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The Technology of Human Connection (March 4)
As part of a kick-off for the National Day of Unplugging (see below), I will be moderating and participating in a forum exploring social health and digital wellness. This forum will bring together folks who are interested in mental and public health, behavioral research, and community building in pursuit of healthier use of technology, social well-being, and conscious creation of digital engagement tools.
Learn more about the forum and purchase tickets here.
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National Day of Unplugging (March 6-7, 2020)
Unplugging is good for energy conservation, mental health, and personal productivity--I will be taking part in the National Day of Unplugging. I encourage you to challenge yourself to unplug as well! You can take the pledge to unplug on nationaldayofunplugging.com, and receive a free toolkit with ideas for activities and conversations.
Read more about unplugging here.
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The Best Mindfulness Apps in 2020
My mindfulness app, Personal Zen, ranked among the top six mindfulness apps of 2020. Mindfulness apps can help with all manner of mental and physical health problems, and improve overall life quality. In addition, my scientifically-validated mind training app is used to reduce stress and anxiety, and build positive habits of attention.
Read more about my app and other apps on the list here.
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Screens and Relationships
On a recent "Good Code" podcast episode, I discuss what happens when mothers, fathers, caregivers disappear into their phones in front of infants and toddlers. I also reference my research on technology and mental health, and warn against always blaming the technology.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
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The Ultimate Form of Avoidance
I had a wonderful chat with Robert Platkin on Technology for Mindfulness podcast about how parent-child relationships are impacted by technology use. I dive into the details of how the human eyes have evolved to function in social settings, tracking eye movements and sharing gaze with others - and how technology can disrupt that communication.
Listen to the podcast here.
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Up the Down Staircase: Human Downgrading & Digital Dystopias
In my recent post for Psychology Today, I talk about anti-Silicon Valley 'techlash,' and the very real problems that exist within our digital lives. If we are going to demand a humane digital ecosystem, a constructive approach will yield better results.
Read the blog post here.
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Reptiles vs Gods
In the first Civic Hall post of the year, I am quoted from my critique of the concept of "human downgrading." I argue that this framing understates the resilience of human beings, and overstates the power of tech.
Read the post here.
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These apps make a game out of relieving anxiety
As more and more Americans turn to products that promise to relieve their anxiety, there is a growing market for apps that resemble games - what's known as gamification - the application of classic gaming elements, like scoring points, to a non-game context, like mental health. My app, Personal Zen, does just that, and is also evidence-based from the research I conduct.
Read more about the different apps available here.
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Preferring to communicate via technology is associated with worse emotional functioning
My post-doctoral researcher, Dr. Myruski, was interviewed for a PsyPost article where she discussed how pervasive and growing use of social media, and mobile devices have transformed the way we communicate on a daily basis, including how we experience, express and manage our emotions.
Read the article here.
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Launch of New Project on Teen Suicide
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NIMH Grant - Investigating Difficult Emotions in Adolescents (IDEA) Study
My colleague, Dr. Regina Miranda, and I received a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study cognitive and emotional factors interacting with distinct patterns of suicidal thoughts that increase risk for suicide attempts among teens. Findings will lay the groundwork for improving early risk detection and intervention for teens at risk for suicide.
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We're Recruiting Participants!
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Do you ever wonder about how technology helps - or hinders - your teen's friendships?
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We are studying how adolescents regulate their emotions with the support of their peers via technology.
We are seeking 13- to 15-year old adolescent peers to participate in this research study. During the visit, peers will complete an emotion regulation task while non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) is recorded.
Each teen will be compensated $50 and their parent will be compensated $25.
For full information, please contact us at: (212) 650-3878 or erlab@hunter.cuny.edu
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Do you ever wonder about your adolescent's experiences of anxiety and worry?
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We do! Help us learn about how anxiety and attention work together in the adolescent brain.
We are seeking 12-to 14-year old youth to participate in a research study.
During the first visit, you and your child will complete questionnaires about your child's emotions. In addition, your child will complete computerized tasks while non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) is recorded. During the second visit, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be used to track your child's brain activity.
You and your child will receive compensation of $100 for each visit, for a total of $200. Parents will be provided with free clinical feedback.
For full information, please contact us at: (212) 650-3878 or erlab@hunter.cuny.edu
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Student Accomplishments
My undergraduate student, Milana Khaitova, was recently accepted into the BP-Endure Fellowship program. This competitive program is designed to encourage and prepare undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to succeed in PhD programs in the neurosciences.
Read more about the program here.
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This Is Not Propaganda: Adventures in the War Against Reality
by Peter Pomerantsev
Peter Pomerantsev takes us to the front lines of the disinformation age, where he meets Twitter revolutionaries and pop-up populists, "behavioral change" salesmen, Jihadi fanboys, Identitarians, truth cops, and many others. Read more here.
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Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary is a Professor of Psychology at Hunter College and The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, the Director of the Emotion Regulation Lab, and the Co-Executive Director of the Hunter College Health Technology Center. She also created the mobile app, Personal Zen, a scientifically-validated tool for reducing stress and anxiety.
Tracy’s mission is to understand the fundamental role of emotions in mental health, to tease apart the links between technology and anxiety, and to transform breakthrough science into digital therapeutics that elevate mental wellness and bridge the gap between mental health needs and solutions. More about Tracy here.
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