Sense of Mind Podcast Episode 29 - Your brain’s alarm system: The Amygdala Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/fXuZpMiSGHk The amygdala detects important features of the environment and it can trigger the fight or flight response. This brain region used to be thought of as the brain’s ‘fear center’ or sometimes as the emotional core of the brain, but in recent years neuroscientists have discovered that the amygdala’s function is more general. It now appears that the amygdala’s function i...
Jun 24, 2022•16 min•Ep. 29
Thinking Tools Podcast Episode 28 - Neuroplasticity Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/q-iQGoxmRkM “Neuroplasticity” refers to the fact that your brain can change its structure and function over time. Neuroplasticity is also sometimes called “brain plasticity,” or simply, “plasticity.” What this means is that you can change how your brain works, at least within certain constraints, such as genetic proclivities and the fundamentals of neurophysiology. You can learn valuable skills and facts. ...
Jun 10, 2022•11 min•Ep. 28
Sense of Mind Episode 27: Learning and The Brain | Interview with Artem Kirsanov - Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/nFtouEhBj7I -- How does your brain learn about and navigate the world? What brain areas are responsible for our ability to form mental maps of places and spaces? How are attention and memory implemented in the brain and how do they contribute to learning? In this episode of the Thinking Tools Podcast, I speak with Artem Kirsanov, a YouTuber and neuroscience undergraduate...
Jun 03, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 27
Thinking Tools Podcast Episode 26 - Prefrontal Cortex Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/p04xZjZUl2o The prefrontal cortex (PFC) allows us to engage in what scientists call “cognitive control” (also known as “executive functioning”) and it is crucial for our sense of self. This video explains what the PFC is, why this brain region’s properties make it well suited to cognitive control and the sense of self, and how each of the subdivisions of the prefrontal cortex contributes to these functio...
May 20, 2022•34 min•Ep. 26
Thinking Tools Podcast Episode 25 - The idea of scaling, in biology, refers to how a biological system responds to changes in its overall size. More specifically, the properties that characterize animals–such as their metabolic rate, heart rate, and average lifespan–are systematically related to the size of the animal. But how, in a precise quantitative sense, does such biological scaling manifest? In this episode of the Thinking Tools Podcast, I speak with Dr. Geoffrey West about these and othe...
May 13, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 25
Thinking Tools Podcast Episode 24 - Understanding social neuroscience requires understanding the neuroscience of the self. That’s because our social interactions are deeply intertwined with how we understand ourselves, our goals, needs, desires, and dreads. Social cognitive neuroscience, one field that studies the brain in social circumstances, has discovered much regarding how our brains process information about ourselves and others. In this episode of the Thinking Tools Podcast, I speak with ...
May 06, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 24
Thinking Tools Podcast Episode 23 - Spikes are action potentials–or the firing of neurons, while dark neurons indicate how rare such events really are in the human brain. That is, when we picture a brain, we sometimes imagine it flooded with action potentials, a hundred billion neurons all activating nearly simultaneously. The reality is that there are far fewer neurons active at any given time. Dr. Mark Humphries, author of the 2021 book, “The Spike: An Epic Journey Through the Brain in 2.1 Sec...
Apr 28, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 23
Thinking Tools Podcast Episode 22 - The Evolution of the Brain Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/j_ldDirCCns The evolution of the brain began in relatively simple creatures, possibly for the purpose of coordinating digestion and other basic physiological processes. Hundreds of millions of years later, the brain evolved into the modern versions we see across the animal kingdom today. Yet, some may have changed more than others over that time. For example, scientists believe that humans and a...
Apr 21, 2022•16 min•Ep. 22
Thinking Tools Podcast Episode 21 - ❓ Do you consider yourself spiritual? ❓ The neuroscience of spirituality and religious experience is a fascinating subject. In this episode, I interview Dr. Andrew Newberg about the brain, spirituality, and religion. Even if you’re not particularly spiritual or if, like me, you don’t believe in god, spirits, the soul, or the afterlife, it’s still fascinating to understand that the brain is naturally wired for profound experiences and what effect they have on o...
Apr 15, 2022•56 min•Ep. 21
Thinking Tools Podcast Episode 20 - ❓ Have you heard of mirror neurons? ❓ Mirror neurons are a special type of brain cell that were once thought to explain the brain basis of language and that of our understanding of the actions of other people, or “action understanding.” However, between the late 1990s and early 2010s, neuroscientist Gregory Hickok crafted a devastating argument against these claims, culminating in his 2014 book “The Myth of Mirror Neurons: The Real Neuroscience of Communicatio...
Apr 08, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 20
Thinking Tools Podcast Episode 19 - Executive function is a set of mental skills that we humans use to plan, hold information in working memory, and generally get things done. Collectively, these are often referred to as “cognitive control,” and they go a long way in explaining what makes humans unique in the animal kingdom. Not other animals can plan in the way we do, thinking decades ahead and making sacrifices now for that far off future. So how does executive function work? In this episode o...
