Jolsid Podcast: Neuroscience, Psychology And Nootropics For Creative Entrepreneurs, Professionals And Athletes

Creativity is the phenomenon by which something new is created and the newly created creation is somewhat of a value to either the receiver or the creator. The new creation could be intangible like a song, a theory, an algorithm, or  a software. it can also be tangible like a painting or an invented device.   According to numerous authors, we are currently in a creativity crisis because first of all, creativity decreases with age, and secondly our new generations are turning out to be less creative when compared to their parents at the same age. We are getting smarter every decade and our IQ levels are rising but creativity is declining.   In 2005 Dr. KH Kim conducted a study where she analysed all the studies published between 1965 and 2005 that presented any relationship between intelligence and creativity. And she concluded that there was a very negligible relationship between creativity and intelligence. Even though you have a high IQ that does not make you a creative person.   To get further clarity and

How many friends can you really have? Is there really a maximum number of meaningful friendships we can have? JOLSID.com Scientifically speaking how many people can you potentially maintain a stable social relationship with? Just to clarify by social we mean in person not on Twitter or Facebook.   Basically these are relationships in which an individual knows who each person is and how each person relates to every other person.   According to Anthropologist Robin Dunbar this can vary between 150 - 250 people. After numerous studies of Primates,  nomadic tribes, and historical military groupings the final number of maximum stable relationships never reached a common consensus among the researchers.   Dunbar theorized that the limit of people we can have truly stable and meaningful relationships with is a direct function of our neocortex- which is responsible for our cognitive abilities. Damage to or disorders of the neocortex can develop neurological disorders like Alzheimer's, Dementia, and long term memory l

OXYTOCIN is a hormone and it is often called the “love hormone” because of its crucial role found in relationships, social bonding, maternal behaviour and intimacy. Oxytocin spikes are found to be the highest during an orgasm or during an act of kindness.   Oxytocin is a powerful hormone and a neuropeptide that is produced in the hypothalamus and also secreted from the Pituitary Gland. Oxytocin was discovered in 1952 and is currently listed on WHO - World Health Organization's list of Essential Medicines (the most important medication needed for healthier function of human health system.)   An example of oxytocin is when two individuals are attracted to each other and the feelings of care and compassion arise, that’s all because of the rising levels of oxytocin, which we further call Love.   So Why is this hormone so important? Well, this one hormone has the power to change the world and we literally mean it .   Here is a study to back this claim. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, when we pe

Serotonin, is another neurotransmitter that is integral for some of the most intense and positive emotions we feel in our daily lives. www.jolsid.com Before we jump into the technical side of Serotonin, I want to share some of the benefits that it has in your life and how it indirectly impacts your success. Also, how Serotonin is Different than Dopamine. Appropriate levels of Serotonin  promotes the feeling of comfort, contentment and well-being. It has also been called a “happy” neurotransmitter.The  deficiencies in serotonin can lead to depression and fear. Feeling contentment and sense of well-being is responsible for continuous progression. If we lack contentment and sense of well-being in our daily lives then we opt to live daily on instant gratification lifestyle or things that provide thrill and excitement in the moment. Even though instant gratification is healthy for us in the moment, it tends to create addictive behaviours which could eventually lead to habits that can be destructive for our long te

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter or a brain chemical that regulates our movement and emotional responses. It enables us to not only to see rewards, but to take action to move towards them. In simple words dopamine is responsible for drive and motivation. But dopamine has always been simplified and linked to pleasure and rewards. For example when addiction is discussed especially with substances like alcohol, drugs, chocolate, food, porn etc. It's not the pleasure that’s driving it, it's a more deeper combination of thrill, benefit and exhilaration of that specific task at that moment that makes individuals become addicted to substances or certain destructive habits.   During a conference at the society of neuroscience in Chicago it was the emerging view that drive and motivation are the key attributes of Dopamine. It's about figuring out what you have to do to survive and then doing it. A few key attributes of Dopamine are Dopamine Boosts our drive, memory and focus. Dopamine is responsible for the feelings of

JOLSID.com - The word “chocolate” has been traced back to the Aztec word “xocoatl” which referred to a bitter drink brewed with cacao. The Aztecs also believed that cacao seeds were a gift from their God of wisdom, and the seeds were so valuable they were used as a form of currency. We now know that cacao is indeed very valuable for its health benefits.   Many of us have heard that dark chocolate is a superfood, and that eating dark chocolate has been linked to many different health benefits. These health benefits include stress reduction, improved heart health, and new studies have revealed that dark chocolate can actually make your brain smarter and improve memory. Raw dark chocolate, which is at least 70% cacao, is a major source of flavonoids, mainly flavanols, which are most famous for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory health benefits.  It is the cacao flavonoids that are found to have brain benefits.   Just so we all understand the difference. It isn’t until after the cacao beans are roasted and p

