Brain Waves

Exploring how we think, learn and connect.

Lydia Denworth

Why Zoom Fatigue is Real and What You Can Do About It

How does a Zoom call make you feel? How about the phone? In this time of extreme virtual connection, we are only beginning to understand how technology makes us feel.

The Surprising Secret to Longevity

Want to live to 100? A new book tells you how. No kale required.

Let's Call It Physical Distancing

They can't cancel friendship; times of crisis are when we need social bonds the most. We just have to be more creative about how to be there for each other.

Learning to Code Requires Language Skills, Not Math

Coding is not just for engineers and math whizzes. New research hints at the cognitive bases of learning computer programming and could make it more accessible. 

The Connection Between Music and Sociability

Most of us respond emotionally to music, but there are a few people who don't. Studies of their brains are providing clues to how we process social reward.

Resolution #1: Be a Good Friend

Should friendships be a part of your New Year's resolutions? Here's why you should add this important relationship to your list.

How Helpful and Generous Are We Willing to Be?

You may not be as generous as you think. Even when helping others, studies show that we don't put in the same level of effort for other people as when we work for ourselves.

The Right Level of Struggle for Learning

When something is too hard or too easy, we don't learn much from it. But there is a "sweet spot" of difficulty that promotes learning, and scientists have just identified it.

A Newly Discovered Link Between Brain Activity and Aging

Why do some people live into their 90s while others don't make it to 70? A new study uncovered a tantalizing possibility that might eventually allow us to slow the aging process.

New Insight into the Limits of Self-Insight

We assume people with a clear view of themselves are better off. A recent study suggests that a little self-delusion can be very helpful.

The Lasting Effects of Social Isolation in Adolescence

Extreme social isolation has long-term consequences for the adolescent brain. It might also hint at the effects of more common experiences, like bullying and feeling left out.

It Is Possible to Thrive After Depression

Depression is not a life sentence. Researchers have found people who achieve high levels of psychological well-being after depressive episodes.

How Much Time in Nature Is Needed to See Benefits?

Nature has established health benefits. Now a study examines just how much exposure to the outdoors it takes to achieve those benefits and boost health and wellbeing.

Worry Over Social Media Use and Well-Being May Be Misplaced

Concern over possible negative effects of social media has reached a fever pitch. But new research is reassuring and suggests we may be worrying about the wrong things.

Babies Learn When in Sync with Their Mothers

To learn from others, babies evaluate the source. New research shows the role of brain synchrony and temperament and explains why sometimes babies just won't do what you want.

The Role of "Mindreading" Neurons

How does the brain learn from observing? New research reveals a specific set of neurons that simulate another individual's decisions.

How Eye Contact Prepares the Brain to Connect

Gazing into someone else's eyes is a powerful social signal. What is it that makes eye contact special? A new study suggests that it prepares the social brain to empathize.

The Connection Between Sleep and Pain

A new study reveals why pain and difficulty sleeping often go hand in hand.

Risky Decisions Reflect a Tug of War in the Brain

Faced with a risky decision? An unusual new study reveals the push and pull that takes place in the brain as you weigh your options.

The Power of Purpose and Meaning in Life

The secret to healthy aging? A new study reveals the powerful, positive, and pervasive effects of filling life with people and activities that feel worthwhile.

How to Cross the Finish Line

Long-term goals like writing a book or running a marathon are hard to accomplish. But there are ways to tackle them that help you get where you want to go.

Get Off Twitter and . . . Clean the Bathroom?

Do you fear social media is getting in the way of time with friends and family? A new study examined how people spend their time when they log off. The results were surprising.

It’s Cold and Flu Season, Call a Friend

Worried about getting sick this winter? Don't forget about the protective power of friendship.

How to Be a Happier Parent

Parenting is a joy, except for all the times it's not. If you are looking for a little more everyday happiness, a new book has practical ideas.

An Upside to the Adolescent Brain

The teenage brain gets a bad rap, but it's not all about risk-taking. Emerging brain research shows the adolescent love of reward is good for learning and memory.

The Link Between Exercise and Memory (and Sleep?)

Does your mind feel clearer and your memory sharper after a workout? A new study explains how exercise changes the brain to improve your ability to remember new skills.

Why You Need a Social Convoy

Worried about loneliness? It's critical to pay attention early and often to the close friends and family who move with you through life.

Friends Are Similar Deep in the Brain

Have a lot in common with your friends? You might be surprised to learn just how deep the similarities go.

How Parenting Is Hard-Wired

Being a mother or father means making big changes in behavior. For the first time, scientists have worked out the details of a brain-wide circuit for parenting.

How Do You Make or Maintain Friends? Put in the Time.

Friendship takes time. A new study shows exactly just how much time, but also reminds us why it's worth it.

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