Dolphins, one of the ocean’s many mammals, have quite the reputation for being one of, if not the most, intelligent mammal on earth! Some may even say that a dolphin’s cerebral capacity (brain capability) is larger than that of human’s and is capable at performing certain tasks that we are not. Like whales and porpoises, dolphins are an aquatic mammal belonging to a group called “cetaceans.”

Odontocetes (now modern day dolphins) are one of the few surviving and evolved aquatic mammals way back from when the dinosaurs roamed the earth 55,000,000 million years ago. This mammal evolved into a smaller figure but somehow developed larger and more complex brains. So how smart are dolphins exactly? Intelligence may be loosely defined as a “measure of the brain’s ability to process information in ways that solve problems and enhance one’s survival.” (understanddolphins.com) This evolved brain allowed for more complex social relationships and echolocation skills in order to navigate and communicate with their kind. 

Turns out the modern day dolphin’s encephalization quotient (brain size to average body size ratio) is 2nd right behind us (humans). That’s a pretty significantly large brain for an animal. Dolphins are known to possess communication skills, ability to conduct deliberate hunting techniques and language comprehension. 

Additionally, dolphins are one of the few species that are able to pass the mirror test. Unlike almost every other species (your dog, for instance), dolphins are actually capable of indicating visual and physical self awareness. In addition to recognizing their bodies, apparently they are even able to recognize their own thoughts. This is an important cerebral property called “metacognition.” (the awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes.)

Interestingly enough, dolphins are also known for their amazing ability to feel empathy, altruism and attachment. Have you ever heard of instances where dolphins magically help injured individuals or are able to intelligently ward off predators like sharks to prevent danger? This is no magic, it is a skill that is innate within their minds. Did you know that dolphins even posses the feelings the mourn their dead (sounds familiar, far too similar to humans)?

Conclusively, just by mere evidence that dolphins perform excellent human to dolphin and dolphin to dolphin communication, are avid problem solvers, are capable of feeling true emotion and have the 2nd largest mammal brain should be a clear indication that these animals are both invaluable to the animal and worthy of being kept safe in the deep depths of the ocean. Even across the many different species of dolphins, all possess this unbelievable ability to outsmart almost any other species (excluding humans.)

sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05PpTqtGhGU

http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/marine-mammal-information/cetaceans/?referrer=https://www.google.com/

http://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/10-animals-with-self-awareness.html#bottlenosedolphins

http://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/mirror_test.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bnur3gHJ0s

http://understanddolphins.tripod.com/dolphinbrainandintelligence.html

(I really really really enjoy ted talks)

Music: a universal term that everyone can both relate with and comprehend. It’s like a supernatural medium that has the ability to do so much for someone. There are many different forms, styles, genres and/or beats. The basic Wikipedia definition is as follows: an art form, social activity or cultural activity whose medium is sound and silence.

Many musical artists will attest that musical performance/writing or even simply listening to it is their form of medicine. Some may even consider it their “escape.” Many musical artists, like Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), have been known to be so passionate about their music to the point of it being considered a “obsessive passion.” Kurt Cobain was, and still is to this day, identified as the “talented yet troubled grunge performer” who clearly struggled with mental illnesses like depression and anxiety; which consequently led to his death (allegedly…but that is a story for another time.)

I want to focus on the effect that music has on both people with poor mental health/diagnosed depression and overall health. Although this topic is significantly broad with a plethora of research conducted, I will condense it as best I can.

Kurt Cobain serves as a perfect example for this topic seeing as that his performance and music composition came solely from within himself and his emotions. There lies an under-appreciated importance with how ordinary people and music artists cope with issues of their own through music. This is the type of “therapy” that does not always require a validated music therapist however there are some instances with in-patient music treatment for depression.

The British Journal of Psychiatry posted the results of a study done in Finland:  “trained music therapists engaged participants in up to 20 sessions of co-improvisational active music-making as the basis of a therapeutic relationship. “This is a high-quality randomized trial of music therapy specifically for depression and the results suggest that it can improve the mood and global functioning of people with this disorder.”

The study noted that the active arm of the procedure (i.e. physically playing a musical instrument with the therapist) was extremely helpful in reducing feelings associated with depression. “The role of physical activity in averting depression and alleviating its effects is well recognized.” (BJPsych) This form of music therapy better enables a patient to experience themselves as actual physical beings and become more interactive. As a result, this has proven to be significantly efficacious in reducing feelings of depression. The physical participation enables one to hear and feel themselves in the context of the aesthetic experiences.

