Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.
Essential oils (EOs) are extracted from plants and contain active components with therapeutic effects. Evidence shows that various types of EOs have a wide range of health benefits. In our previous studies, the potential of lavender EO for prevention and even treatment of depression and anxiety symptoms was demonstrated. The…
This literature review searched PubMed, PsycINFO/OVID, and Medline for original English studies that defined both ADHD and mind wandering and used statistical tests. Only nine studies met the rules (eight in adults and one in children). The studies suggest that people with ADHD commonly experience spontaneous mind wandering and that…
Nightmare disorder and isolated sleep paralysis are REM-related sleep problems that can cause real distress. Nightmare disorder means repeated, very upsetting, well-remembered dreams that wake a person and hurt their mood, sleep, or daily life. Isolated sleep paralysis is a state where the body stays in REM sleep muscle paralysis…
Researchers scanned the brain activity of one very experienced meditator (more than 23,000 hours of practice) while they entered deep concentration states called jhanas. They used two brain-measuring tools — fMRI, which shows which brain areas are communicating, and EEG, which records electrical rhythms — and also had the person…
This cross-sectional survey (data collected 1 July–15 December 2022) asked people about brain fog, diet, sleep, mood, and gut symptoms. The study found that people who had COVID-19 — especially those with reinfection — and women reported higher brain fog scores. Gastrointestinal symptoms and mood scores were linked to worse…
