In this episode, researcher Peter Hall discusses a new method for measuring cortical resilience, the Cortical Challenge and Recovery Task. He is lead author of the article, “Quantifying cortical resilience in experimental, clinical and epidemiological studies: A conceptually grounded method using non-invasive brain stimulation.” Podcast participants also include Editor-in-Chief Willem Kop, and Associate Editor Andreana Haley.

In this episode, researcher Peter Hall discusses a new method for measuring cortical resilience, the Cortical Challenge and Recovery Task. He is lead author of the article, “Quantifying cortical resilience in experimental, clinical and epidemiological studies: A conceptually grounded method using non-invasive brain stimulation.” Podcast participants also include Editor-in-Chief Willem Kop, and Associate Editor Andreana Haley.

A special issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, published in October 2019, is devoted to the topic of “Emotions in Social Relationships and Their Implications for Health and Disease.” Participants include Guest Editors Bert Uchino and Naomi Eisenberger, Editor-in-Chief Willem Kop, and author Timothy Smith.

A podcast discussion of the article by J. David Creswell et al. published in the April 2019 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine. The article reviews recent developments in understanding the relationship between mindfulness interventions and physical health.

A podcast discussion of the article by Katherine A. Duggan et al. published in the May 2019 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine. The researchers analyzed whether conscientiousness during youth was later associated with metabolic syndrome in adulthood. They found that adolescent conscientiousness benefited adult psychological resources regardless of race/ethnicity or socioeconomic (SES) status. In black men of low SES, however, adolescent conscientiousness was related to higher adult metabolic syndrome scores, consistent with other evidence that has suggested that there can be a physiologic cost to persistent efforts to cope with severe chronic stressors.

A podcast discussion of the article by Joseph Firth et al. published in the April 2019 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine. The researchers conductd a meta-analysis to assess whether dietary inventions affect symptoms of depression and anxiety.

A podcast discussion of the research article by Gwen Tindula et al. published in the February 2019 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine. The researchers explored the relationship between a mother’s mental health and a child’s home environment and the rates of obesity in Mexican-American youth.

A podcast discussion of the research article by Kyle Bourassa et al. published in the January 2019 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine. Examining data collected over three decades, the researchers found that husbands and wives were at greater risk of early death when their anger-coping response styles differed.

A special issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, published in November 2018, is devoted to the topic of the neuroscience of pain. Guest Editor Mustafa al’Absi discusses the topic with Cristina Ottaviani, an author who contributed her research, and Willem Kop, the Editor-in-Chief of the journal. Dr. Ottaviani’s research focuses on the association of high blood pressure with reduced pain sensitivity.

A special issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, published in November 2016, is devoted to the topic of the mechanisms linking early adversity and health outcomes. Guest Editors Katie McLaughlin and Nicole Bush discuss the topic with Andrea Danese, an author who contributed his research.

A podcast discussion of Psychosomatic Medicine’s special issue, “Diabetes, Obesity, and the Brain,” Volume 77, Issue 6. Willem Kop, Editor-in-Chief of Psychosomatic Medicine, Susan A. Everson-Rose, and John Ryan discuss the cognitive problems and “accelerated aging” that can accompany diabetes and obesity. Dr. Rose is an associate editor of the journal. She and Dr. Ryan served as guest editors of the special issue.

A podcast discussion of the research article by Patrick Trotzke et al. published in the November-December 2014 Psychosomatic Medicine

A podcast discussion of an editorial by Dr. Kurt Kroenke published in October 2014 Psychosomatic Medicine. He discusses articles by Blumenthal et al. and Habibović et al.

A discussion of a new article that describes a study in which researchers tested electromagnetic pulses to the cortex to see how people respond when given the chance to eat some chips or chocolate. The research sheds light on the brain’s executive function.

A panel discussion. Sleep disturbance is a key behavioral risk factor for several medical illnesses including cardiovascular disease and diabetes and is implicated in the pathogenesis of psychopathology, most prominently mood and anxiety disorders. For instance, prospective studies find poor sleep to be a significant and independent contributor to major depressive disorder and a common residual symptom upon remission. How sleep affects health and, in particular, psychopathology risk remains unclear; however, recent experimental evidence points to enhanced sensitivity to stressful or negative emotional stimuli.

This study is one of the first of its kind to investigate how positive indicators of psychological health (i.e., optimism) and physical health (i.e., serum antioxidants) might be associated. This study also adds to the relatively limited literature on psychosocial factors and serum antioxidant status.

As part of Psychosomatic Medicine’s Special Series on Neuroscience in Health and Disease, the September 2012 issue of the journal (Volume 74, Issue 7) features two papers and an editorial related to body fat and possible connections with brain structure and function. Article: Increased Body Mass Index Is Associated With a Global and Distributed Decrease in White Matter Microstructural Integrity
Article: Indirect Effects of Elevated Body Mass Index on Memory Performance Through Altered Cerebral Metabolite Concentrations

The risk of becoming ill after exposure to cold viruses is reduced by about half in parents compared to nonparents, regardless of pre-existing immunity, according to research led by Rodlescia S. Sneed, MPH, and Sheldon Cohen, PhD of Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh. The study suggests that other, yet unknown factors related to being a parent may affect susceptibility to illness.

Participants: Willem J. Kop, PhD, Editor-in-Chief, and Thomas Kubiak, PhD, who guest edited the special issue with Arthur Stone, PhD. Moderator: Victoria J. White, MA, ELS, Managing Editor for Manuscript Production.