RFY Counselling

03/10/2026

Experiment Explains 'Spring in Your Step' Feeling

Have you ever found a “spring in your step” when you’re walking toward something you enjoy – a favorite food, a good friend, an entertaining activity?

That’s a dopamine surge hitting your brain, a new study says.

Dopamine – a brain chemical associated with reward – appears to prompt people to move faster when they want something, researchers recently reported in the journal Science Advances.
It might seem like an odd observation, but it could lead to discoveries that help diagnose and treat conditions like Parkinson’s disease and depression, researchers said.
“Movements are a window to the mind,” lead researcher Colin Korbisch, a research assistant at the University of Colorado-Boulder, said in a news release.

In this case, movements provide insight into the behavior of dopaminergic neurons – the brain cells that release dopamine and thus shape a large range of human behavior.
“Normally, you can’t go into the brain and see what the dopaminergic neurons are doing, but movement could reflect those neural computations that are so difficult to disentangle,” Korbisch said.

For the study, researchers designed a simple experiment. They asked participants to “reach” for one of four targets on a computer screen, using a joystick-like device.

One target provided a simple reward each time a participant hit it — a flashing light and a beeping sound. Another target gave no reward, and the other two provided rewards that were less showy.

Participants tended to reach a little faster toward targets that were more likely to give a reward, the study found.

But more intriguingly, if they reached for a target unlikely to give a reward and they got one anyway, their reaching motion sped up afterward.

This boost occurred faster than the human eye could detect, just 220 milliseconds after the subjects heard the reward beep. But it still indicates that a pleasant surprise might give people a little extra pep.

The research team suspects that participants received a second jolt of dopamine from their unexpected reward – by contrast, when people knew they were getting a reward, they didn’t get that second surge of dopamine.

"Importantly, this effect wasn't tied to reward reception alone," Korbisch said. "If the outcome was certain and known to the individual, we saw no further increase in vigor."

Results also showed that if people got a string of rewards in a row, they started moving faster overall. But the reverse also was true – if they had nothing but bad luck, they slowed down.

This mirrors how people with depression tend to move more slowly, noted senior researcher Alaa Ahmed, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

“If you’ve had a good day, you’ll go faster. If you’ve had a bad day, you’ll move slower,” Ahmed said in a news release. “It’s basically that skip in your step.”

These results might seem rather obvious at first, she said.

“Anecdotally, we just feel that this is true,” Ahmed said. “When you go to the airport to pick up your parents, you may run to greet them. But if you’re picking up a colleague, you’re probably just going to walk.”

But the experiment shows how dopamine rewards your brain when you’ve received a reward and also registers when you’re doing something unrewarding, researchers said. Essentially, the brain uses dopamine to teach itself which options are worth pursuing and which can be ignored.

Researchers might one day be able to use these insights to track mood disorders, Ahmed said.

And since dopamine plays a crucial role in Parkinson’s disease, these results might also help inform understanding of that disorder as well, researchers said.

HealthDay

02/18/2026

01/21/2026

How to Reclaim Your Attention Span

It’s easy to lose focus. You’re deep into an important assignment when your phone pings with another notification. You’re cooking dinner and decide to check email “just in case.” Experts say our attention spans are shrinking, and many of us are having a harder time staying focused on one task at a time.

The good news is you can rebuild your attention span with a few practical changes. Here are three steps to help you reclaim your focus.

Do an attention audit:
Daniel Smilek, a professor of cognitive science at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, says many people underestimate how much time they spend scrolling on their phones, according to The New York Times. Start paying attention to when your mind wanders from the task at hand, and keep a daily log of how often you get distracted.

Reduce distractions:
You don’t have to quit social media completely, but you can make distractions less convenient. Try logging out of social media apps after each use. Turn off saved passwords so you have to manually log in next time. When you need a break, take a real one instead of reaching for your phone. Go for a short walk, stretch, or step outside — and resist the urge to scroll. It also helps to write down the tasks you need to complete, so your brain doesn’t keep circling back to remember what’s next.

Train for longer focus:
After a few weeks, repeat your audit and see if your attention span is improving. If you still feel more distracted than you’d like, aim to give your brain more true downtime. Spend time in nature, or leave your headphones at home during a walk or run. Quiet moments without constant input can help your mind reset.

You don’t have to sit on a meditation cushion to strengthen focus, Smilek says, but mindfulness can help. Try concentrating fully on whatever you’re doing and choose a simple “anchor,” such as your breath or an object in the room. When your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to that anchor as many times as needed.

Even a few minutes of attention training can feel difficult at first, Smilek notes, so start small. Build up gradually, and take it one day at a time.

By Lynn C. Allison

01/16/2026

https://www.lhscri.ca/news/new-study-reveals-potential-biological-link-between-cannabis-use-and-psychosis/

Although it’s been six years since cannabis was legalized in Canada, further research is needed to fully understand its health effects. A new study published today in JAMA Psychiatry sheds light on…

01/16/2026

Send a message to learn more

12/29/2025

Always Hope

12/24/2025

Science-Backed Strategies to Fend Off Winter Illness

Most people know the basics for avoiding infection, such as washing hands frequently and covering coughs and sneezes. But research has identified several lesser-known strategies that can also help protect your health during the winter months.

Here’s what experts recommend:

Keep indoor spaces properly humidified. According to BBC Science Focus Magazine, good ventilation helps reduce the spread of cold and flu viruses, but humidity is just as important. Dry air from central heating systems allows viruses to survive longer and dries out the protective mucus lining the eyes, nose, and throat, making it easier for infections to take hold. Experts recommend maintaining indoor humidity between 40 and 60 percent to create a healthier environment.

Exercise also plays an important role in immune health. Research has debunked the myth that strenuous exercise weakens the immune system. In fact, physical activity temporarily increases the number of immune cells circulating in the blood. Experts recommend a combination of aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking or running, along with resistance or weight training. Building muscle tissue helps support overall immune function.

Vitamin D is another key factor in preventing illness. While vitamin C is often highlighted for shortening the duration of colds, research suggests vitamin D may help prevent infections in the first place. A large global study found that vitamin D supplementation can protect against acute respiratory infections.

“Most people understand that vitamin D is critical for bone and muscle health,” says Carlos Camargo of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, the study’s senior author. “Our analysis also found that it helps the body fight acute respiratory infections, which are responsible for millions of deaths worldwide each year.”

Nutritionists generally recommend vitamin D3, the form that is more easily absorbed by the body. Appropriate dosage varies based on age and existing vitamin D levels, which can be determined with a blood test.

Getting a flu shot remains one of the most effective ways to stay healthy during winter. Flu vaccines are not just for older adults. The flu can affect people of any age, and even young, otherwise healthy individuals can become seriously ill. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older receive a flu vaccine each season, with rare exceptions.

Newsmax Health: Lynn C. Allison

12/14/2025

Scientists once thought that the brain was locked in place after puberty. But new technology shows that our brain continues to rewire itself and never stops ...