The power of a resilient mind: why mental flexibility is more important than ever
To get straight to the point: resilience is different from acting unbothered or forcing yourself
Lucas Geelen
The hidden link between autism and epilepsy
It was only halfway through the twentieth century that autism was given a clear name and definition. Yet doctors at that time already noticed that some autistic children also had epileptic seizures. Today we know that this connection is no coincidence: autism and epilepsy have more in common than once thought.
Yellow benign chaos: The case of Homer Simpson
Fictional characters intrigue us not only because of their stories, but also because they reflect deep truths about human nature. In this series, we explore the minds of iconic characters from film and television, analyzing their behavior through the lens of neuroscience and psychology. In this edition, we turn our attention to Homer from The Simpsons.
A Look at Gollum’s Mind
Fictional characters intrigue us not only because of their stories, but also because they reflect deep truths about human nature. In this series, we dive into the minds of iconic characters from movies and series and analyze their behavior through the lens of cognitive neuroscience and psychology. In this blog, it’s Gollum from Lord of the Rings.
The truth about memory: Debunking five myths
Our memory consists of fascinating and complex processes that play a central role in shaping our identity and daily life. Yet, there are many misconceptions about how our memory works. In this post, I will debunk some of these myths with the help of science.
Future of Brain Science: Genetics
Today we have tools to change and manipulate DNA, the fundamental instruction manual that makes up who we are. What would happen if we fast forward in our imagination a little bit, and contemplate the future of genetics in the healthy and diseased brain?
A t(r)ip for your mental health
Research into the therapeutic use of psychedelics is getting more and more attention. The first substances have already been approved for American and European markets. But what’s the current situation? Can we already ask the general practitioner for shrooms on prescription?
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.
Burnout: Does it even exist?
Despite the frequent use of the term, there is much uncertainty about what a burnout is, where it comes from, and what we can do about it. Researchers wonder if we should banish this term altogether.
The psychological paradox of luck
We tend to underestimate to what extend luck plays a role in our successes. Consequently, we are more motivated and tend to perform better in our endeavors. But might this common bias have a downside?