Social distancing is changing our social interactions
The current pandemic has us keeping our distance to reduce contagion, but is the physical distance affecting our social interactions? And how is it changing the way we speak?
Science
science
The vaping epidemic in youth – why is this happening and why should we care?
Most smokers light up their first cigarette in their teenage years. In recent years, however, youngsters have replaced cigarettes with their electronic counterparts, which are referred to as “vapes”. Given the well-known dangers of tobacco smoking, that must be a good development, right? Let’s find out.
Risky decision-making through an epidemic lens
After weeks of strict regulations, experts are deciding how we can leave lockdown without too many risks to our society. Importantly though, merely the way we describe risks can influence which strategy we choose.
This is why we stick to false beliefs even in a pandemic
Besides an alarming death toll, a shrinking world economy, and a renewed appreciation for thorough handwashing, the current COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed humans everywhere to another contagion: belief in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Why is it that some people tend to stick to false beliefs?
The reason why you might be listening with your nose
Scientists know how smell works in the brain but not exactly how neurons “read out”
Solving pieces of the ADHD puzzle: trajectories of ADHD
ADHD outcomes can take different paths as patients grow up. In an effort to predict and therefore possibly prevent severe ADHD outcomes, researchers at the Donders Institute are currently running an exciting study. I’m a research assistant in this special project. Read on for some insider facts about it!
How to puzzle perception? A debate inside your brain
All day long we predict what we think we’re seeing. But sometimes groups of neurons in our brain disagree and start to compete. This is how images can get quite confusing.
Why young people keep partying during the COVID-19 pandemic
For the last few weeks, the nationwide instructions have been clear: Keep your distance in order to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. But not everyone adheres to these rules. There are even “lockdown parties”, where groups of students party behind closed doors. Why do people partake in such behaviour? And even more important: How can we convince them to stop?
Reading: fuel for our brain
Reading comes so naturally, almost effortlessly, but not for the brain. Each sentence we read triggers great activation in our brain. Curious how?
Does innate knowledge exist?
Humans are good at learning and we do it all the time, from the day