Apr 01, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 19
Thinking Tools Podcast Episode 18 - 1. Fact : The sensory cortices may be defined by the kinds of data they receive. 2. Tip : Be deliberate and cautious about what you repeatedly do. You will become it. 3. Book : “Livewired: The inside story of the ever-changing brain” by David Eagleman 4. Quote : How to change your brain most effectively. 5. Thoughts : The future of the human brain in general and perception in particular may be hard to recognize -- References 1. Eagleman, D. (2020). Livewired: ...
Mar 25, 2022•22 min•Ep. 18
Thinking Tools Podcast Episode 17 - Nature vs nurture. Genes vs environment. DNA vs life experience. What makes us who we are? In Episode 17 of the Thinking Tools Podcast, I speak with Dr. Robert Plomin about his 2018 book, “Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are.” Dr. Plomin is Professor in Behavioural Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. He has published more than 900 papers and is the author of the major textbook in the field as well as ...
Mar 18, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 17
Thinking Tools Podcast Episode 16 - 1. Fact : How your brain corrects errors in movement. 2. Tip : Focus on neurological mechanisms and evidence, not misleading rhetoric. 3. Book : “The Myth of Mirror Neurons,” by Gregory Hickok 4. Quote : Why individual neuroscience studies may be misleading. 5. Thoughts : Read review articles and meta-analyses to start learning about a topic. -- References Hickok, G. (2014). The myth of mirror neurons: The real neuroscience of communication and cognition. WW N...
Mar 11, 2022•20 min•Ep. 16
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 15 - 1. Fact : The evolution of mental illnesses. 2. Tip : The brain benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. 3. Book : “A History of the Human Brain,” by Bret Stetka. 4. Quote : Human evolution has many explanatory threads. 5. Thoughts : Violence, chimp invasions, Russia and Ukraine. -- References Book: Book: Stetka, B. (2021). A History of the Human Brain: From the Sea Sponge to CRISPR, How Our Brain Evolved. Timber Press. Article about famous people with schizophreni...
Mar 04, 2022•18 min•Ep. 15
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 14 - 1. Fact : Your gut’s nervous system may have evolved before the brain. 2. Tip : Happiness depends on homeostasis. Good feelings follow good health. 3. Book : “The Strange Order of Things,” by Antonio Damasio. 4. Quote : Feelings, mental images, and consciousness in the making of cultures. 5. Thoughts : Why we should be slow to dismantle our culture. -- References Book: Damasio, A. (2018). The strange order of things: Life, feeling, and the making of culture...
Feb 25, 2022•18 min•Ep. 14
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 13 1. Fact: Emotional reasoning drives division deeper in society. 2. Tip: Be antifragile, rational, and intellectually charitable. 3. Book: “The Coddling of the American Mind,” by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff 4. Quote: How to heal societal division by appealing to common humanity 5. Thoughts : Intellectual humility and the direction of history -- References Lukianoff, G., & Haidt, J. (2018). The coddling of the American mind: How good intentions and ba...
Feb 18, 2022•21 min•Ep. 13
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 12 1. Fact: The right kind of rest can make you more creative AND productive 2. Tip: Walking and “deep play” can stimulate creativity and sustain it over time 3. Book: “Rest: Why you get more done when you work less,” by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang 4. Quote: The resting brain is extremely active. 5. Thoughts : Why rest may sometimes save lives -- References BOOK: Pang, A. S. K. (2016). Rest: Why you get more done when you work less. Basic Books. Scientific American In...
Feb 11, 2022•22 min•Ep. 12
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 11 00:00 - Welcome + check out the serotonin videos! 01:50 - Fact : Spirituality is a protective factor against depression. 05:32 - Tip : Guided loving-kindness meditation 10:33 - Book : “The Awakened Brain,” by Lisa Miller 14:38 - Quote : Achieving vs. Awakened awareness (Lisa Miller) 16:46 - Thoughts : Our current political divisions are a spiritual challenge 20:26 - Thank you! Please like, subscribe, and rate the podcast! -- References Book: “The Awakened Bra...
Feb 04, 2022•21 min•Ep. 11
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 10 1. Fact: Why multitasking is usually ineffective (processing bottlenecks) 2. Tip: Don’t try to multitask, unless two crucial conditions are met 3. Book: “On Task: How our brain gets things done,” by David Badre 4. Quote: Badre on the role of cognitive control in the brain 5. Thoughts: Why mindfulness can help you focus and enjoy life more -- References 1. Book: Badre, D. (2020). On task: how our brain gets things done. Princeton University Press. https://www....
Jan 21, 2022•21 min•Ep. 10
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 9 1. Fact: How the brain maps touch sensation on the body 2. Tip: Be careful about the cognitive ladders you choose to climb 3. Book: “Brainscapes,” by Rebecca Schwarzlose (2021) 4. Quote: Schwarzlose on how the brain categorizes objects 5. Thoughts: How should I spend my time? -- References Book: Schwarzlose, R. (2021). Brainscapes:The Warped and Wondrous Maps Written in Your Brain–And How They Guide You. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop...
