Can't Make a Decision? 20 Common Cognitive Biases

Throughout the day, we make thousands of rational decisions. They can be as small as what we'll eat for breakfast to as big as whether to make a career move. However, while these rational decisions may come to mind, research suggests that there are a number of cognitive stumbling blocks that have an effect on our behavior, preventing us from acting in our own best interests. The chart below examines the most common biases that can affect our decision-making. Take a look:

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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New mechanism that may prevent Alzheimer's identified

Researchers have identified a novel mechanism and a potential new therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease (AD), says a new study on mice. Alzheimer's is characterised by profound memory loss and synaptic failure. Although the exact cause of the disease remains unclear, it is well established that maintaining memory and synaptic plasticity requires protein synthesis.

The function of the synapse is to transfer electric activity (information) from one cell to another. 
"Alzheimer's is such a devastating disease and currently there is no cure or effective therapy for it," said a Prof.

"All completed clinical trials of new drugs have failed, so there is clearly a need for novel therapeutic targets for potential treatments."

For the study, the team has shown that AD-associated activation of a signaling molecule termed eEF2K leads to inhibition of protein synthesis. 

Further, they wanted to determine if suppression of eEF2K could improve protein synthesis capacity, consequently alleviating the cognitive and synaptic impairments associated with the disease.

They used a genetic approach to repress the activity of eEF2K in Alzheimer's mouse models. 

The findings, showed that genetic suppression of eEF2K prevented memory loss in those animal models and significantly improved synaptic function.

"These findings are encouraging and provide a new pathway for further research," said the Prof.

The team next plans to test this approach in additional animal studies and eventually in human trials using small molecule inhibitors targeting eEF2K.

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Do You Procrastinate? The Zeigarnik Effect

If you've ever found yourself interrupted by intrusive thoughts and unfinished work, there is a reason why it's so hard to stop thinking about uncompleted and interrupted tasks. According to psychologists, this is referred to as the Zeigarnik effect, or the tendency to better remember unfinished tasks than completed ones. Let's take a closer look at the Zeigarnik effect.

 

If you have started to work on something but were unable to finish it, thoughts of the unfinished work continue to come into your mind, even when you have moved on to other things. These thoughts urge you to go back and finish what you have already begun. This is why you keep thinking about the page-turner, or why you want to keep playing a video game until you complete it. So, even when we try to move on to other things, unfinished work continues to exert an influence. 

You've likely also experienced this effect while in school. For instance, while you've likely had a fairly good recall for the information you were studying before an exam, after an exam, most of us tend to have difficulty remembering all of the things that they studied. When you no longer have immediate use for something, the information tends to flush out of your memory. 

This effect was first discovered and observed by a Russian Psychologist, Bluma Zeigarnik. He was a student of influential theorist Kurt Lewin. While sitting in a busy restaurant in Vienna, she had noted that the waiters had better memories of unpaid orders. But, she came to realize that once the bill was paid, the waiters had difficulty remembering the exact details of the orders. 
So, in a series of experiments, participants were asked to complete simple tasks which included placing beads on a string, putting puzzles together, or solving math problems. Halfway through the tasks, the participants were interrupted. After an hour, Zeigarnik asked the participants to describe what they had been working on. She then discovered that those who had their work interrupted were twice as likely to remember what they had been doing in comparison to those who had actually completed the tasks. 
In another version of the experiment, she found that adult participants were able to remember unfinished tasks 90% more often than they did the finished tasks. Her initial studies were described in a paper titled 'On Finished and Unfinished Tasks' which was published in 1927. 

In order to further explore the effect, during the 1960s, memory researcher John Baddeley explored these findings in an experiment. Participants were given a limited period of time to solve a set of anagrams. If they were unable to solve the anagram before the time was up, they were given the word answer. Later, when the participants were asked to recall the word in the anagrams, they had demonstrated a better memory for the words they did not solve. This supports Zeigarnik's finding that people have a better memory in unfinished projects or interrupted information. 

