When we fall asleep, we experience various stages of sleep. Stage 1 is the dozing off stage, during which the body’s activity begins to change from awake to sleep. Heartbeat, breathing, and muscles slow down, but the mind is still active. Brain waves slow down and sometimes spike, as in the case of stage two. […]

Before you purchase a new bed, consider the following factors. The size of your current bed is important, but consider what your future needs are. If you will have more than one person sleeping in your bed, consider buying one size larger. You can always increase the size of your bed in the future, too. […]

Love is a complex feeling. It can be heartbreakingly beautiful and heartbreakingly painful. It can be fleeting or lasting, and may be genetically programmed or culturally indoctrinated. The best definitions of love are often conflicting, with each being valid for some time. Some forms of love are uncontrollable, while others are based on mutual need. […]

During sleep, the thalamus transmits sensory information to the cerebral cortex, which interprets information from short-term memory to long-term storage. During most stages of sleep, the thalamus is quiet, but during the REM stage of sleep, it becomes active and is responsible for sending sensory information to the cortex. Sleep also helps the brain maintain […]

The causes of BED vary from person to person, but they usually include genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and social or cultural influences. People of all ages, socioeconomic status, and cultural backgrounds can experience BED. Studies of large populations suggest that about equal numbers of men and women suffer from BED. Fortunately, there are many ways […]

Humans spend longer in childhood than most other species, and we rely on adults for years on end for survival and the development of skills and abilities. For this reason, love is extremely important to us, and its existence is deeply rooted in our biology and evolutionary history. In fact, scientists have found that romantic […]

The human body spends approximately one-quarter to a third of its lifespan asleep. Research has demonstrated that sleep affects the brain in various ways. For example, your body’s temperature rises during this time and your sympathetic nervous system becomes active. This process helps the brain perform automatic reactions. However, your body is mostly still during […]

Research into the causes of BED is still in its infancy, but genetics has already been linked to many aspects of the disorder. Current research focuses on genes involved in neurotransmitters such as dopamine and m-opioid receptors. This research has already shown that heightened reward sensitivity may be a predisposing factor, and that a strong […]

The English word ‘love’ has many different meanings. It may indicate the desire to satisfy a basic hunger, or it may refer to a mutual relationship between two people. A third definition describes a strong emotional attachment formed through prolonged contact. A fourth meaning is the intentional disposition to act in a beneficial way towards […]

Despite the varying definitions of sleep, the state is generally defined by a convergence of observations satisfying a number of different criteria. The observable factors may include motor, sensory, or behavioral ones. Observations of sleep are easy to distinguish from other states of consciousness, though some criteria may be absent or not fully present in […]