Researchers from the University of London discovered that people who listened to live music for 20 minutes had 21% boost in their mood while those who took yoga class had only 10%.
For their study, scientists performed psychometric tests on 60 people who either went to a Paloma Faith music concert, a yoga class or walked their dog. After completing the 40 question quiz, the participants were formed into three groups to monitor their heart rates.
Patrick Fagan, an expert in behavioral science and associate lecturer at Goldsmith’s University in London, says: “Our research showcases the profound impact gigs have on feelings of health, happiness, and wellbeing – with fortnightly or regular attendance being the key.”
A recent research by the team of researchers led by Kirsten Tillisch from UCLA found associations between 2 kinds of gut microbiota and how they affect human emotions and feelings.
For their research, the scientists analyzed fecal samples from 40 healthy women aged between 18 and 55. They also scanned the brains of participants. The researchers concluded that women with a greater abundance of Bacteroides in the gut showed the greater thickness of the gray matter in the frontal cortex and insula.
The researchers admit that the sample studied in the research was very small. Nevertheless, it is clearly seen that there’s something going on between our microbiome and the thoughts and feelings we experience.
A new study from Stanford University School of Medicine suggests that stressful events affect the brains of boys and girls differently.
In their study, the researchers found that the insula, a part of the brain responsible for emotions and empathy, was particularly small in girls who suffered a stressful event. This can explain why girls are more likely to suffer from post-stress disorder (PTSD).
Researchers said that girls with PTSD may suffer from a faster ageing of one part of the insula.
Lead study author Dr Megan Klabunde says: “It was important to consider different and emotional reactions to stressful events. It is important that people who work with traumatised youth consider the sex differences.”