brain health - corticalmetrics insights (Page 3)

GABA and lateral inhibition

August 25, 2023

The brain maintains a balance between two neurotransmitters: GABA, the brain’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter and glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitter. GABA, countering the stimulating effects of glutamate, functions to slow the firing of brain cells, inducing a calmed and relaxed state.

There are two types of GABA receptors: GABAa and GABAb. When GABA binds to a GABAa receptor, excited neurons are blocked, which leads to relaxation, sedation, sleep, and reduced anxiety. When GABA binds to a GABAb receptor, a more complex process is triggered, which reduces stress, boosts cognition,

The importance of detecting the barely detectible...

August 25, 2023

Following a mild concussion, individuals typically begin to perceive a sense of normalcy within 1-2 weeks. Symptoms gradually subside, and if undergoing professional assessment, patients often exhibit a return to their initial scores on standard evaluations like SCAT and ImPACT during this post-concussion period. However, the question arises: is their brain genuinely fully recovered?
Unlike a fracture that can be directly observed through an X-ray, head injuries are evaluated indirectly by gauging brain function. This comparison is akin to assessing a broken arm's condition by assessing the arm's mobility – a

New! Brain Training with the Brain Gauge

August 24, 2023

Brain training 1.0 with the Brain Gauge is no longer in beta testing though versions 2.0 and 3.0 are! If you would like to add brain training to your Brain Gauge, simply contact support@corticalmetrics.com to get the free update.

What is Brain training?
Brain training refers to a range of cognitive exercises, activities, or programs designed to enhance and optimize various mental processes, such as memory, attention, problem-solving, and reasoning. The primary aim of brain training is to stimulate and challenge the brain's neural networks

Person Woman Man Camera TV

February 22, 2021

OR... Here we go again...

The post below was written a few years ago..but recent events in the news are prompting us to re-post it. After all, the people that this applies to are a few years older than when we first posted..

Basically, it comes down to the "boiling frog syndrome". All of these old people are saying that they are just fine. How does that relate to a boiling frog? Simple. When you toss a frog in a pot of cold water, it doesn't jump

Mushrooms, Alzheimer’s and Improving Brain Health Through Diet

April 18, 2019

As we’ve noted in previous posts, maintaining or returning to a healthy cognitive state takes a system-level approach and cannot be boiled down to a single silver bullet. However, there are several individual pieces that can have significant effects.

According to a recently published article in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, it appears that adding mushrooms to your diet can have a significant effect on maintaining a healthy brain into old age. A Singapore-based research team investigated this topic in 663 adults above the age of 60 living

Impact of Concussions on Your Psyche

March 08, 2019

The following content has been written by Guest Contributor Carmela Wainwright.

Learning difficulties and long-term mental health issues are just some of the possible and glaring outcomes related to concussions. In fact, even mild head trauma can lead to the aforementioned issues. "Contrary to common assumptions, mild head injuries can cause long-term effects. These findings suggest that follow-up care after head injury, even for mild cases, is crucial, especially for patients showing risk factors for PTSD or depression," explains Dr. Murray B. Stein of The University of California

Sun Exposure and Brain Health

February 22, 2019

Sun exposure is linked to positive effects on brain function, but in order to quantify these benefits, you will just have to measure it for yourself.

Surely you are familiar with the warnings surrounding over-exposure to the sun and the potential danger of it's powerful UV rays. While we are constantly reminded by advertisements, doctors and worry-some parents to protect ourselves by wearing sunscreen, hats and clothing, we also know that sun exposure is essential to our well-being. Sunlight is required for us to produce Vitamin D, and low levels

Valentine's Day: The Health Benefits of Love

February 14, 2019

Here at Cortical Metrics, we are constantly looking for ways to improve health and brain function. With the Brain Gauge, we are able to measure how small changes in our lives impact our health - having the numbers to prove that the supplement you started taking last month is actually working makes it even more rewarding. This Valentines Day, you might find yourself indulging in chocolates, blushing at a bouquet of surprise flowers, or spending extra time with someone special. We discussed the benefits of chocolate in a previous post

What You Can Do to Stop Back Pain From Leaving You Sleepless

February 08, 2019

Pain and poor sleep will impact brain function.
Back pain can impact every facet of our lives. It makes the days seem longer and can leave little escape at night. However, if your back pain keeps you awake, there is some good news. There are steps we can take to alleviate our pain and get a good night of rest.

Change How You Sleep
The way you sleep, and what you sleep on, may directly influence pain levels. The more pain you have, the more often you'll wake up at

A Review of the Choco-Literature

October 31, 2018

It's Halloween, which means that in just a few hours parents across the country will have their hands full with children toting plastic pumpkins, grocery bags and pillowcases full of sugary treats.

For many parents, this is the scariest part about Halloween. Children who consume too much sugar are at risk for obesity, diabetes, and cavities. Binging on their Halloween haul can also lead to a harrowing sugar-crash hangover, and upon waking up for school the next day they might be even more terrifying than the night before.

Rationing your