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Alex Korb Ph.D.

About

Alex Korb, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist, coach, and bestselling author of The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression. He is currently an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCLA. He earned a BS in neuroscience from Brown University in 2002, and his Ph.D. from UCLA in 2010. His research interests including neuroimaging of mood and anxiety disorders, as well as development of a new brain stimulation technique using focused ultrasound. Outside of the lab he coaches the UCLA women's ultimate frisbee team, where he uses his knowledge of brain and behavior to unlock their peak performance. If you're interested in how an understanding of neuroscience can enhance personal or group wellbeing, he is available for personal coaching and organizational training. For more helpful articles, videos, and courses check out alexkorbphd.com.

Books by Alex Korb Ph.D.
Recent Posts
Dealing With Technostress
Humans shape technologies, but our lives are then shaped by the technologies we create - for better or worse. Here's how to protect your mind and brain.
Expectations, Dopamine and Louis CK
According to the comedian Louis CK, “everything is amazing right now and nobody’s happy.” And it's because of dopamine signaling in a particularly important brain region.
The Stress of Uncontrollability

Feeling out of control amps up the brain's anxiety circuit. Understanding your own brain's response to uncontrollability can put you in the driver's seat.

Feeling out of control amps up the brain's anxiety circuit. Understanding your own brain's response to uncontrollability can put you in the driver's seat.

What’s Right With You?

It’s time to put your brain in the right mode for the New Year. Here are some simple tricks.

It’s time to put your brain in the right mode for the New Year. Here are some simple tricks.

How to Strengthen Your Brain's Happiness Circuitry

I used to think that being happier was all about teaching yourself to think more positively. But often the most powerful path to increasing happiness is to strengthen the right brain circuits by using these five simple neuroscience tips.

I used to think that being happier was all about teaching yourself to think more positively. But often the most powerful path to increasing happiness is to strengthen the right brain circuits by using these five simple neuroscience tips.

Stop Thinking Positively

These days we're inundated with messages about the power of positive thinking, but sometimes positive thinking actually interferes with success. Fortunately, there is another way.

These days we're inundated with messages about the power of positive thinking, but sometimes positive thinking actually interferes with success. Fortunately, there is another way.

Getting Lost in the Noise

When trying to accomplish something great, if you check in too often with your progress, then you can be getting in your own way. I had to learn this the hard way, but, fortunately, there is a way out.

When trying to accomplish something great, if you check in too often with your progress, then you can be getting in your own way. I had to learn this the hard way, but, fortunately, there is a way out.

4 Observations on Memory and Emotion

Watching Pixar's Inside-Out, I was moved through a full range of emotions, but also, as a neuroscientist, I was impressed with the nuanced depiction of complex brain functions that the movie depicted. Understanding these can help you better understand yourself:

Watching Pixar's Inside-Out, I was moved through a full range of emotions, but also, as a neuroscientist, I was impressed with the nuanced depiction of complex brain functions that the movie depicted. Understanding these can help you better understand yourself: