Posts Tagged → research
New study on bipolar disorder confirms mind-body-spirit connection
In the dominating Western view of the self, the mind and the body are two completely separate entities that serve distinct functions. However, science is increasingly dismantling this dichotomy and indicating that the mind-body-spirit connection is stronger than previously thought.
For example, a recent study from a group of researchers at Indiana University found that poor posture may actually be a contributing factor to bipolar disorder. For years, doctors had noted an association between the two but dismissed the connection as a random association.
The researchers said that their study revealed individuals with bipolar disorder often experience difficulty maintaining balance and holding themselves upright while standing, and that these problems often precede any mood disturbances.
"It appears that people with bipolar disorder process sensory information differently and this is seen in their inability to adapt their movement patterns to different conditions," said S. Lee Hong, who led the study.
The findings confirm what author and philosopher Ilchi Lee has been saying for years about the extremely close association between the brain and a person's physical form. This mind-body-spirit connection is fundamental.
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New initiative seeks to gauge brain potential
Over the past few years, science has made some tremendous advancements in the cause of neuroscience. However, there has been little effort to connect all these findings to produce a unified understanding of the mind.
In an effort to pull recent findings together and to push an agenda that could lead to important new research, former Rhode Island congressman Patrick Kennedy recently launched the One Mind for Research initiative. According to the Associated Press, the project will seek to provide funding for a range of new studies on topics such as Alzheimer's disease, autism, post-traumatic stress disorder and a range of other mental diseases.
Additionally, the group is working toward releasing a 10-year plan that it hopes will steer the future course of neuroscientific inquiry. Kennedy said that these issues are so pressing, that the nation needs to push forward on them.
"Instead of us going to outer space, let's go to inner space," he told the news source. "This is a fundamental moment for us as a nation to determine whether this is something that we're up to the task of tackling."
Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee has also advocated for scientific study of the brain. He says that by understanding its inner workings, it may be possible to pursue spiritual growth.
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New findings help explain age-related cognitive decline
Degradation in certain areas of the brain may help explain why people tend to have a harder time processing new information as they age, and this knowledge suggests possible ways to prevent the problem, according to a new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins University.
The team used brain imaging scans of older individuals while they were completing tasks that tested their memory. The results showed that seniors tend to have atrophy in neural pathways that lead to the hippocampus, the area of the brain that holds memories.
This is why a person is more likely to recall older information rather than form and process new memories when they are older. However, the researchers said that it may be possible to ward off these effects. They said that their findings will make it easier to study the effects of various treatments that support brain health well into old age.
Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee says that brain health can be preserved through techniques such as meditation and other forms of mental training. These methods may help maintain neural pathways and stave off the effects of cognitive decline.
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Researchers map human brain in detail
A team of scientists has created the first complete anatomical and genetic map of the human brain, and the researchers say their creation could further the study of many aspects of the mind.
Prior to the new mapping, there did not exist such a detailed rendering of the various details of the brain. Scientists only new of the inner workings of the organ in generalized ways. However, the brain is so complex and intricately structured that this left many details undiscovered.
The new mapping will allow researchers to look inside the mind and gain a more detail understanding of its processes.
"Until now, a definitive map of the human brain, at this level of detail, simply hasn't existed," said Allan Jones, the Allen Institute for Brain Science researcher who developed the model.
Ilchi Lee says that brain potential is nearly limitless, particularly when it comes to brain development. The findings could help produce a better understanding of techniques that could be used to unlock the full potential of the brain.
