Author Archives: Zuzanna Walter

Racial Stigmatization & Brain Health

November 12, 2020

As stress has been found to modulate the brain’s reward response, researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) conducted a study investigating the effects of discrimination and dealing with negative stigma on brain functioning. The new study revealed the negative implications of racial stereotyping on the behavior of the subcortical nucleus accumbens, an area of the brain associated with anticipation of reward and punishment. Their findings were published in a paper featured in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 

Consequences of Racial Stigmatization 

Study author Kyle Ratner, a social psychologist, and his colleagues investigated the effect of negative stereotyping on brain processing in 40 Latinx UCSB students. Participants were randomly assigned to either stigma condition or control groups. Researchers monitored participants’ brain functioning using a functional MRI as they were shown a rapid series of eight 2-3-minute videos pertaining to childhood obesity, high school dropout rates, gang-related violence, and teenage pregnancy.

In the stigmatized group, videos discussed the topics from the Latinx community perspective, suggesting that these individuals were disproportionately affected by them. Meanwhile, the control group was shown videos as related to the general U.S. population. After watching the videos, participants were asked to complete a Monetary Incentive Delay task in which faster response times resulted in monetary rewards.

Altered Brain Functioning

According to the study’s authors, machine learning analyses indicated that incentive-related patterns differed between Latinx participants subjected to negative stereotypes and those within the control group. Researchers found that individuals in the stigma condition group were significantly slower at the task than the control group, indicating disparities linked to the framing of the videos shown.

These effects were tied to personal motivation as related to nucleus accumbens functioning, according to the study’s authors, who highlight the compounding nature of external stressors that is affecting the health of disadvantaged demographics.

“It is clear that people who belong to historically marginalized groups in the U.S. contend with burdensome stressors on top of the everyday stressors that members of non-disadvantaged groups experience,” Ratner told Medical News Today in a recent article. “For instance, there is the trauma of overt racism, stigmatizing portrayals in the media and popular culture, and systemic discrimination that leads to disadvantages in many domains of life, from employment and education to healthcare and housing to the legal system.”

As such, the latest findings implicate that stigmatizing minority populations may impact how these individuals process incentives, expanding understanding of the association between racial stereotyping and personal motivation. This has significant implications for the wellbeing and health of members of these communities and requires further research efforts.

Despite the latest evidence, the study’s authors warn against generalizing their findings as the investigation primarily focused on a singular effect of stigmatization and only evaluated college students. They plan to conduct further experiments in a larger, more diverse cohort to improve the current understanding of systemic effects of structural racism and stereotyping on affected groups and their brain functioning.

Seasonal Depression Risk at All-Time High During Pandemic Winter

November 5, 2020

As many studies have already reported, rates of mental illness symptoms in the population have been rising throughout 2020 due to social distancing measures, increased isolation, and a general upheaval of normal life due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, the prevalence of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is also projected to reach an all-time high in the forthcoming months as surges in virus cases coincide with declining options for activities as colder weather encroaches. Alongside the widespread, multi-faceted devastation caused by the pandemic, political concerns and social unrest leave the American population increasingly vulnerable to SAD this fall/winter season.

Seasonal Affective Disorder 

According to current estimates, approximately 5% of Americans experience seasonal depression which usually begins during transitions from the summer to fall and fall to winter.

The onset of colder weather and decreased sunlight exposure contribute to a biochemical imbalance in the brain characterized by lowered serotonin levels and altered circadian rhythms. Common symptoms include sadness, loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite or eating patterns, changes in sleep, and loss of energy. The condition typically lasts for approximately 40% of the year although, in some patients it can last even longer.

Seasonal affective disorder is more common among women, young adults, those living further from the equator, as well as those with a personal or family history of depression. Nonetheless, the current environment is not conducive to overall wellbeing, putting more individuals at risk for depression even if they have never experienced mental health concerns before.

SAD Amid COVID-19 Restrictions

The symptoms of seasonal depression are likely to be exacerbated by pandemic conditions across the world as the number of activities decreases and feelings of isolation, compounded by stress and anxiety, increase across populations and age groups. Protective measures against COVID-19, including the closure of many business and limited social contact, contribute not only to declining in-person interactions but also growing financial burden. The lack of physical mobility, reduction in activities, and persisting threat of the novel coronavirus greatly heighten the risk for mental health symptoms in the population.

