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Do you want to know if the Neuriva brain supplement works? There are many Neuriva brain performance plus reviews on the internet but not all of them are real. But don’t worry! For your benefit, we are going to give an honest lowdown on Schiff Neuriva Brain Performance Plus.

So, let’s dive in.

What Are Nootropic Supplements?

Nootropics are also called smart drugs. It is a class of substances that can improve brain performance. They are at times known as memory or cognition enhancers. Prescription nootropics can have stimulant effects. They can counteract the medical condition’s symptoms, such as Alzheimer’s disease, narcolepsy, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

While nonprescription substances can improve focus or brain performances- such as creatine and caffeine are also taken to be considered to be nootropics. They don’t treat diseases but might have some effects on memory, thinking, or other mental functions.

Nootropic is a popular class of best memory supplements 2022 that was primarily by seniors who are seeking memory support. Doctors prescribe it to treat medical conditions. Generally, the drug is a kind of stimulant, such as amphetamine, which can help in treating ADHD, dementia, narcolepsy, or a similar condition.

Even though they can be effective in the treatment of medical conditions, a person shouldn’t take them without a prescription. It can improve brain function have a higher risk of impulsive behaviors, like risky sexual practices.

What Is Neuriva Brain Supplement?

If you are wondering what the best brain supplement in the market is, consider Schiff Neuriva Brain Performance Plus. It is a relatively new nootropic supplement. The supplement has become highly popular among bio-hackers, the wider health industry, and nootropics users. It is a supplement by Schiff Vitamins.

The supplement is available in the form of capsules, gummies, and also liquid shots. It claims to improve brain health or brain performance in different ways.

Does Neuriva Really Work?

Many ingredients that are present in Neuriva have been associated with brain health in some way. However, food and diet also play a significant role in this. This is one of the best brain supplements for adults that can help in improving your focus, memory, and cognitive functions.

However, the research on the ingredients is inconclusive. More research is needed to improve brain health or memory in humans.

There are all good ingredients in the supplement. So, it is going to work. Also, there is not much to worry about when it comes to Schiff Neuriva side effects as it can lead to some mild side effects.

The ingredients have been clinically studied and can improve brain performance or brain health. Neuriva claims that it can boost learning and this can be attractive to students.

What Are Neuriva Ingredients?

On the back label of the Neuriva supplement, you can find a list of ingredients. But if you are unable to make that, you can check out the more readable format.

But we proceed, we make sure that it is a product that is vegan-friendly, GMO, and free of soy and gluten.

The two main ingredients of the best brain function supplement of 2022 are Coffee Fruit Extract and Phosphatidylserine. These two ingredients alone can improve your cognitive and memory functions. Let’s check out the evidence.

Coffee Fruit Extract

Coffee Fruit is a natural compound source that can impact your Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor. BDNG is a protein that helps brain cells develop and grow. It implies that the neurons are more efficacious in terms of their functions while breaking off degeneration and helping with the new brain cell production.

But can coffee fruit extract improve brain performance? Schiff Vitamins points towards a study, showing a particular kind of coffee fruit powder, which helps in improving the BDNF levels of people.

Scientists have found that it is a treasure trove of health advantages. The coffee fruit extract is filled with antioxidants, flavonoids, and other natural elements, which provide numerous advantages.

But Schiff Vitamins just use the skin and rind in making the brain supplement, not the entire fruit concentrate. Hence, the whole coffee fruit concentrate powder on the label might be a little misleading.

But the problem with coffee fruit extract is that they have been studied scientifically. There is only a single study, which shows that French melon and coffee cherry concentrate can improve BDNF levels. It is the protein supporting the survival and growth of neurons in the brain.

It’s a good sign but more research is required to ascertain if coffee fruit can improve mental abilities.

Phosphatidylserine

It is a phospholipid that can be found in your body’s cell membranes, body tissues, and especially brain cells. Phosphatidylserine is a popular supplement since it has been shown to enhance brain functions in seniors. Like coffee fruit extract, it is an incredible inclusion.

Phosphatidylserine is present in the brain in higher amounts. It makes up 15% of the total brain’s fats. The ingredient is used by the brain to maintain brain cell fluidity, optimize the brain receptors, and protect neurotransmitters, such as dopamine or acetylcholine. It makes phosphatidylserine supports long-term brain health.

It can also help in recycling sick brain cells to keep them from damaging healthy brain cells. You might not notice its immediate benefits but long-term use of the supplement helps in staving off mental health decline, and symptoms, such as memory loss.

Even though it can improve brain functions, like coffee fruit extract, more research is required to ascertain if it can benefit healthy adults.

