Black Belt Brain

Depression

What Does Taekwondo in the Dojang Do to Depression?

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on April 28, 2025

Physical activity generally and martial arts training specifically can help modulate depression and improve mental health status across the lifespan.

Physical activity generally and martial arts training specifically can help modulate depression and improve mental health status across the lifespan.

Autism

Can Martial Arts Help Kids on the Autism Spectrum?

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on April 1, 2025

Exercise interventions significantly improve flexibility, cognitive control, motor skills, coordination, social skills, and behavioral challenges for kids on the autism spectrum.

Exercise interventions significantly improve flexibility, cognitive control, motor skills, coordination, social skills, and behavioral challenges for kids on the autism spectrum.

Sport and Competition

Finding Your One Thing and Becoming Who You Are

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on March 8, 2025

The mental focus of a true champion is that if you win, you train the next day. And if you lose, you train the next day. It's all about process.

The mental focus of a true champion is that if you win, you train the next day. And if you lose, you train the next day. It's all about process.

Sport and Competition

The Importance of Imagining Future Success

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on March 6, 2025

Visualizing and imagining the positive outcomes we seek can help prepare us to best achieve them and enhance stress resilience.

Visualizing and imagining the positive outcomes we seek can help prepare us to best achieve them and enhance stress resilience.

Neuroscience

Martial Arts Training Can Help You Change Your Mind

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on February 20, 2025

Can kung fu fighting change what's inside your cranium? Even brief periods of martial-arts training can produce benefits in brain activity and bodily health.

Can kung fu fighting change what's inside your cranium? Even brief periods of martial-arts training can produce benefits in brain activity and bodily health.

Placebo

Look on the Bright Side Because Your Mindset Always Matters

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on February 3, 2025

Do no less than believe in your success. Belief and confidence set the tide level for background efficacy and everything we experience is superimposed on that.

Do no less than believe in your success. Belief and confidence set the tide level for background efficacy and everything we experience is superimposed on that.

Anxiety

Don't Let Your Brain Scratch That Overthinking Itch

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on December 22, 2024

Rumination is rife with heightened background stress like that over holidays and large social events. Do things to prevent your brain from scratching its itch.

Rumination is rife with heightened background stress like that over holidays and large social events. Do things to prevent your brain from scratching its itch.

Neuroscience

Your Body and Brain in Motion Are Where Mind and Matter Meet

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on November 15, 2024

Everything is connected. Our efforts to move and improve generate multiple cascading responses within our bodies that can lead to better neurobiological and psychological health.

Everything is connected. Our efforts to move and improve generate multiple cascading responses within our bodies that can lead to better neurobiological and psychological health.

Personality

Can the Fighting Arts Promote Positive Personality Traits?

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on November 1, 2024

With martial arts training, we likely need not fear fostering the Cobra Kai no-mercy mentality. Kung Fu Panda's agreeable and conscientious personality is a more probable outcome.

With martial arts training, we likely need not fear fostering the Cobra Kai no-mercy mentality. Kung Fu Panda's agreeable and conscientious personality is a more probable outcome.

Therapy

Can Karate Give Depression a Kick After Cancer?

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on October 11, 2024

Interesting and engaging martial arts practices have significant multi-dimensional meaning and should be encouraged therapeutically as well as recreationally.

Interesting and engaging martial arts practices have significant multi-dimensional meaning and should be encouraged therapeutically as well as recreationally.

Self-Help

Really, What Would Batman Do?

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on September 20, 2024

There are some realities in the mythologies of human superheroes like Batman. This can inspire us to use determination to achieve more in our real lives.

There are some realities in the mythologies of human superheroes like Batman. This can inspire us to use determination to achieve more in our real lives.

Neuroscience

Stay in the Present When Performing Under Pressure

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on September 14, 2024

Maximal motor performance is focused on the present. Rewards arising from performance are in the future and will never arrive if we don't get through what we are actually doing.

Maximal motor performance is focused on the present. Rewards arising from performance are in the future and will never arrive if we don't get through what we are actually doing.

Mindfulness

Take Time for Your Heart to Meet Your Mind

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on August 21, 2024

While we can often be very challenged to directly alter our thinking, many things we do can lead to change in processes of brain and body that enable calmer thoughts and mindsets.

While we can often be very challenged to directly alter our thinking, many things we do can lead to change in processes of brain and body that enable calmer thoughts and mindsets.

Health

A Little Bit of Body Work Can Save Your Brain From Boredom

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on August 14, 2024

To save your brain from neurobiological boredom, stand up and be squatted every now and then, and start to think of sitting as part of your interruption of standing.

To save your brain from neurobiological boredom, stand up and be squatted every now and then, and start to think of sitting as part of your interruption of standing.

Memory

Trying Harder Increases Cognitive Effort and Enhances Memory

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on July 11, 2024

Neurobiology shows us that there is joy in effort and that hard cognitive effort really does make stronger memories.

Neurobiology shows us that there is joy in effort and that hard cognitive effort really does make stronger memories.

Mindfulness

A Martial Arts Mindset Can Bring Clarity to Daily Life

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on July 4, 2024

Personal Perspective: Martial arts training can help us be ready mentally to respond appropriately, and yet never take action just for the sake of taking action.

Personal Perspective: Martial arts training can help us be ready mentally to respond appropriately, and yet never take action just for the sake of taking action.

Autism

Motor Programming and Martial Arts on the Autism Spectrum

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on June 1, 2024

Altered comparison between what is intended and what occurs affects sensorimotor stability on the autism spectrum may benefit from martial arts training.

Altered comparison between what is intended and what occurs affects sensorimotor stability on the autism spectrum may benefit from martial arts training.

Sleep

Sorry, but Science Says You Should Not Sleep In on Weekends

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on May 3, 2024

Sleeping in leads to cascades of negative effects that can interfere with cardiac and metabolic health and body weight regulation.

Sleeping in leads to cascades of negative effects that can interfere with cardiac and metabolic health and body weight regulation.

Aging

Keeping Things the Same Requires Making Changes

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on April 12, 2024

Your aging brain knows how to match the function of the other bits of your body. We just have to alter how we do things to match the conditions across the lifespan.

Your aging brain knows how to match the function of the other bits of your body. We just have to alter how we do things to match the conditions across the lifespan.

Flow

If You Want the Flow You Have to Let It Go

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on March 16, 2024

Peak creative performance requires extensive training and getting out of your way.

Peak creative performance requires extensive training and getting out of your way.