Aphantasia: Is your mind blind?

We would like to share some important news: The Lab DoctoRs podcast is taking a break. We have deeply cherished creating and sharing content, and truly appreciate your unwavering support. We do not have concrete plans for our return yet, but you can stay connected on socials or via email for updates. Take care, stay curious, and keep learning! TLDR: Thank you for your support! Socials: instagram.com/thelabdoctors twitter.com/thelabdoctors Credit for theme music: Fresh Time by Roa https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031  Email: [email protected]

Is kombucha just another health fad, or should we all be drinking this beverage that was historically dubbed the "Tea of Immortality"? Listen along as we discuss the origins of kombucha and the science behind how this drink gets its fizziness and flavor (spoiler: it's fermentation!). Moreover, does it truly improve your health, and what should you watch out for? TLDR: Kombucha is often lauded for its health benefits because it contains tea and probiotics, however there is limited human studies on the direct effect of kombucha. Links: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-benefits-of-kombucha-tea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxARRckS9dA https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-are-kombuchas-health-benefits-and-how-much-can-you-safely-drink/ Socials: instagram.com/thelabdoctors twitter.com/thelabdoctors Credit for theme music: Fresh Time by Roa https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031  Email: [email protected]

Tired of the constant FOMO? It may be time to ditch that fear embrace JOMO, or the joy of missing out. In this week’s episode, we discuss whether JOMO is linked to certain factors like social media use, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and even personality types. Discover how disconnecting can be the solution, and learn practical ways to cultivate this joy in your day-to-day life.  TLDR: JOMO, or the joy of missing out, does not imply a steady state, rather it represents the enjoyment found in momentary periods of disconnecting from others or societal demands. Links: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230320102038.htm https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772503023000142 https://theconversation.com/how-to-ditch-fomo-and-foster-jomo-the-joy-of-missing-out-200400 https://www.psychologytoday.com/sg/blog/happiness-is-state-mind/201807/jomo-the-joy-missing-out Socials: instagram.com/thelabdoctors twitter.com/thelabdoctors Credit for theme music: Fresh Time by Roa https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031  Email: [email protected]

Why do some people love exercise whilst others absolutely dread physical activity? A recent study from Johns Hopkins Medicine explored the influence of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, on perceived physical effort and motivation to complete future tasks in Parkinson’s patients. Join us as we tease out how brain chemistry may impact our affinity for exercise and the implications of these findings. TLDR: Dopamine levels can affect how much effort you feel that you are putting into your workouts, and may influence your willingness to push yourself. Links: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230412131051.htm https://www.nature.com/articles/s41531-023-00490-4 Socials: instagram.com/thelabdoctors twitter.com/thelabdoctors Credit for theme music: Fresh Time by Roa https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031  Email: [email protected]

When someone says “Picture this,” can you actually visualize the scene in your mind, or did you think that phrase was a metaphor? If you answered the latter, you may have aphantasia, a condition characterized by the inability to conjure mental images. This week, we explore everything on the spectrum from aphantasia to hyperphantasia and its impact on certain cognitive functions and personality traits. TLDR: Aphantasia describes the inability to visualise images in one’s mind, but this does not necessarily limit one’s imagination, creativity, or overall cognitive abilities   Links: https://theconversation.com/aphantasia-explained-some-people-cant-form-mental-pictures-162445 https://psyche.co/ideas/when-the-mind-is-dark-making-art-is-a-thrilling-way-to-see https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210609115555.htm Socials: instagram.com/thelabdoctors twitter.com/thelabdoctors Credit for theme music: Fresh Time by Roa https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031  Email: [email protected]

Did you know that lazy eye, or amblyopia, affects 5% of the population? Whilst it is more common in children, it may persist to adulthood if untreated learning to wandering eyes, poor depth perception, or even eye strain. In this episode, we will explore the causes of amblyopia as well as up-to-date treatment options and how early intervention can make a difference.  TLDR: Lazy eye is typically treatable, especially when caught early through routine eye exams Links: https://www.healthline.com/health/lazy-eye  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775449 https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022-510X(22)00235-0 Socials: instagram.com/thelabdoctors twitter.com/thelabdoctors Credit for theme music: Fresh Time by Roa https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031  Email: [email protected]

Be honest, how much time do you really spend looking at a screen every day? As technology advances, and especially in a post-pandemic world, screen time is at an all-time high. Join us as we see what the research has to say about how screen time impacts the risk of myopia (or nearsightedness), and tips on how we can protect our eyes TLDR: Experts suggest that screen time increases risk of myopia due to eye strain and prolonged near work, one helpful way to combat this is the 20-20-20 rule (Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen and at an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds) Links: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/nov/14/eyeballs-screens-vision-nearsightedness-myopia https://reviewofmm.com/what-does-science-say-about-screen-time-and-childhood-myopia/ https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(21)00135-7/fulltext Socials: instagram.com/thelabdoctors twitter.com/thelabdoctors Credit for theme music: Fresh Time by Roa https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031  Email: [email protected]

Deadlines are an inevitable part of most people’s lives, whether you’re in school or at work. But have you ever wondered how these dreaded deadlines impact our stress levels. In this week's episode, we explore a compelling study that delves into the effects of deadlines on researchers' stress levels, specifically their sympathetic load. Tune in to discover the other factors that exacerbate stress indicators. TLDR: Stress levels remained the same with or without deadlines, for which researchers suggest that this may be due to challenging nature of the work or negativity bias. Links: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230424133310.htm https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/3544549.3585585 Socials: instagram.com/thelabdoctors twitter.com/thelabdoctors Credit for theme music: Fresh Time by Roa https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031  Email: [email protected]

Breath-holding spells in infants and young children may be triggered by anger, frustration, pain, or shock. This phenomenon can be scary for caregivers, especially if the child’s face turns blue or becomes pale. This week, we look into why this happens, signs to look out for, how to prevent or treat it, and when to seek medical attention.  TLDR:  Links: https://fb.watch/jUkKkf-HlI/?mibextid=l2pjGR https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24492453/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4325862/ https://www.webmd.com/children/children-breath-holding Socials: instagram.com/thelabdoctors twitter.com/thelabdoctors Credit for theme music: Fresh Time by Roa https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031  Email: [email protected]

Have you ever wondered about the meanings behind phrases like "cold feet" and "heart swells"? This week, we explore the fascinating research conducted by a team of biomedical engineers who mapped bodily reactions to various emotions. Discover the commonalities between emotions like happiness and love, as well as those linked to sadness and depression.  TLDR: Pattern of bodily sensation, whether increase or decrease in activation in specific areas of the body, in response to common emotions were consistent across cultures. Links: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1321664111 https://greatist.com/connect/emotional-body-maps-infographic https://www.wired.co.uk/article/mapping-body-emotions https://www.healthline.com/health/mind-body/how-to-release-emotional-baggage-and-the-tension-that-goes-with-it Socials: instagram.com/thelabdoctors twitter.com/thelabdoctors Credit for theme music: Fresh Time by Roa https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031  Email: [email protected]