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por-tent

noun :: An indication of something important or calamitous about to occur. An omen.

"The magical flying serpent that appeared and hissed at everyone was a portent which caused the followers to ran away in fear."

Suggestibility is a memory problem that results from outside information being absorbed and incorporated into the memory of an event. You may remember wearing the red shirt to the party last week, but if someone insists that you were wearing a blue shirt, this may alter your memory. The next time you recall the event you may remember the incorrect information because it has been assimilative into your memory through suggestion.

Children are particularly susceptible to suggestibility because their brains are not fully developed. Several studies have shown that false memories can be implanted in children by using suggestive or leading questioning by authority figures, such as police.

Cortisol is a hormone that is release by the body in response to stress. Its effect on the body is to increase blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It also causes the immune system to get weaker, bone formation to decrease and inflammation to lessen. In fact, artificial cortisol, called hydrocortisone, is intentionally used to fight inflammation.

Short-term exposure to cortisol can actually improve memory. This is the method by which flashbulb memories are believed to be formed. Additionally, a small amount of stress can increase the mind's ability to focus on a task. However, long-term exposure to high levels of cortisol can damage the hippocampus which can cause serious memory problems. It is unclear how much time it takes to cause permanent memory impairment, but finding ways to reduce stress in your life is always a good idea.

Many people think of creative ideas as popping into the creators head like a light bulb turning on. In reality, this is rarely the case. Creative ideas are usually the result of much hard work over a long period of time. Even Edison's light bulb, which is so often used as a symbol for the creativity, was only invented after thousands of experiments and over two years of research.

Because creative ideas are often the result of hard work, it can be difficult to teach people how to think more creatively. Often, it is more productive to change the working environment and make the conditions more conducive to creative thinking. Obstacles such as risk and deadlines or a lack of opportunities to explore areas that spark our curiosity can easily suppress creative behavior.