When you lose focus, you lose the ability to achieve your goals. And, unfortunately, we live in a world of endless distractions. Yet, by understanding the neuroscience of attention, you can train your brain to focus on what matters. -- Please support this channel by signing up for Sense of Mind's Patreon and get bonus content every month: https://www.patreon.com/senseofmind You'll get: - Exclusive videos only for Patrons - Written (blog post) versions of all new videos, including this one! -- Ch...
Nov 02, 2024•13 min
You are a living organism. That’s obvious, but this simple fact helps explain one of the most profoundly important aspects of your life: your emotions. In fact, it teaches you how to control your emotions. -- Please support this channel by signing up for Sense of Mind's Patreon and get bonus content every month: https://www.patreon.com/senseofmind You'll get: - Exclusive videos only for Patrons - Access to exclusive monthly livestreams - Written (blog post) versions of all new videos, including ...
Sep 07, 2024•23 min
Happiness is not always easy. Yet, there are tangible skills we can build that will make it easier. If we give some time to fostering awareness, focus, and our capacity for connection, it is likely that our lives will get better. This livestream was originally aired live only for Patreon supporters of Sense of Mind. Patreon supporters also get access to an exclusive written blog post version of this video. If you'd like to get access to future livestreams as well as exclusive blog posts and vide...
Aug 27, 2024•32 min
Something fascinating is happening as you listen to this episode. You are effortlessly converting a series of sounds into meaningful thoughts. To do that, your brain has to take a sound wave and somehow extract from it a specific message that I’m trying to convey to you right now. We rarely stop to think about how weird language is. It’s even rarer that we ask ourselves how our brains do any of that. In this episode, we’ll talk about all this while exploring some of the neuroscience of language....
Jul 19, 2024•1 hr 8 min
What makes life good or bad? One answer to that question is that positive and negative feelings are at the core of happiness and its opposite. That leads to the question of what feelings are and how the brain produces them. In this video, I’m going to discuss a fascinating paper published in February 2024 about the neuroscience of bodily and emotional feelings. The paper is called “The Neurobiology of Interoception and Affect,” by Mallory J. Feldman, Eliza Bliss-Moreau, and Kristen A. Lindquist,...
Jul 12, 2024•51 min
In this episode, we discuss the neuroscience of time, music, free will, emotions, memory, the self, and what we've learned from our research on these topics. If you’re reading this, then you’re watching the public version of this video, so if you want to watch the second half, go to https://www.patreon.com/thesocialbrain and sign up for the “Premium” tier. You’ll get access to every exclusive Patreon-only episode of The Social Brain! -- Please support this channel by signing up for Sense of Mind...
Jul 08, 2024•25 min
Many of us take evolution for granted, but over the years I've received many comments from people who doubt whether it's true. In this episode, I'll describe the logic of and major evidence for the theory of evolution by natural selection. 📖 Get 20% off your annual Shortform subscription by using this link: https://www.shortform.com/senseofmind This livestream was originally aired live only for Patreon supporters of Sense of Mind. If you'd like to get access to future livestreams as well as exc...
Jul 01, 2024•1 hr 16 min
Music is clearly an important aspect of what it means to be human. It seems to have deep evolutionary roots, possibly even being the precursor to language. It seems to bond us together with other people, which may have conferred survival benefits to our prehistoric ancestors. And it impacts our brain like nothing else. For example, music has been shown to evoke emotions through unique neural pathways. Not only that, but music has also been found to help treat certain symptoms of Alzheimer's and ...
Jun 26, 2024•1 hr 3 min
We've all experienced the exhaustion of mental fatigue. If you work long enough and hard enough on a cognitively demanding task, you'll eventually lose motivation and focus. Worse yet, burnout is right around the corner. This video is a deep dive into the neuroscience of mental fatigue and how to stay motivated. If you value my work, please support it by going to https://www.patreon.com/senseofmind (If you do, you'll also get exclusive videos, livestreams, and blog posts!) -- Sources: - Kok, A. ...
Jun 17, 2024•25 min
Time is a limited resource and, in some ways, it’s our only resource in life. But what is time and why does it seem to flow at the rate it does? Why is it that our subjective sense of time can change so dramatically depending on the situation and our state of mind? How does the brain measure and experience time? In this episode, we will explore these questions from a neuroscientific angle and come to some mind-boggling conclusions both about the nature of time and how our brains work. ⏬ ⏬ ⏬ Help...
Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Thoughts may be the most important content of our mental lives. Thoughts are unobservable and seemingly intangible, yet they determine what we do and therefore how our lives go. In this episode, I explore the neuroscience of human thinking. This livestream was originally aired live only for Patreon supporters of Sense of Mind. If you'd like to get access to future livestreams as well as exclusive blog posts, go to https://www.patreon.com/senseofmind. Timestamps: 00:00 What are thoughts? 03:20 Th...
May 20, 2024•40 min
In this episode of The Social Brain, we discuss human brain evolution and development, and what we've learned from our research into these topics. The first half of this episode is available for everyone, but if you want to see the whole episode, sign up for The Social Brain's Patreon page at the Premium tier: https://www.patreon.com/thesocialbrain (Please note that this is separate from Sense of Mind's Patreon page, because Taylor and I share the revenue from The Social Brain's page.) -- Please...
May 13, 2024•25 min
Resilience is not just about how your brain withstands adversity, but also how it becomes stronger as a result. This is a deep dive into the neuroscience of resilience and science-based strategies for how to build resilience. If you want to get exclusive videos, blog posts, and livestreams AND help me keep creating videos like this one, please sign up for Sense of Mind's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/senseofmind Sources: I want to make sure to credit a 2020 review article called "An affective...
May 10, 2024•33 min
The adolescent brain is often characterized as an imbalanced, hormone-charged, and broken version of an adult brain. The reality, however, is much more nuanced and interesting. Adolescence is a critically important period of brain development that allows for rapid learning, social affiliation, and exploration. It's found in many species across the animal kingdom and it serves an extremely important purpose. Join us in this episode of The Social Brain, as we discuss brain development through the ...
May 06, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Right now, you are in possession of the most complex thing in the known universe: Your brain. The question is, how could this amazingly advanced biological computer have come about through natural forces? In this episode of The Social Brain, we’re traveling hundreds of millions of years into the past to answer that question. We’ll describe in broad strokes the evolution of single celled organisms all the way to the most intelligent creatures on the planet. #evolution #brain #neuroscience ⏬ ⏬ ⏬ H...
Apr 15, 2024•1 hr 15 min
In this livestream, I discuss the science of habits. Habits are automatic behaviors formed through repetition, shifting from conscious actions mediated by the frontal cortex to automatic processes controlled by the basal ganglia, with minimal cognitive effort. Initially requiring deliberate thought, actions become habitual through a cue-behavior-reward loop, significantly influenced by dopamine's role in reinforcing behaviors via reward prediction. While habits can be beneficial or detrimental, ...
Apr 10, 2024•33 min
In this episode, we discuss the serotonin system, its role in depression, psychedelic drugs, SSRIs, growth mindset, and what we've learned from our research on these topics. If you’re reading this, then you’re watching the public version of this video, so if you want to watch the second half, go to https://www.patreon.com/thesocialbrain and sign up for the “Premium” tier. You’ll get access to every exclusive Patreon-only episode of The Social Brain! Intro and outro music credits:Floating by Alex...
Apr 08, 2024•25 min
To form good habits and break bad ones, you have to rewire your brain’s dopamine system. In this episode, I'll explain how to do that by talking about how you can create healthier habits around sleep. 00:00 Step 1 03:00 Step 2 04:26 Step 3 07:00 How to ACTUALLY change your habits -- Please support this channel by signing up for Sense of Mind's Patreon and get bonus content every month: https://www.patreon.com/senseofmind You'll get: - Access to exclusive monthly livestreams - Written (blog post)...
Apr 06, 2024•10 min
The dramatic increase in depression diagnoses has led millions to use antidepressants, based on the theory that a chemical imbalance--namely low serotonin levels--in the brain is to blame. However, recent studies suggest the cause of depression is more complex, challenging the simplicity of this theory. While antidepressants are crucial for many, viewing depression solely as a chemical issue oversimplifies the diverse factors at play, including environmental and personal experiences. This calls ...
Mar 25, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Psychedelics powerfully alter the brain by tapping into the serotonin system. And while these drugs can have lasting negative effects, in clinical studies they’ve been shown to alleviate depression faster than any existing treatment. In this episode, we’ll discuss how psychedelics affect the brain and what the existing literature suggests about their therapeutic potential. ⏬ ⏬ ⏬ Help us keep this show alive AND get bonus content by going to: https://www.patreon.com/thesocialbrain 🧠 👕 ☕Want coo...
