Glenn T Goodwin, PhD

04/09/2026

Why does gardening feel so good? 😄🌸🍃🪴 🧠✨

When you dig your hands in the dirt, you may be meeting some friendly bacteria called mycobacterium vaccae (pronounced vahh - kayy). These bacteria can help your brain release more serotonin. Increased levels of serotonin can decrease depression, anxiety and stress levels. Some scientists refer to the mycobacterium vaccae as “old friends” 🥰

Gardening can also be a moderate form of exercise, which helps increase blood flow to your brain and the release of feel good neurotransmitters (such as dopamine and GABA). Being outside in nature, surrounded by the colour green and bird songs can also help you relax. 🌿🐦

How does this mycobacterium vaccae work to increase serotonin? Scientists have found that in mice it activates the interfascicular part of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRI). This is the brain region where most serotonin in the brain is synthesized. The mycobacterium vaccae can increase the TPH2 (tryptophan hydroxylase) enzyme that helps convert tryptophan to serotonin!

Are you ready for gardening this spring?

Reference:

Lowry, J.H. et al. Identification of an immune-responsive mesolimbocortical serotonergic system.
Neuroscience (2007) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.01.067

04/09/2026

The developing brain is shaped long before childhood begins.

Nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood plays a critical role in the structural and functional development of cognition. Emerging research is helping clarify how early dietary factors influence long-term brain health.

During the two-day virtual event, Optimizing Brain Health and Cognition Across the Lifespan, Mara Whiteside, PhD will examine the relationship between nutrition and neurodevelopment and the role neuropsychologists play in translating this research into clinical practice.

This session is one of many exploring how modifiable lifestyle and biological factors influence cognition across the entire lifespan.
https://www.pathlms.com/nan/courses/133037

04/09/2026

How do double shifts affect stress? New research shows nurses working prolonged hours experience a 200% increase in midnight cortisol levels.

03/06/2026

Superagers maintain exceptional memory by growing new hippocampal neurons at twice the rate of their peers.

02/24/2026

Brain Blends Fast and Slow Signals to Shape Human Thought

Scientists have shown that the brain’s ability to integrate quick sensory updates with slower contextual information depends on how its connectivity network is organized.

Using advanced analyses across nearly a thousand brains, they demonstrated that regions process information at their own preferred speeds and must coordinate efficiently to support behavior.

When these timing properties align well with the structure of the brain’s wiring, cognition tends to be sharper and more adaptable.

This work uncovers a fundamental mechanism shaping how people think and act in real time.

https://neurosciencenews.com/brain-signals-thought-30082/

12/23/2025

Warmth and Hugging Strengthen the Feeling of Being You

A growing body of research shows that temperature signals from the skin help shape bodily self-awareness, influencing how connected we feel to our physical selves.

Warmth and touch strengthen the feeling of body ownership by engaging interoceptive pathways that link sensation to emotion and identity.

Disruptions in thermal perception can weaken this sense of embodiment, contributing to detachment in several mental health and neurological conditions.

These insights may inform new therapeutic strategies that use temperature-based or tactile interventions to support grounding and wellbeing.

https://neurosciencenews.com/temperature-hugging-body-awareness-30020/

12/10/2025

A new nationwide analysis shows that getting fewer than seven hours of sleep a night is one of the strongest predictors of shorter life expectancy across U.S. counties.

10/07/2025

10/07/2025

Neurons Burn Fat for Fuel: Discovery Could Reverse Brain Damage

Researchers have discovered that neurons can use fats—not just sugars—as a fuel source, overturning long-held beliefs about how the brain powers itself.

The study revealed that when energy demands rise, neurons recycle parts of themselves to create fats, a process driven by the DDHD2 protein.

In patients with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia 54, this mechanism fails, leading to severe neurodegeneration.

By supplementing fatty acids, scientists restored neuron function within 48 hours, offering new hope for treating neurodegenerative disorders.

09/10/2025

REM Sleep Reactivation Locks Memories in Place

REM sleep isn’t just for dreaming—it’s when memories are secured.

A new study found that hippocampal adult-born neurons reactivate during REM sleep in mice, replaying waking experiences.

This reactivation, synchronized with theta brain waves, ensures memories are consolidated into long-term storage.

Blocking the process disrupted recall, explaining why losing these neurons—as in Alzheimer’s—can devastate memory function.

08/20/2025

Highly Sensitive People Face Greater Mental Health Risks

Sensitivity has long been overlooked in mental health research, but new evidence shows it plays a crucial role in vulnerability and recovery.

By analyzing data from over 30 studies, researchers concluded that highly sensitive individuals face a higher likelihood of depression and anxiety.

However, this same trait also makes them more responsive to therapy and positive life experiences.

Around one-third of the population falls into the “highly sensitive” category, meaning these findings could have broad clinical importance.

Tailoring treatment to sensitivity levels may improve therapeutic outcomes and reduce relapse rates.

The study ultimately emphasizes that sensitivity should be recognized as a key factor in shaping mental health across the lifespan.

08/20/2025

Learn about the research via the link in the comments!