However, not all research has found support for the effect. Some of the studies have failed to show the same effect, while other researchers have found that there are a variety of factors that may influence the strength of the effect. For instance, studies have shown that motivation can have a big impact on how well people remember information. But, how does it work? Short-term memory is limited both in its capacity and duration. Typically, we can only manage to retain a number of things in memory. And, even then we need to keep rehearsing the information so as to put a hold on it. This requires quite a bit of mental effort, and, not surprisingly, the more that you try to keep in your short-term memory, the harder you need to work to get it to stay there. 

Take waiters as an example, they have to remember a lot of details about the tables they are serving. This includes information about what people ordered as well as what they are drinking. This all needs to be retained in their memory until the customers have finished their meals. So, to deal with this overload of data, most people tend to rely on mental tricks as this allows them to remember better a great deal of information. One example of this is the Zeigarnik effect in which we hold on to this information in the short-term by constantly pulling it back into awareness. So, by reminding ourselves of uncompleted tasks often, we are better able to remember them until they are complete. 

This effect does not just impact memory in the short-term. Any unfinished tasks such as goals that we must still reach can continue to intrude into our thoughts over extended periods of time. The Zeigarnik effect reveals a great deal about how memories work. Once the information is perceived it is often stored in sensory memory, but only for a brief period of time. So, when we pay attention to information, it moves into short-term memory. But, many memories that make it to short-term are forgotten fairly quickly. Nevertheless, through the process of active rehearsal, some of this information is able to move into long-term memory. 
To explain why this occurs, Zeigarnik suggested that failing to complete a task creates underlying cognitive tension. This will result in greater mental effort and rehearsal in order to keep the task at the forefront of awareness. Once completed, the mind is then able to let go of these efforts. 

The Psychology of Forgetting and Why Memory Fails
The Zeigarnik effect is more than just an intriguing observation about how the human brain works. It can actually have implications in your day-to-day life and can even use this psychological phenomenon to your advantage. While common sense might tell you that finishing a task is the best way to approach a goal, the Zeigarnik effect suggests being interrupted during a task as a strong and effective strategy for improving your ability to remember information. 

How to Overcome Procrastination
Often, we put off tasks until the last moment, to complete them in a frenzied rush in order to meet a deadline. But this tenancy leads to a great deal of stress and can result in poor performance. One way to overcome procrastination is to put the Zeigarnik effect to work. Start off by taking the first step no matter how small and once you've begun, but not finished, you will find yourself thinking of the task until it is complete. While you might not finish it all at once, each small step you take brings you closer to your end goal. This approach will help keep you motivated to finish and can also lead to a sense of accomplishment once you have finished a job, thus enabling you to apply your mental energies elsewhere. 
So to stop procrastinating, generate interest and attention. In fact, even advertisers and marketers utilize the Zeigarnik effect to encourage consumers to purchase products. Filmmakers, for instance, create movie trailers that are designed to attract attention by leaving out critical details. This helps draw the viewers' attention, but it leaves people wanting more. So in order to obtain the details, people must see the movie. But it doesn't just stop at movies. Television programs also make use of this strategy and episodes often end during a moment of high action, leaving a number of things unresolved. So, in order to resolve the tension created by the cliffhanger, viewers must tune into the next episode to find out what happens. 

Of course, the Zeigarnik effect is not necessarily always beneficial. When you fail to complete tasks, they can prey on your mind and intrude on your thoughts, thus creating stress. These invasive thoughts can cause you to feel anxious and contribute to sleep disturbances. The effect can also play a role in overcoming such difficulties. In this case, repeated thoughts can motivate people to finish the tasks they have started. And as a result, can lead to feelings of accomplishment, self-esteem, and self-confidence.

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Artificial synapses made from nanowires

Scientists have produced a memristive element made from nanowires that functions in much the same way as a biological nerve cell. The component is able to save and process information, as well as receive numerous signals in parallel. The resistive switching cell made from oxide crystal nanowires is thus an ideal candidate for use in building bioinspired "neuromorphic" processors, able to take over the diverse functions of biological synapses and neurons.

