What are the biological systems that are responsible for the different personality traits? Personality neuroscience aims to uncover the brain and genetic correlates of individual personality. Different personality traits can help us uncover risk factors for psychopathology as well as help predict risky behaviors such as gambling and alcohol abuse. This relatively new field is evolving and a “hot” area of neuroscience today.
DEPRESSION, CELLULAR STRESS AND AGING
How do the mind, brain, and hormones interact? The exact mechanisms of how stress gets “under the skin” and connects the mind to the cell are unknown. Unlocking these mechanisms may be the crucial next step in order to help prevent and treat the molecular dysregulations often observed in major depressive disorder and anxiety.
Some children grow up playing basketball, baseball and football, while others tend towards sedentary behaviors such as playing video games and watching television. Understanding the biological determinants of adolescent exercise behavior could be beneficial in order to decrease our national epidemic of obesity and “sitting disease,” which can lead to cardiovascular disease, all-cause mortality as well as an increased risk of depression and cognitive decline.
YOGA AND MEDITATION
How do yoga and meditation affect human physiology and mental health?