Author: This Is Your Brain producer
Release date Feb 6, 2026 Guest Website : https://musicandhealing.net Whether it’s rock and roll, classical, hip hop, or rap, most people enjoy music in one form or another. (Even newborn babies respond to it.) But why? What is going on in our brains when we hear our favorite tunes? Dr. Barbara Minton, a psychotherapist and neuroscientist, studies exactly how our brains react to various types of music, to provide targeted music therapy. And she goes one step further. As a musician herself, she is also creating the music, specifically designed for our brains, blending art and science to better…
https://www.jacobward.com/ Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we think, live, and make choices, but are our brains ready for it? Award-winning tech journalist Jacob Ward joins Dr. Phil Stieg to discuss how AI exploits our ancient decision-making systems, why we’re so easily manipulated, and what it means for our future. Drawing from behavioral science and decades of reporting, Ward explains just how predictable we are, the pitfalls of falling into “the loop”, and how to stay human in an AI-driven world. Phil Stieg Artificial intelligence is transforming every part of our lives, from how we work and communicate to how we…
If someone asks you what you are doing to prepare for your retirement, you might mention a 401K or an IRA, but what you might not realize is that you also need to prepare your mind for this major change in your life as well. Dr. Ross Andel, a gerontologist, who has been studying what happens to our brains when we retire, reveals how it can have serious consequences for our mental health, including cognitive decline and depression. But he will also offer some easy steps and tips to avoid this “retirement trap” and keep our brains active and healthy…
We all know the importance of a good diet, sufficient exercise and a good night’s sleep, but there’s one more essential thing we all need to be healthy. Social connection. Simply put, our brains need friends. Neuroscientist Dr. Ben Rein reveals exactly what is happening in our brains when we interact with friends, family, even strangers, and how exactly this affects our physical and mental health… the many benefits of a good social life and the real risks of isolation and loneliness. He also offers simple tips on how we can be more social and to make better use…
https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/12/the-power-of-touch-with-dr-michael-banissy/ https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/11/can-big-tech-read-my-mind-with-sean-pauzauskie-md/ https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/11/the-neuroscience-of-your-workout-with-gary-wenk/ https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/10/is-ketamine-a-miracle-drug-with-john-krystal-md/ https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/10/grief-is-not-just-sadness-with-mary-frances-oconnor/ https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/10/when-the-surgeon-becomes-the-patient-with-henry-marsh/ https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/09/play-is-not-just-kids-stuff-with-stuart-brown/ https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/09/dad-brain-with-darby-saxbe/ https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/08/forgive-and-flourish-the-healing-power-of-letting-go-with-dr-fred-luskin-phd/ https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/07/taming-the-tremor-with-alexandra-lebenthal-and-dr-michael-kaplitt/ https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/07/stories-make-us-human-with-dr-fritz-breithaupt/ https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/06/why-we-procrastinate-with-dr-joseph-ferrari/
Phil Stieg Reach out and touch someone isn’t just a slogan from a long distance phone ad. It’s also a powerful statement about human connection. Our guest, Dr. Michael Banissy, is a leading expert in the science of social connection. As a professor of social neuroscience at the University of Bristol, his work explores how we understand and respond to others, particularly through touch, empathy, and emotional communication. In his recent book, “When We Touch”, Dr. Banissy offers insights that are timely in a world where our social bonds are increasingly shaped by screens. Today, we’ll talk with him about…