How to Use Neuriva?

According to the Schiff Vitamins Neuriva instructions, you have to take a capsule daily during bedtime. It is one of the interesting methods to take a nootropic since your brain supplement are consumed in the morning to get the brain all pumped up during the day.

If you take it at night, you can lose out on some sleep benefits. Also, it might not be able to improve brain function from it at the time of the day. Schiff Vitamins might have a more maintenance approach with the best brain health supplements.

You can take nootropics first thing in the morning with your breakfast. It gives a mental boost that is going to last for several hours. Following that you might choose to take another dose if you would like to prolong the kick of the supplement.

How Long Does It Take for Neuriva to Start Working?

If you believe the Neuriva reviews, it will start working within a few weeks after you start taking it. Nevertheless, we feel it is going to take a little longer for the ingredients to begin showing their outcome.

It isn’t a concentrated ingredient dose. Also, it doesn’t have crucial ingredients, such as Folic acid, B vitamins, and Huperzine A that are clinically tested. But it doesn’t contain some coffee cherry extract.

Irrespective of this, it is crucial to keep in mind that nootropics do not work overnight and they can’t take somewhere from 12-16 weeks to start showing their results.

Neuriva vs Prevagen: What Is The Difference?

The difference between the two supplements lies in their ingredients, price, and side effects. Irrespective of the aspects which set them apart, both supplements can work as brain boosters, which can improve focus, memory, and mental processing. It can also help in reducing brain fog.

Be that as it may, the question is which supplement holds up to the claims. Here we are going to compare the two products.

1. Neuriva is a brain supplement that claims to strengthen the relationship between your overall brain health and brain cells. According to the manufacturer, it works to fuel the 5 crucial indicators of brain health, including accuracy, memory, focus, and concentration. Prevagen on the other hand is a dietary supplement supporting cognitive function. According to many clinical trials and research, which have been run for Prevagen in association with cognitive performance, the supplement shows a direct correlation to support brain function and improve memory.
2. Neuriva has two main ingredients. Both ingredients serve their purpose of contributing to improving brain performance for people who take the supplement. The coffee fruit extract is an important protein, which facilitates the survival of neurons related to memory and learning. Phosphatidylserine has been through various clinical trials studies, which have shown the ingredient to help with brain memory, generation, and improving mood, and removing toxins. When it comes to Prevagen, there are two main ingredients Apoaequorin and Vitamin D. The former supports brain health and improves memory. While the other ingredient supports a range of important functions within the body.
3. At present, there have not been any side effects that have been commonly reported by Neuriva users. But you should still consult your physician or pharmacist before consuming the brain supplement to make sure it is right for you. While the side effects of apoaequorin in Prevagen might cause, there have been some adverse reactions, which have been reported to the manufacturer. These are nausea, headaches, and dizziness along with less common side effects.

If we compare, Neuriva is much better than Prevagen. Irrespective of not being as effective as the other highest-rated brain supplement in the market, Neuriva has a better stance than Prevagen. The latter contains Apoaequorin which doesn’t work. Neuriva has been proven to offer efficacious nootropics.

So, Prevagen is a scam nootropic and manufacturers are being sued by FTC for its false advertising claims.

What Is the Difference between Neuriva Brain Performance Plus and Neuriva?

Neuriva Brain Performance Plus or Neuriva Plus is the upgraded version of Neuriva. Schiff Vitamins has attempted to make its nootropics more comprehensive.

The new product formula has been coupled with some B vitamins. So, the added ingredients will offer a few benefits beyond what you are getting from the original Neuriva. Vitamin B gives you a little pep and folate is an incredible supplement to take if you are suffering from a deficit.

Manufacturer, Support, and Certificates of Neuriva

• Manufacturer: Schiff Vitamins
• Support: Phone- 1 (800) 526-6251 or 1 (888) 532-4574
• Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
• Launch Year: March 2019

Is the Product Certified?

Nothing has been mentioned about the Neuriva nootropic supplement.

How Much Does Neuriva Cost?

The product comes with a price tag of $32.99. It is the price of the capsule, as well as the gummies. Phosphatidylserine is expensive to purchase individually. But the Neuriva Plus brain supplement comes for $44.99.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer doesn’t offer additional discounts if you get the supplements in bulk.

Schiff Vitamins makes shipping easier. They process orders as quickly as they can. All orders are processed within 24-48 hours during business days, while the shipping times are 1-5 business days in a majority of the cases. A flat standard shipping fee of $5.99 is charged unless your order caters to the requirements for free shipping. Free standard shipping is available on all orders over $30 after pre-tax and applicable discount.