Computers have learned a lot in recent years. Thanks to rapid progress in artificial intelligence they are now able to drive cars, translate texts, defeat world champions at chess, and much more besides. In doing so, one of the greatest challenges lies in the attempt to artificially reproduce the signal processing in the human brain. In neural networks, data are stored and processed to a high degree in parallel. Traditional computers, on the other hand, rapidly work through tasks in succession and clearly distinguish between the storing and processing of information. As a rule, neural networks can only be simulated in a very cumbersome and inefficient way using conventional hardware.

Systems with neuromorphic chips that imitate the way the human brain works offer significant advantages. These types of computers work in a decentralised way, having at their disposal a multitude of processors, which, like neurons in the brain, are connected to each other by networks. If a processor breaks down, another can take over its function. What is more, just like in the brain, where practice leads to improved signal transfer, a bioinspired processor should have the capacity to learn.

"With today's semiconductor technology, these functions are to some extent already achievable. These systems are, however, suitable for particular applications and require a lot of space and energy," says a Dr. Our nanowire devices made from zinc oxide crystals can inherently process and even store information, and are extremely small and energy efficient."

For years, memristive cells have been ascribed the best chances of taking over the function of neurons and synapses in bioinspired computers. They alter their electrical resistance depending on the intensity and direction of the electric current flowing through them. In contrast to conventional transistors, their last resistance value remains intact even when the electric current is switched off. Memristors are thus fundamentally capable of learning.

In order to create these properties, scientists used a single zinc oxide nanowire, produced by their colleagues from the polytechnic university. Measuring approximately one 10,000th of a millimeter in size, this type of nanowire is over 1,000 times thinner than a human hair. The resulting memristive component not only takes up a tiny amount of space, but is also able to switch much faster than flash memory.

Nanowires offer promising novel physical properties compared to other solids and are used among other things in the development of new types of solar cells, sensors, batteries and computer chips. Their manufacture is comparatively simple. Nanowires result from the evaporation deposition of specified materials onto a suitable substrate, where they practically grow of their own accord.

In order to create a functioning cell, both ends of the nanowire must be attached to suitable metals, in this case platinum and silver. The metals function as electrodes, and in addition, release ions triggered by an appropriate electric current. The metal ions are able to spread over the surface of the wire and build a bridge to alter its conductivity.

Components made from single nanowires are, however, still too isolated to be of practical use in chips. Consequently, the next step being planned by the  researchers is to produce and study a memristive element, composed of a larger, relatively easy to generate group of several hundred nanowires offering more exciting functionalities.

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n. As a rule, neural networks can only be simulated in a very cumbersome and inefficient way using conventional hardware.
Systems with neuromorphic chips that imitate the way the human brain works offer significant advantages. These types of computers work in a decentralised way, having at their disposal a multitude of processors, which, like neurons in the brain, are connected to each other by networks. If a processor breaks down, another can take over its function. What is more, just like in the brain, where practice leads to improved signal transfer, a bioinspired processor should have the capacity to learn.
"With today's semiconductor technology, these functions are to some extent already achievable. These systems are, however, suitable for particular applications and require a lot of space and energy," says Dr. Ilia Valov from Forschungszentrum Jülich. "Our nanowire devices made from zinc oxide crystals can inherently process and even store information, and are extremely small and energy efficient."
For years, memristive cells have been ascribed the best chances of taking over the function of neurons and synapses in bioinspired computers. They alter their electrical resistance depending on the intensity and direction of the electric current flowing through them. In contrast to conventional transistors, their last resistance value remains intact even when the electric current is switched off. Memristors are thus fundamentally capable of learning.
In order to create these properties, scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University used a single zinc oxide nanowire, produced by their colleagues from the polytechnic university in Turin. Measuring approximately one 10,000th of a millimeter in size, this type of nanowire is over 1,000 times thinner than a human hair. The resulting memristive component not only takes up a tiny amount of space, but is also able to switch much faster than flash memory.
Nanowires offer promising novel physical properties compared to other solids and are used among other things in the development of new types of solar cells, sensors, batteries and computer chips. Their manufacture is comparatively simple. Nanowires result from the evaporation deposition of specified materials onto a suitable substrate, where they practically grow of their own accord.
In order to create a functioning cell, both ends of the nanowire must be attached to suitable metals, in this case platinum and silver. The metals function as electrodes, and in addition, release ions triggered by an appropriate electric current. The metal ions are able to spread over the surface of the wire and build a bridge to alter its conductivity.
Components made from single nanowires are, however, still too isolated to be of practical use in chips. Consequently, the next step being planned by the Jülich and Turin researchers is to produce and study a memristive element, composed of a larger, relatively easy to generate group of several hundred nanowires offering more exciting functionalities.


Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2018-12-artificial-synapses-nanowires.html#jCp

How to do thyroid patch test

Many women are suffering from thyroid issues. In fact, we have a post that has the 10 major signs and symptoms on our site.

It is one of our most read articles. Something that many people may be unaware of is that Iodine is essential for your Thyroid Health. Iodine is considered one of the body’s vital nutrients.

Common signs of Iodine deficiency-

1) trouble producing saliva and properly digesting food

2) swollen salivary glands and dry mouth

3) Skin problems including dry skin

4) Poor concentration and difficulty retaining information

5) muscle pain and weakness

6) Increased risk of thyroid disease

7) Increased risk of fibrosis and fibromyalgia

8) A higher risk of developmental problems in babies and children

9) A reduction in the amount of naturally iodine-rich foods in people's diet

10) A higher exposure rate to certain chemicals found in processed foods that can reduce iodine absorption ( especially a compound called bromine which is found in many plastic containers and baked foods for example.

11) a depletion in the amount of iodine found in soils

Recommended daily dose of iodine
 birth to 6 months     100 mcg
7-12 months              130 mcg
1-8  years                     90 mcg
9-13 years                   120 mcg
14 years and older        150 mcg
pregnant women          220 mcg
breastfeeding women   290 mcg

Iodine rich foods
1) sea weed/ dried kelp   19-2984 mcg
2) cod                                    99 mcg
3) yoghurt organic   a cup=    75 mcg
4) raw milk  1 cup                 56 mcg
5)  egg 1 large                        24 mcg
6) tuna 1 can in oil                  17 mcg
7) lima beans cooked  1 cup     16 mcg
8) corn organic  1/2 cup           14 mcg
9) prunes 5                                13 mcg
10) raw cheese 1 ounce           12 mcg
11) green peas  1 cup cooked   6 mcg
12) banana   1 medium            3 mcg

The main purpose is for regulating your thyroid and maintaining a healthy metabolism. Keeping up your Iodine levels is critical in the prevention of diseases like cancer.

Unfortunately, most of us are not consuming anywhere near enough iodine-rich foods. As a result, we are deficient in iodine. This results in a myriad of health conditions. The best way to get your levels up is to increase the intake of certain foods.

Iodine is found in every organ of the body and is essential for humans.
Almost all of us are low on iodine. Low iodine levels are linked to many health problems. In 1880, a French physician named Jacques Lugol originated a solution which contains 5% of elemental Iodine in a 10% solution of Potassium Iodide. It has been used steadily ever since.

Iodine And Clear Thinking

A function of Iodine in the human body relates to clear thinking. Iodine is linked with normal cognitive function. This is the process in the brain responsible for memory, attention, learning, reasoning, and decision making. Not only does Iodine play an important role in the brain.

How to calculate your iodine intake  for thyroid disease

 There are 3 basic focus to figure out how much iodine you're taking into your system on a daily basis-
1) Your medications- Natural desiccated thyroid ( NDT) a 1 grain dose of nature thyroid a 65 mg tablet has 130 mcg of iodine.
T4- 100 mcg of synthyroid or levoxyl with a medication  that has 65 % potency will have 65 mcg of iodine.
2) Your supplements- Read all your labels, and take into account the amount of iodine you've in terms of micro-grams. If you see them in milligrams, please make sure to convert.

