Fandoms, online communities formed around shared interests like art, provide validation and belonging, enhancing mental and physical well-being. Social identity theory explains this connection. While participating in fandoms encourages creativity and critical thinking, online toxicity can detract from the experience. Recognizing and disengaging from toxic behavior is crucial. Moderation is key to prevent negative impacts on health and social life.
Category: Mind
Author: Katie KavanaghArtist: Qiwen LiuEditor: Rachel Grosberg Music is a part of everyone’s life, playing…
Author: Elin BonyadiArtist: Bella MarwickEditor: Leonie Hellwich From being a means through which our subconscious…
Jazz musicians experience a state of intense focus and effortless creativity known as “flow” during solos. Using fMRI techniques, researchers found increased activity in the brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN), associated with self-expression and idea generation, and decreased activity in the Executive Control Network (ECN), linked to idea monitoring and evaluation. This suggests that jazz improvisation involves decreased inhibition and increased mind-wandering, reflecting a state of flow. Achieving this state requires practice, technical mastery, and the willingness to take creative risks without excessive self-censoring.
Our very own Leonie Hellwich had the honour of meeting with renowned psychoanalyst Susie Orbach. They discussed Orbach’s most recent book, Bodies, which covers body image, transforming bodies, and the subsequent impact on our sense of self.
This article explores differences in brain structure and function across the world and how this relates to cultural differences.
Read this article to learn about the impact of concussion and neurodegenerative disease in contact sports. Discover the origins of concern dating back to the 1920s, ongoing research on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), media controversies and the importance of balanced narratives.
Can psychedelics be the next big game changer in the field of mental health?
“Once it becomes clinically relevant, it will become legally relevant.” – Francis Shen
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