Mar 11, 2024•1 hr 12 min
If you’re reading this, then you’re watching the public version of this video, so if you want to watch the second half, go to https://www.patreon.com/thesocialbrain and sign up for the “Premium” tier. You’ll get access to every exclusive Patreon-only episode of The Social Brain! In this episode, we discuss topics like ADHD and the major functional networks of the brain (like the default mode network). These episodes are a little more casual and personal than usual, and we hope you enjoy it! -- I...
Mar 05, 2024•20 min
Too often, we put off important tasks even though we know we'll be worse of for it. In other words, we procrastinate and we end up suffering in our professional and personal lives. Yet, in this video, we'll see that there are several neuroscience-based ways to stop yourself from procrastinating. Link to Patreon only video #1: "Mind the Gap": https://www.patreon.com/posts/mind-gain-98420924 -- Please support this channel by signing up for Sense of Mind's Patreon and get bonus content every month:...
Mar 04, 2024•15 min
You've noticed it—the drift of your attention, the challenge of staying on task. We all experience this but for some of us this can reach extremes and fall under the category of ADHD, a complex neurological condition that's often misunderstood. But what really is ADHD? In this episode, we're diving deep into the neuroscience of ADHD. We'll explore the latest research that sheds light on how ADHD brains work, the innovations in treatment and management, and most importantly, how those with ADHD c...
Mar 01, 2024•1 hr 33 min
Have you ever noticed that when you aren’t doing anything specific, you often start thinking about yourself, your past, other people, or maybe your future? That’s your brain’s default mode network in action. And when your attention gets pulled back to the task you’re working on, a whole other set of networks comes online. In this episode, we’ll explain what these networks do, and why they’re so important for optimizing cognition. ⏬ ⏬ ⏬ Help us keep this show alive AND get bonus content by going ...
Feb 12, 2024•1 hr 10 min
Cognitive control and flexibility is the key to changing when you feel stuck in unhealthy patterns of behavior. This video explains how this brain function works using a common health challenge you may have faced in the past. In my experience, one of the most powerful ways of keeping up with your personal growth is to keep learning about your brain, how it works, and how to influence it to help you achieve the goals that matter most to you. You can get a deeper understanding of your brain just b...
Feb 09, 2024•13 min
Solving problems often forces us to juggle lots of information and quickly adapt to new circumstances. In this video, I’ll give an overview of one brain function that is critical to this ability: cognitive flexibility. This livestream was originally aired live only for Patreon supporters of Sense of Mind. If you'd like to get access to future livestreams as well as exclusive blog posts, go to https://www.patreon.com/senseofmind. #executivefunction #neuroscience #creativity Sources: Uddin, L. Q. ...
Jan 31, 2024•38 min
Feel that heartbeat rush, that quickened breath? That's stress, a staple of modern life. Our bodies react to today's pressures as though facing ancient threats. Stress, often mentioned casually, shows up in many forms: relationship tensions, financial worries, or deadline panics. Once key for survival, this response now springs from our thoughts and lifestyle, linking our physical and mental experiences. How does it impact our health and well-being? In this episode, we dive into stress's science...
Jan 29, 2024•1 hr 8 min
At first glance, it seems silly to fear things that haven’t happened or may never happen. What is the point of getting worked up over something you may have no control over? Odd as it seems, the truth is, most of us do this on a regular basis. It’s a normal process that occurs in the brain and one you are probably deeply familiar with: anxiety. In this episode, we’ll see that while not all anxiety is bad, it very often causes us to suffer unnecessarily. We’ll see how this occurs in the brain and...
Jan 15, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Pain is a blend of the physical and emotional. Neuroscience shows that when you can control the emotional part, it becomes much easier to manage the physical part. In this video, I'll discuss how pain works in the brain, the placebo effect, the overlap between physical and emotional pain, and some psychological methods for relieving pain. This livestream was originally aired live only for Patreon supporters of Sense of Mind. If you'd like to get access to future livestreams as well as exclusive ...
Jan 03, 2024•58 min
What does neuroscience have to say about free will? Is free will in conflict with the laws of physics or observations from neuroscience? What does "free will" even mean? These are ancient philosophical questions, but they have important implications for our daily lives, from how we make choices to how we can improve ourselves. In this episode of The Social Brain, we'll discuss the fascinating science and philosophy of free will from a neuroscientific perspective. ⏬ ⏬ ⏬ Help us keep this show ali...
Dec 21, 2023•1 hr 13 min
