Cognition

The Times Square effect

The Times Square effect

As I was walking through the streets of Manhattan, I experienced what I call the “Times Square effect”: too many things to sense at once. It put me in this contemplation state where I am both fascinated and overwhelmed by my surroundings.

The legacy of Frans de Waal

The legacy of Frans de Waal

On March 14, the world-famous primatologist Frans de Waal passed away. His primate research not only expanded our knowledge of chimpanzees and bonobos, but also revealed fascinating insights about the most peculiar of apes: humans. Here, we show three lessons we learned from Frans de Waal.

The bored brain

The bored brain

A bored man was working at developing energy sources for radar systems. He failed and wanted to have a coffee break. Suddenly, he realized that the chocolate bar in his pocket had melted during his experiments: he had just discovered the microwave. Many breakthroughs happened by accident – or should I say: boredom. Research studies revealed that getting bored engages the same brain areas as creative thinking.

Fight against the couch potato in you

Fight against the couch potato in you

It’s no secret that people generally prefer tasks that are easy and require minimum effort over those that are more challenging. A recent study shows that you can overcome this laziness when there’s a chance for learning.

Me versus the other

Me versus the other

Social comparison, or the tendency to compare oneself with another, is an individual behavior largely embedded in cultural and political background. Research has converged on the idea that the brain’s reward-related system is involved. Why is that?

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