The manufacturer also offers expedited shipping at $7.99 per order. All expedited orders will be given priority handling and processing.

They also accept returns provided the products are returned in their original packaging and are in salable condition within 30 days of the date of invoice. But they will not accept a return if the item has been used unless it is defective or damaged. The manufacturer reserves the right to refuse refunds on products of personal use for a reason. All special orders are subjected to a 50% restocking fee. Cancellation fees before the shipment are subject to restocking fees for all special orders, too.

Pros

• The two active ingredients are promising.
• There are little or no side effects related to Neuriva use.
• Schiff Vitamins are a well-established brand.
• It has a lot of positive customer reviews.
• The product isn’t a recurrent subscription.

Cons

• The evidence that the ingredients can improve memory and brain performance is inconclusive.
• Just contains 2 ingredients, which are not clinically proven.
• It can be a little expensive for what it has to offer.

What Are the Additional Products You Can Use?

Apart from the Neuriva brain health supplement, you can get other supplements at Neuriva. Let’s take a look at them,

Immune Support

The supplements for immune support can help in improving your immunity. It has been crafted with a combination of minerals, vitamins, and herbs to help your immune health.

Bone and Joint Health

If you are looking to improve your joint and bone health, a Bone and Joint Health supplement can help. It is clinically proven to offer better joint comfort, which improves over time.

Noocube – A Good Alternative to Neuriva

Noocube is an effective smart drug that increases the nutrient profile for generating brain-boosting effects in the elderly, as well as the young. It is a prescription drug that can facilitate the treatment of ADHD and neurodevelopmental disorders. Noocube has some naturally-occurring amino acids, such as Tyrosine and Theanine that makes it valuable for ADHD. It works naturally to sharpen attention, memory, and learning. The supplement can improve blood supply to the brain and support neurotransmitter secretion.

Question and Answers

1.  What Are the Schiff Neuriva Side Effects?

Some of the ingredients in the supplement formula have been related to mild side effects. It includes sleepiness, nausea, sleep issues, and fatigue. Nevertheless, if they are lightly dosed with Neuriva, the side effects might not affect a majority of the people. You can assume that you aren’t going to feel any side effects when you consume Neuriva.

2.  What Is the Main Ingredient in Neuriva?

There are just two active ingredients in Neuriva. The two ingredients are phosphatidylserine and coffee cherry extract. Both are too light doses to be of great benefit. Additionally, Schiff Vitamins claim that they add a whole coffee cherry extract. But they do not use a whole source. They just use rind and skin.

3.  Is Neuriva Vegan?

Yes, it is plant-based and thus, it is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

4.  Does Nootropic Help Anxiety?

Several nootropics function by aiding to protect your brain against symptoms and signs of anxiety and stress. Generally, they are a very good idea for someone struggling with anxiety disorder.

5.  Should You Take Neuriva at Bedtime?

No, we don’t recommend you to take Neuriva at bedtime as some users have complained about the stimulatory effect of its ingredients coffee fruit extract.

Neuriva Customer Reviews

The customer mentions that lack of focus and forgetfulness had become a problem but the product worked wonders.

Another customer saw the result of the product within just a few months of using it.

The customer finds the product to be a little expensive but it worked for him.

According to the customer, even after consuming the supplements for several months, they didn’t show any effect and didn’t show any improvements.

Conclusion

After analyzing everything about Neuriva, you might have a fair idea about what is the best brain supplement on the market. With only two ingredients in the formula, Neuriva is missing several important ingredients, which have synergistic effects on brain function. It has two active ingredients that can improve memory function if you take it consistently.

The Broaden-and Build Theory of Positive Emotions

Why do humans have positive emotions? This is the central puzzle that Professor Fredrickson worked on early in her career. Previously, theoretical accounts of the evolution of human emotions neglected positive emotions aside from their contribution to mate selection and reproduction. In 1998, Professor Fredrickson articulated their role in survival with her Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions. The theory posits that humans’ present-day experiences of positive emotions were shaped over millennia by the forces of natural selection because pleasant emotional states created momentary and embodied states of expanded awareness that, over time, aggregated to augment an individual’s resources for survival, including social alliances, resilience to adversity, knowledge and reasoning capacity, and physical fitness and health. The Broaden-and-Build Theory helped launch the scientific study of positive emotions and constitutes a foundational theory for positive psychology. It also serves as the base for two more recent offshoot theories, the Positivity Resonance Theory of Co-experienced Positive Affect and the Upward Spiral Theory of Lifestyle Change.

