Synergonconsulting

06 february 2012 – Our colleague, Dragos Cirneci, published on Thinking Outside The Box website an article about confidence. Without it no relationships, businesses, sport teams, alliances could exist. Dragos Cirneci explains how the level of oxytocin influences our “trusting behavior”.

You can read the entire article, in romanian, by following this [link].

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06 november 2011 – Many people make the distinction between mind and body. The two are seen as separate, the body is merely a kind of head support. Therefore, running is considered an exercise for the body, while reading an exercise for the mind. However, things are far from it stands. Dragos Cirneci explains more about this in an article on “Ce se intampla doctore?”.

Read the full article, in romanian, following this [link].

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20 september 2011 – Dragos Cirneci wrote an article for wall-street.ro talking about evolution. He states that “The idea of evolution of species is still difficult to accept for many, and is considered a sensitive issue, especially in the media. In addition, many people have misunderstood this idea, especially the “us descending from monkeys” part . Some opponents of evolution bring as counter-argument the idea that that our species do not evolve anymore, tat we have the same body and the same brain as the Stone Age people.”

You can read the entire article, in romanian, following [this link].

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17 august 2011 – Dragos Cirneci published an article on the Think Outside the Box website, talking about how memory is formed and about the dispute between genetic and cultural.

We often try to blame the environment around someone for the way she behaves, as we find some excuse for blaming faulty genes inherited from the father, grandfather or any uncles. In general, today, for everyone is clear that we are a combination of genetically inherited and what we have gained by learning from our environment. Or in other words, a combination of biological and cultural.

The article can be read entirely in Romanian, by clicking this [link].

23 june 2011 – Synergon has been selected in the top 20 global finalists to present its most recent project NeuResOn at Seedcampat the Google offices in New York (see the list of participating companies). It’s a great endorsement of our project as we’ve been the only company from Romania selected to this event and we competed against companies from all over the world. NeuResOn is a behavioral profiling tool of online consumers (based on innovative Neuroscience research) which can provide a better understanding and make a more accurate description of consumers’ behavior. For more info, click here.

26 may 2011 – Dragos Cirneci spoke about Brain Fitness at the TEDxCluj conference held on May 20, 2011 at the Banffy Palace. He presented the concept of brain fitness and explained how this type of exercises influence our performance.

You can watch the live presentation, in romanian, by following [this link].

You can find more information about the conference [here].

25 may 2011 – Synergon Consulting has been running together with Regina Maria and Medix Co a research project on Quit Smoking. Dragos Cirneci, project coordinator, has published research findings in Psihiatrul.ro (no. 24, 1/2011 edition), detailing factors that dictate the succes in quiting smoking.

“Impulsive” decision style is usually associated with substance use and abuse. From experimental data results that brain’s areas involved in appetitive learning has a higher activity when rising the value of a reward, and has a lower activity when reward is delayed. individual differences in functioning of these areas make the difference between people on the patience-impulsivity continuum (…)..

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13 april 2011 – Interview published in Psychologies magazine:

They say that from a certain age our brain doesn’t produce new neurons. Is it true?

D.C: No, it is not true. There are two types of neurons in the brain. Some we are born with and form the initial structure of the brain and some that appear throughout life. The last ones, appear  in a process called ‘adult neurogenesis’, only in some parts of the brain (hippocampus), in particular those dealing with learning. It may appear between a few thousand and tens of thousands per day. They are essential to adapt to new situations, stress regulation, to protect us from depression and phobias.

[you can read the rest of the interview in romanian following this link]

06 April 2011 – The brain manages daily activity through 3 extensive networks – one which plays the role of a “virtual reality”, reviewing what we have done and what we should do in several versions, simulating realities and possible reactions towards them – and also 2 networks which implement these plans. These last networks could be up-graded by using brain fitness exercises, and hence we can improve our performance and also prepare our children to better face school and social life requirements.

08 March 2011 – Stelian Marian and Dragos Cirneci were invited guests at « Starea de Fapt » talkshow at Radio Romania International. They discussed with Mihaela Dinca (talkshow moderator) about neuromyths and presented latest research findings on how Brain Fitness exercises increase mental power, working memory and well-being.

