BCIA Continuing Education Posts

Before a diagnosis of a mental disorder can be made, the clinician must rule out that the symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition.

Benzodiazepines vary widely in EEG and clinical effects—Subtypes differ by half-life and receptor affinity, influencing sedation, rebound symptoms, and cortical modulation.

A single dose of a psychotropic drug can markedly alter EEG activity within 1 to 3 hours, with changes often widespread and bilaterally symmetrical.

Breathing may serve not only as a marker of psychological traits but potentially as a modulator, aligning with emerging work on respiratory-based therapies for anxiety and depression.

Dijkstra and colleagues identified a specific neural mechanism that our brains use to distinguish the vivid world of our imagination from the tangible reality we perceive through our senses.

Dr. Heidi Hillman’s (2025) study explored the application of heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback to reduce anger in autistic adolescents.

A growing body of research and clinical innovation has underscored the need to integrate multiple therapeutic modalities like neurofeedback and biofeedback when working with clients who present with complex psychological and physiological concerns.

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

Alternating respiration patterns can significantly enhance functional communication between brain regions, promote emotional equilibrium, and optimize autonomic nervous system performance.

Small-N designs are particularly powerful when the treatment effect is large and immediate, allowing researchers to infer causality with confidence.

A null result does not always mean that the independent variable (the factor manipulated by the researcher) does not affect on the dependent variable (the outcome being measured).

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.

The goal of this post is to help you think like a scientist when it comes to evaluating questionable claims.

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

Interrogating association claims means asking three core questions: Were the variables measured well (construct validity)? Can the results be generalized to other populations (external validity)? And is the association statistically strong, significant, and precise (statistical validity)?

The four big validities offer a comprehensive toolkit for evaluating psychological research. Construct validity ensures that variables are accurately measured or manipulated. External validity tells us whether the results generalize. Statistical validity ensures the numbers are trustworthy. Internal validity confirms that cause-and-effect relationships are legitimate.

Association claims are foundational to psychological research because they help us identify variables that are connected and warrant further investigation. While they cannot prove causality, they provide essential groundwork for asking deeper questions.

Understanding how each variable was operationalized helps you evaluate whether results can be compared or generalized. It also helps you decide whether the measure actually reflects the concept you’re interested in.

Acetaminophen excels at treating mild to moderate pain when inflammation isn't a major factor.

A combination of physical activity and dietary change helps cancer patients and survivors reduce weight, body fat, and inflammation—factors linked to cancer progression.