For more information, check out these articles and publications:

• Fredrickson (2001) American Psychologist
• Fredrickson (1998) Review of General Psychology
• Fredrickson (2013) Advances in Experimental Social Psychology

The Positivity Resonance Theory of Co-experienced Positive Affect

Professor Fredrickson integrates theory and evidence from affective science, relationship science, and developmental science into a novel and generative framework to advance the scientific study of the emotion of love. The Positivity Resonance Theory of Co-experienced Positive Affect holds that concepts commonly related to “love” (e.g., desire, intimacy, trust, commitments) are best understood as the products of the accumulation of momentary experiences of love, the emotion, defined as positivity resonance. Moments of positivity resonance emerge in circumstances in which real-time sensory connection (e.g., face-to-face interaction) is combined with perceived safety and are inferred from the presence of three key indicators: shared positive affect (an experiential component distributed across individuals), caring nonverbal synchrony (a behavioral component marked by nonverbal movements and gestures associated with care and love that are linked in form and tempo across individuals), and biological synchrony (a physiological component marked by shifts in affect-related biomarkers linked in form and tempo across individuals). When moments of positivity resonance recur between and among individuals this accumulation functions to build and fortify enduring social bonds (love, the relationship) and later become steady resources for individuals through good times and bad (“in sickness and in health”).

For more information, check out these articles and publications:

• Fredrickson (2016) Handbook of Emotions
• Fredrickson (2021) Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences

The Upward Spiral Theory of Lifestyle Change

Professor Fredrickson has also investigated how positive affective processes can be leveraged to support people’s long-term maintenance of desired positive health behaviors. Past evidence has shown that health behaviors experienced as pleasant are more likely to be maintained. The Upward Spiral Theory of Lifestyle Change unpacks this relation with emphasis on automatic, often nonconscious motives and malleable vantage resources that render people more sensitive to subsequent positive experiences. The behavioral neuroscience of addiction reveals that over time, associations between pleasantness (“liking”) and cues predictive of it endow those cues with incentive salience, making them more likely to subsequently capture attention and trigger urges to repeat that experience (“wanting”). To the extent that positive affect is experienced during a new health behavior, the Upward Spiral Theory posits that it creates nonconscious motives for that activity, which grow stronger over time as they are increasingly supported by vantage resources, both biological and psychological, that positive affect serves to build. The figure below depicts the recursive dynamic processes articulated by the theory.

For more information, check out these articles and publications:

• Van Cappellen, Rice, Catalino, & Fredrickson (2017) Psychological Health
• Van Cappellen, Catalino, & Fredrickson (2020) Emotion

Current Research

Social and Neural Integration (SANI) Study

Following 22 years of research on the Broaden and Build Theory, the SANI study is the first examination of the neural mechanisms by which positive emotions broaden awareness and lead to prosocial actions and virtues, such as intellectual humility and generosity. Using cutting-edge network neuroscience theory, we examine how neural integration during positive and negative emotion states predict a range of individual and social well-being outcomes. This project is in collaboration with Drs. Kristen Lindquist and Jessica Cohen, and is currently beginning data collection. Funding for this study comes from a Mind & Life Institute PEACE Grant.

Technology and Positive Behavioral Goals Study

Human relationships with machines are evolving. Computers are increasingly partners rather than tools, agents rather than simple objects. Artificially intelligent agents now serve as assistants, wellness coaches, and even companions. This raises important questions about the kinds of AI agents we ought to build and how to deploy them. We hypothesize that, if built and used in the right ways, AI agents can help improve people to be better versions of themselves. We are currently conducting the “Technology and Positive Behavioral Goals” study, in which we are examining the psychological, social, and behavioral effects of interactions with an AI agent programmed to encourage individuals to adopt positive health behaviors. Funding for this study comes from the Templeton World Charity Foundation. (Click here, if you are a UNC undergraduate and are interested in participating!)

Additional Individual and Lab Projects

Goods in Everyday Love: this line of work examines community benefits of positivity resonance. Specifically, the findings suggest that daily recurring moments of positivity resonance travel in sync with prosocial tendencies such as altruism, humility and spirituality (Zhou et al., in press), which further predicts public health behaviors such as social distancing and mask wearing during COVID 19 (West et al., 2020) as well as people’s intentions to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and willingness to sign up for a vaccine trial (Berman et al., in prep).

Economic Inequality, Social Class and Positivity Resonance: Led by Taylor West, this line of work investigates how social class and perceptions of economic inequality influence social connection with people around the community, and downstream consequences for both individual health and community prosociality.

