Creativity as a Self-Expanding System: Why Using It Makes More of It

April 15, 2026

For much of modern history, creativity has been treated like a finite resource, something you “tap into,” “run out of,” or “save for later.” But contemporary neuroscience and cognitive psychology suggest a very different model: creativity behaves less like a fuel tank and more like a muscle or an evolving neural network. The more it … More Creativity as a Self-Expanding System: Why Using It Makes More of It

Neural Foundations of Aesthetic Experience: A Review of Neuroaesthetics

April 1, 2026

Author Khirstyn-LienJournal of Neuroscience and Cognitive ScienceDate: October 2025 Abstract Neuroaesthetics is an interdisciplinary field that investigates the neural and biological foundations of aesthetic experience. Integrating approaches from neuroscience, psychology, and the philosophy of art, this domain seeks to explain why humans perceive and derive meaning from beauty in art, music, and design. Converging evidence … More Neural Foundations of Aesthetic Experience: A Review of Neuroaesthetics

The “Three-Hit Combo”: Synergistic Physiologic Mechanisms Underlying Air Travel Related Venous Thromboembolism

March 17, 2026

Air travel longer than four hours is associated with a significant increase in VTE risk, often referred to as ‘economy-class syndrome.’ This risk is compounded by factors such as prolonged immobility, low cabin humidity, and reduced barometric pressure, which together create a prothrombotic environment. … More The “Three-Hit Combo”: Synergistic Physiologic Mechanisms Underlying Air Travel Related Venous Thromboembolism

The Dual Influence of Travel on Subjective Time Perception and Physiological Longevity

December 29, 2025

Author: Khirstyn-Lien Date: December 2025 Neuroscience and Psychology Abstract: Travel introduces novel sensory, cognitive, and environmental inputs that reshape both the subjective experience of time and several physiological pathways linked to health and longevity. This entry explores neuroscientific mechanisms underlying time dilation during travel, alongside epidemiological findings indicating that regular vacations may contribute to longer … More The Dual Influence of Travel on Subjective Time Perception and Physiological Longevity

Bilateral Stimulation and Regulation of the Central Nervous System: A Neurophysiological Parallel to Psychotherapy Induced Calming Mechanisms

October 23, 2025

Author: Khirstyn-Lien Neuroscience and Psychotherapy Date: October 2025 Abstract Bilateral stimulation (BLS) is a therapeutic technique that involves rhythmic, alternating sensory input that are typically visual, auditory, or tactile, across both hemispheres of the brain. Originally popularized through Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, BLS has since been studied as a mechanism that induces … More Bilateral Stimulation and Regulation of the Central Nervous System: A Neurophysiological Parallel to Psychotherapy Induced Calming Mechanisms

Chronic Stress Induced Remodeling of the Prefrontal Cortex and Its Impact on Decision Making

August 10, 2025

Author: Khirstyn-Lien Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Date: August 2025 Abstract Chronic stress induces profound structural, functional, and molecular alterations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region essential for executive control, working memory, and goal directed decision making. Prolonged exposure to stress hormones and neuromodulators disrupts dendritic architecture, reduces synaptic connectivity, and alters neurotransmission, shifting … More Chronic Stress Induced Remodeling of the Prefrontal Cortex and Its Impact on Decision Making

The Pain of Discipline vs. The Pain of Regret: The Choice We Make Daily

August 10, 2025

Every day, whether consciously or not, we’re faced with a choice: Do we embrace the pain of discipline, or do we suffer the pain of regret? It sounds simple, but it’s one of the most powerful truths that shapes our lives. Waking up early, sticking to a workout routine, saying no to short-term temptations, staying … More The Pain of Discipline vs. The Pain of Regret: The Choice We Make Daily

From Reluctance to Reverence: How I Came to Embrace the Power of Role Models

August 1, 2025

Growing up, I didn’t have a role model, not in the traditional sense. I was the type of kid who didn’t believe in idolizing other humans. I saw people as flawed, complex, and too multidimensional to fit into neat boxes of heroism or perfection. The idea of placing someone on a pedestal felt disingenuous to … More From Reluctance to Reverence: How I Came to Embrace the Power of Role Models

Distortion of Reality and Its Neurocognitive Consequences: The Correlation Between Lying And Dementia

July 22, 2025

Author: Khirstyn-Lien Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Date: July 2025 AbstractIn the following perspective based review, I explore the hypothesis that individuals who frequently lie or habitually alter their perception of reality may be at increased risk of developing dementia. Drawing upon existing neuroscientific literature on executive function, memory distortion, and prefrontal cortex integrity, I propose … More Distortion of Reality and Its Neurocognitive Consequences: The Correlation Between Lying And Dementia