Metacognition and the Mind

Positive Psychology

Can States of Curiosity Keep Your Brain Sharp?

Alan Castel Ph.D. on September 10, 2025

States of curiosity may keep your memory sharp and help you age well; it is useful to find ways to engage curiosity!

States of curiosity may keep your memory sharp and help you age well; it is useful to find ways to engage curiosity!

Cognition

The Power of Curiosity and the Benefits of Boredom

Alan Castel Ph.D. on August 14, 2024

Find ways to unlock the hidden power of curiosity for memory and creativity by appreciating the benefits of boredom.

Find ways to unlock the hidden power of curiosity for memory and creativity by appreciating the benefits of boredom.

Embarrassment

Fool Me Once: Why Scams Leave People Feeling Foolish

Alan Castel Ph.D. on April 14, 2021

Many people won’t reveal how they've been scammed due to shame and vulnerability, making scams an even costlier threat to those both old and young.

Many people won’t reveal how they've been scammed due to shame and vulnerability, making scams an even costlier threat to those both old and young.

Career

Mind the Mess: How We Stop Noticing Everyday Clutter

Alan Castel Ph.D. on January 14, 2021

We often don't notice the mess that surrounds us. Clutter blindness may be holding you back more than you know.

We often don't notice the mess that surrounds us. Clutter blindness may be holding you back more than you know.

Career

Back to Work We Go: What Are the Costs and Benefits?

Alan Castel Ph.D. on June 11, 2020

Are the habits and structure of working from home influencing our motivation, mood, productivity, and creativity? Having some balance may be the secret.

Are the habits and structure of working from home influencing our motivation, mood, productivity, and creativity? Having some balance may be the secret.

Education

Parents as Struggling Teachers Can Have Long-Term Benefits

Alan Castel Ph.D. on May 18, 2020

Parents who are struggling as impromptu homeschool teachers are actually teaching important life-long learning skills by showing the challenges that accompany learning.

Parents who are struggling as impromptu homeschool teachers are actually teaching important life-long learning skills by showing the challenges that accompany learning.

Creativity

Tinkering Can Lead to Creative Insight and Innovation

Alan Castel Ph.D. on April 23, 2020

Tinker means playing around with things, ideas, and trying out something to see what happens. This can lead us to discover what we don’t know — all key ingredients to creativity.

Tinker means playing around with things, ideas, and trying out something to see what happens. This can lead us to discover what we don’t know — all key ingredients to creativity.

Friends

Peer-Pressure Can Encourage Patience and Healthy Eating

Alan Castel Ph.D. on August 25, 2019

How can children and adults be more likely (and like) to eat healthier foods? Following a few good friends can make some big differences.

How can children and adults be more likely (and like) to eat healthier foods? Following a few good friends can make some big differences.

Memory

Can Hollywood Alter History? How Film Modifies Memory

Alan Castel Ph.D. on August 12, 2019

Can movies change how we remember historical events? Movies and imagination can modify our memory.

Can movies change how we remember historical events? Movies and imagination can modify our memory.

Aging

Retire Young and Have Fun? 

Alan Castel Ph.D. on October 2, 2018

While retirement is often the goal, it can also be just as equally scary and uncertain for many others.

While retirement is often the goal, it can also be just as equally scary and uncertain for many others.

Memory

Why We Stop Noticing the World Around Us

Alan Castel Ph.D. on June 26, 2018

In an era of information overload, how much of our day do we spend on autopilot? What might we miss if we aren't observant and present?

In an era of information overload, how much of our day do we spend on autopilot? What might we miss if we aren't observant and present?

Confidence

Getting Lost and the Benefits of Finding Yourself

Alan Castel Ph.D. on June 11, 2018

Getting lost can be scary and confusing, but it can also help your brain develop.

Getting lost can be scary and confusing, but it can also help your brain develop.

Dementia

Can Reading Help My Brain Grow and Prevent Dementia?

Alan Castel Ph.D. on April 11, 2018

In the era of smartphones and computer-based brain training, we might overlook how reading keeps our minds active. It can also make us more socially aware.

In the era of smartphones and computer-based brain training, we might overlook how reading keeps our minds active. It can also make us more socially aware.

Memory

Focused Distractions? How We Adapt to Multi-Tasking

Alan Castel Ph.D. on July 31, 2017

“Don’t distract me, I am multitasking”: Distractions can be damaging, but even when multi-tasking, we learn how to focus on what is important.

“Don’t distract me, I am multitasking”: Distractions can be damaging, but even when multi-tasking, we learn how to focus on what is important.

Aging

Why Should We Slow Down? The Lost Art of Patience

Alan Castel Ph.D. on June 10, 2017

Technology allows us to get things done quickly, and we love our smartphones. But slowing down might make you happier and healthier, and also more productive in the long run.

Technology allows us to get things done quickly, and we love our smartphones. But slowing down might make you happier and healthier, and also more productive in the long run.

Dopamine

Why We Like Online Shopping, and Delayed Gratification

Alan Castel Ph.D. on November 14, 2016

Need it, find it, buy it (and then wait for it in the mail) actually makes for an enjoyable experience, and the perfect return shopper, according to delayed gratification.

Need it, find it, buy it (and then wait for it in the mail) actually makes for an enjoyable experience, and the perfect return shopper, according to delayed gratification.

Wisdom

Wisdom in the White House and Older Presidents

Alan Castel Ph.D. on September 13, 2016

Should we be concerned and/or excited about older-aged presidents in the White House, as old age is associated with wisdom?

Should we be concerned and/or excited about older-aged presidents in the White House, as old age is associated with wisdom?

Memory

Money, Memory, and Growing Older: Remember the Good Times?

Alan Castel Ph.D. on June 20, 2016

It can be good to remember positive emotions and the good times as opposed to focusing on gloomy events. But how might this cost us for financial matters?

It can be good to remember positive emotions and the good times as opposed to focusing on gloomy events. But how might this cost us for financial matters?

Memory

Think More, Eat Less? Memory Can Make Us Eat Less

Alan Castel Ph.D. on May 9, 2016

Hungry? Surprisingly, the trick to eating less might be our memory, and not our stomach. Remembering a past meal, or thinking about a future meal, can lead to less snacking!

Hungry? Surprisingly, the trick to eating less might be our memory, and not our stomach. Remembering a past meal, or thinking about a future meal, can lead to less snacking!

Aging

Can Kobe Bryant Rebound From Retirement?

Alan Castel Ph.D. on March 16, 2016

Old age can come sooner for professional athletes. Often with millions of dollars in the bank, and time on your hands, this presents a psychological challenge: how to retire.

Old age can come sooner for professional athletes. Often with millions of dollars in the bank, and time on your hands, this presents a psychological challenge: how to retire.