Dr. Fredrickson honored with University Teaching Award

These awards were created in 1998 by the family of the late J. Carlyle Sitterson to recognize excellence in teaching first-year students by a tenured or tenure-track faculty member in the College of Arts & Sciences. Lyle Sitterson was a Kenan Professor of History and Chancellor of the University from 1966-72 and was a passionate advocate for inspired teaching of first-year students. The first award was given in 2000. Two winners will receive a one-time stipend of $5,000 and a framed citation. Read more…

Sweet vibes between longtime couples are tied to longer, healthier lives

Hold back on the bickering. Couples who share sweet moments filled with humor and affection, and sync up biologically — two hearts beating as one — enjoy better health prospects and live longer than their more quarrelsome counterparts, suggests new UC Berkeley research. The findings, recently published online in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, are based on laboratory observations of 154 middle-aged and older married couples as each engaged in an intimate conversation about a conflict in their relationship. “We focused on those fleeting moments when you light up together and experience sudden joy, closeness and intimacy,” said study author Robert Levenson, a UC Berkeley professor of psychology. “What we found is that having these brief shared moments, known as ‘positivity resonance,’ is a powerful predictor of how healthy we’re going to be in the future and how long we’ll live,” he added. Read more…

Behavioral Indices of Positivity Resonance Associated with Long-Term Marital Satisfaction

Positivity resonance – defined as a synthesis of shared positive affect, mutual care and concern, plus behavioral and biological synchrony – is theorized to contribute to a host of positive outcomes, including relationship satisfaction. The current study examined whether, in long-term married couples, behavioral indices of positivity resonance (rated using a new behavioral coding system) are associated with concurrent shared positive affect using a well-established dyadic-level behavioral coding system (i.e., Specific Affect Coding System: SPAFF), and whether positivity resonance predicts concurrent marital satisfaction independently from other affective indices. These findings provide preliminary construct and predictive validity for positivity resonance behavioral coding, and highlight the possible role positivity resonance may play in building relationship satisfaction in married couples. Read more…

We’re All Wired for Negativity – Here’s How to Keep Small Setbacks from Ruining Your Day

Maybe you forgot to turn your slow cooker on before heading out on your hike, you had to endure a traffic jam that made you 20 minutes late to work, or a colleague made a passive aggressive comment in a meeting. Suddenly every minuscule inconvenience, from misspelled names on lattes to missing the elevator door, seems like a plot to incite your inner fury. When one small event throws a wedge into our day it can sometimes send us down a slippery, hours-long slope of exasperated huffs and cranky faces. But why is it so hard to shake the frustration or anger? The tendency to stew in this negative broth isn’t just common, it’s thought to be part of the human condition. In their 2001 study, psychologists Paul Rozin and Edward Royzman theorized that we tend give greater weight to the negative than the positive — it’s what’s known as “negativity bias.” Read more…

Cultivating Kindness Through Meditation Can Slow the Aging Process, According to New Research

What’s the biggest problem facing our nation today? Worries about health care lead the polls. But from a big-picture perspective, we’re arguably suffering from a deficit of love and kindness. New research finds a link between these practical and spiritual concerns. A new study reports that cultivating kindness through the practice of meditation may slow the aging process. In a small-scale study, a commonly used biological marker of cellular aging remained relatively steady among people who completed a course in loving-kindness meditation. Those who took a similarly structured course in mindfulness meditation did not experience the same positive results. Read more…

With Kids, Love Is In the Little Things

That moment when your baby meets your reach to pick her up and molds to your body as you hold her. When your preschooler calls out to you, emphatically pointing at the crescent moon he discovered, and you join him in looking up at the night sky. Or when your fifth grader catches your proud gaze in the audience of other parents during her elementary school graduation ceremony. According to emotion scientist Barbara Fredrickson, these small moments are when love happens between parents and their children. Her research highlights that positive emotions like love, joy, and gratitude help us grow and become better versions of ourselves. While she used to think that all positive emotions were equally helpful, she has come to realize that love might be unique. Read more…

Dr. Fredrickson Voted as Society for Affective Science President-Elect

Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, member of the SAS Executive Committee, has been elected to the post of the Society for Affective Science (SAS) President-Elect. The Society for Affective Science is dedicated to fostering basic and applied research in the variety of fields that study affect broadly defined. SAS holds conferences annually to showcase research drawn from psychology, medicine, neuroscience, computer science, law, economics, anthropology, linguistics, sociology, business, and other related fields. Dr. Fredrickson will serve as President-Elect of SAS in 2019, serve as President in 2020, and serve as Past President in 2021. SAS looks forward to the strengths and insights Professor Fredrickson will bring to her new leadership role. Read more…