Unlike the common and well-known forms of treatment for depression (psychotherapy and prescribed medication), a music therapist will touch upon the two different approaches of music therapy; receptive and active. “In receptive music therapy, a person listens to music with a therapist, and the music can be used for relaxation and motivation and as a bridge to emotions, cognitive work, personal development, and self-reflection. In active music therapy, the patient and therapist play improvisational music together. The patient does not need to be a skilled musician,” (Formal Music Therapy Appears to Improve Mood in Depression). This method has been proven extremely successful for patients who have a difficult time responding to verbal cognitive therapies or articulating deeper feelings.

Having said that, you do not need professionally-conducted music therapy sessions in order to relieve your depression. A more casual approach would be simply listening to your favorite kind of music or a genre of music that suits your current mood. Something as simple as this has the capability to alter your mood in seconds. Music has also been proven to intensify concentration because of its power to reduce stress. Some may argue with that saying that music is only a bigger distraction however, Psych Central poses very reputable and convincing information that may say otherwise.  Although this may be a subjective statement, it is quite amazing to me how much power music has on the human brain.

In addition to music’s benefit on mental health, a meta analysis of over 400 studies that was done by psychologist Daniel J. Levitin, PhD of McGill University touts the benefits that music has on improving immune system functions and reduction of stress. “We’ve found compelling evidence that musical interventions can play a health-care role in settings ranging from operating rooms to family clinics,” says Levitin.

In another study done by University of Alberta linking a correlation between music and stress, it found that music can help soothe pediatric emergency room patients. The study consisted of 42 children (perhaps too small of an experimental group) ranging from ages 3-11. “…Researchers found that patients who listened to relaxing music while getting an IV inserted reported significantly less pain, and some demonstrated significantly less distress, compared with patients who did not listen to music” (American Psychological Association). Of course this trial does not necessarily prove anything because, as we have continuously learned, correlation does not equal causation, however it does show some convincing linkage.

The innumerable amount of studies that have been done on music’s psychological effect is astonishing. I think because of how much evidence and information has been collected and the fact that so many professionally recognized doctors have supported the method of music, it is become clearer and clearer that this correlation between music and mental health may be causal. Studies are not very difficult to conduct therefore which is why there is so much information on the matter.

Music possesses the remarkable ability to toy with ones emotions and even alter moods just from one rhythm to the next. After all, T.S Eliot did once say: “…music heard so deeply, that it is not heard at all, but you are the music While the music lasts.” 

sources:

http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Use-Music-As-My-Escape/2528425

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/why-music-moves-us/201106/can-you-be-too-passionate-about-music

http://www.musictherapy.org/careers/employment/#A_CAREER_IN_MT

http://www.biography.com/people/kurt-cobain-9542179

http://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/11/music.aspx

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/199/2/92

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/569228

http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-power-of-music-to-reduce-stress/

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/293622-music-heard-so-deeply-that-it-is-not-heard-at

(link here for better quality picture) (here)

Growing up, I was never really that kid that read for fun or would go out of my way to read a new story (unless it was being read to me.) Throughout high school, I still was never really that kind of student…”a book worm.” Don’t get me wrong, if I ever came across a good book that kept me hooked, I would certainly read it. However, I never developed that feeling of excitement or curiosity as to “what book should I read next!?” I have a friend, very intelligent friend at that, who LOVES to read. Book after book, she was always reading something new. She describes books as her “escape.” I began to wonder whether her intelligence had developed over the years in high school while she sped through piles and piles of novels.

During the rare occurrences I did read a book, I felt super accomplished and felt like I was doing something productive with my free time. It is truly an awesome feeling. I wondered, “if I did this all the time, would I become an all-around more intellectual, aware and curious person?”

Books expose readers to SO many different outlets. Not only do they improve reading skills (obviously) but it can reinforce so many more creative thinking methods or advanced vocabulary skills. Essentially, it’s an easy way to just learn more. So, I decided to do some research and find out the benefit of being a bookworm.

Similar to staying physically fit and having some sort of work out regiment, the brain necessitates exercise as well. According to a study done by Stanford University, they found that reading is what effectively keeps the brain at a pristine, stimulated health. The study was quite interesting, actually. With two groups of people, both of which were experimental groups, they were required to read Mansfield’s Park by Jane Austen. One group was asked to read it for pure enjoyment (even though I find Jane Austen to be terribly boring) while the other group was asked to critically analyze the story. Both groups were monitored using an MRI machine and the minute they began to read, the MRI mapping showed stimulation to the brain and even blood flow to parts of the brain that had not been currently in use before reading the book. This experiment is clearly relatively straight forward and I don’t see how there could be any interference with the results.

