Jim Davies Ph.D.

About

Jim Davies, Ph.D. is professor of cognitive science and the Director of the Science Imagination Laboratory at Carleton University. His books include "Riveted: The Science of Why Jokes Make Us Laugh, Movies Make Us Cry, and Religion Makes Us Feel One with the Universe" and "Imagination: The Science of Your Mind's Greatest Power." He is co-host of the award-winning podcast "Minding the Brain."

Books by Jim Davies Ph.D.

Recent Posts

Wrapping Your Brain Around a Pandemic

Many of us know how the pandemic is affecting our physical health. What is it doing to our minds?

Are Virtual Experiences Real?

Can a virtual church on a computer give you feelings of spirituality? Our recent research explores this.

How We Can Catch a Ball When We Don't Know Where It Will Be

Does our mind actually have two different ideas about how the physical world works?

Might We Live in a Simulated World? (A Response to Manzotti)

Could we be living in a simulation?

If History Were a Pool, How Much Water Would Your Life Be?

Simple cells formed 3,600,000,000 years ago. That’s three billion, six hundred million. How can we picture that?

What Happens to Consciousness When Your Brain Splits?

What happens to consciousness if your brain is split, and then you regrow a full brain from each half?

The Psychology of Hating the Star Wars Prequels

Why do people seem to dislike the Star Wars prequels? People can give you reasons, but how do we know whether they are right or wrong about themselves?

Is It Possible to Feel Sympathy For Many People at Once?

Why do we feel more sympathy for a single person's tragedy than many?

Do You Think You're a Bad Writer?

Is writing a talent?

Man's Search for Meaning and Korean Karaoke

We search for meaning even in places where we should know better. Why?