Loving-kindness meditation slows biological aging in novices: Evidence from a 12-week randomized controlled trial

Combinations of multiple meditation practices have been shown to reduce the attrition of telomeres, the protective caps of chromosomes. Here, we probed the distinct effects on telomere length (TL) of mindfulness meditation (MM) and loving-kindness meditation (LKM). Midlife adults (N = 142) were randomized to be in a waitlist control condition or to learn either MM or LKM in a 6-week workshop. Telomere length was assessed 2 weeks before the start of the workshops and 3 weeks after their termination. After controlling for appropriate demographic covariates and baseline TL, we found TL decreased significantly in the MM group and the control group, but not in the LKM group. There was also significantly less TL attrition in the LKM group than the control group. The MM group showed changes in TL that were intermediate between the LKM and control groups yet not significantly different from either. Self-reported emotions and practice intensity (duration and frequency) did not mediate these observed group differences. This study is the first to disentangle the effects of LKM and MM on TL and suggests that LKM may buffer telomere attrition. Read more…

Meredith College Names Dr. Fredrickson as 2018 Woman of Achievement

Positive Psychology Expert Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D., Meredith College’s 2018 Woman of Achievement, accepted her award and presented a public lecture on February 20. Meredith College President Jo Allen presented Fredrickson with the award in recognition of her work in the field of positive psychology. Allen said that Fredrickson’s work has informed the College’s StrongPoints program, a four-year plan in which each Meredith student participates. “StrongPoints calls on students to build on their individual strengths, and includes a focus on positivity that reveals the impact of believing in oneself,” Allen said. Fredrickson’s lecture, “Why Prioritize Positivity?” explored what positivity is and why this mindset is important. “Positivity is not always a ‘jump for joy’ form,” Fredrickson said. “There are also quieter moments when you feel grateful or at peace.” Among the most highly cited and influential scholars in psychology, Fredrickson is Kenan Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Lab (a.k.a. PEP Lab) at UNC-Chapel Hill. Read more…

Dr. Fredrickson Awarded 2018 $100,000 TANG Prize

UNC psychologist Barbara Fredrickson will be awarded the TANG Prize to honor her “exceptional contributions to the well-being of humanity” on Nov. 12 in Toronto, Canada. Fredrickson, the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience in the College of Arts & Sciences, is a leading researcher in the science of positive emotions. The $100,000 award is in recognition of Fredrickson’s achievements in psychology over her 25-year career. She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles, and her books Positivity and Love 2.0 have been translated in over 20 languages. Her “broaden-and-build theory” illuminates how positive emotions expand people’s mindsets and nourish lifelong growth. Fredrickson’s research suggests that our emotional habits and authentic emotional connections with others impact overall health. Read more…

Dr. Fredrickson Awarded Cattell Fellowship

For over half a century, the James McKeen Cattell Fund has provided support for the science and the application of psychology. The Fund offers a program of supplementary sabbatical awards (”James McKeen Cattell Fund Fellowships”) up to $40,000. These awards supplement the regular sabbatical allowance provided by the recipients’ home institutions, to allow an extension of leave-time from one to two semesters. Dr. Fredrkcson was awarded a James McKeen Cattell Fund Fellowships for academic year 2016-2017. These awards provide an extended sabbatical period that allows the recipient to pursue new research. Read more…

Dr. Fredrickson Awarded Inaugural IPPA Christopher Peterson Gold Medal

The Christopher Peterson Gold Medal represents the most important honor that the International Positive Psychology Association bestows. It is conferred to members whose careers exemplifies the best of positive psychology at the personal, professional, and academic levels. This award is named after Christopher Peterson, a beloved IPPA Fellow, professor, scholar and pioneer in the field of positive psychology. Peterson’s many scholarly contributions include his work on the character strengths and values classification and assessment with Martin Seligman. On a personal level, Peterson was known for his sincerity, humility, integrity, sense of humor and generosity. The inaugural Christopher Peterson Gold Medal was awarded to Dr. Barbara Fredrickson at the Third World Congress on Positive Psychology in 2013. Read more…

Dr. Fredrickson Presents TEDx “Remaking Love”

Dr. Fredrickson is the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Principal Investigator of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Lab at the University of North Carolina. She is a leading scholar within social psychology, affective science, and positive psychology. Her research centers on positive emotions and human flourishing and is supported by grants from the National Institute of Health. Her research and her teaching have been recognized with numerous honors, including the 2000 American Psychological Association’s Templeton Prize in Positive Psychology. As part of TEDxLowerEastSide, held on October 25, 2013 in New York, New York, Dr. Barbara Fredrickson gave a TEDx Lecture, “Remaking Love.” In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. Watch online…

