The Interrogated Brain

Attention

Life Advice: Put Your Phone Away, Please

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on March 21, 2024

Smartphones bridge global connections yet chip away at the essence, and the joy, of face-to-face interactions.

Smartphones bridge global connections yet chip away at the essence, and the joy, of face-to-face interactions.

Cognition

How Our Environment Shapes Our Thoughts

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on March 14, 2024

Examining the influence of solitude on spontaneous thought reveals how it alters spontaneous thought patterns, illuminating the social nature of our minds.

Examining the influence of solitude on spontaneous thought reveals how it alters spontaneous thought patterns, illuminating the social nature of our minds.

Memory

Unconscious Memory Updating

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on March 4, 2024

Our political identity is quite fluid, subject to the vagaries of time and memory. It updates and reforms itself in unpredictable ways.

Our political identity is quite fluid, subject to the vagaries of time and memory. It updates and reforms itself in unpredictable ways.

Cognition

Generalising From Thin Slices of Behaviour

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on February 26, 2024

While individual assessment often characterizes cognition, our daily lives, involve specialization, collaboration, and delegation of cognitive work.

While individual assessment often characterizes cognition, our daily lives, involve specialization, collaboration, and delegation of cognitive work.

Dementia

Navigating the Complexities of Cognition and Brain Aging

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on February 16, 2024

The interplay between genes and lifestyle choices: How proactive habits can empower you to shape your brain's resilience over time.

The interplay between genes and lifestyle choices: How proactive habits can empower you to shape your brain's resilience over time.

Personality

Why We Need to Walk—Now More Than Ever

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on May 12, 2020

Feeling bad from being cooped up? A simple walk might be all you need. Walking is good for the body, good for the brain, and good for society at large.

Feeling bad from being cooped up? A simple walk might be all you need. Walking is good for the body, good for the brain, and good for society at large.

Creativity

The Importance of Daily Rituals for Creativity

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on December 27, 2018

Want to be creative? Don't wait for inspiration to strike. Just turn up and work.

Want to be creative? Don't wait for inspiration to strike. Just turn up and work.

Cognition

New Thinking Required: Oil, Cars, and Walking

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on June 19, 2017

Cars changed us. How will we change cars?

Cars changed us. How will we change cars?

Resilience

Building Resilient Organisations One Brain at a Time, Part 1

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on June 12, 2017

Want to build a resilient organisation? A few steps focused on the individual can make a huge difference.

Want to build a resilient organisation? A few steps focused on the individual can make a huge difference.

Neuroscience

Does the brain matter in business?

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on May 29, 2017

Feeling overloaded and stressed out at work? Neuroscience can offer some help.

Feeling overloaded and stressed out at work? Neuroscience can offer some help.

Neuroscience

Alluring Brain Science: Stale, Creative Ferment or Both?

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on August 17, 2016

Brain science is complex and fast developing. Is it providing the answers we need quickly enough?

Brain science is complex and fast developing. Is it providing the answers we need quickly enough?

Gender

Do Men and Women Lead Differently?

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on June 28, 2016

Can you tell a male brain and a female brain apart just by looking? How about a male leader's brain from a female leader's brain?

Can you tell a male brain and a female brain apart just by looking? How about a male leader's brain from a female leader's brain?

Sleep

Working Better: Brain Science in Business

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on May 24, 2016

There are many brain science lessons that can be applied in organisations from sleep hygiene to managing stress to fostering creativity.

There are many brain science lessons that can be applied in organisations from sleep hygiene to managing stress to fostering creativity.

Intelligence

Human Information Gathering: How Can We Proceed?

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on April 11, 2016

The behavioural and brain sciences can transform forensic, policing, judicial, and intelligence practices, and enhance operational effectiveness ethically.

The behavioural and brain sciences can transform forensic, policing, judicial, and intelligence practices, and enhance operational effectiveness ethically.

Memory

How Should We Interrogate the Brain?

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on April 2, 2016

Interrogation practices need to forget Hollywood and embrace science, thereby enhancing reliable information gathering, operational effectiveness, as well as justice and ethics.

Interrogation practices need to forget Hollywood and embrace science, thereby enhancing reliable information gathering, operational effectiveness, as well as justice and ethics.

Memory

Why Torture Doesn't Work

Shane O'Mara D.Phil. on March 26, 2016

Do you think torture is a good way to probe the long-term memory circuits of the brain? If you do, why do you?

Do you think torture is a good way to probe the long-term memory circuits of the brain? If you do, why do you?