Jan 14, 2022•18 min•Ep. 9
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 8 1. Fact: One way that the brain keeps track of timing intervals 2. Tip: Beware the Kappa and Tau Effects 3. Book: “Your Brain is a Time Machine,” by Dean Buonomano 4. Quote: Dean Buonomano on mental time travel 5. Thoughts: Don’t waste your time on pointless goals -- References 1. Buonomano, D. (2017). Your brain is a time machine: The neuroscience and physics of time. WW Norton & Company. https://www.amazon.com/Your-Brain-Time-Machine-Neuroscience/dp/0393...
Jan 07, 2022•19 min•Ep. 8
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 7 1. Fact: Anger decreases as we age 2. Tip: Use the ABCD method for emotional spirals 3. Quote: Ronald Potter-Efron on the stories we tell ourselves 4. Book: “Rage,” by Ronald Potter-Efron 5. Thoughts: My anger journey -- References: 1. Mather, M., Ponzio, A. (2016). Emotion and Aging. In Handbook of Emotions (4th ed., pp. 319-330). essay, Guilford Press. 2. Satterfield, J. M. (2015). Cognitive behavioral therapy: Techniques for retraining your brain. Great Cou...
Jan 06, 2022•19 min•Ep. 7
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 6 1. Fact: Your Body Uses Your Brain to Regulate Your Body 2. Tip: How to Change A Habit 3. Book: “A Thousand Brains,” by Jeff Hawkins (2021) 4. Quote: Frans de Waal on a human paradox 5. Thoughts: Local news needs you, national news is a distraction -- References: 1. Billman, G. E. (2020). Homeostasis: the underappreciated and far too often ignored central organizing principle of physiology. Frontiers in physiology, 11, 200. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles...
Jan 06, 2022•17 min•Ep. 6
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 5 1. Fact: Conditioned Food Aversion 2. Tip: How to regulate emotions 3. Book: “Designing The Mind,” by Ryan A. Bush 4. Quote: Rebecca Schwarzlose on Brain Maps 5. Thoughts: The Future of Sense of Mind -- References: 1. Breed, M. D., & Moore, J. (2012). Animal behavior. Academic Press. 2. Welzl, H., D'Adamo, P., & Lipp, H. P. (2001). Conditioned taste aversion as a learning and memory paradigm. Behavioural brain research, 125(1-2), 205-213. 3. Bartoshuk,...
Jan 06, 2022•16 min•Ep. 5
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 4 1. Brain Fact: How Emotional Stimuli Grab Your Attention 2. Science-based tip: Develop a Nourishing Morning Routine 3. Book: The Advertising Effect: How to Change Behavior 4. Quote: David Eagleman on the Transcendent Beauty of Neuroscience 5. My thoughts: Nobody is Going to Give You the Answers to Life's Big Questions -- Links and references to stuff I mentioned in the video: 1. Article on attention and emotion: - Hajcak, G., Jackson, F., Ferri, J., Weinberg, ...
Jan 06, 2022•20 min•Ep. 4
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 3 1. Brain Fact: How emotional arousal enhances memory 2. Science-based tip: Examine.com 3. Book: How We Learn: Why our Brains Learn Better than Any Machine... For Now 4. Quote: Robert Sapolsky on Major Depression 5. My thoughts: COVID lockdowns are edging on tyranny. -- Links and references to stuff I mentioned in the video: 1. Articles on Memory: - Kensinger, E.A., Schacter, D.L. (2016). 33 - Memory and Emotion. Handbook of Emotions (4th ed.), 564-578. Guilfor...
Jan 06, 2022•27 min•Ep. 3
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 2 1. Brain Fact: How your autonomic nervous system is involved in emotional wellbeing 2. Productivity Tip: Daily and Weekly Task Planning 3. Book: Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything About Race, Gender, and Identity--and Why This Harms Everybody 4. Quote: Antonio Damasio on the arts, the brain, and consciousness 5. My thoughts: I'm thankful that our society has shared goals, if not agreed upon means of attaining them. -- Links and referenc...
Jan 06, 2022•26 min•Ep. 2
Thinking Tools Newsletter Episode 1 1. Brain Fact: Did you know that your GI tract, not just your mouth, can taste certain foods? 2. Productivity Tip: The Pomodoro Method 3. My Thoughts: On balancing productivity and relaxation 4. Book: "Intellectuals and Society," by Thomas Sowell 5. Quote: On liberal vs. conservative brains, from "The Molecule of More," by Daniel Lieberman and Michael Long -- With this newsletter, I want to connect with you and give you exclusive content that I think will be b...
Jan 06, 2022•15 min•Ep. 1