A Functional Genomic Perspective on Human Well-Being, PNAS

To identify molecular mechanisms underlying the prospective health advantages associated with psychological well-being, we analyzed leukocyte basal gene expression profiles in 80 healthy adults who were assessed for hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, as well as potentially confounded negative psychological and behavioral factors. Hedonic and eudaimonic well-being showed similar affective correlates but highly divergent transcriptome profiles. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from people with high levels of hedonic well-being showed up-regulated expression of a stress-related conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA) involving increased expression of proinflammatory genes and decreased expression of genes involved in antibody synthesis and type I IFN response. In contrast, high levels of eudaimonic well-being were associated with CTRA down-regulation. Promoter-based bioinformatics implicated distinct patterns of transcription factor activity in structuring the observed differences in gene expression associated with eudaimonic well-being (reduced NF-κB and AP-1 signaling and increased IRF and STAT signaling). Transcript origin analysis identified monocytes, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and B lymphocytes as primary cellular mediators of these dynamics. The finding that hedonic and eudaimonic well-being engage distinct gene regulatory programs despite their similar effects on total well-being and depressive symptoms implies that the human genome may be more sensitive to qualitative variations in well-being than are our conscious affective experiences. Read more…

How Positive Emotions Build Positive Health, APS

The mechanisms underlying the association between positive emotions and physical health remain a mystery. We hypothesize that an upward-spiral dynamic continually reinforces the tie between positive emotions and physical health and that this spiral is mediated by people’s perceptions of their positive social connections. We tested this overarching hypothesis in a longitudinal field experiment in which participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group that self-generated positive emotions via loving-kindness meditation or to a waiting-list control group. Participants in the intervention group increased in positive emotions relative to those in the control group, an effect moderated by baseline vagal tone, a proxy index of physical health. Increased positive emotions, in turn, produced increases in vagal tone, an effect mediated by increased perceptions of social connections. This experimental evidence identifies
one mechanism—perceptions of social connections—through which positive emotions build physical health, indexed as vagal tone. Results suggest that positive emotions, positive social connections, and physical health influence one another in a self-sustaining upward-spiral dynamic. Read more…

New York Times Editorial: “Your Phone Vs. Your Heart”

Can you remember the last time you were in a public space in America and didn’t notice that half the people around you were bent over a digital screen, thumbing a connection to somewhere else? Most of us are well aware of the convenience that instant electronic access provides. Less has been said about the costs. Research that my colleagues and I have just completed, to be published in a forthcoming issue of Psychological Science, suggests that one measurable toll may be on our biological capacity to connect with other people. Our ingrained habits change us. Neurons that fire together, wire together, neuroscientists like to say, reflecting the increasing evidence that experiences leave imprints on our neural pathways, a phenomenon called neuroplasticity. Any habit molds the very structure of your brain in ways that strengthen your proclivity for that habit. Read more…

Graduate Students

Khoa Le Nguyen (2021)
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How do positive emotions influence social cognition and prosocial behaviors?
What behaviors cultivate positive emotions and increase well-being in Facebook users?

Kelly Tan (2021)
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How do positive emotions operate while caregiving for an individual with an advanced cancer?
What role do positive emotions play during stress response while caring for an individual with advanced cancer?

David Findley (2019)
[email protected]
If and how do brief LovingKindness practices shift affect as well as cognitive and behavioral outcomes?
How do positive experiences and emotions interaction with nutrition and exercise to improve mental and physical health?

Zan Isgett (2017)
[email protected]
Can different genotypes (related to oxytocin) lead to fundamental differences in individuals’ capacity for social connection?
How do positive interventions influence emotions and perceived social connection, especially depending on genotype?

Brett Major (2017)
[email protected]
How and to what extent do positive emotions help facilitate cognitive emotion regulation?
Does physical co-presence play an important role in the relationship between social closeness and improved mental and physical health?

Carrie Adair (2016)

How does mindfulness (i.e., non-judgmental present moment attention and awareness) influence experiences of positive and negative affect at both explicit and implicit levels of awareness?
How do mindfulness and positive emotions influence feelings of social connection?

Elise Rice (2016)

What are the functions of positive spontaneous thoughts in everyday life, especially in the contexts of motivation and self-regulation?
How do positive spontaneous thoughts contribute to well-being and mental health?

Tanya Vacharkulksemsuk (2013)

Tanya Vacharkulksemsuk’s research lies at the intersection of social psychology and organizations, investigating topics of interpersonal relationship formation, teamwork, synchrony and other nonverbal behaviors. Here primary questions of interest include: What makes people “gel”?, What are the contributing factors to a positive social connection? And How does fluid team coordination arise?

