"This book provides an academically oriented and scientifically based description of how technological advances may have contributed to a wide range of mental health outcomes, covering the spectrum from problems and maladies to improved and expanded healthcare services"--
Meditation techniques, including mindfulness, have become popular wellbeing practices and the scientific study of their effects has recently turned 50 years old. But how much do we know about them: what were they developed for and by whom? How similar or different are they, how effective can they be in changing our minds and biology, what are their social and ethical implications? The Oxford Handbook of Meditation is the most comprehensive volume published on meditation, written in accessible language by world-leading experts on the science and history of these techniques. It covers the development of meditation across the world and the varieties of its practices and experiences. It includes approaches from various disciplines, including psychology, neuroscience, history, anthropology, and sociology and it explores its potential for therapeutic and social change, as well as unusual or negative effects. Edited by practitioner-researchers, this book is the ultimate guide for all interested in meditation, including teachers, clinicians, therapists, researchers, or anyone who would like to learn more about this topic.
The use of electroencephalography (EEG) to study the human mind has seen tremendous growth across a vast array of disciplines due to increased ease of use and affordability of the technology. Typically, researchers study how the magnitude of the waves changes over time or how the rhythm (frequency) of the waves changes over time. The Oxford Handbook of EEG Frequency is arguably the first book to comprehensively describe the ways to study how the frequency of the waves changes over time and how changes in frequency are linked to cognitive, affective, and motor processes. Consisting of 23 chapters written by leading authorities in the field, the book is separated into three sections, with the first focusing on the basics of EEG frequency research, linking frequency analyses to core components of EEG research with event-related potential (ERP) components and local field potentials (LFPs) in non-human animals. The second section looks at specific EEG frequency components that are commonly studied using traditional frequency bands of activity to study specific psychological processes. Finally, the third section explores EEG frequency analyses in special populations and altered states. Each chapter provides a diverse perspective on the topic, giving readers the opportunity to learn about a vast array of methods to conduct EEG frequency analyses, from 'traditional' to cutting-edge techniques, providing a comprehensive and in-depth overview of electroencephalography (EEG).
Humans have engaged in artistic and aesthetic activities since the appearance of our species. Our ancestors have decorated their bodies, tools, and utensils for over 100,000 years. The expression of meaning using color, line, sound, rhythm, or movement, among other means, constitutes a fundamental aspect of our species' biological and cultural heritage. Art and aesthetics, therefore, contribute to our species identity and distinguish it from its living and extinct relatives. Science is faced with the challenge of explaining the natural foundations of such a unique trait, and the way cultural processes nurture it into magnificent expressions, historically and ethnically unique. How do the human mind and brain bring about these sorts of behaviors? What psychological and neural processes underlie the appreciation of painting, music, and dance? How does training modulate these processes? Are humans the only species capable of aesthetic appreciation, or are other species endowed with the rudiments of this capacity? Empirical examinations of such questions have a long and rich history in the discipline of psychology, the genesis of which can be traced back to the publication of Gustav Theodor Fechner's Vorschule der Aesthetik in 1876, making it the second oldest branch in experimental psychology. The Oxford Handbook of Empirical Aesthetics brings together leading experts in psychology, neuroimaging, art history, and philosophy to answer these questions. It provides the most comprehensive coverage of the domain of empirical aesthetics to date. With sections on visual art, dance, music, and many other art forms and aesthetic phenomena, the breadth of this volume's scope reflects the richness and variety of topics and methods currently used today by scientists to understand the way our mind and brain endow us with the faculty to produce and appreciate art and aesthetics.
The internet and related technologies have reconfigured every aspect of life, including mental health. Although the negative and positive effects of digital technology on mental health have been debated, all too often this has been done with much passion and few or no supporting data. This book brings together distinguished experts from around the world to review the evidence relating to this area.
This book brings together international experts from a wide variety of disciplines, in order to understand the impact that digital technologies have had on our well-being as well as our understanding of what it means to live a life that is good for us. The multidisciplinary perspective that this collection offers demonstrates the breadth and importance of these discussions, and represents a pivotal and state-of-the-art contribution to the ongoing discussion concerning digital well-being. Furthermore, this is the first book that captures the complex set of issues that are implicated by the ongoing development of digital technologies, impacting our well-being either directly or indirectly. By helping to clarify some of the most pertinent issues, this collection clarifies the risks and opportunities associated with deploying digital technologies in various social domains. Chapter 2 is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.
