You, Illuminated

With so many things to learn—immediately—to care for a baby, it seems like evolution must have given our brains a few tools to ease the shift into the newfound role as parent, just as a bird shifts to its nesting instinct. Dutch researchers Madelon Riem and Marinus van IJzendoorn found that oxytocin changes the way the brain responds to a baby’s laughter. Read More

The worst time to ask your boss for a raise is when she's having a bad day, giving reason to tune in to her mood, but it's all too easy to misinterpret cues to people's emotions. Wouldn't it pay to be able to read minds?

Brain research says you can. Ok, neuroscience won't give you access to the thoughts in your boss' head, but it may improve the mind-reading tools you already have. Read More

At a dinner party, are people hanging onto your words or cutting you off mid-sentence? Recent research suggests that differences in social standing may lie in neurons—and how well they function—in the front of your brain. Read More

Many recent neuroscience discoveries about food's effects on our brains and how we make decisions about food are actually gold-standard trade secrets from super chains such as McDonald's. With billions and billions served, they must be on to something. Read More

So you want to exercise more? Get fit?  Well, I have a secret to help you do that. The trick is based on an old joke. Read More

Of all the things we lack in the world today—cheap oil, clean air, vacation time—conflict is not one of them. We must face conflict and confrontations, whether with our co-workers, significant others (current and ex) or peers, throughout our lives. Such fights can be a major source of distress. Read More

I heard about a study several years ago that still has me perplexed.  In short summary, the study tested the memory of vegetarians and vegans after taking either creatine supplements or inactive placebo pills; those who had taken creatine performed better.   The result was surprising, but rather than provide a definitive answer to the question, "does creatine improve memory," it Read More

Judging by the number of times I've heard "Jingle Bells" in the past few days, the holidays must be approaching.  Christmas carols are playing in grocery stores, dentist offices and Chinese restaurants. Read More

On most mornings, one of the first stops through my waking-up routine is the kitchen cupboard, where I keep my cups and other drinking vessels. Even if I'm not particularly thirsty, as a student of the brain, I'm convinced of the value of drinking enough water. Read More

As a neuroscience student, I was particularly interested to catch up on Charlie Rose's year-long "Brain" series, which featured top experts in the field. For those of you who haven't watched it, here is my "cheat sheet" on the first episode.

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One of the pleasures of getting older is becoming wiser. Once you see the world through a new lens, it's hard to ever go back; the lessons you learn can forever change your perspective. Usually. But sometimes you realize you were wrong. Read More

Alcohol, according to conventional wisdom, is a depressant. Yet, people often drink to liven up a party, not mellow it out. A few drinks can spark energy, elation and excitement; it gives you a buzz.  Is the conventional wisdom wrong? Read More

As much as the recent disgrace of Tiger Woods shocked us, many people relished watching his downfall. Would his personal anguish have been savored as much if he were an unknown caddy?
Recent neuroscience research suggests not; we most enjoy observing the misfortune of someone we envy.

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When, as a child, I first encountered the idea that Santa Claus might not be real, I balked. I experienced cognitive dissonance, a theory developed over the last sixty years by social psychologists to explain the uneasy feeling we get when we hold conflicting ideas. Recent advances in neuroscience can explain this phenomenon, and others. Read More