PTSD in Animals

Hi Everyone!

I thought you might like to take a look at this short piece in the New York Times on Military dogs suffering from PTSD also! Theoretically, just like humans, this could mean dogs and cats may be experiencing PTSD from other traumas as well.

Dr. Wallace J. Nichols

Hi Everyone!

Here is a article on an amazing biologist, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, who is trying to get cognitive neuroscientists to research the brain's reaction to observing the ocean. He believes, "More data on rising sea temperatures or plastic pollution or disappearing creatures won’t do anything for ocean conservation. Instead, we need to study our own minds." From observing people's reactions of calm while they view the ocean, he feels it may be similiar to what happens to the brain when we meditate. He wants to combine neuroscience with conservation and call it "neuro-conservation."

Check out his idea of passing along Blue Marbles to everyone on his website.

Documentary: Tapped

Hi Everyone...

One of my students recommended this documentary "Tapped" and it is AWESOME! It explains where the major bottled water distributors are getting the water, the difference in quality requirements, the consequences of the plastic in the bottles to our health and to the environment and what can be done about these concerns.

Please pass this along to others and consider getting a water filtration system for your tap water and using safe containers.

Anderson Cooper: Bullying

Hi Everyone!

Tomorrow (Sun) at 7pmct on Anderson 360 (CNN) a series will begin called "Bullying: It Stops Here."

Still Procrastinating?

Hi Everyone!

My students read an article on Procrastination written by Dr. Joseph Ferrari from DePaul University. I would recommend Dr. Ferarri's new book Still Procrastinating? The No-Regets Guide To Getting It Done. You can look at the first couple pages on this link. Dr. Ferrari has a Facebook Page for the book if you would like to keep up-to-date with interviews and articles about it. There are two audios posted and small written piece in USA Today posted thus far.

Psychology Today has 10 Things To Know About Procrastination.

Bit more on Book & Suggestions:


Now Don't Procrastinate on looking at these Resources! :-) I hope they help! Share them with others!!!

Workers Behaving Badly!

Hi Everyone!

Think about where you work? Have you noticed an increase in your coworkers being less civil? Are they being rude and insulting? The workplace is a microsystem of our society so it may not be a surprise this behavior is rising in the business setting as it has been in society in general. Jeannine Trudel of Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion reported her research findings at the APA annual meeting held in WA this week. She found 86% of people at Midwestern Companies are reporting incivility at work. The increase in incivility is likely a result of positions being eliminited, others taking on more duties without an increase in pay added to the general economy concerns. These stressors do accumulate and cause harm.

A Growing Mother's Brain

Hi Everyone!

A recent article by Nathan Collins in Scientific American Mind entitled "A New Mom's Changing Brain" states Mothers brains grow particularly the Hypothalamus, Amygdala, Sustania Nigra, and Pre-Frontal Cortex areas which have been found to be involved in necessary emotions in bonding with newborns. Future studies may look into whether this may be true of fathers, adoptive parents and others who bond closely with newborns.

Insane or Guilty But Mentally Ill?

Hi Everyone! With each high profile shooting, from the school shootings to recently Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords being shot, the argument of whether the assailant is Insane or Guilty but certainly Mentally Ill comes up.

A recent article in Scientific American Mind called "The Insanity Verdict On Trial" by Scott O. Lilienfeld and Hal Arkowitz discusses the difference between the two, how widely they are misunderstood & how rarely a defense of Insanity is used and successfully won in the courts.