American scientists say that developing music skills may help individuals improve their communication skills, particularly speech. This is because similar processes are involved in music training and learning how to speak. Researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois investigated the link between music and language skills. More than 100 teenagers were
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Where does human imagination come from? What processes are involved when humans invent a new technology, write a song, or create an artwork? Scientists and philosophers around the world have long been trying to find the answer. But it was not until today that it was revealed. Scientific theories suggest that the human imagination requires a broad neural net
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A comprehensive study published in the Cochrane Library found no evidence on the benefits of influenza vaccines. According to the researchers, studies that show the benefits of flu vaccines were mostly industry-funded. They also found that only less than five per cent of all adverse events on the use of flu vaccines had been reported. It’s most probab
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Telomeres – the parts of chromosomes linked to ageing – could increase if people engage in regular exercise, practise healthy diet, learn to manage stress, seek social support, a new study suggests. Published in The Lancet Oncology, the study was the first to show that human telomeres could be lengthened through intervention. Telomeres are prot
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Understanding the science behind happiness has been a great challenge for positive psychologists around the world. Research has shown that there is no precise formula for happiness. As Professor Lord Layard of the London School of Economics puts it, “happiness has always been seen as too vague a concept”. Just the term ‘happiness’ sti
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It is part of our human nature to either fight or flight. It is a physiological response that prepares our body to face or flee away from a situation. This special ability was first described by American physiologist Walter Cannon in the 1920s. According to him, a chain of rapidly occurring reactions inside the body takes place, mobilising the body’s r
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Meditation is a mind-body technique that existed thousands of years ago. In fact, archaeological findings have shown yogic figures in the Indus Valley Civilisation. But it was not until recently that scientists began to acknowledge its amazing health benefits. Over the past ten years, scientists around the world have conducted numerous studies on meditati
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Diet drinks, salads, blueberry muffins, sugar-free snacks – they really sound healthy right? Not always. Check out these 12 ‘healthy’ snacks that are not that healthy at all. Low-Fat Nut Butter The ‘low-fat’ peanut butter available in groceries today is not really a healthier version of the regular peanut butter. Try checking
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New research from the University of Oxford has found that the levels of omega 3 DHA in the blood can significantly predict how well a child is able to concentrate and learn. This study is one of the first to evaluate blood omega levels among schoolchildren in Britain. In this study, researchers found that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood w
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Oxytocin, known as the ‘love hormone’ is involved in a broader range of social interactions than previously thought, according to a new study by the Stanford University School of Medicine. Their findings may have implications for neurological disorders like autism, as well as the understanding of our evolutionary heritage. Oxytocin has been a su
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