What Art Does For Your Brain
Think about the last time a piece of music stopped you in your tracks, or a novel kept you up late at night. Why do these experiences feel so powerful?
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Hidden Brain
How to Be a Better Partner
When we look at the people we love, how clearly do we really see them? This week, how our fears, desires, and insecurities can shape our perceptions of our partners — sometimes creating the very reality we expect.
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How Feelings Make Us Smarter
Some people are remarkably good at reading the emotional temperature of a situation. What’s their secret?
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Making the Most of Your Mistakes
When we’re learning, or trying new things, mistakes are inevitable. Some of these mistakes provide us with valuable information, while others are just harmful. This week, we kick off the new year with researcher Amy Edmondson, who explains the difference between constructive failures and those we should try to avoid.
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You Are Not Ordinary
Stories about unlikely heroes have captivated people for thousands of years. This week, why the “hero’s journey” resonates so deeply, and how the stories we tell about our own lives can shape our sense of purpose.
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How to Combat Pain
This week, we look at what’s really happening when we experience pain, and how a better understanding of this process can open up new possibilities for treatment and healing.
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Changing Our Mental Maps
Our brains navigate the world by coming up with mental maps. These maps act like an autopilot system. But sometimes, they can lead us astray.
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Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 2
Last week, we talked with psychologist Lisa Miller about the science of spirituality. Today, we explore what those ideas can look like in everyday life.
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Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 1
Food, safety, and strong relationships are essential to our survival. Psychologist Lisa Miller says our brains also crave something else: transcendence. She suggests that spirituality is a universal human capacity, and that feeling connected to something larger than ourselves may be essential to a fulfilling life. If you enjoy listening to Hidden Brain, we think you’ll enjoy
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Stepping Out of the Shadows
Why does one bad experience have the power to overshadow an otherwise good day? We explore the negativity bias, and ways to rebalance our attention.
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