According to Examined Existence, there are a number of things that reading does specifically that is beneficial to the human brain:

• enhances vocabulary (as I mentioned before)
• improves communication skills
• better developed analytical skills
• effective memory booster

As far as the enhanced vocabulary and communication skills go, they virtually go hand-in-hand because the more you’re reading, obviously the more words you are exposed to. Eventually, you are able to understand the words in context or you may feel compelled to look them up. This comes naturally thus enabling you to better frame yourself in a conversation or in writing solely because of the plethora of words and writing mechanics you’re exposed to in stories.

Maybe to better persuade you as to how important and effective reading is, here are a few very prominent people in today’s society who are/were avid readers:

• Steve Jobs: “passionate reader of William Blake’s literary pieces.” (Examined Science)
• Phil Knight (founder of Nike): owns his own library
• Sidney Harman (Harman Industries): “poets are the original system thinkers” (Examined Science)

In testing the efficacy of reading, I suppose someone could gather randomized groups of people equally allocated, different genders, races, religions or geographic background, and assign a relatively advanced intellectual novel to one group whereas the other group would read an intermediate, shorter, easier story. Similar to the study done by Standford, you could monitor the people through an MRI machine and determine which group has more brain stimulation.

Additionally, you could survey large groups of people and ask questions about their GPA, advanced class placements or what they like to do for fun based on the whether or not they consider themselves an avid reader.

I understand there are many interfering, confounding variables with this topic (as there are with many scientific experiments.) At times, children are born into families where reading is heavily encouraged or enforced or their intelligence may be inherited through genes. Perhaps someone may consider themselves an avid reader but what kind of books are they reading? Are they only reading fantasy, mystery novels? If so, that may not expose your brain to the myriad of genres that books have to offer. In order to take full advantage of book’s efficacy, the brain requires a variation in reading that contain different styles and different information. Just as the human body requires different types of food, vitamins and nutrients, the human brain requires different forms of exercise through reading. You can’t just go your entire life only eating chocolate chip ice cream or only reading the Harry Potter series forever. Branch out and expand your scope of knowledge by exposing your mind to books you wouldn’t normally read.

There is always something to be learned in ANY type of book.

Here is a picture of one of my favorite books. Considering it is a non-ficition biography, there are obviously lots of things to be learned (mostly concentrated on Kurt Cobain.)

Sources:

http://examinedexistence.com/does-reading-make-you-smarter/

http://examinedexistence.com/21-things-you-can-do-to-work-out-your-brain/

http://examinedexistence.com/why-reading-literary-fiction-is-good-for-you/

http://dosomethingcool.net/avid-reader/

Not sure if anyone else thinks about this quite as much as I do, but I can’t help but wonder every time I sneeze…why it happens??? I realize it is a type of reflex in the human body, but why? According to How Stuff Works, this reflex is purported to serve as a defense mechanism against different bacteria and viruses. You sneeze when when someone triggers or irritates the nasal passageways. I bet you didn’t know that another name for “sneeze” can be “sternutation“! (Kids Health)

Like all reflexes, theres is a biological aspect to it:

There is what’s called the “reflex arc” which consists of a receptor, a sensory nerve, integration center, a motor nerve and an effector (HowStuffWorks). Each of these serve their own purpose. The receptors are what detect the irritant in your nose. Irritants include things like dust, dander, pepper or unusual smells; even “viruses that attack the mucous membranes.” (HowStuffWorks)

These nerves carry the irritant or impulses to what is called the “sneezing center” (we have one of those?) in the brain which then continues to the facial nerve and other nerves that lead to the lungs and diaphragm which all lead up to the climax of the simple sneeze. Fun fact: the tiny particles flying out of your nose/mouth during a sneeze can travel up to 100 mph!

Once the diaphragm moves or opens quickly, forcing one to take a deep breath, muscles in your chest compress causing the event of a sneeze– air leaving your nose and mouth rather abruptly.

Interestingly enough, there is what is called a called “photic (light) sneezer” who are people that sneeze when exposed to bright light. About every 1 out of 3 people are considered photic sneezers and it is an inherited trait.

