GR Diary

Being disturbed by noisy chewing Is psychiatric disorder, not a personal preference

Published

7 years ago

November 26, 2018

grassroots

Did you know that simple thing in your life could be a psychiatric disorder? More than expected, some people tend to be frequently choked by the noisy chewing habit that comes from their other.

Some people do chew that loud that someone sitting at the next table can hear the crushing sound. If you find yourself being annoyed by this sound to an extent that you hate the source then it is no longer normal, it is a psychiatric disorder.

According to the Newcastle University researchers, this hatred comes from the chemistry of the brain and sometimes can be severe.

This abnormality in brains is scientifically named misophonia. It is a disorder that creates in people a significant distaste for specific attitudes. The attitudes are like loud chewing mentioned above.

Others in the same category to loud chewing are faster eating, loud breathing and pen clicking.

In 2001, this disorder was considered to be purely a brain disorder. But later according to one of the American journals, scientists wrote that this disorder could influence various parts of the brain upon detection of the unwanted habit.

The journal used pictorials to show the occurrence of this disorder in the brain. They displayed various changes that simultaneously take place these taste were smelt. The brain then immediately responds to these detections by triggering out various emotional control mechanisms that display the signs of dissatisfaction with the environment.

The brain responds to this by some psychological mechanics that vary from one individual to the other but commonly illustrated through an increase in heartbeat or profuse sweating. This comes with luck of comfortability, and the individual may be forced even to portray some body language.

A professor of Cognitive Neurology at Newcastle University and UCLA made comments that he was part of the team that conducted the study at some patients during the research periods. Prof. Tim Griffins said that however, this disorder had been a disgrace to some people, he hopes that these findings would make them aware of what always transpires in their life in such situations. “I hope this will re-assure the patients,” he concluded.

The team of researchers then did a major comparison between the sufferers of misophonia and those who showed normal condition. They did this by using an MRI scan machine to evaluate this disorder of the brain to investigate what causes it and its possible control mechanisms.

The comparison made some excellent observations of note. They discovered that the brain is set to receiving three different categories of sounds. That is; a neutral sound, trigger sound, and finally an unpleasant sound.

They went on to note that neutral sound was associated with regular occurring in an ordinary person’s life. Some of which they identified as the sound coming from rainfall, a cafe, and boiling water.

On the other hand, an unpleasant sound was discovered to associate with un-familiar happenings to human closely.

Some of the unpleasant sounds they could identify from these samples were sounds from a crying baby and sound from someone screaming. Both facilitate the normal body reaction, and no one can detect in a change in body function upon hearing of these sounds.

To those who are easily triggered by some sounds, here are the triggered sound s as found by Professional researchers of the Newcastle University. A sound from eating or breathing is the trigger sounds. The research findings revealed that a body of people suffering from misophonia would react effectively to sensing these sounds. They cause a noticeable change in brain activity. This then confirms that this hatred somebody may have towards one sound is all on brain activity and not on an individual self-personalities and principles. The sufferers should not blame themselves for it but rather their brain chemistry!

Events

NOTAP Announces Plan for 2025 Technology and Innovation Summit

….Harnessing R&D and Innovation Potentials of Nigeria’s STI Ecosystem

Published

1 week ago

October 11, 2025

Ani Sandra

The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has announced the forthcoming NOTAP Technology and Innovation Summit (NTIS 2025), scheduled to hold on Thursday, 6th and Friday, 7th November 2025 at THE HALL, 16 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, commencing daily at 9:00 AM.

Themed “Harnessing R&D and Innovation Potentials of Nigeria’s STI Ecosystem,” the two-day summit will convene key leaders from government, private sector, academia, development partners, and the startup ecosystem to explore strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s innovation landscape and positioning the nation as a hub for technology-driven economic growth.

Speaking on the upcoming summit, Dr. Lady Obiageli Amadiobi, the director-general of NOTAP, emphasized that the forum will serve as a strategic platform to foster dialogue and action around innovation policy, technology transfer, intellectual property, and commercialization.

“Our goal is to accelerate the transformation of research and creativity into commercially viable enterprises that drive national development,” she noted.

Summit Highlights

The NOTAP Technology and Innovation Summit 2025 will feature:

Ministerial Address and Keynote Sessions by renowned leaders in innovation, policy, and technology.
High-Level Panel Discussions on key themes such as technology transfer, intellectual property sovereignty, and building an AI-ready human resources.
Launching of Project NOVA (Nigeria’s Outsourcing Value Acceleration) and promotion of the NOTAP Local Vendor Policy (LVP) across all sectors of the economy.
Workshops and Breakout Sessions on IP management, funding access, and talent development.
Exhibitions and Innovation Showcases, featuring startups, research institutions, and technology companies.
Hackathon and Pitch Showcase, for emerging innovators and young entrepreneurs.
Networking and Partnership Sessions to foster collaboration across sectors.

