A word of wisdom for the modern age… What can we learn from contemplative science? How do centuries-old techniques change our brain and body? Let’s look at ancient concepts with contemporary ideas… Continue reading Compassion and meditation – towards contemplative sciences
If I were to tell you that you could learn to control your brain’s activity you might be at least somewhat sceptical. However, learning to regulate neural activity is not unlike learning to control other physiological processes. Take your heartbeat for example. If you lay your hand flat on your chest you can easily monitor your current heartbeat. If I were to ask you now … Continue reading Face your fear with neurofeedback
The diminished ability to experience pleasure is called anhedonia, and it is a core symptom of depression. For a very long time, we thought that people with anhedonia have reduced capacity to like, i.e. feel less when they are doing something enjoyable, but recent research has shown that it might not be as simple as that. Continue reading Anhedonia: In search of pleasure
Have you been feeling anxious or depressed lately? It’s okay, 2016 has been tough on all of us. Despite the discomfort that comes with negative emotions, they are a crucial part of our lives. However, when emotions get out of balance, they can lead to some pretty poor decision making. Continue reading When Emotions are misleading: Effects of Anxiety and Depression on Decision Making
Recent findings show that older adults control their emotions better, experience less negative emotions, notice, remember, and focus on the pleasant facts and events, are prone to embellish their memories, and strongly believe in universal benevolence. Continue reading Second Blooming: Age-related Positivity Effect
Most of us have experienced aesthetic reactions to music– everyone knows how it feels to react to a song so emotionally that you get goosebumps and think “This music is so beautiful.” Continue reading More than a feeling – insights from brain research on the aesthetic experience of music
We all know what it feels like to find beauty inexpressible. Now, neuroscience is aiming to uncover the cognitive and affective processes at play when we have aesthetic experiences. Continue reading Beauty and the Brain – what we can learn from Neuroaesthetics
What is happening in the brain when we’re bored, and what are we willing to do to escape boredom? It turns out the answer to both is: Quite a lot. Continue reading Turning the Spotlight on Boredom
Brainy Sundays 