Mind & Behavior

Mind & Behavior

Study the science of how we think, feel, and act, with insights that help you better understand yourself and others.

anencephaly
The catastrophic birth defect anencephaly affects about 1 in 4,600 pregnancies in the U.S. It is largely preventable with folic acid supplements.
Why does creative flow feel so good?
Flow occurs when a task’s challenge is balanced with one’s skill.
learning and development
More and more business leaders are starting to lean on learning and development for support in facing essential challenges. 
Sleeping beauty sleeps in an enchanted forest.
The road to happiness is indirect and full of frustration.
alien abductions
From succubi to aliens, stories of abductions or other unsettling encounters have been with us for millennia. What explains them?
ultrasound ocd
OCD and addiction may result in part from improper “reward” pathways in the brain. Ultrasound can disrupt those pathways.
place cells
Your brain is remarkably good at mapping out physical spaces — even if it's an imaginary space like Hogwarts. But how does the brain do it?
A person stands in front of a large face, peering into an oversized monocle held by a giant hand, as if searching for traces of free will within the magnified gaze.
5mins
Philosophers have been making the claim that free will is an illusion for hundreds of years. Dr. Uri Maoz shares what modern neuroscience has to say about it.
John Templeton Foundation
personality tests
The first personality tests revolved around assessing people’s reactions to ambiguous and often unsettling images. Today, the gold standard is a barrage of questions.
recreational drug use
5mins
This man did over 150 drugs to help teach others how to use them safely.
city syndromes
Stockholm Syndrome is the most famous of 10 psychological disorders named after world cities. Most relate to tourism or hostage-taking.
It is often assumed that AI will become so advanced that the technology will be able to do anything. In reality, there are limits.
Stendhal syndrome
People who visit Florence seem strangely susceptible to Stendhal syndrome, which is blamed on an overwhelming sense of awe.
From boosting empathy to improving therapy, virtual reality is poised to change our ideas of the self.
Certain types of dogs seem to be more discerning than others, however.
progression bias
We seem to have a "progression bias" that nudges us toward pro-relationship decisions and away from breaking up.
Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterpiece, Fallingwater.
Frank Lloyd Wright captured serenity in his masterpiece, Fallingwater, but his egotistical tendencies made life for others anything but serene.