Your Brain On Us

Career

Tom Coburn, Ignorance, and the need for Scientific Communication

Jamil Zaki Ph.D. on November 28, 2011

Tom Coburn and others don't recognize the value of psychology, and it is up to psychologists to answer back

Tom Coburn and others don't recognize the value of psychology, and it is up to psychologists to answer back

Genetics

Let's get amoebic: The charitable slime mold as a model for facing climate change

Jamil Zaki Ph.D. on March 21, 2010

A dirty, but heroic protozoan could revamp our hopes of climate reform.

A dirty, but heroic protozoan could revamp our hopes of climate reform.

Memory

Play nice with the 2000s

Jamil Zaki Ph.D. on January 23, 2010

Negative opinions about the last decade may stem not only from all the bad things that happened in the last ten years, but also from the biased way in which we store and recall memories.

Negative opinions about the last decade may stem not only from all the bad things that happened in the last ten years, but also from the biased way in which we store and recall memories.

Behavioral Economics

Copenhagen and the commons

Jamil Zaki Ph.D. on December 28, 2009

The failure of leaders in Copenhagen to come to an agreement on stopping climate change may be an example of an old problem: people's difficulty governing common resources. Research suggests several key features they may want to include in their next attempt.

The failure of leaders in Copenhagen to come to an agreement on stopping climate change may be an example of an old problem: people's difficulty governing common resources. Research suggests several key features they may want to include in their next attempt.

Altruism

The altruism instinct

Jamil Zaki Ph.D. on November 23, 2009

There is a deep tension between self interest and a desire to help others. This tension can be resolved by evidence that we actually have an instinct for altruism.

There is a deep tension between self interest and a desire to help others. This tension can be resolved by evidence that we actually have an instinct for altruism.

Neuroscience

The two human natures

Jamil Zaki Ph.D. on November 16, 2009

Philosophers, some scientists, and many people have long held the assumption that human nature is antisocial and self interested. This does not make sense, because people are deeply connected with each other, and self interest is often social. This blog will detail the ways in which people are fundamentally social, and what that could mean for our sense of who we are.

Philosophers, some scientists, and many people have long held the assumption that human nature is antisocial and self interested. This does not make sense, because people are deeply connected with each other, and self interest is often social. This blog will detail the ways in which people are fundamentally social, and what that could mean for our sense of who we are.