Although this topic is not necessarily something that requires a controlled or randomized experiment with different variables, I saw it as an interesting topic that perhaps not everybody is aware of. Therefore, I decided to shed light on the topic of the process behind the human sneeze. Well…yes, animals can sneeze too.

Sources:

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/circus-arts/human-blockhead2.htm

http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/sneeze.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/06/150627-animals-science-elephants-anatomy-sneezing/

Just as almost any ordinary college kid trying to get by with their plethora of homework, we have all become far too dependent among caffeine and other stimulants. I know that for a fact seeing as that I am currently drinking a caffeinated coffee in attempts to finish this blog. With some exceptions here and there, some students may preform better without any kind of stimulant, however out of pure personal observation, I have noticed a significant increase in late-night studying and Starbucks coffee cups around campus.

Caffeine is definitely referred to as a kind of stimulant as is Adderall, or amphetamine.  I have several friends who have been professionally diagnosed with ADHD and have been prescribed medication like adderall or Ritalin.

Over the course of the past few years in high school and even over the course of my short time here at Penn State, I have noticed it to be a lot more common for students to abuse these two kinds of stimulants. Especially drugs like Adderall or Ritalin even though they may not even be prescribed. I became curious as to what kind of effectiveness both of these drugs (yes, caffeine is considered a drug) serve. Nevertheless, I did some research on what each drug does individually in terms of stimulation to the human brain and which one proves to be more effective.

Surprisingly enough, caffeine is the most widely consumed drug in the world; even more than alcohol, and more than tobacco. 90% of adults worldwide consume it daily. Surely many people can relate to the “morning coffee” routine. (Science-Based Medicine) On average, the daily intake of coffee in America is about 2 cups (280 mg.)

The reason why anxiety-stricken, busy students consume so much coffee is because it is known to absorb quickly and almost immediately start stimulating the neurotransmitters in the brain. Caffeine enhances alertness, energy and concentration. In adults, caffeine consumption is associated with a negative relationship with all-cause mortality, largely due to a reduction of cardiovascular effects. Causation hasn’t been established though. Because after all, correlation does not always equal causation. Very common side effects of caffeine include agitation, tremors, insomnia and headaches.

Similarly, with prescribed amphetamine medications they are known to improve abilities to focus, work, and learn. ADHD has two primary sources of treatment which are behavioral treatments and drug therapies. The treatment goals with ADHD are symptom based so in other words, the dosage prescribed to the patient is all dependent upon the severity of their case. Nevertheless, stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin all serve the same purpose. 

These drugs have a history of being fairly effective and although the counter-comparative data puts up a fair match, there is relatively good data proving that they are, in fact, effective.

In conclusion, I guess the overall framed question would be how does caffeine compare to stimulants in terms of efficacy? Although both proven methods are productive, the matter as a whole is relatively subjective.

Say someone was testing the alternative effectiveness of caffeine rather than prescribed stimulants on a patient with ADHD, that is a whole different experiment that entails different data. However, the question that I posed allowed me to further realize that both are indeed effective but it is all dependent upon the person with what kind of stimulant they prefer.

What I did correlate between the two are the potential negative outcomes that may occur. Both caffeine and amphetamine contain addictive traits (hence why some people are dependent upon coffee everyday) and can lead to serious psychological damage. Withdrawal from these drugs may also lead to headaches, fatigue, weariness, depression, anxiety and irritability.

All in all, what I believe that I took away from this research is that caffeine and prescription drugs like Adderall and Ritalin are highly abused especially among college students. All with the same intention — getting work done quicker and more efficiently in order to feel accomplished. Both of these drugs contain similar negative side effects and beneficial outcomes but in terms of which works better is a matter deemed purely subjective.

Sources:

https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/caffeine-for-adhd/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-ronald-ricker-and-dr-venus-nicolino/adderall-the-most-abused_b_619549.html

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml#part_145449

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1182710-overview#a6

http://elitedaily.com/life/suddenly-adderall/897136/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16796929

Certainly, everyone loves the scenic aesthetics of “Fall” or “Autumn” due to the multitude of colors in the trees. Vibrant reds, oranges, yellows, even some purple; I remember as a kid, it was one of my favorite things to look forward to throughout the cycles of the seasons. Though everyone expects the leaves to change colors naturally, I don’t think it is common knowledge (at least not for me) as to why they do so. Understandably, there is some kind of specific environmental science explanation, therefore, I decided to conduct some research.

