Author: This Is Your Brain producer
What’s causing the “Covid fog” and “long-haul Covid” that have been all over the news lately? Neuropsychologist Heidi Bender and infectious disease specialist Lish Ndhlovu explain how the virus is getting into the brain, what it does when it gets there, and how that affects cognition, emotions, and behavior. Plus… hear firsthand from a patient who went through the fog — and came out the other side. Phil Stieg: Hello — This week we are releasing a special expanded episode exploring several aspects of Covid 19 and its effect on the brain. I’ve asked two of my colleagues here at…
Pain and fear are inevitable, especially these days, but we can retrain our brains to reduce suffering. Dr. Sara Lazar, Assistant Professor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School, reveals how just eight weeks of mindful meditation can visibly change parts of the brain to be less reactive to pain. Plus… how meditation apps put the power of mindfulness right in your hand. Phil Stieg: Hello, today, I have with me Dr. Sara Lazar. She is a scientist in the Department of Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. She studies the beneficial effects of mindfulness training and…
Narrator: There’s a lot of things you can do with a smartphone … Check the latest headlines … shop online … post embarrassing pictures to your social media feed, and many other forms of stress and distraction. … And now, you can also meditate. Here’s how… Voice of Tamara: Begin by taking a comfortable position…. Hold your back nice and tall… Narrator: This is the voice of Tamara Levitt, a superstar in the world of meditation apps for your phone. Tamara: We’ll learn ways to soften our reactivity… and practice techniques like noting … and pausing… Narrator: Levitt holds the…
More than an evolutionary waste of energy, dreams are one of the last mysteries of human cognition. Dr. Raphael Vallat, a neuroscientist and sleep researcher at UC Berkeley, explains what we know about what happens during REM sleep, why we have recurring nightmares, and even how that evening cocktail affects your dreams. Plus… the weirdest things some people do while they’re asleep. Phil Stieg: I’m happy to introduce Dr. Rafael Vallat. He’s a neuroscientist at the Walker Sleep Lab in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. You will quickly notice he’s not from the United States,…
A brain experiment on abstract vs representational art reveals the secrets of how we make decisions, and how we impulsive humans may finally learn to delay gratification. Psychologist Daphna Shohamy, Professor of Psychology at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute at Columbia University, explains “construal level theory” and what that means about art — and dessert. Plus… The Stendahl Syndrome (aka an Art Attack), in which great works can quite literally knock you flat. Phil Stieg: Hello, today, I have with me Dr. Daphna Shohamy. She’s a professor of psychology at Columbia University and in the Zuckerman Institute. Her background…
Delve into a comedian’s brain to discover what makes people laugh — and when the comic is also a neuroscientist, it’s no joke! Dr. Ori Amir studies what goes on in the brain as jokes are born, and he’s also learned how to “get out of his head” to write some pretty funny stuff. Be afraid: He is working on using artificial intelligence to come up with new puns to make us groan. Phil Stieg: Welcome! Today I have with me Dr. Ori Amir, Dr. Amir is a neuroscientist at the University of California. He is a leading researcher on the way our brains…