Research   Leaders at one point in time worked as regular employees. Most of them had to leave their comfort zone to become leaders. It could be for reasons that they didn’t feel ready for a new responsibility, they had never had people reporting to them, or they didn’t feel they could measure up to expectations. Whatever the reason may be, we all get pushed out of our comfort zone at some point in our lives. And with this push is how we grow.   Some leaders attach themselves to their authenticity as an excuse for staying in their comfort zone. It makes them feel like they are being true to themselves. But in all honesty they are holding themselves back, and in cases it can backfire on them. Just imagine an employee that has been promoted to be the supervisor of a department of five. She has always believed herself to be a quiet individual.   Her team notices that their new supervisor just stays in her office and doesn’t have much of a presence in their department. They start walking all over her and going

JOLSID.com -  An essential amino acid for our health is Phenylalanine, which we acquire from food. Our body changes phenylalanine in to tyrosine, which is non-essential amino acid that is used to make proteins and neurotransmitters or brain chemicals, including norepinephrine, epinephrine,dopamine, and thyroid hormones. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells communicate and influence mood. Tyrosine also helps in the function of organs responsible for making and regulating hormones, including the adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary glands. L-Tyrosine can also be metabolized into glucose and used for energy production. Tyrosine works as a converter for the neurotransmitter epinephrine, by converting it into an amino acid that is released from your adrenal gland. Epinephrine is more widely known as adrenalin, which we all know increases our heart rate and breathing. This in turn produces oxygen-rich blood that travels to your brain and muscles, which increases your energy, sharpens your senses, improves your memory, and

Science of Being Alone and Success There is a lot of talk nowadays about introversion and extroversion. You might already know which one you identify with, but do you really understand the difference between the two. The way our brains are wired and our brain chemistry can help us understand what’s really going on in the minds of introverts and extroverts that make them who they are. In the 1960s, a psychologist named Hans Eysenck proposed a theory that extroverts had a lower level of something called “arousal”. He believed that extroverts required more stimulation from the world to feel more alert and awake than introverts. Introverts were easily over-stimulated. This theory helps to explain why extroverts require constant social company, and have a stronger sense of risk-taking and challenges. These activities stimulate them. Introverts on the other hand prefer alone time, thriving in place such as their own home, libraries and peaceful parks. Introverts are working on lowering their overstimulation. This

Procrastination - we all do it in some shape or form. We make plans to do something, but then don’t take any action, or we stop halfway. We leave our assignments to the last minute. But why do we do this to ourselves? This problem is so common to all of us and dates back centuries. Let’s go back 1,000’s of years ago to the ancient Greeks. Aristotle and Socrates developed a word for procrastination, Akrasia. Akrasia, according to the Oxford dictionary is defined as “the state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgement through weakness of will.” We all try to overcome procrastination, but it affects some of us more than others. There is growing evidence that indicates procrastination negatively impacts our happiness, and our future success.   Science of Procrastination: There is a behavioural economics term called “time inconsistency” which helps to explain why procrastination rules our lives. Time inconsistency refers to the tendency of the human brain to value immediate rewards more highly t

Theanine is a compound that has similarities to amino acids such as L-glutamine which might help gut function, your immune system, and it provides “fuel” (nitrogen and carbon) to many different cells in your body. Theanine can be found in certain plants and fungal species, as well as green tea. In common preparations, such as teas and supplements, theanine is absorbed in the small intestine after oral ingestion. It can also cross the blood-brain barrier intact. Many of us have ingested caffeine and experienced the jitters that come along with it. As well, some people experience high blood pressure, dehydration, trouble sleeping and increased anxiety. Ingesting caffeine and theanine together can help reduce or even eliminate the negative effects of caffeine alone.There have been numerous studies done indicating that theanine has positive impacts on mood, relaxation and alertness. Especially when taken with caffeine, the combination can improve focus and attention span. First I will discuss some researcher tha

