Patricia Bennett, LPC

11/09/2025

Negative words linger longer than positive.

Your brain has a remarkable memory for negative experiences. Studies reveal that insults or harsh criticisms can be remembered for up to 20 years, while compliments and positive feedback are often forgotten within just 30 days. This imbalance is rooted in our evolutionary biology, where the brain prioritizes threats and harmful information to help ensure survival.

When we experience criticism or insults, the amygdala—the brain’s emotional center—activates strongly, encoding these events deeply into long-term memory. This heightened encoding ensures that the brain remembers potentially harmful social interactions, making it more likely to avoid similar threats in the future. Positive experiences, on the other hand, tend to trigger weaker neural pathways, which are easier to forget over time.

The implications are significant for mental health and relationships. Negative comments can have a lasting impact on self-esteem, stress levels, and emotional well-being. Conversely, the fleeting memory of compliments may mean that positive reinforcement has less enduring influence unless it is repeated consistently. Understanding this pattern can help individuals and organizations emphasize consistent encouragement to counterbalance the weight of negative experiences.

Experts suggest strategies to strengthen the memory of positive feedback. Journaling, repeating compliments, and mindfulness practices can help reinforce positive experiences in long-term memory. Building awareness of this cognitive bias allows people to focus on gratitude, resilience, and self-compassion.

This research underscores the brain’s inherent tendency to remember negativity far longer than positivity. By understanding these mechanisms, we can actively cultivate habits and environments that amplify positive experiences, ensuring that praise and encouragement leave a more lasting mark than insults ever could.

11/03/2025

Kurt Vonnegut // "My Uncle…taught me something very important. He said that when things are going really well we should be sure to notice it. He was talking about very simple occasions, not great victories. Maybe drinking lemonade under a shade tree, or smelling the aroma of a bakery, or fishing, or listening to music coming from a concert hall while standing in the dark outside, or, dare I say, after a kiss. He told me that it was important at such times to say out loud, 'If this isn’t nice, what is?'"

10/27/2025

Listening to Music After 70 May Cut Dementia Risk by Nearly 40%

New research highlights the powerful cognitive benefits of music for older adults.

Among more than 10,800 participants aged over 70, those who regularly listened to or played music were far less likely to develop dementia.

The greatest benefit was seen in those who made music a consistent part of daily life.

Scientists believe that music’s ability to activate memory, emotion, and attention centers in the brain may help delay cognitive decline.

10/11/2025

The study found meditation could reverse brain aging by almost six years, and possibly reduce risk of Alzheimer's and dementia.

09/30/2025

A new analysis shows that moving to music with others can be a powerful way to ease symptoms of depression. Unlike walking or yoga, dance engages the brain in a unique “neurochemical symphony,” blending physical activity with joy, connection, and self-expression. Here's why it helps and how to harness it, according to experts: https://on.natgeo.com/47WKONQ

09/20/2025

A new wave of research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is challenging one of today’s biggest parenting trends. While many families rush to enroll their children in computer coding classes, MIT scientists now suggest that music lessons may do far more to boost brain development and overall intelligence.

The study reveals that learning music—whether through playing an instrument, singing, or reading musical notes, activates and strengthens areas of the brain responsible for memory, attention, problem-solving, and language skills. These neural networks overlap with those used in math and reasoning, giving children a deep cognitive workout that coding lessons can’t yet match. Music education engages both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously, forging connections that sharpen focus and enhance long-term learning abilities.

While coding builds logical thinking and digital fluency, it typically stimulates fewer brain regions and relies more on repetition and structured problem-solving. Music, by contrast, combines creativity, pattern recognition, and emotional expression, creating a richer and more versatile mental environment. Children who play instruments or participate in music programs often show stronger academic performance, improved verbal abilities, and better emotional regulation.

Researchers also emphasize the social and emotional benefits of music. Playing in an ensemble or practicing with others fosters teamwork, patience, and communication—skills critical for success in any field, including technology. By developing these qualities early, children gain confidence and adaptability that can help them thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Importantly, MIT’s findings don’t dismiss the value of coding. Rather, they highlight music as a foundational tool for brain growth. A child who starts with music will likely learn coding more easily later, thanks to the enhanced memory, creativity, and problem-solving skills cultivated through musical training.

For parents, the message is clear: encourage your child to explore instruments, join a choir, or take music theory classes. These experiences not only nurture creativity but also lay down the mental wiring that supports all future learning—including technology.

As the digital world expands, it may be music, not machines, that gives young minds the strongest foundation for innovation and lifelong intelligence.

09/03/2025

07/16/2025

Playing Music Helps Older Brains Stay Sharp

Musical training may protect the aging brain by preserving neural networks critical for understanding speech in noisy settings, according to new research.

Older musicians demonstrated better speech-in-noise perception and retained more youthful brain connectivity compared to older non-musicians.

These results align with the “Hold-Back Upregulation” hypothesis, which suggests cognitive reserve from enriching activities like music helps the brain age more gracefully.

Imaging data showed that musical training maintains efficient connections within auditory and motor regions, reducing the need for compensatory overactivation seen in non-musicians.

While cause and effect remain to be confirmed, the study highlights the potential of lifestyle factors in protecting cognitive health.

Researchers recommend exploring similar effects from activities like bilingualism and exercise in future studies.