According to Environmental Information Series, the summer and spring months are meant for and necessary to the tree’s survival. The leaves serve as little manufacturers of food for the tree’s growth. This “food-making process” takes place within the leaves’ cells which contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll, by the way, is what gives leaves their bright green color.

Not only do leaves have substances of green pigment but yellow and orange pigments as well. However, most months of the year the bright orange and yellow colors are masked by the vast amounts of green pigments.

In the fall, as there is less and less sunlight, the leaves, in turn, are receiving less sunlight. The trees will rest, and live off the food they stored during the summer. They begin to shut down their food-making factories (leaves) and the green chlorophyll slowly starts to disappear from the leaves. “The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor.” (EIS) 

Certain trees may change to specific colors. For example, the oak tree typically transforms its leaves to more brown-based colors.

Also as a kid, I vividly remember this certain group of trees in my neighborhood that would be especially bright and vibrant. My mom and I always loved to admire those certain trees. I wondered why those trees were exceptionally brighter than the others during their seasonal transformation. It turns out that temperature, light, and water supply all have an influence on the degree and the duration of fall color. The type of tree also has an impact as well.

“Low temperatures above freezing will favor anthocyanin formation producing bright reds in maples. However, early frost will weaken the brilliant red color. Rainy and/or overcast days tend to increase the intensity of fall colors.” (EIS)

Trees strangely have a mind of their own in terms of how they prepare themselves for the changing of seasons. Especially fall going into winter. This is all thanks to the process of photosynthesis.

It’s interesting to know how the processes of nature and the environment produce such visually intriguing things for the earth’s inhabitants. I’ll always enjoy the color-changing trees a little bit more now knowing the extensive and enlightening process that takes place.

Sources:

http://www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/leaves/leaves.htm

http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html

http://chemistry.about.com/od/howthingsworkfaqs/f/fallleafcolor.htm

When it comes to talking about yawning or seeing others yawn, it’s almost impossible not to do it yourself. I always wondered why that is and the only explanation I’ve ever received was “yawning is contagious.” But why? With some research needed, I found some more extensive answers.

Surprisingly enough, contagious yawning is a phenomenon that only occurs in humans and chimpanzees as a response to hearing, seeing, or even thinking about yawning. Some people are even more susceptible to yawning than others.

Though many studies have been done, scientists still struggle to find the ultimate answer behind yawning.

The University of Connecticut conducted a study about five years ago and discovered that most children are not receptive to contagious yawning until about the age of the 4. Additionally, children with autism may even be entirely less susceptible to yawning than other children.

Most studies have concluded that the phenomenon is also related to our predisposition toward empathy, the ability to understand and connect with others’ emotional states. Empathy correlates to cognitive development. But how does empathy have anything to do with contagious yawning? Well, Leeds University in England conducted a study to find out more.

“Researchers selected 40 psychology students and 40 engineering students. Each student was made to wait individually in a waiting room, along with an undercover assistant who yawned 10 times in as many minutes. The students were then administered an emotional quotient test: Students were shown 40 images of eyes and asked what emotion each one displayed.” (http://science.howstuffworks.com/)

Study Conclusion: “The psychology students — whose future profession requires them to focus on others — yawned contagiously an average of 5.5 times in the waiting room and scored 28 out of 40 on the emotional test. The engineering students — who tend to focus on things like numbers and systems — yawned an average of 1.5 times and scored 25.5 out of 40 on the following test. The difference doesn’t sound like much, but researchers consider it significant. Strangely, women, who are generally considered more emotionally attuned, didn’t score any higher than men” (The Telegraph)

All in all, contagious yawning is associated with the same parts of the brain that deal with empathy. These regions of the brain are called the precuneus and posterior temporal gyrus, which are located in the back of the brain. Though scientists have made this interesting connection, studies are still being conducted and evidence remains a tad hazy.

Here is an example of how contagious yawning is prevalent in chimpanzees as well.

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201403/why-is-yawning-so-contagious

http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/contagious-yawn.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2722992/Want-know-likes-See-YAWN-Contagious-yawning-sign-empathy-study-reveals.html#v-2751691058001

http://mentalfloss.com/article/64654/why-are-yawns-contagious

When it comes to talking about yawning or seeing others yawn, it’s almost impossible not to do it yourself. I always wondered why that is and the only explanation I’ve ever received was “yawning is contagious.” But why? With some research needed, I found some more extensive answers.

