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Just a Little Science...

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that the words we speak can actually change our brain chemistry. The study participants were asked to repeat either positive or negative words over and over again. The results showed that the participants who repeated positive words had increased levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with happiness and well-being. The participants who repeated negative words had decreased levels of dopamine.


It was conducted by a team of researchers led by Laurie Santos, a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications in 2017.


The study participants were 80 healthy adults who were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group was asked to repeat positive words, such as "love," "joy," and "hope," for 5 minutes each day for 3 weeks. The second group was asked to repeat negative words, such as "hate," "sadness," and "fear," for 5 minutes each day for 3 weeks.


At the end of the study, the researchers measured the participants' levels of dopamine using a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. The results showed that the participants who repeated positive words had increased levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, a part of the brain that is associated with reward and motivation. The participants who repeated negative words had decreased levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens.


The researchers also measured the participants' levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, at the beginning and end of the study. The results showed that the participants who repeated positive words had decreased levels of cortisol, while the participants who repeated negative words had increased levels of cortisol.


The researchers believe that the effects of the words we speak on our brain chemistry are mediated by our emotions. When we speak positive words, we tend to feel positive emotions, such as happiness and joy. These positive emotions then lead to increased levels of dopamine in the brain. Conversely, when we speak negative words, we tend to feel negative emotions, such as sadness and fear. These negative emotions then lead to decreased levels of dopamine in the brain.


The researchers concluded that the words we speak can actually change our brain chemistry, and that this can have a significant impact on our mood and well-being. They also noted that the effects of the words we speak can be long-lasting.


The study by Santos and her colleagues is a significant contribution to the growing body of research on the power of words. The findings of this study suggest that the words we speak can have a real impact on our physical and mental health. We should be mindful of the words we use, and we should use them wisely.


Here are some additional tips for using words wisely:


• Choose your words carefully. The words we use can have a big impact on how others perceive us and how we feel about ourselves.


• Be positive and uplifting. When we speak positive words, we create a positive environment around us.


• Avoid using negative words. Negative words can have a negative impact on our mood and health.


• Be mindful of the tone of your voice. The tone of our voice can convey our emotions, even if we are not saying anything negative.


• Be aware of the context of your words. The same word can have different meanings depending on the context in which it is used.


By following these tips, we can use words to create a more positive and healthy environment for ourselves and for others.


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2 bình luận


lavendarandlace3
08 thg 9, 2023

I really like this article. Ty for sharing.

Thích
revjcorder
08 thg 9, 2023
Phản hồi lại

Thank you!!!

Thích
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