We humans are only as intelligent as the knowledge we have to work with. — Understand (verb): to stand in the midst of, among, between. Intelligence (noun): from the Latin words, inter (between), and legere (choose). First things first — mushrooms It was Charles Darwin who wrote that intelligence is based on how efficient a species becomes at doing the things it needs to survive. If that is the case…

Mental health requires courage — The key to a happy life The key to a happy life is the ability to transcend personal suffering, find a balance, and recognise that the world has problems. …

International consensus on the evidence-based application of aquatic therapy in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. — I’m delighted to share the recent publication of new international aquatic therapy guidelines for Parkinson’s disease — a world-first in achieving international consensus on the evidence-based application of aquatic therapy in the treatment of the illness. Aquatic therapy involves water immersion as an exercise and rehabilitation medium to improve the…

Ignoring developments in neuroscience means ignoring an opportunity to improve ethical behaviour. — Physiologically, our brains are the legacy of ancient times, when survival was paramount, and acting before thinking was necessary. We have the brains of ancient cave dwellers still inside us. Even with all our disputes, follies, and tribal differences, what we are is what brought us here, and we may…

Understanding the process of neurotransmission How do brain cells communicate with one another to create thoughts, feelings, and behaviours? They communicate by means of a process called neurotransmission. Neurotransmission — the transmission of nerve impulses between neurons or between a neuron and a muscle fibre or other structure — could…

Mind — n. the human consciousness that originates in the brain and is manifested especially in thought, perception, emotion, will, memory, and imagination. No robot can solve a crossword, or engage in a conversation, with anything like the facility the average human being can. Somehow or other we humans are…

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Stephen Covey, who died ten years ago, was a truly inspirational figure who studied human behavior and devised a set of simple instructions for human happiness known as The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Of these 7…

We need to stop and ask ourselves what we are doing when we buy into social media and what is the full nature of this intimate transaction. One of the most common questions I hear is the question of whether or not social media is damaging our brain. I view…

The second law of thermodynamics says that in our Universe, uncertainty and disorder can only increase and can never decrease. Simply put, the second law of thermodynamics says that in our Universe, uncertainty and disorder can only increase and can never decrease. In everyday life, this explains why you have…