Surprisingly enough, contagious yawning is a phenomenon that only occurs in humans and chimpanzees as a response to hearing, seeing, or even thinking about yawning. Some people are even more susceptible to yawning than others.

Though many studies have been done, scientists still struggle to find the ultimate answer behind yawning.

The University of Connecticut conducted a study about five years ago and discovered that most children are not receptive to contagious yawning until about the age of the 4. Additionally, children with autism may even be entirely less susceptible to yawning than other children.

Most studies have concluded that the phenomenon is also related to our predisposition toward empathy, the ability to understand and connect with others’ emotional states. Empathy correlates to cognitive development. But how does empathy have anything to do with contagious yawning? Well, Leeds University in England conducted a study to find out more.

“Researchers selected 40 psychology students and 40 engineering students. Each student was made to wait individually in a waiting room, along with an undercover assistant who yawned 10 times in as many minutes. The students were then administered an emotional quotient test: Students were shown 40 images of eyes and asked what emotion each one displayed.” (http://science.howstuffworks.com/)

Study Conclusion: “The psychology students — whose future profession requires them to focus on others — yawned contagiously an average of 5.5 times in the waiting room and scored 28 out of 40 on the emotional test. The engineering students — who tend to focus on things like numbers and systems — yawned an average of 1.5 times and scored 25.5 out of 40 on the following test. The difference doesn’t sound like much, but researchers consider it significant. Strangely, women, who are generally considered more emotionally attuned, didn’t score any higher than men” (The Telegraph)

All in all, contagious yawning is associated with the same parts of the brain that deal with empathy. These regions of the brain are called the precuneus and posterior temporal gyrus, which are located in the back of the brain. Though scientists have made this interesting connection, studies are still being conducted and evidence remains a tad hazy.

Here is an example how contagious yawning is also prevalent in chimpanzees as well. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2722992/Want-know-likes-See-YAWN-Contagious-yawning-sign-empathy-study-reveals.html#v-2751691058001

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201403/why-is-yawning-so-contagious

http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/contagious-yawn.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2722992/Want-know-likes-See-YAWN-Contagious-yawning-sign-empathy-study-reveals.html#v-2751691058001

http://mentalfloss.com/article/64654/why-are-yawns-contagious

After spending countless hours in my dorm room over the past 3 weeks, I’ve realize that the ‘Freshman 15’ is, indeed, very much possible. Though I am always kept busy with classes, that does not stop the countless snacking that goes on in my room during the homework hours or even just hanging out.

My roommate and I have repeatedly told ourselves that “bored eating” is not good and we will do everything in our power to avoid it. With this problem at hand, I realized that this might make a great and relatable blog post. Certainly, at one point in time, all of us have snacked on something even when we may have not been hungry.

“Why do we bored eat?” is the mystery question of it all. I decided to do a little research as to why it happens and how to avoid it. Emotional eating, bored eating, binge eating — it all ties into the same reasoning. Actually, there are a multitude of reasons as to why people over-eat or snack when they aren’t hungry, but I am only going to focus on a few.

1. To Cope
   • Common emotions like happiness, sadness and even anger can all contribute to one’s eating habits. According to SparkPeople, negative feelings will most likely result in the cravings of comfort food and salty, sweet snacks of that sort. This is because our brains think it is an alternative form of finding happiness to compensate for the negative emotions. To no surprise, this rarely solves any of the underlying issues. If anything, most people may feel food guilt afterwards.
2. Out of Boredom
   • this reason seems most relevant. Sometimes the occurrence isn’t out of overwhelming emotion, rather just boredom. “Boredom eating is an easy, automatic response to get into. Most of us develop it early in life and reinforce it for years and years.” (BistroMD)
   • I found an extremely interesting study done by Discover Magazine that tested whether boredom promotes eating and if so, whether this effect likely reflects an increased drive for rewarding stimulation (positive reinforcement) or more plainly the drive to escape boredom (negative reinforcement).
   • “These scientists bored participants by having them watch a loop of the same 85-second clip of a game of indoor tennis for an hour. During this time, some subjects were given M&Ms to munch on, and others received a device they could use to self-administer painful electric shocks. Because both types of stimulation were popular, the scientists conclude that people eat when bored to break the monotony, rather than for the pleasure of food itself.” (Discover)
3. Because You’re Tired
   • almost any college student can relate to the feeling of excessive sleep deprivation or mid-afternoon grogginess. Most of the time, people will resort to sugary snacks or drinks in hopes it will give them an energy boost. Though they may not even be hungry, their brain sends signals as if it needs sugar. Almost all of the time, those sugar rushes will lead to an even worse crash.

