A new angel to mental performance and health? How understanding brain science enhances cognitive gains and well-being

Today's study is the first in our new November focus on the influence of knowledge, beliefs and placebo on the effect of different tactics for improving mental performance and health. The study reveals how understanding brain health principles can boost the effectiveness of cognitive and lifestyle interventions—a compelling insight for professionals and students focused on optimizing mental well-being. By combining diverse, easily integrated activities with targeted knowledge about brain function, this research suggests a practical approach to enhancing cognitive performance and emotional resilience. Whether you’re aiming to prevent cognitive decline or improve daily mental clarity, this summary highlights actionable ways to leverage brain science for sustained personal and professional growth.

Simple Sleep Tracking: How to easily measure and improve your sleep quality

In October we have looked at different ways to measure your mental energy – both subjective and objective. Today's study looks at how reliable subjective sleep measures are. Understanding how well our feeling of our sleep match up with what’s actually happening in our brain is critical for developing a good self-monitoring routine. This summary breaks down a cutting-edge study that links self-reported sleep quality with real, measurable data from a mobile EEG device. If you’ve ever wondered whether your sense of a "bad night's sleep" is accurate, this research provides answers.

Track your Mental Energy! Use a quick test to measure alertness and prevent fatigue

Continuing on our October focus on measuring mental energy, today’s newsletter builds on top of last week’s exploration of tablet-based tools for assessing manual dexterity. Just as fine motor tasks could potentially be used to track cognitive fatigue, this study examines how shortened versions of the psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) on smartphones and tablets measure alertness under sleep deprivation. These mobile PVTs could serve as practical, portable tools for tracking cognitive performance in real-world settings, offering an alternative to traditional, longer PVT methods.

How tablet-based tests can reveal Mental Fatigue through dexterity

This weeks study looks at how a tablet-based test can measure fine motor skills, which could tell us something about mental energy. Just like we talked about stress and mental overload in last week’s newsletter, changes in how well one perform tasks like these might hint at mental fatigue. By connecting physical and mental performance, this research gives us a new way to understand and manage mental energy.

Understand your Mental Energy: A practical tool to measure and manage stress

In October, we are focusing on how to measure mental energy and wellness, starting with self-reported tools. This study is especially relevant because it introduces a reliable questionnaire to measure mental hyperactivity, a key factor in chronic stress. The tool was rigorously tested and validated in university students, making it an important resource for understanding how stress affects mental energy. If you're exploring ways to assess and improve mental wellness, this study provides valuable insights into a practical, research-backed approach.

Optimizing Sleep Quality through effective non-pharmacological interventions

As the final post in our September focus on sleep, today’s summary wraps up our insights on optimizing sleep health. If you’re aiming to excel—whether in your personal life, at work, or in sports—you already know that quality sleep is essential. This review offers a comprehensive look at the most effective non-pharmacological strategies for boosting sleep health. By breaking down findings from 35 systematic reviews, it reveals which interventions truly work, from behavior change techniques to mind-body exercises and delayed school start times.

Finding the ideal sleep duration for Mental Health and Performance

Continuing our September focus on sleep, this week’s newsletter expands on last week’s insights about the benefits of improving sleep quality to reduce mental health symptoms. This week, we explore how sleep duration specifically influences health outcomes, including mental well-being, across all age groups. The review highlights that both short and long sleep durations can negatively impact health. If you're curious about the sweet spot for sleep to enhance both physical and mental health, this summary provides a clear, easy-to-follow breakdown of the latest research.

Unlocking Better Mental Health Through Sleep with Actionable Insights from New Research

Why Sleep Matters: Enhancing Mental Health and Well-Being in Adolescents