How Gratitude Changes You and Your Brain

What is the main focus of the research mentioned in the article?

• The role of genetics in well-being

• The impact of social media on happiness

• How gratitude practices can improve mental health

• The effects of physical exercise on mental health

What activity was complemented with psychological counseling in the study?

• Meditation

• Reading self-help books

• Physical exercise

• Gratitude letter writing

How many groups were participants divided into in the study?

• Five

• Four

• Two

• Three

What did the first group do besides receiving counseling?

• Wrote about their future goals

• Wrote about their daily routines

• Wrote gratitude letters

• Wrote letters of complaint

After how many weeks did the gratitude group report significantly better mental health compared to the control group?

• Four weeks

• Two weeks

• Twelve weeks

• Eight weeks

What was NOT a finding from the gratitude letter writing?

• Increased use of positive emotion words

• Decreased use of negative emotion words

• Long-term benefits to mental health

• Immediate improvement in mental health

What percentage of participants who wrote gratitude letters actually sent them?

• 75%

• 100%

• 50%

• 23%

What brain area showed greater activation in people who wrote gratitude letters?

• Hippocampus

• Amygdala

• Medial prefrontal cortex

• Cerebellum

What was the main method used to measure brain activity in the study?

• EEG

• fMRI

• PET scan

• CT scan

What does the article suggest about the practice of gratitude?

• It has no significant impact on mental health

• It is less effective than counseling alone

• It only works if gratitude letters are sent

• It may train the brain to be more sensitive to gratitude