Good news fellow bloggers -- blogging is good for your health! The June '08 issue of Scientific American has a short article about the therapeutic value of blogging/writing. Besides serving as a stress-coping mechanism (and who couldn't use that?!), research shows that it "improves memory and sleep, boosts immune cell activity...and even speeds healing after surgery." Whoa!
Now scientists are starting to explore the neurological basis for these positive effects by using tools such as brain-imaging techniques. (There are likely a cluster of neurological pathways, but since the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain govern speech, they would certainly have to figure into the picture.)
Of course one can go overboard with the writing/blogging, and there are people who do it compulsively. Hypergraphia is an uncontrollable urge to write. I don't have that... although I might have hyperphotoshoppia, the uncontrollable urge to photoshop Presbyterian Gal's face onto any possible picture.
The article ends by noting blogging's added benefit of "receptive readers in similar situations". One researcher writes: "Individuals are connecting to one another and witnessing each other's expressions--the basis for forming a community."
Good stuff! Now excuse me while I go work on another picture of presbygal...
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credits: shakespeare blogging picture found at 'emergingwriter.blogspot' via google
12 comments:
Thank goodness you're driving! My nerves are so jangled from this week, I'd likely drive us over a cliff!
Oh the irony, presbyterian gal...
:)
tee hee (next shot could be of Oprah and Gail) -:)
excellent, rev ss... always looking for new ideas! :)
well *cheers* here's to our health then!
oooh yes and b/c you are the eye expert... my vision has improved dear friend by half a point! those gel contacts are some awesome invention... (well yeah and i ate my carrots)ooh and i blog!!!
yay for hotcup!!!
Love the Shakespeare cartoon.
A blog by any other name . . .
Oh heck, I'm too tired to be clever.
rhc, I'd say you're clever even when you're tired!
I gotta learn Photoshop. How did you learn? Did you take a class. You do very well. I'm always jealous. And thanks for the good news. Just don't drive off a cliff!
Counselor, I always say 'photoshop' but it is really "Microsoft Digital Image Suite" -- I consider that to be sort of a 'photoshop for dummies'. At least it seemed waaay easier than Adobe Photoshop for me to learn on my own.
And thanks, I'll watch out for the cliffs. :)
what great info and what a picture! I'm so glad to know that I'm doing at least one healthy thing!
YES!!! Somethings that's good AND good for you! At LAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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