24 jan 2011 – Dragos Cirneci, Senior Consultant, discusses in Psihiatru.ro Magazine the latest research findings on how the « attentional neural network »  influences aversive learning, novelty processing and proinflamatory immune response. Aversive learning seems to be mediated by the neural systems responsive to pain, while the subjective perception of pain was found to be implemented by the same cerebral network involved in orienting attention to novel, unexpected stimuli, and also in errors detection. This “attentional network” managing automatic shifting of attention to unexpected, relevant stimuli – “orienting reflex” – is superimposed over the danger detection mechanisms, and is known to be involved in triggering anxiety in humans.

18 nov 2010 – Shared mechanisms discovered in nervous and immune systems! Dragos Cirneci, Senior Consultant, discusses in Psihiatru.ro Magazine the latest research findings. Traditionally, the brain is thought as being “clean” of immune mechanisms, because of the blood-brain barrier. Nevertheless, at the end of ’90, has been discovered MHC I molecules in the brain, involved in synapse formation. More, the immune cells seem to communicate each other usingbrain’s neurotransmitters, and alterations in brain’s networks or receptors impact immune system. Aboveall these, it seems that the mechanisms involved in immune memory formation are similar with those involved in brain’s memory, the mechanisms which generate neuronal diversity impacting organisms’ adaptability are similar with those which generate receptors in adaptive immune system, and the process of adult neurogenesis is mediated by immune mechanisms. Is discussed the advantage of brain fitness techniques for optimization of both systems.

25 oct 2010 – Synergon Consulting launched BrainFitness – a CD with mental training exercises, which stimulate brain connectivity, and thus contribute to memory improvement, better concentration and increased mental power. At the same time, these types of exercises develop the immune system, strengthening the natural capacity of our body to fight with various infections and diseases (e.g. stress, burnout, allergies, phobias, obesity, etc.). “Initially, we developed the Brain Fitness exercises as a support for companies, for their management and human resources programs in order to optimize the decision making process, to reduce the professional stress level, to increase the employees’ health and well-being. Based on the increased positive feedback, we designed it as a mental individual training for everyone who wants to increase his/her concentration power, self-control or who wants to effectively fight with stress. Morever, the BrainFitness CD is a source of information for a lifestyle based on a healthy nutrition” said Stelian Marian, Managing Director, Synergon Consulting. The news was featured in several daily newspapers and on-line portals (for more details, click on the following links: http://www.romanialibera.ro/stil-de-viata/sanatate/fitness-pentru-creier-204642.html , http://www.jurnalul.ro/via-s-n-toas/sanatatea-familiei/si-creierul-are-nevoie-de-exercitii-de-fitness-559499.html ,  http://think.hotnews.ro/interviu-totb-despre-brain-fitness-neuromituri-si-cum-pot-fi-creati-noi-neuroni.html ).

24.09.2010 – Dragos Cirneci, Senior Consultant at Synergon Consulting speaks at the 6th Symposium of the National Neuroscience Society about the latest research results regarding the parallelism of functioning of central nervous system and immune adaptive system. Practical applications of these research results go from management (increasing problem-solving, decision making, learning, memory functions) to medicine and health (how to improve health and well-being through Brain Fitness exercises).

09.06.2010 – Synergon Consulting has done the first Neuromarketing research project in Romania! Working for Agricola Bacau, the study has focused on unveiling consumer habits when purchasing chicken meat. Read more:

Synergon Consulting launched an innovative tool in the field of neuromarketing research. The instrument (www.ConsumerBrain.ro) identifies the real triggers of customers’ purchasing decisions by investigating the brain mechanisms which govern people behaviors. What this tool brings new on the market is that it focuses on what the customer will DO, and not on what he CLAIMS to do. It’s based on neuroscience research conducted at prestigious institutes and universities (Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Sackler Institute, etc.) and succeeds in eliminating biases usually associated with traditional research techniques (focus-group, questionnaires). Consequently, research data are more accurate and management decisions get more objective. Companies such as Daimler-Chrysler, Porsche, BMW, Unilever, P&G, etc. have already discovered the value that neuromarketing research can bring to their business.