JOLSID.com - Emotional Intelligence is something we all hear about but most of us either don’t have a clear understanding of it or have understood EI to be some overly exaggerated trait. Here is the history of Emotional Intelligence. The term emotional intelligence was first used as a reference in a paper written by Michael Beldoch in 1964. The first use of the term was in Wayne Payne’s doctoral thesis in 1985, A Study of Emotion: Developing Emotional Intelligence. It wasn’t until 1995 that the term became widely known. The best-selling book written by Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence - Why it can matter more than IQ lead to the popularity of EI. In simple terms “Emotional intelligence can be defined as the ability to monitor one's own and other people's emotions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behaviors”. Currently there are 3 main models of EI. Ability Model Mixed Model Trait Model Today we will be discus

A lot of people suffer with time management skills. So today’s topic is focused towards some tips and tricks you can try and implement in your life to be more productive.   1- Try Pomodoro. This is a pop-psychology technique created by entrepreneur and productivity consultant Francesco Cirillo. The basics: Set a timer and work for 25 minutes straight, without any interruptions or distractions, then take a five-minute break. After four cycles, take a longer, 15- to 20-minute break. Repeat until your task is finished. and Cirillo's book The Pomodoro Technique has been read by more than two million people.   2 - Think of Saying Thank You “When you are thankful and grateful for what you're doing in life, even when you are spread thin, it helps immediately with giving you the energy and motivation to get things done,” says Larry Marks, a clinical psychologist at the University of Central Florida. In one study at the University of California, Davis, participants who kept a daily journal of things they were thankful

Researchers are finding that daydreaming actually has positive effects on the function of our brain. Here are a few studies:   A study done by Benjamin Baird and Jonathan Schooler of the University of California at Santa Barbara was published in the journal Psychological Science. They asked participants to take “unusual uses” test. This meant conceptualizing alternative ways of using everyday objects, such as egg cartons for two minutes. Participants performed two sessions and then were given a 12 minute break. In this break they either rested, performed a demanding memory exercise or did a reaction time activity designed to maximize their mind-wandering. When the test resumed, participants did four more “unusual uses” test, two of which were repeats. The group which had performed the mind-wandering tasks in the 12 minute break did 41% better on the re-tests than those who had focused on another mental exercise.   A study published in 2010 in the journal Neuron looked at memory consolidation. New York Univers

JOLSID.com - Blueberries became the biggest superfood a few years ago and people were consuming them like crazy, but did they know why? They have many benefits to them, but I am going to focus in on one in today’s blog – Memory and Focus. Neuronal Growth Factor (NGF) – Neurons are cells in our nervous system that function to process and transmit information in our brain. An adult brain contains about a 100 billion neurons, which branch out to more than 100 trillion points. This network in our brain is what is responsible for forming the basis of our memories, thoughts and feelings. So without neurons we really wouldn’t be able to do much. They make up one of the core components of our brain. It was once believed that we were born with all the neurons we were ever going to have, meaning we had all the branches we were ever going to have. New research has shown that blueberries can help increase the activity of a growth factor called neuronal growth factor in our brains. Essentially NGF helps neurons grow, and

Success is directly related to how we think, how we act and how we perform. Today we will talk about 6 strategies to enhance your cognitive function. The 6 research backed strategies are: 1. POD Intake - Protein, Omega & Vitamin D Facts All cell activity is supported by enzymes which are made up of proteins. Brain cells can multiply by increasing protein and healthy saturated fats Hormones are proteins and therefore hormone balance is dependent upon proper protein balance. Proteins help reduce: fatigue, blood pressure, triglycerides, the risk of ischemic heart disease, the local deficiency of blood supply produced by vasoconstriction or local obstacles to the arterial flow. Vitamin D has shown to enhance mood and focus Omega 3 with hight EPA and DHA content has show improvements in patients diagnosed with ADHD. How to: Ideal protein intake will be more if your are an athlete or bodybuilder. But for an average person it can be obtained by dividing your bodyweight in pounds by 2.2. Then multiply that numb

Hello, welcome to the very first episode of JOLSID podcast. We are your host Sid & Jess. Today we will talk about what JOLSID podcast is all about. Without wasting any time let's do this. Before we talk about the purpose of this podcast Let me take you on a little journey. Sounds good so where are we going today?   Lets travel back thousands of years ago, to the very beginning of the dawn of the human civilization to the time of the Pyramids, now to the Great Wall of China, then to the Taj Mahal in India, the moment of the first human landing on the surface of the moon, the moment of the creation of the first iPhone, gradual development of Google’s ecosystem. One thing all these great endeavours have in common is the people behind them. The initiators of all these projects were visionaries who didn’t think like everyone around them. They were dreamers, the rebels, and those who didn’t believe in the concept of the existence of the box let alone thinking in the box. They were simply free thinkers who chal