“There’s less activity, there’s less socialization, there are less mastery activities, there are less pleasurable activities, so in general there is an increase in depression, not to mention job losses and losses of people,” Dr. Lata McGinn, co-founder of Cognitive and Behavioral Consultants told USA Today in a recent article.

Therapeutic Options

It is paramount to find safe ways to socialize and remain active throughout the coming fall/winter season. Individuals are encouraged to maintain a strong support system of family and friends with frequent video and phone calls, socially-distanced visits, and other safe interactions. Experts recommend keeping a consistent exercise routine, which can greatly benefit mental health while also increasing overall emotional and physical wellbeing. Despite the cold, it is important to continue spending time outdoors for sunlight and fresh air exposure in a safe way.

Another potential therapeutic option recommended by psychologists is light therapy, which can be used indoors to mimic sunlight exposure. Daily treatment involves approximately 20 minutes of exposure to the light throughout the winter months with improvements seen between 1-2 weeks after initiating treatment.

In addition, experts recommend pursuing an “activity diet” focused on learning and building new skills – such as studying a new language – in order to derive a sense of accomplishment. CNN outlines several other helpful options and ideas for combating seasonal depression symptoms during this time, including journaling and other meditative practices. 

However, some patients may need to undertake more aggressive treatment measures to improve their seasonal depression symptoms. Talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can effectively treat SAD as can antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). With the rise of telemedicine, there has also been an increase in available options for virtual psychologist and psychiatrist visits bringing mental health support to patients in the comfort of their own home.

Although the National Institute of Health does not recommend diagnosing seasonal affective disorder until symptoms are experienced for two or more consecutive years, if symptoms begin to negatively affect daily functioning individuals are urged to seek professional support. As per the American Psychiatric Association, “anyone feeling severe symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts to contact a doctor immediately or seek help at the closest emergency room. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-TALK (8255) or via online chat.“

October Partner of the Month: Finding Genius Podcast

October 29, 2020

Finding Geniuses, Feeding Curiosity

Weeding out the mediocre to reach the extraordinary—the top 0.1% of experts in research, academia, industry, and business. That’s step number one. Second, ask challenging questions that evoke compelling answers—the type of answers you don’t hear often, the type that could trigger whole paradigm shifts. Third, deliver it to you, whether you’re an expert yourself or a layperson who loves to learn.

October 2020 marks Richard Jacobs’s fourth anniversary of following these three seemingly simple steps. Initially, Jacobs focused on ‘round-the-corner’ technologies, including cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, 3D bioprinting, and more. How can cryptocurrency lead to a more transparent form of governance? Are swarm-based predictive insights being implemented in new entertainment products? Is life extension possible with bioengineered organs? These questions are just a snippet of the wide range of tech-based topics explored by Jacobs and his guests, in what was then titled Future Tech Podcast.

Impelled by a major personal health crisis in 2017, Jacobs began gearing the episodes toward topics in health, medicine, and bioscience. This led him to interview nearly 100 experts on sleep science and related issues, such as the connection between dentistry and snoring, and how the bacteria in your gut could be keeping you up at night. He’s heard from countless authoritative voices on the latest in cancer research, genetics and epigenetics, the microbiome, oral and systemic health, thyroid health, and how the mind affects the body—especially when it comes to stress and anxiety.

A new title seemed fitting; not only did the old one too narrowly capture the breadth of information discoverable through the podcast, but it failed to underscore what Jacobs was really doing: searching for information from the best and the brightest in the world, and finding geniuses. Finding Genius Podcast emerged in mid-2019.

Jacobs’s most recent endeavor on the podcast has been to dig deeply into the topic of viruses, far beyond the definitions you’ll find in a Google search. He’s interviewing 30+ researchers, academics, and clinicians to get their take on a set of provocative questions. Are viruses alive, and if so, does that necessitate self-awareness? Do viruses communicate and coordinate with one other to invade and replicate within host cells? How have viruses played a role in evolution, adaptation, and speciation? Are viruses actually responsible for building host immunity, as opposed to only breaking it down? The answers to these questions and more will be used to create a uniquely informative and palatable compendium of perspectives and data about viruses.

Good questions lead to good answers, which in turn lead to even better questions; it’s this positive feedback loop of curiosity and knowledge that fuels Finding Genius Podcast, and appeals to a growing number of listeners. Don’t wait for the next episode; visit Finding Genius Podcast and type a word or three in the search bar. Diet. Robots with muscles. History and COVID-19. Meditation. Microbiome and cancer. Whatever you choose, it’s a near guarantee that you’ll learn something new.