position three releasing your breath. Then come back in position one and rest for 10-20 seconds.

Benefits:This Asana and bow has almost the same benefits. But the good thing in this Asana is that it is that this asana improves the mans sexual power. It really helps the males suffering from impotence and other such disorders. It increases the flexibility of the spine in a normal way which is thought to be very useful in keeping you young. This Asana is also good to keep away laziness of mind and body, thus keeping you active.

Brain cells determine obesity

An international study has discovered the reason why some people who eat a high-fat diet remain slim, yet others pile on the weight.

The study, led in Australia by the Monash Obesity and Diabetes Institute (MODI) at Monash University, found a high-fat diet causes brain cells to become insulated from the body preventing vital signals, which tell the body to stop eating and to burn energy, from reaching the brain efficiently.

MODI director and Australian Life Scientist of the Year Professor Michael Cowley said there were two clear outcomes from the findings.

‘We discovered that a high-fat diet caused brain cells to become insulated from the body, rendering the cells unable to detect signals of fullness to stop eating,” Professor Cowley said.

“Secondly, the insulation also created a further complication in that the body was unable to detect signals to increase energy use and burn off calories/kilojoules.”

The research showed that support cells in the brain developed overgrowth in a high-fat diet. This prevented the regular brain cells (the melanocortin system or POMC neurons) from connecting with other neural mechanisms, which determine appetite and energy expenditure.
“These neuronal circuits regulate eating behaviors and energy expenditure and are a naturally occurring process in the brain. The circuits begin to form early in life so that people may have a tendency towards obesity even before they eat their first meal,” Professor Cowley said.

Eating a high fat diet causes more “insulation” in the nerve cells, and makes it even harder for the brain to help a person lose weight.

“Obese people are not necessarily lacking willpower. Their brains do not know how full or how much fat they have stored, so the brain does not tell the body to stop refuelling. Subsequently, their body’s ability to lose weight is significantly reduced.”

source: timesofindia

Male infants during first 6 months really counts

Recent study have found men, on average, tend to be taller and more muscular than females, and the magnitude of that difference appears to be the result of nutrition within the first six months of an infant male’s life.

Most people are unaware that male infants in the first six months of life produce testosterone at approximately the same level as an adult male.

“In the last 20 years, a lot has been learned about a process called developmental plasticity — how the body responds early in life to things like nutrition and stress. Early experiences can have a permanent effect on how the body develops, and this effect can linger into adulthood. There is a lot of evidence that this can influence risk of diseases like heart attack, diabetes and hypertension — really important diseases.” says Scientists.

sarvagasana – One Yoga position with so many benefits

Slowly raise the legs. Lift the trunk, hips, and legs quite vertically. Support the back with the two hands, one on either side. Rest the elbows on the ground. Press the chin against the chest (Jalandhara Bandha). Allow the back-shoulder portion and neck to touch the ground closely. Do not allow the body to shake or move to and fro. Keep the legs straight. When the Asana is over, bring the legs down very, very slowly with elegance and not with any jerks.

This is a panacea, a cure-all, a sovereign specific for all diseases. It brightens the psychic faculties and awakens Kundalini Sakti, removes all sorts of diseases of intestine and stomach, and augments the mental power.

It supplies a large quantity of blood to the roots of spinal nerves. It is this Asana which centralises the blood in the spinal column and nourishes it beautifully. But for this Asana there is no scope for these nerve-roots to draw sufficient blood-supply. It keeps the spine quite elastic. Elasticity of the spine means everlasting youth. It stimulates you in your work. It prevents the spine from early ossification (hardening). So you will preserve and retain your youth for a long time. It helps a lot in maintaining Brahmacharya. Like Sirshasana, it makes you an Oordhvaretas. It checks wet-dreams effectively. It rejuvenates those who have lost their potency. It acts as a powerful blood-tonic and purifier. It tones the nerves and awakens Kundalini. Spinal column is rendered very soft and elastic. This Asana prevents the early ossification of the vertebral bones. Ossification is quick degeneration of bones. Old age manifests quickly on account of early ossification. The bones become hard and brittle in the degenerative process. He who practises Sarvangasana is very nimble, agile, full of energy. The muscles of the back are alternately contracted, relaxed and then pulled and stretched. Hence they draw a good supply of blood by these various movements and are well nourished. Various sorts of myalgia (muscular rheumatism), lumbago, sprain, neuralgia, etc., are cured by this Asana.

The vertebral column becomes as soft and elastic as rubber. It is twisted and rolled as it were like a piece of canvas sheet. A man who practises this Asana can never become lazy even a bit. He is a two-legged talking squirrel. The vertebral column is a very important structure. It supports the whole body. It contains the spinal cord, spinal nerve and sympathetic system. In Hatha Yoga the spine is termed as Meru Danda. Therefore you must keep it healthy, strong and elastic. The muscles of the abdomen, the rectic muscles and the muscles of the thigh are also toned and nourished well. Obesity or corpulence and habitual chronic constipation, Gulma, congestion and enlargement of the liver and spleen are cured by this Asana.

Source : yoga-age

sirshasana – Yoga for better Memory

This is very useful in keeping up Brahmacharya. It makes you Oordhvaretas. The seminal energy is transmuted into spiritual energy, Ojas-Shakti. This is also called sex-sublimation. You will not have wet-dreams, Spermatorrhea. In an Oordhvareto-Yogi the seminal energy flows upwards into the brain for being stored up as spiritual force which is used for contemplative purposes (Dhyana). When you do this Asana, imagine that the seminal energy is being converted into Ojas and is passing along the spinal column into the brain for storage.

Sirshasana is really a blessing and a nectar. Words will fail to adequately describe its beneficial results and effects. In this Asana alone, the brain can draw plenty of Prana and blood. Memory increases admirably. Lawyers, occultists and thinkers will highly appreciate this Asana. This leads to natural Pranayama and Samadhi by itself. No other effort is necessary. If you watch the breath, you will notice it becoming finer and finer. In the beginning of practice there will be a slight difficulty in breathing. As you advance in practice, this vanishes entirely. You will find real pleasure and exhilaration of spirit in this Asana.

Great benefit is derived by sitting for meditation after Sirshasana. You can hear Anahata sound quite distinctly. Young, robust persons should perform this Asana. Householders who practise this should not have frequent sexual intercourse.

source: yoga age