Digital Therapeutics for Mental Health and Addiction: The State of the Science and Vision for the Future presents the foundations of digital therapeutics with a broad audience in mind, ranging from bioengineers and computer scientists to those in psychology, psychiatry and social work. Sections cover cutting-edge advancements in the field, offering advice on how to successfully implement digital therapeutics. Readers will find sections on evidence for direct-to-consumer standalone digital therapeutics, the efficacy of integrating digital treatments within traditional healthcare settings, and recent innovations currently transforming the field of digital therapeutics towards experiences which are more personalized, adaptable and engaging. This book gives a view on current limitations of the technology, ideas for problem-solving the challenges of designing this technology, and a perspective on future research directions. For all readers, the content on cultural, legal and ethical dimensions of digital mental health will be useful. Gives a comprehensive overview of the field of digital therapeutics and research on their efficacy, effectiveness, scalability and cost-effectiveness Introduces novel directions in which digital therapeutics are currently being extended, including personalized interventions delivered in real-time Reviews important considerations surrounding digital therapeutics, including how they can be monetized and scaled, ethical issues, cultural adaptations, privacy and security concerns, and potential pitfalls
This edited volume presents an overview of cutting-edge research areas within digital ethics as defined by the Digital Ethics Lab of the University of Oxford. It identifies new challenges and opportunities of influence in setting the research agenda in the field. The yearbook presents research on the following topics: conceptual metaphor theory, cybersecurity governance, cyber conflicts, anthropomorphism in AI, digital technologies for mental healthcare, data ethics in the asylum process, AI’s legitimacy and democratic deficit, digital afterlife industry, automatic prayer bots, foresight analysis and the future of AI. This volume appeals to students, researchers and professionals.
Young people spend a significant amount of time with technology, particularly digital and social media. How do they experience and cope with the many influences of digital media in their lives? What are the main challenges and opportunities they navigate in living online? Youth in the Digital Age provides answers from a decidedly interdisciplinary perspective, beginning in a framework steeped in context; biography; and societal influences on young people, who now make up 25% of the earth’s population. Placing these perspectives alongside those of current scholars and commentators to help analyse what young people are up against in navigating the digital age, the volume also draws on data from a five-year research project (Digital Media and Young Lives). Topics explored include well-being, privacy, control, surveillance, digital capital, and social relationships. Based on unique and emergent research from Canada, Scotland, and Australia, Youth in the Digital Age will appeal to post-secondary educators and scholars interested in fields such as youth studies, education, media studies, mental health, and technology.
The nexus between the digital revolution and adolescent sexual behaviour has posed significant challenges to mental health practitioners, attorneys, and educators. These digital technologies may facilitate dangerous behaviors and serious consequences for some youth. This title considers adolescent sexual behaviour in both clinical and legal contexts and provides a basis for clinicians, legal professionals, educators, policy makers,parents and the general public to understand the impact that technology has on human growth and development.
The fourth edition of this successful textbook provides an up-to-date introduction to all of the key features of adolescent development. While drawing on the North American literature on adolescence, it highlights European perspectives and also provides unique coverage of the topic by summarising and reviewing what is known about adolescence from a British viewpoint. Comprehensively updated and rewritten, this edition includes material on new topics such as: The development of the adolescent brain Sleep patterns in adolescence Parenting programmes for parents of teenagers Health, including sport and exercise, nutrition and obesity, and mental health Education and schooling Young people’s use of digital technologies New approaches to resilience and coping. The book places a particular emphasis on a positive view of adolescence, and the author develops a new theoretical perspective which looks at how young people themselves construct and shape their own developmental pathways. Interview material taken from discussions with adolescents is included throughout the book, and there are sample essay questions and PowerPoint lecture slides available online. This is an essential text for anyone studying human development at undergraduate and postgraduate level, as well as on postgraduate courses for professionals including teachers, social workers, health workers, counsellors, and youth workers.
