Is ChatGPT really rotting our brains?
How does ChatGPT affect memory, brain activity, and critical thinking? A neuroscientist breaks down the science behind the MIT study.
brain
Why learning how to learn is the skill behind all skills
Traditional education teaches us what to think, not how to think. We memorize facts for tests, then forget them. We follow instructions instead of designing our own learning paths. Nobody teaches us the most important skill of all: learning how to learn. This gap matters because skills become obsolete faster than ever. The technology you … Read More
Intentional Curiosity: Get your Brain to Focus on What Matters
Intentional curiosity is the ability to direct your attention towards information inside or outside of you in a deliberate way. In other words, curiosity helps us direct our limited attentional resources to the most important stimuli within our attentional field.
Neuroenergetics: The Brain’s Energy Budgeting System
Despite its small size compared to the rest of the body, the human brain consumes a lot of energy, consuming about 20% of the body’s resources. This energy is vital for maintaining the brain’s complex functions such as thinking, memory, and controlling the body. Neuroenergetics is a specialized area of research that aims to understand how the brain manages this energy.
The science of decision-making: why smart people do dumb things
Chocolate or vanilla? Trello or Jira? Atom or VS Code? Stay in or go out? Should I click on this link or not? We make thousands of choices everyday, often automatically, using mental models we have created over years of experience. Decision-making is the process we use to identify and choose alternatives, producing a final … Read More
The science of curiosity: why we keep asking “why”
Children have an incredibly inquisitive mind. “Why?” they keep asking. They explore new things for no other reason except that they just want to know. Researchers tried to figure out how often kids ask questions. Turns out, a lot: on average, children ask 107 questions per hour! But it seems that as adults we tend … Read More
Thinking Beyond the Brain: Why Neuroplasticity is Overhyped
Lists of exercises to rewire your brain, books about the “plastic” brain… Neuroplasticity has been touted as a magical capability anyone can harness for success. As with many neuroscience-based concepts that made it into mainstream media, the hype starts from a fact: it is true that the adult brain is not hard-wired with fixed neuronal … Read More
Understand your brain patterns with Ariel Garten, founder of Muse
We talked about the power of EEG; the science behind the Muse headband; how meditation can create a virtuous cycle of mental wellness, focus, and quality sleep, and much more.
The creative brain: three ways to cultivate your creative thinking
Creativity is everywhere around us — in the random colors of an artist’s painting, the verses of profound poetry, or an inspiring sculpture crafted from muddy clay. However, being creative is not just related to the arts, and artists are not the only custodians of creativity. Solving challenging problems, coming up with new technology, finding … Read More
Nootropics, adaptogens, brain foods… What the heck is going on?
In a world where cognitive performance is considered a clear advantage to succeed—whether as a student or a busy professional—it’s not surprising the idea of popping a pill to enhance your brainpower is appealing to many. And marketers have noticed: the market for cognitive enhancers is a multi-billion dollar industry. Between drinks supplemented with “adaptogenic … Read More