BCIA Continuing Education Posts

Steffen and Anderson’s synthesis of recent neuroscience advances proposes a fundamental shift in how we understand stress and coping.

A comprehensive meta-analysis of 138 studies found that facial feedback does have a statistically significant effect on emotional experience, but the effect is small and highly variable.

To support a causal claim, a study must meet three essential criteria: covariance, temporal precedence, and internal validity.

Women’s faster heart rates are linked to higher expression of genes controlling the sinoatrial node, the heart’s natural pacemaker.

Quigley et al. (2024) delivered a comprehensive and much-needed revision of the methodological standards guiding research in heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) within psychophysiology.

Breathing ensures healthy CO2 levels. The main functions of breathing are gas exchange and acid-base (pH) regulation.

Future standards must include open algorithms and population-level validation to increase clinical trust.

AI in mental health care can increase accessibility and offer scalable support, particularly through chatbots and virtual therapists.

SNS activity is too fast and irregular to be a primary driver of VLF rhythms.

Integrating biofeedback and neurofeedback represents a promising frontier in physiological self-regulation approaches.

Environmental and lifestyle factors accounted for 17% of disease mortality risk, while genetics contributed just 2%.

Positive Affect Therapy (PAT) represents a paradigm shift in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders.

Cuijpers and colleagues (2021) emphasize the importance of integrating psychotherapy and medication in depression treatment.

The insular cortex is your brain's integration hub for bodily sensations, emotions, and thoughts.

The extended exhalation in sighing stimulates vagal nerve activity, promoting a calming effect on the nervous system.

Most studies were observational, making it challenging to establish causality between gut microbiota alterations and mental health outcomes.

Rubino and colleagues (2025) have proposed a new classification system based on how excess body fat impacts an individual's health.

Brady's Executive Monkey Study is a cautionary tale in research design and shows that flawed research has a long half-life, especially when

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy sounded the alarm about alcohol's cancer risks in Alcohol and Cancer Risk 2025.

We need to differentiate adaptive or benign sensory experiences from those requiring therapeutic intervention.