There are days when we talk from morning until night and others when we barely say a word for hours. Silence itself is not something to worry about. It can simply be a natural part of resting, concentrating or enjoying some quiet time. What is interesting is what happens when silence becomes part of our daily routine. Our voice, breathing, attention and social interaction are connected, but not always in the way we might expect. Our voice gets a break Speaking is a physical process. Producing sound involves the vocal folds, the respiratory system and the muscles involved in speech. When we stop speaking, this activity decreases. Vocal rest is sometimes recommended in specific situations involving voice problems or after certain medical procedures. However, complete silence is not necessarily better in every situation. The right approach depends on the individual and the reason for the voice problem. Research involving professional voice users, such as teachers, suggests that balancing ...
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Some songs can change our mood within seconds. They may help us feel calmer, bring back a vivid memory, or simply make a familiar moment feel different. That response is not purely psychological. Music can engage brain systems involved in reward, emotion, attention and memory. Music is more than sound When we listen to music, the brain is doing more than processing individual sounds. It recognizes rhythms, melodies and patterns, while connecting them with previous experiences and expectations. When we hear music we enjoy, areas involved in the brain's reward system become active. These include parts of the striatum, which are involved in pleasure and motivation. Research has also linked pleasurable music with dopamine release, a neurotransmitter involved in reward processing. Why can a song change our mood? Music can influence how we experience emotion, but the response is highly individual. Musical preferences, memories associated with a particular song and our emotional state at ...
Μερικές φορές δεν χρειάζεται καν να δούμε το φαγητό. Μια μυρωδιά από φρεσκοψημένο ψωμί, καφέ ή ένα φαγητό που μαγειρεύεται στην κουζίνα μπορεί να μας κάνει ξαφνικά να σκεφτούμε ότι πεινάμε. Δεν είναι περίεργο. Η όσφρηση αποτελεί σημαντικό μέρος του τρόπου με τον οποίο αντιλαμβανόμαστε το φαγητό και μπορεί να επηρεάσει την όρεξη, τις προτιμήσεις και την προσδοκία ότι πρόκειται να φάμε. Τα δεδομένα, όμως, δείχνουν ότι η επίδραση της μυρωδιάς στην πραγματική ποσότητα που θα καταναλώσουμε είναι πιο σύνθετη. Η μυρωδιά «μιλάει» στον εγκέφαλο Όταν μυρίζουμε ένα φαγητό, ο εγκέφαλος δεν λαμβάνει απλώς πληροφορία για το αν κάτι μυρίζει ευχάριστα. Η οσμή μπορεί να λειτουργήσει ως αισθητηριακό σήμα που μας ενημερώνει ότι υπάρχει διαθέσιμο φαγητό. Η όσφρηση συνδέεται στενά με περιοχές του εγκεφάλου που συμμετέχουν στην αντίληψη, τη μνήμη, την ανταμοιβή και τη διατροφική συμπεριφορά. Γι' αυτό μια γνώριμη μυρωδιά μπορεί να μας θυμίσει ένα συγκεκριμένο φαγητό ή μια προηγούμενη εμπειρία και να κάνε...
Sometimes we do not even need to see food. The smell of freshly baked bread, coffee or a meal cooking in the kitchen can suddenly make us think that we are hungry. There is a reason for this. Smell is an important part of how we experience food and can influence appetite, food preferences and the expectation that we are about to eat. However, its effect on how much we actually consume is more complex. The smell of food sends signals to the brain When we smell food, the brain is not simply deciding whether the smell is pleasant. The scent can act as a sensory signal that tells us food is nearby or available. Smell is closely connected with areas of the brain involved in perception, memory, reward and eating behaviour. This is one reason why a familiar food smell can remind us of a particular meal or experience and make us want that food more strongly. Appetite can change before the first bite Research suggests that exposure to food smells can increase subjective appetite, particularly f...
Sometimes, all it takes is one awkward moment for our face to suddenly feel warm. Our cheeks turn red, our heart may beat a little faster and, for a few seconds, it can feel as though everyone's attention is on us. Blushing from embarrassment is a real physical response. It is not simply the feeling that we are getting warm. It is linked to changes in blood flow in the face and to the activity of the autonomic nervous system. Why do our cheeks turn red? When we feel embarrassed or suddenly become aware that we are being watched, the autonomic nervous system becomes involved. In the face, this can be accompanied by vasodilation, meaning that blood vessels widen. This can increase blood flow close to the surface of the skin, making the face appear redder. The reaction is particularly noticeable around the face, neck and ears. Social embarrassment is one of the situations that can trigger this response. Not everyone reacts in the same way How visibly someone blushes varies considerabl...
Υπάρχουν μέρες που κοιταζόμαστε στον καθρέφτη και το βλέμμα μας φαίνεται πιο βαρύ, ακόμη κι αν δεν αισθανόμαστε ιδιαίτερα διαφορετικά. Πρησμένα βλέφαρα, πιο έντονοι μαύροι κύκλοι ή κοκκινισμένα μάτια μπορούν να κάνουν το πρόσωπο να δείχνει κουρασμένο. Ο ύπνος είναι ένας από τους παράγοντες που μπορούν να επηρεάσουν την εμφάνιση του προσώπου. Σε εργαστηριακή μελέτη, πρόσωπα ανθρώπων μετά από στέρηση ύπνου αξιολογήθηκαν ως πιο κουρασμένα και εμφάνιζαν, μεταξύ άλλων, πιο πρησμένα και πιο κόκκινα μάτια και πιο έντονους μαύρους κύκλους. Αυτό, όμως, δεν σημαίνει ότι κάθε φορά που βλέπουμε μαύρους κύκλους ή πρήξιμο φταίει η έλλειψη ύπνου. Οι μαύροι κύκλοι δεν έχουν μία μόνο αιτία Η περιοχή κάτω από τα μάτια είναι ιδιαίτερα σύνθετη. Οι μαύροι κύκλοι μπορεί να σχετίζονται με διαφορετικούς παράγοντες, όπως η μελάγχρωση, η αγγείωση, η λεπτότητα του δέρματος, το σχήμα της περιοχής κάτω από τα μάτια και οι σκιές που δημιουργούνται από την ανατομία του προσώπου. Σε ορισμένες περιπτώσεις, μπορεί να υ...
Some days, we look in the mirror and notice that our eyes seem heavier than usual, even when we do not feel particularly different. Puffy eyelids, more visible dark circles or red-looking eyes can all make the face appear tired. Sleep is one factor that can influence facial appearance. In a laboratory study, faces photographed after sleep deprivation were rated as looking more tired and showed, among other features, more swollen and red eyes and darker under-eye circles. That does not mean that every dark circle or puffy eye is caused by lack of sleep. Dark circles do not have just one cause The skin around the eyes is a particularly complex area. Dark circles can be associated with different factors, including pigmentation, visible blood vessels, thin skin, the anatomy beneath the eyes and shadows created by facial structure. In some people, swelling around the eyes can also contribute to the appearance. This is why two people with similar sleep schedules can have very different-looki...