As the leaves begin to change and 2021 starts to wind down, we often find ourselves reflecting on the past, giving thanks for our present, and hoping for the future. Modern American Thanksgiving further encourages people to practice gratitude and think deeply about themselves and everything that keeps the world together. Gratitude is also widely practiced in many cultural and religious practices, and it has been lauded as a mental health practice. But does gratitude actually have a positive … [Read more...]
The Science of Empathy
Erica
You may have learned in elementary school that empathy is “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes”, but what is empathy in a scientific context and why is it important? First, it is important to note that empathy is a fairly new concept in neuroscience. In fact, the first neuroimaging study to demonstrate how people are able to feel each other's’ pain was completed just 18 years ago in 2003. As reported by Dr. Helen Reiss in a 2017 publication, the concept of empathy is currently shifting … [Read more...]
Interview with leading neuroscientist, Dr. Nancy Isenberg
Dr. Nancy Isenberg
Recently, I had the immense honor of interviewing Dr. Nancy Isenberg. Dr. Isenberg is currently the medical director of the Center for Healthy Aging at the Swedish Neuroscience Institute in Seattle, WA and co-director of Project ECHO, a program which works to scale dementia care and primary care. She has also published numerous neuroscience papers. I sat down with Dr. Isenberg to learn more about her implementation of comprehensive and collaborative memory disorder care and the scientific basis … [Read more...]
Look on the Bright Side: The Scientific Benefits of Optimism
Erica
We know the age-old question: If a glass is filled halfway with water, is it half full or half empty? As the story goes, optimistic people see the metaphorical glass half full, whereas pessimistic people see the glass half empty. While a person’s outlook on the world may only seem like an insignificant aspect of their character, science has revealed numerous concrete health benefits to optimism. Before analyzing the positive effects of optimism, let’s first dissect what optimism is as a … [Read more...]
My connection with Phyllis
Erica L. - Young Leader
When I was in seventh grade, my grandfather recognized my interest in poetry and suggested that I send some of my work to his friend Phyllis. My grandfather said that she was a well known poet in his area who might be able to give me some advice about my creative writing. At first, I was skeptical about the idea of having a penpal. I didn’t know who she was, and I didn’t know if we could make a connection through letters, not to mention that she lived across the country and was generations older … [Read more...]