Sniffing Pleasant Odors may Decrease Cigarette Cravings
https://neurosciencenews.com/olfaction-cigarette-craving-11085/ Smoking today is known to be an addictive habit. In fact, a significant group of people who want to quit smoking will relapse after roughly two weeks of not smoking. However, a new study from the APA has shown that smokers who sniff a pleasant smell prior to smoking will have an easier time resisting the urge to smoke. In this study, the researchers selected 232 smokers from the ages of 18-55. First, the participants were exposed to multiple different smells and asked to identify the most pleasant smell to them. Then, participants were asked to light a cigarette and rate (from 1-100) their desire to smoke that cigarette. After the participants gave a rating, they were given a container to sniff the odor that each participant said was most pleasant. The results suggest that sniffing the pleasant odor while a cigarette was lit caused the craving of smoking the cigarette to decrease. The researchers believe that the ple
This was an enjoyable article to read and fascinating to find out that picture taking can increase someone's mood. Considering how natural it is for our generation to take selfies and pictures in general, it is never really thought that moods can be positively impacted this way. In relation to class, it is the neurons that are conveying these feelings of happiness whenever a selfie is taken. Also, the neurotransmitter serotonin comes into play when someone takes a selfie because their mood is affected (increasing serotonin levels). Overall, I thought you did a good job summarizing and keeping me interested in the information on the article.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed reading both this article and your response. The concept of taking pictures of either oneself, objects, or others and how that relates to happiness is incredibly relevant to our generation. Another topic from class that explains these feelings of happiness caused by picture taking is neurotransmitters. For example, serotonin is in involved in mood. Another concept is the hypothalamus, which helps account for one's emotions. Overall, I think this was a great article to choose because it relates to individuals our age and offers some advice on an easy way to possibly be happier in general.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article I learned that I need to start taking more selfies! I normally don't take many photos but since I now know that it can increase your positive mood, I need to get started! Also, I had more questions following the article. In class, we discussed how different neurotransmitters could affect your body. In this case, I wonder if serotonin or dopamine could play a role. Since serotonin is involved with mood, it may play a part in increasing the feeling of happiness. Dopamine may play a role in this as well because it promotes reinforcing effects, so after taking a selfie and feeling good, dopamine may reinforce this behavior for the future.
ReplyDeleteTaking selfies can have a positive effect, I think, when friends are taking it with you. I know for a fact that many people who post selfies of just themselves want likes. When the amount of likes isn't up to par, those who took the selfie think they are not pretty. It's like those people feed off of what others think rather than just being able to recognize themselves as good looking.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I love to take pictures, usually of nature or other people. When taking pictures of nature I do become more appreciative. When I take pictures of friends, it makes me happy to see them smile. What's great about that is that sometimes I capture that "Kodak moment".
There are pros and cons to technology, and depending on how you use it, or if you abuse it, can determine how you think of yourself, and if you're getting more positive or negative things out of it. Social media is a tricky thing.
This article is hands down my favorite one so far! I enjoy taking selfies and reading about it makes me even happier. I always had the feeling that taking selfies can have a positive impact, especially since it's a trend that a lot of people in our generation seem to love. Once again Tina is giving some similar ideas as me. I also believe that there can be a downside to selfies when it comes to the amount of likes. Some people may experience self-serving bias and instant gratification when they receive a lot of likes on particular social media apps, but I wonder how that can alter someone's personal views and self-esteem if people don't receive that many likes or if they compare their likes to their others. I wonder if taking selfies releases dopamine in the brain and if the brain articulates selfies as a sensational feeling. More can be researched on my part to fulfill the curiosity I have with this topic.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this interesting study! I found it to be extremely pertinent to our tech-age society. Increased serotonin levels due to selfie taking is an intriguing topic but it does make me question our society and the root of our happiness. It would be interesting to further the study by then telling the participants that they cannot take selfies or photos and then measure the same variables. Would participants report the same level of confidence and self-efficacy, or is it possible their serotonin levels would decrease and happiness would lessen in intensity? This study makes me curious if our happiness is dependent on the superficial filtered snapshots of ourselves we post on social media and if that has any affect on our long term happiness. Excellent article and summary! It really got me thinking about happiness and how our body perceives it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this article is very relevant in our generation. I do think that a study should be performed in order to see where our root of happiness lies when it comes to taking pictures of ourselves and the effect that has on us. This article made me think about how superficial our happiness may be all because of social media and pictures and what the impact of the comments of others as well.
DeleteSelf confidence is a tricky concept. Often times then a person takes pictures of his or her self in the selfie form, there is a chance to review and position the photo just as he or she would like before snapping the shot. This is unique to the selfie because it allows a person to view the photo in the exact dimensions it will be snapped in before hand. When someone is satisfied with photos of his or her self, confidence will rise.
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