Lahnna Catalino (2013)

Some people make time to engage in enjoyable activities in day-to-day life, whereas others do not. Lahnna Catalino calls this individual difference prioritizing positivity. She examines the emotional and mental health consequences of prioritizing positivity, as well as how prioritizing positivity may affect one’s social network. In addition, she examines how the intensity of people’s positive emotional reactions to pleasant events may, over time, affect well-being.

Bethany Kok (2012)

Paul Miceli (2012)

Lindsay Kennedy (2011)

Postdoctoral Fellows

Lahnna Catalino

Laura Kiken

Research Faculty

Aaron Boulton

Which quantitative methods are optimal for understanding short- and long-term changes (and variability) in positive emotions?
How, and under what circumstances, can continuous-time models be applied to understand social and behavioral dynamics?

Patty Van Cappellen

Which (and how) positive emotions open us to spirituality and to see a larger meaning to life?
When (and how) does religion bring out the best or the worst in people?

Kimberly Coffey

Research Staff

Ann Firestine

Managed the multiple research studies, grant budgets, personnel, and the day-to-day logistics of running the PEP Lab

Shelia Laws

Lab Technician and Phlebotomist

Karys Normansell

Chayla Hart

Julia Schyner

Cara Arizmendi

Tracy Powers

Kaitlin Glauer

Honors Students

Aya Avishai-Yitshak (2014)

Thesis: Mindfulness and Time Perception

Lina Caldera (2014)

Thesis: Contingencies of Self-Worth and Positive Emotions in College Students

Amanda Kramer (2014)

Thesis: Implicit Positivity: Improving Mood with Environmental Cues

Tori Schenker (2013)

Thesis: Positive Automatic Thoughts and Romantic Love

Kandace Thomas (2013)

Thesis: Rates of Social Sensitivity, Social Connectedness, Positive Emotions, and Gratitude in Panhellenic Women

Jana Lembke (2012)

Thesis: Curiosity and Interest in Interpersonal Interactions

Liz Wagstaff (2012)

Thesis: The Effects of Mindfulness on Psychophysiological Arousal and Aggression During and After a Stress Interview

Positive Psychology Course

The Positive Psychology Online course is now available for free from Coursera.com.

This course discusses research findings in the field of positive psychology, conducted by Dr. Barbara Fredrickson and her colleagues. It also features practical applications of this science that you can put to use immediately to help you live a full and meaningful life.

Director

Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D
Curriculum Vitae
[email protected]
How do increases in daily positive emotions contribute to physical health?
Are co-experienced positive emotions more beneficial for health and well-being than solo-experienced positive emotions?

Graduate Students

Catherine Berman (she/her)
[email protected]
How do shared positive affective processes and social connections influence the initiation and maintenance of individual and collective health behaviors?
What psychological processes influence support for policies that address health inequalities?

Michael Prinzing
[email protected]
How do people outside of academia think about what makes life good?
What gives people the sense that they matter? How do such perceptions, and their bases, differ for different people?
How can doing good for others, or for the planet, also be good for oneself?

Taylor West
[email protected]
How do socioecological conditions – such as class or culture – influence shared positive emotions, particularly with strangers? How does this variation in positive affective processes influence health and well-being?

Jieni Zhou
[email protected]
What facilitates the emergence of positivity resonance in relationships?
How do moments of positivity resonance build resources that support people through social/relationship turbulence and promote psychological and physical well-being?

Research Staff

Catherine Garton, Project Coordinator
[email protected]
What facilitates humility and understanding between people who disagree?
How might positivity resonance impact the outcomes of conflict?
Under what conditions do interpersonal connections improve our stereotypes about groups?

Supporters of Positive Psychology and the PEP Lab now have the opportunity to donate to UNC Chapel Hill’s Positive Psychology Science Fund.

In becoming a benefactor, you can be assured that 100% of your donation seeds leading-edge basic and translational science to meet the increasing demand for evidence-based applications of positive psychology. Funds are especially needed to facilitate the research and training of next-generation scientists working in the PEP Lab.

To donate to the fund, click here to make a secure gift online. Under gift information, the top fund should read “Positive Psychology Science Fund” to direct your donation to support positive psychology.

Or, simply write a check payable to “The Arts and Sciences Foundation” with the following designation in the Memo line: “Designation #0133, PPSF/PEP Lab”

Then mail your check to:

The Arts and Sciences Foundation
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
134 E. Franklin Street
Campus Box # 6115
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-6115

No gift is too small to make a difference! Thank you for your support.