The Summit will also host a Special Exhibition Pavilion to highlight Nigeria’s emerging technologies, research outputs, and development partnerships, reflecting NOTAP’s commitment to bridging the gap between invention and commercialization.

Partnership and Collaborations

The event is organized by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) in partnership with Crestsage Limited and collaboration with stakeholders, to ensure a world-class experience that aligns with NOTAP’s mission of accelerating technology, promoting innovation and sustainable development across Nigeria.

The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, mandated to regulate the acquisition of foreign technology, promote local research, and encourage the development and commercialization of indigenous technologies. Through strategic partnerships, policy advocacy, and capacity development, NOTAP continues to play pivotal roles in advancing Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.

Events

Ortom, NOA DG, others to feature as Panelists at GOCOP 2025 Conference

Published

3 weeks ago

September 26, 2025

Ani Sandra

Panelists at GOCOP conference

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has announced that Chief Samuel Ortom, former Governor of Benue State, will serve as one of the panelists at the upcoming GOCOP 2025 Conference.

The conference theme is “Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects.”

A press statement by GOCOP publicity secretary, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, disclosed that the panel discussion will feature esteemed panelists, including Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, Registrar, Base University, Abuja; Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika,2025 Director, Institute of Continuing Education (UNILAG); and Alhaji Lanre Issa-Orilu, Director-General, National Orientation Agency.

The conference, he said, will take place on October 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

He recalled that GOCOP had earlier announced that the keynote speaker will be Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past Governor of Katsina State.

Events

Takang, Ladid Lead Africa’s Digital Sovereignty Debate At DACE 2025

Published

1 month ago

September 17, 2025

grassroots

L-R: Prof. Latif Ladid and Dr. Armstrong Takang

How can Africa remain safe and powerful in a world being rapidly redefined by Artificial Intelligence?

That pressing question will take centre stage at the 13th Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition (DACE), scheduled for October 28–29, 2025, in Abuja.

The two-day gathering will be anchored by two powerhouse keynote speakers: Dr. Armstrong Takang on Day 1 and Prof. Latif Ladid on Day 2, each bringing unique expertise to Africa’s digital sovereignty conversation.

Dr. Armstrong Takang, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), will open the conference with a keynote that situates Africa’s digital sovereignty within the broader context of economic reform, institutional innovation, and strategic governance.

A consummate professional and visionary thinker, Dr. Takang has spent decades bridging the gap between public reform and private investment across Africa and the United States. Before his current role at MOFI, he served as Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, where he led the MOFI Transformation Team.

His career includes leading Growth Alliance Partners (GAP), a pan-African firm that helped turn around several businesses to create shareholder value, and working at KPMG in New York.

He has been instrumental in designing and implementing key national initiatives such as the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), and the ICT components of EFCC/NFIU systems.

Dr. Takang has also chaired national ICT committees and contributed to landmark policies, including Nigeria’s Content Development in ICT and the country’s 50-year Development Plan. His keynote will highlight how digital and financial sovereignty intersect to secure Africa’s long-term competitiveness.

On the other hand, Prof. Latif Ladid, Founder & President of the IPv6 Forum and Chair of the AI & Blockchain Global Forum, brings decades of global leadership in internet architecture, digital policy, and emerging technologies.

His expertise spans across pivotal roles from IEEE Future Networks to the Internet Society, 3GPP, and EU research on next-generation networks.

Organizers say his keynote will set the tone for the conference, unpacking how Africa can assert digital sovereignty, safeguard its data, and lead in shaping the ethics and standards of AI on the global stage.

“This year’s theme, ‘Sovereign Intelligence: Africa’s Voice in the Global Digital Order,’ isn’t just a concept, it’s a necessity,” said Dr. Evans Woherem, Chairman of Digital Africa Consult. “Prof. Ladid’s keynote will highlight what it takes for Africa to remain safe, independent, and powerful in the new AI era.”

At a time when global powers are racing to define AI norms and secure digital dominance, Africa risks being left behind if it fails to act. Much of its technology remains imported, its data stored abroad, and its languages invisible in mainstream AI systems.

DACE 2025 is designed to change this narrative, by equipping Africa with the tools, strategies, and partnerships to become a proactive co-author of the digital future.

The conference will feature high-level dialogues on digital sovereignty, policy innovation, and cross-border cooperation, alongside exhibitions of homegrown startups, developer workshops, and showcases of African-built AI tools for health, agriculture, finance, and education.

Beyond the panels and showcases, DACE 2025 is expected to produce a concrete roadmap for Africa’s digital sovereignty.

“This isn’t just about technology,” noted Woherem. “It’s about agency, safety, and independence. With Prof. Ladid setting the stage, we hope to leave Abuja with a united vision of Africa’s place in the global AI order.”

With delegates expected from across Africa and the world, the two-day gathering promises to be a defining moment in the continent’s digital journey.