Health
The Brain
A technological future where our brain waves could be monitored and our thoughts decoded and analyzed — sometimes against our will — is not as far away as we think. But our existing legal protections and conception of human rights around cognitive liberty are trailing innovations in neurotechnology. Brain hacking tools and devices could bring massive benefits, for people s...
A traumatic event can literally change the way our brain functions, and live on in our body in unexpected ways. The field of psychiatry has not always acknowledged or fully studied the physical impacts of trauma, and mental health practitioners are often not aware of appropriate treatments for traumatized patients. Psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk has been researching trau...
What is it that pulls one person toward another, and connects them? What does love and attraction do to our brain, and vice versa? Biological anthropologist Helen Fisher has been studying questions of love and relationships for over 40 years. Through detailed data collection, research questionnaires and even brain scans, she has collected massive amounts of information on...
Kids growing up in the U.S. today are facing some terrifyingly real, daunting problems. Almost every day, they hear about political polarization, racism, climate change, gun violence and a host of other complex societal issues. They’re learning how to comprehend those challenges and the emotions they evoke at the same time they’re trying to learn everything else, and that...
Psychedelics are emerging from a period of prohibition and association with counterculture into the rigorous world of medical research and treatment. The potential outcomes for people suffering from difficult-to-treat mental ailments, such as PTSD and depression, are exciting, but the landscape is complex. The line between recreational and therapeutic use is muddy, and pro...
So much of adult life is about learning the rules and then using those rules to navigate the world. We become certain that we know what we know — that we’re right, and we’re safer and more secure that way. But certainty, argues neuroscientist Beau Lotto, might actually be one of society’s biggest sources of emotional and physical unwellness. Certainty causes us to have les...
People often talk about maintaining their physical health but brain health is an afterthought. It turns out brain fitness at any age heightens and protects brain function and can even prevent brain disease. Sanjay Gupta, author of Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age, Maria Shriver, founder of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, and Natalie Morales, West Coast anchor...
What if the key to a healthier brain is as simple as getting up out of your chair? Quick Take is a weekly dose of ideas and insights delivered in short form. Today’s episode features neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Listen to the full episode https://www.aspenideas.org/podcasts/building-brain-health-at-any-age Follow us on instagram.com/aspenideas Follow us on facebook.c...
People often talk about maintaining their physical health but brain health is an afterthought. It turns out brain fitness at any age heightens and protects brain function and can even prevent brain disease. Sanjay Gupta, author of "Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age," Maria Shriver, founder of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, and Natalie Morales, West Coast ancho...
Grappling with the challenges and problems life throws at us is difficult, especially during a pandemic. Psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb says the stories we tell about ourselves and others can make it even harder to cope.
Are Zoom connections and physical distancing making us lonelier?
Once they reach adolescence, kids land on an emotional rollercoaster. As parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors, how can we help teens communicate and navigate the intensity of their emotions?
Why is it that we think boys are good at math and girls are more empathetic?
Technology is redefining who we trust, and this shift in trust has fundamental consequences.
Author Michael Pollan focuses on psychedelic drugs in his latest book.
Thinking about the far-off future isn’t just an exercise in intellectual curiosity.
Psychologist Dan Gilbert reveals what scientists know about the human ability to imagine the future.
Can people be nudged to make the right decisions?
How can 20 hours of focused practice help you develop surprising levels of new skills?
How should we change the way we parent, educate, and understand young people?