Typically, “comfort foods” are the go-to snack mainly because we sought comforting – high fat, high starch, or high sugar foods like ice cream, pizza, or processed candies. These foods also spike certain neurotransmitters in the brain, which is why we initially feel so good or at least THINK we do. There is no permanent cure for one’s stress, anxiety or depression through the solution of eating. One of the top reasons these kinds of binges are bad is because it creates a cycle in our brain, allowing us to THINK we want more and more. This is a leading cause to weight gain. (Growing Human Kindness)

Although I am frequently a victim of this seemingly unsurpassable binge-eating dilemma, I have learned that there are many solutions to avoid bored eating. Things like getting more sleep, drinking lots of water, chewing gum in between meals or keeping an all around busier, more structured schedule are certainly ways to curb your thoughts about food. The rule of thumb is to keep busy and keep your mind from assuming hunger. If you’re going to snack, lean towards the healthier choices like fruits, nuts, whole grains and other non-processed foods.

Sources:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1660&page=3

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/seriouslyscience/2015/02/04/eat-bored/#.Vfo1R53BzGc

http://www.bistromd.com/health-tips/boredom-eating-youre-not-hungry-youre-bored

http://growinghumankindness.com/5-reasons-why-you-overeat/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/shrink/201206/i-am-bored-therefore-i-eat

I decided to become a vegan this past December (2015). Over my winter break of senior year, I spent probably too much time contributed to watching documentaries about the food industry and animal exploitation. Documentaries like, Food Inc., Forks Over Knives, If Slaughter Houses Had Glass Walls, and Earthlings helped me better understand and realize the disturbing and eye-opening enigmas throughout the everyday, normal American diet. I will not go off on a tangent to discuss about the gory and torturous side of the food industry, rather I will focus on the environmental harms that meat and dairy have on our earth and why a vegan lifestyle improves one’s ‘ecological footprint’.

Aside from the long list of personal health benefits, like increased energy, healthier-looking skin, weight loss, reduced risks of fatal diseases (heart disease, diabetes, cancer), there are many other scientifically proven advantages of veganism that the average western diet does not provide.

Now, when I say “average western diet” this includes all forms of meat, dairy and eggs. That is what one would call an animal-based diet. In contrast, the vegan lifestyle eliminates all forms of animal-by products from the every day diet. As I like to describe it, essentially, veganism excludes any form of food that once had a face of it’s own, a mom or a dad (seemingly silly, i know. But it is an easier explanation for people to understand). There are different forms of veganism, some more intense than others. The most efficient and environmentally friendly form of veganism has proven to be a purely plant-based diet.

As for the environmental benefits, according to Vegan Outreach, the livestock sector (chicken, pigs, cows) is responsible for about 18% of the dangerous greenhouse gas emissions in our air. CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions are some of the main contributions to our increasing global warming issue. Additionally, about 64% of anthropogenic ammonia emissions, which heavily contribute to acid rain, are traced back to livestock as well.

Clearly, with an increase in need for livestock comes an increased need for land (to keep all of the animals). Land degradation has become a more significant problem seeing as pastures and feed-crop land are in high demand. As a result of this, deforestation has increased.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), one of the largest animal rights organizations in the world, has a surplus of information on this topic but I found great evidence regarding the large water pollution problem that food industry causes. “Each day, factory farms produce billions of pounds of manure, which ends up in lakes, rivers, and drinking water.” (PETA) Animal waste and fertilizing chemicals subsequently end up in bodies of water that WE retrieve drinking water from. “According to the EPA, agricultural runoff is the number one source of pollution in our waterways.”

Certainly, my decision to transition over to a primarily plant-based, cleaner diet has a considerable amount to do with my emotional attachment to animals, but I was also looking for a way to make a healthier lifestyle for myself. My ecological or carbon footprint has now decreased significantly as a result of living a more sustainable lifestyle and cleaner eating routine. The ecological footprint “measures how fast we consume resources and generate waste, compared to how fast nature can absorb our waste and generate new resources.” (Livestrong) The cycle of food consumption and production is a critical footprint component, measured as the number of hectares of biologically productive land and sea needed to support an individual’s or a community’s food consumption. Though one person’s diet change may not make a difference in the significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions in our world or totally cleanse the depths of our water, it is good to know that you as a person are making your own kind of change in a smaller way.