3) Your diet- refer to the earlier item to know how much each food contains iodine.
Iodine And Thyroid

Iodine contributes to the normal production of thyroid hormones and normal thyroid function. It is well established that the Iodine content of the thyroid gland is dependent upon the Iodine available in the food and water intake of the individual.

If the Iodine intake is low, the gland is deprived of the element it needs to do its work. If you are having problems with your thyroid, contact your healthcare professional. They can provide thyroid function tests which can identify the cause of your problem.

How to do iodine patch test
First, you need to acquire a solution or tincture of iodine.
Make sure the solution is coloured orange and not clear.
Detoxadine will work for this test just fine.
Second, paint a 3x3 " square with the iodine on preferably in your abdomen, inner thigh or the inner portion of your forearm, or upper-arm.
Do this in the morning and allow it to dry.
Throughout the day, check the colour of the patch.
If it is still there after 12 hours, then your results are normal.
If the patch disappears, then it may indicate that your body in some way is deficient.
Be sure to use an iodine solution that is meant to be applicable to the skin.
Also remember that as a home test, this is not something you can make a guaranteed diagnosis from.
However, many recent studies have shown that the fast absorption of iodine from the body may indicate deficiency or adequacy of iodine.
The Dr. recommends, a more intense diagnosis through a natural health practitioner, through an iodine loading test, or blood work.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                       PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/   

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Awareness about sexual, reproductive health must to avoid diseases

Studies suggest that Indian adolescents and youth do not receive relevant information on sexual matters from reliable sources. Apart from this, only 26% of adolescent girls know that a condom should be used only once, and only 34% understood that oral contraceptive pills must be taken daily. 
There is an overall lack of awareness about sexual and reproductive health in men and women alike in many countries, which causes lack of maturity and knowledge related to sex and contraception. 

Sexual health refers to the many factors that impact sexual function and reproduction. These include a variety of physical, mental and emotional factors. Disorders that affect any of these factors can impact a person’s physical and emotional health, as well as his or her relationships and self-image.

Speaking about this, a Director IVF & Infertility,  said, “Sexual health refers to avoiding infections and illnesses, and taking responsibility to ensure that we protect ourselves and others, emotionally and physically. It is integral to a person’s overall health. Lack of awareness can lead to a person being unable to understand the underlying causes of sexual disorders and seek appropriate help.”

“One of the greatest barriers to the WHO’s vision of sexual health and promoting responsible sexual behavior is the unwillingness of individuals to discuss their sexual problems. On the Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Week, it is important to create awareness on the fact that sexual health issues must be addressed in a timely manner. This can be done by talking about it with a health care provider and your partner,” the Dr. added.

Some examples of reproductive system disorders include cancers of the cervix or prostate gland, infertility issues, gynecological problems such as endometriosis, urinary system problems, STDs, sexual dysfunction, painful intercourse, concerns regarding “normal” or acceptable sexual behavior and lifestyles, and birth control.

Another Dr. said, “Of all the important consequences of poor sexual health is infertility. This is because not maintaining sexual health can lead to various diseases such as STDs which may eventually contribute to loss of fertility. Both men and women should aim at maintaining their sexual and reproductive health by highlighting any specific or unknown symptoms, and address concerns at the earliest. This includes undergoing regular checkups at various stages of their life.”

The following tips can be followed to ensure that you maintain good sexual health.
• Eat healthy. Healthy food nourishes the body and allows it to be at its best in many situations, including sex.
• Avoid smoking. Smoking reduces your vitality. Tobacco also leads to constriction of blood vessels including in the genitals. In men, this reduction in the blood flow can lead to difficulty in having or maintaining an erection. In women, it can cause lubrication reduction.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Overweight or obese people are at a greater risk of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes, medical conditions that may be detrimental to a good sexual health.
• Limit alcohol consumption. Consuming large quantities of alcohol can have a negative impact on men and women’s sexual capacities.
• Communicate with your partner. Feel comfortable with your partner and talk to them about anything that may be worrying you.
• Protect yourself. Safety is always first. Using a condom reduces the risks of both an unwanted pregnancy and contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.    

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