Reverberatory Activity refers to ongoing, repeating patterns of neural firing within brain circuits after a stimulus or experience occurs. In simple terms: the brain keeps certain neural activity “looping” for a period of time. This concept was important in early neuroscience theories of: The idea is that groups of neurons continue activating one another in… Read More Reverberating neural activity.
Episodic Memory is a type of long-term memory involving personal experiences and specific events from your life — essentially your brain’s “autobiographical memory system.” It allows you to mentally revisit: For example: are all examples of episodic memory. Neuroscience shows episodic memory involves several brain regions, especially: Emotion strongly affects episodic memory. That is why:… Read More Episodic memory.
Why can love feel euphoric, addictive, calming, terrifying, healing, and emotionally overwhelming all at the same time? Modern neuroscience suggests that romantic attachment is not “just emotion.” It involves complex interactions between brain reward systems, attachment pathways, stress regulation networks, memory systems, hormones, and social bonding mechanisms. Over the last two decades, research reviews and… Read More Love, Attachment, and the Neurobiology of Human Connection
In recent years, psychology and safeguarding research have increasingly focused on grooming behaviours, coercive manipulation, and the psychological processes involved in abusive dynamics — both online and offline. One of the most important findings across the research is this: grooming is often subtle, gradual, and psychologically strategic. It rarely begins with obvious abuse. Instead, it… Read More Grooming, Sexual Manipulation, and Why It Can Be Difficult to Detect
“Love bombing” is a term now widely used to describe a pattern of overwhelming affection, attention, admiration, and emotional intensity early in a relationship. While the phrase itself is often used casually online, psychology and relationship research do recognise patterns of manipulative idealisation and devaluation that can occur in unhealthy or coercive dynamics. In the… Read More Love Bombing, Idealisation, and the Emotional High–Crash Cycle
Psychology researchers sometimes use the term “Dark Triad” to describe three personality trait clusters associated with manipulative or exploitative interpersonal behaviour: These traits exist on spectrums and are studied within personality psychology — not everyone displaying confidence, ambition, emotional detachment, or charisma would fall into these categories. However, research has consistently found that higher levels… Read More The Dark Triad: Charm, Manipulation, and Exploitative Relationship Behaviour
People who deliberately exploit vulnerability in others do exist, and psychology research does recognise patterns sometimes associated with grooming, coercive control, manipulation, fraud, or exploitative relationship behaviour. A more balanced and accurate way to describe it would be: Periods of major life change can leave people emotionally vulnerable. Divorce.Bereavement.Financial instability.Loneliness.Illness.Relocation.Emotional exhaustion after long-term stress or… Read More Situational Predators and Opportunists: When Vulnerability Attracts Exploitation
The Garage Full of Fishing Rods Nearly two years. Nearly two years of waiting for someone to collect the life they left behind. The cupboards.The drawers.The forgotten paperwork.The random cables nobody understands.The clothes still hanging exactly where they were abandoned.And, of course, the garage. Ah yes… the garage. A shrine to fishing. Enough rods, reels,… Read More Reinventing Yourself
Social media stalking can happen in families where there is conflict, avoidance, shame, or unresolved loyalty dynamics. From a psychology and neuroscience perspective, people sometimes choose “observing from a distance” rather than direct communication because it feels emotionally safer and gives them a sense of control without accountability. A few mechanisms often sit underneath this… Read More Facebook stalking
Some people can become emotionally or behaviourally unstable when they stop taking prescribed psychiatric medication abruptly — especially if the medication was helping manage serious symptoms related to conditions such as Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, severe depression, psychosis, or certain personality and mood disorders. But it’s important to say this carefully and accurately: mental illness itself… Read More Mental illness itself does not automatically make someone violent or abusive.
Linda C J Turner | Trauma Therapist & Emotional Healing Specialist 