Many people have their different reasons for veganism, but whatever that reason may be, this lifestyle among many different kinds of people has one large outcome in common, a cleaner and greener earth.

Sources:

https://www.vegansociety.com/try-vegan/why-go-vegan

http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/environment.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/513641-ecological-footprint-of-a-vegan-diet-vs-carnivorous-diet/

http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/animals-used-food-factsheets/vegetarianism-environment/

http://vegan.org/learn/for-the-environment/

Through out my life time, my family has owned two dogs. I have come to realize that I am definitely more of what you would consider a “dog person” than a “cat person.” Out of my interest and love for dogs, I thought it would be interesting to discern between these two different kinds of people and discover whether there are consistent patterns or common themes among a “dog person” personality and a “cat person” personality. Low and behold, after a bit of research, I discovered that, indeed, there is scientific research on the differences in dog people and cat people.

According to Huffington Post, and author Rachael Rettner, dog lovers tended to consider themselves more of the outgoing and energetic type whereas the people who preferred cats described themselves as relatively “introverted” or “more sensitive than dog lovers.” As strange as this seemed to me, I decided to figure out why that is. Study researcher Denise Guastello, an associate professor of psychology at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin, presented the findings at the annual Association for Psychological Science meeting. “Whereas, if you’re more introverted, and sensitive, maybe you’re more at home reading a book, and your cat doesn’t need to go outside for a walk.” However, that being said, it is also possible that people choose their pets based on their own personalities as well.

Interesting insight from Psychology Today noted that wild cats’ tendencies and attitudes are relatively similar to those of domestic cats, as with wild canines and domestic dogs. Wild cats tend to travel independently and hunt late at night. Similarly with wild cats, they never usually require company. Often times, they like to be left alone. Contrastingly with dogs, wild canines travel in packs and a very active animals between dawn and dusk. “Domestic dogs retain this need for social interaction to the degree that without a master and a family, a dog seems unhappy, almost lost.” Dogs are seemingly dependent upon attention, care and activity whereas cats are almost entirely uninterested, most of the time.

Sam Gosling, a psychologist at the University of Texas in Austin and his graduate student Carson Sandy conducted a web-based study in which 4,565 individuals were asked whether they were dog people, cat people, neither or both. The results showed that dog people were generally about 15 percent more extroverted and 13 percent more agreeable, both of which dimensions are associated with social orientation. In addition, dog people proved 11 percent more conscientious than cat people. Conscientiousness involves is a tendency to show self-discipline, to complete tasks and aim for achievement. The trait shows a preference for planned rather than spontaneous behavior. In addition to that, cat folk turned out to be 12 percent more neurotic however, they also proved to be about 11 percent more “open” (emotionally/intellectually).

Based on the nature of dogs being more sociable than cats, many people can logically expect that the personalities of dog lovers would also reflect higher sociability. This is why i believe the traits or attitudes within a dog and a cat reflect the kind of person the owner may be like.The general pattern and overall conclusion that comes out of both studies is that dog owners are more social, interactive and accepting and cat owners (who own cats exclusively) are more introverted, self-contained and less sociable.

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201002/personality-differences-between-dog-and-cat-owners 

http://www.livescience.com/45894-dog-cat-people-personalities.html

What’s up guys, I’m Tori. I am from the classic, “right outside of Philadelphia area.” Close to Villanova University if that is any kind of better indication. I’m a COMM major, specifically journalism, AKA the major for “non science and math people.” It’s not that I dislike either field, I’ve always just been more geared towards writing throughout my years in high school.

I don’t enjoy memorizing formulas or parts of the human body, calculating velocities and momentums or slaving over tedious labs so that is probably why I am not majoring in anything science-related. However, with that being said, I do enjoy the environmental side of science and modern-day global issues. Not only does this class appropriately fit into my schedule and fulfill one of my Gen. Eds. (surprise, surprise) but it also involves the everyday issues in our world regarding the environment and society which I so desperately need to learn more about. I really look forward to Andrew shedding light upon the common misconceptions of our world and the many anomalies that it encompasses.

And let’s be real, Andrew’s accent keeps me attentive for the entirety of class. Too entertaining.

Penn State football is one of my passions so I’ll bless you all with this dope picture I took at the 2013 Wisconsin game.

Even though science is not necessarily my forte, I have the utmost respect for Stephen Hawking and this movie