Optimal Being

Recent research has shed light on how different levels of illuminance—the measure of the amount of light—can enhance alertness and cognitive performance in humans. The study found that higher light levels affect specific areas of the brain region known as the hypothalamus, enhancing certain cognitive functions during tasks that involve executive and emotional processing. The findings were published in the journal   eLife . The primary motivation behind the study was to understand how varying intensities of light impact the human brain, particularly the hypothalamus, which plays a crucial role in regulating sleep, wakefulness, and cognitive functions. Light exposure is known to affect these areas in animal brains, but the specifics of these effects in humans remained unclear. Animal models have shown that certain brain regions respond to light in ways that affect behavior, but humans have different physiological and neurological complexities. For example, the human cortex matures la...

Summary:  A new study challenges the prevailing theory that sleep aids in the detoxification of the brain. Researchers found that the brain’s toxin clearance is significantly reduced during sleep and even more so under anesthesia, as shown by the slower movement and clearance of a fluorescent dye in the brains of mice. Contrary to previous beliefs that sleep enhances the glymphatic system’s function, these findings suggest that being awake might actually be more effective in clearing brain toxins. This research calls for a deeper investigation into the role of sleep and its implications for conditions like dementia. Key Facts: Toxin clearance rates dropped by 30% in sleeping mice and 50% under anesthesia compared to their awake counterparts. Previous studies, supporting sleep as a time for brain detoxification, used indirect measurement methods, making this direct study a significant pivot. The findings may reshape our understanding of sleep’s benefits, particularly relating to bra...

“ How to Breathe Correctly for Optimal Health, Mood, Learning & Performance ,” In this post we discuss how deliberate respiration (breathing) represents a unique and powerful bridge between the subconscious and conscious mind — and how specific breathing protocols allow us to shift the state of our brain and body in powerful ways. We explain how to  use specific breathing patterns  to influence your brain-body state and thereby  positively shift your mood, physical capacity, and focus — and improve sleep . Indeed, even brief, deliberate breathing protocols, if done correctly, can positively impact all these around the clock — not just during the breathwork practice. Why We Breathe Breathing allows the body to draw in oxygen (O 2 ) and discard carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), or more accurately to  balance  ratios of O 2 :CO 2  in our brain and body. When we inhale, oxygen fills and passes from millions of tiny sacs (“alveoli”) in our lungs, into our bloodstream....

Summary:   A new study reveals a strong link between daytime physical activity and improved sleep quality among both children and adults. Analyzing the daily routines of over 2500 participants, the research highlights how higher levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity correlate with fewer sleep disturbances, less daytime tiredness, and overall better sleep quality. Unlike common sleep improvement tactics that focus on pre-bedtime routines, this study emphasizes the integral role of daytime activities, especially exercise, in enhancing sleep. The findings suggest that incorporating more physical activity into our daily lives could be a simple yet effective strategy for achieving better sleep and, by extension, improving overall health and wellbeing. Key Facts: Physical Activity Boosts Sleep Quality : Both children and adults who engage in higher levels of physical activity experience better sleep outcomes. Daytime Decisions Affect Nighttime Rest : The study underscores the ...

Summary:  A new study unveiled a crucial role of sleep: brainwaves facilitating the cleansing of the brain by flushing out waste. This discovery not only underscores the brain’s non-dormant state during sleep but also highlights a sophisticated system where neurons’ synchronized activity powers the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, effectively removing metabolic waste and potentially neurodegenerative disease-causing toxins. This insight opens up possibilities for enhancing brain cleaning processes to combat neurological diseases and improve sleep efficiency, hinting at a future where optimized sleep could lead to better health outcomes. Key Facts: Brainwaves Propel Cleansing Fluids : During sleep, neurons coordinate to produce rhythmic waves that drive the movement of fluid through the brain, washing away waste. Potential for Disease Prevention : Understanding and enhancing this cleansing process could delay or prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by ensuring the effective...

Stimulating the sleeping brain may ease suffering from memory loss, stroke or mental health problem. It was late, and Sonia was alone in an unfamiliar town, trying to find her way home. The map showed a route through a dark forest lit by an occasional lantern. She viewed it with foreboding but, seeing other people also using this passage, took it. Walking fast, she neared a couple ahead of her—a man and a woman—who suddenly stopped, turned and grabbed her. The man covered her face with a cloth. She found herself on a stage with a ceiling spanned by a mirror. A crowd of men armed with guns and knives encircled her; she was about to be tortured and killed. Sonia picked up a stone and threw it at the ceiling, which shattered. Pieces of glass rained down, piercing her shoulder and foot. She fled into the forest, pursued by the couple, who could read each other's minds. The woman saw where Sonia was running and informed the man—Sonia knew she would be hunted down. This nightmare and sim...