Your Brain on Coffee

By contributing author Paul Li, a neuroscience graduate student at Columbia.

Coffee is not just a popular beverage–it’s a drug, an addicting habit that many of us partake every morning to begin our day. Considering that most major cities have coffee shops in virtually every street corner, it is not easy to avoid coffee. And maybe you shouldn’t try to.

Recent studies indicate that coffee may somewhat delay the onset of dementia. One study found that women over the age of 65 who had mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but who also drank at least 3 cups per day, were at reduced risk of progressing to Alzheimer’s disease. Their slowed mental deterioration may be attributed to the caffeine, which could protect neurons that are involved in forming memories.

So imbibing some coffee might indeed be a good thing, as long as you don’t mind the palpitations or coffee jitters (see our previous post on coffee). If further research supports these findings, perhaps we should thank our local Starbucks or Coffee Bean for keeping us wide awake and sharp through the years.

Eat your vegetables, do your homework, and play your video games?

By contributing author Paul Li, a neuroscience graduate student at Columbia.

When I was a kid, I was constantly scolded by my mother for spending countless hours on my 1989 Nintendo Entertainment System. She thought reading or playing outside would be more beneficial for me than Duck Hunt or Super Mario Brothers. My mother could have never predicted that recent research would show that video games can sometimes actually be good for your brain!

Continue Reading »

Mirror Neurons: What you see is really what you do

By contributing author Paul Li, a neuroscience graduate student at Columbia.

Have you ever inexplicably and involuntarily yawned after someone else does the same? Well, researchers may have found the neural basis for intention and emotions, empathy in particular. Neurons become activated not only when one performs an action, but also when viewing it!

Why might mirror neurons be useful? Researchers have suggested that they may play a major role in language learning, which involves mimicry and also our ability to empathize with others. Such a case occurs when watching a movie – we tend to emotionally relate to the characters. Mirror neurons can also help explain why autistic children are unable to read other people’s emotions or why women tend to be more empathetic than men. For more on mirror neurons, check out the recent article Therapeutic Reflection in Scientific American Mind.