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Our name is one of the most familiar words we hear. We have been hearing it since childhood, and over time it has become closely linked to our identity, our relationships and our everyday experiences. That may be one reason why our name can capture our attention even when we are not consciously listening for it. The effect is especially noticeable in busy environments. We may be talking to someone, surrounded by several conversations, and suddenly notice that someone has said our name. The brain appears to give particular priority to information that is personally meaningful. Why does our name stand out? Auditory attention does not work like a simple switch. Even when we focus on one conversation, the brain continues to process at least some information coming from the surrounding environment. The so-called cocktail party effect describes this ability to focus on one source of sound while still detecting certain meaningful stimuli in the background. Our own name is one of the classic e...
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Το όνομά μας είναι μία από τις πιο οικείες λέξεις που ακούμε. Το έχουμε ακούσει αμέτρητες φορές από την παιδική μας ηλικία και το έχουμε συνδέσει με τον εαυτό μας, τις σχέσεις μας και την καθημερινή μας ζωή. Ίσως γι’ αυτό μπορεί να τραβήξει την προσοχή μας ακόμη και όταν δεν προσπαθούμε συνειδητά να ακούσουμε. Το φαινόμενο γίνεται ιδιαίτερα εμφανές σε χώρους με πολύ κόσμο. Μπορεί να συζητάμε με κάποιον, να ακούμε πολλές φωνές γύρω μας και ξαφνικά να αντιληφθούμε ότι κάποιος είπε το όνομά μας. Ο εγκέφαλος φαίνεται να δίνει προτεραιότητα σε πληροφορίες που έχουν προσωπική σημασία για εμάς. Το όνομά μας ξεχωρίζει ανάμεσα στους άλλους ήχους Η ακουστική προσοχή δεν λειτουργεί σαν ένα απλό «on/off». Ακόμη κι όταν συγκεντρωνόμαστε σε μία συζήτηση, ο εγκέφαλος συνεχίζει να επεξεργάζεται μέρος των πληροφοριών που φτάνουν από το περιβάλλον. Το λεγόμενο «φαινόμενο του cocktail party» περιγράφει ακριβώς αυτή την ικανότητα: μέσα σε ένα περιβάλλον με πολλές ταυτόχρονες φωνές, ορισμένα ιδιαίτερα σημα...
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Testosterone is linked to sexual function, muscle mass, bone health, energy and fertility. That does not mean every man needs regular testosterone testing. Current guidelines do not recommend routine screening of men who have no symptoms. Testing is more appropriate when symptoms or specific medical factors raise a concern about testosterone deficiency. Which symptoms may lead to testing? Low testosterone, also called testosterone deficiency or hypogonadism when diagnostic criteria are met, can affect men in different ways. Symptoms that may lead a doctor to consider testing include: - reduced sex drive, - erectile problems or fewer spontaneous erections, - lower energy, - loss of muscle mass, - reduced fertility, - changes in mood or concentration, - reduced body hair, - low bone density or unexplained anemia in some cases. However, none of these symptoms alone proves that testosterone is low. Fatigue, low mood and concentration problems, for example, can...
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Υπάρχουν μέρες που η ιδέα μιας εξόδου δεν μας ενθουσιάζει καθόλου. Προτιμάμε τον καναπέ, ένα ήσυχο βράδυ στο σπίτι και λιγότερα ερεθίσματα. Αυτό μπορεί να είναι απλώς μια φυσιολογική ανάγκη για ξεκούραση ή ένας τρόπος να προσαρμοστούμε σε μια πιο ήρεμη περίοδο της καθημερινότητας. Η διάθεση για περισσότερο χρόνο στο σπίτι μπορεί να επηρεάζεται από πολλούς παράγοντες: το επίπεδο ενέργειας, τον ύπνο, τον καιρό, το φως της ημέρας, το πόσο γεμάτη ήταν η εβδομάδα αλλά και το πόση κοινωνική επαφή είχαμε ήδη. Δεν σημαίνει απαραίτητα ότι «δεν θέλουμε ανθρώπους» Η ανάγκη για χρόνο μόνοι μας δεν είναι το ίδιο πράγμα με την κοινωνική απομόνωση. Μετά από μια απαιτητική ημέρα ή μια περίοδο με πολλές υποχρεώσεις, το σπίτι μπορεί να λειτουργεί ως ένας πιο ήσυχος χώρος όπου μειώνονται τα ερεθίσματα και μπορούμε να ξεκουραστούμε. Το πόση κοινωνική επαφή θέλουμε διαφέρει σημαντικά από άνθρωπο σε άνθρωπο και μπορεί να αλλάζει ακόμη και μέσα στην ίδια εβδομάδα. Επομένως, μια βραδιά στο σπίτι δεν χρειάζετα...
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There are days when going out simply does not appeal to us. We would rather stay home, have a quiet evening and deal with fewer demands and stimuli. That can be nothing more than a normal need for rest or a way of slowing down after a busy period. Our desire to spend more time at home can be influenced by many factors, including energy levels, sleep, weather, daylight, how demanding our week has been and how much social contact we have already had. It does not necessarily mean we want to avoid people Wanting some time alone is not the same as social isolation. After a demanding day or a period filled with responsibilities, home can provide a quieter environment where we can decompress. How much social interaction we want varies considerably between people and can even change from one day to the next. So, choosing a quiet night at home does not automatically mean that something is wrong. What does the season have to do with it? As autumn approaches, daylight gradually decreases and the ...
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The change of season does not make our body switch from one state to another overnight. But changes in daylight, temperature, daily routines and activity can influence some of our normal biological rhythms. As summer gives way to autumn, daylight gradually decreases and the pattern of natural light changes. This can interact with the circadian rhythm — the internal timing system that helps regulate sleep and wakefulness. Light and darkness are among the most important environmental signals that help keep this system synchronized. Light helps set our internal clock Our brain uses the cycle of light and darkness as a cue for when it is daytime and when it is time to prepare for sleep. Natural light affects the timing of the circadian system and is linked to the release of melatonin, a hormone involved in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. As daylight patterns change, some people may notice small differences in when they feel sleepy, when they wake up or how easily they adapt to a new daily...
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For many men, the working day is spent mostly in front of a computer. A few hours at a desk can easily become most of the day sitting, especially when commuting by car, spending time in front of screens and relaxing on the sofa after work are added to the routine. Even when regular exercise is part of a man's lifestyle, the rest of the day still matters. Movement is not only about the workout. It is also about everything we do from the moment we get up until the end of the day. Exercise is not the only form of movement When we think about physical activity, we often think about the gym, running or sports. In reality, physical activity includes much more: walking, cycling, active transportation, household tasks and physical activity related to work. For a man who works at a desk, this means that there are opportunities to move outside his scheduled workout. Walking part of the commute, taking the stairs or taking a short break from the desk can all add movement to an otherwise seden...
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