Some aspects of our internal mental life seem to defy measurement. "Intuition" seems like a prime example of something impossible to quantify... But what if it's not? Dr. Joel Pearson tells us about his ingenious studies putting a value on hu

#229: Learning to Learn

Jun 8th, 2018 49m 53s

Last-minute cramming (even on lots of nootropics) isn't the best gameplan for effective learning. So what is? Learning researchers explain the theory and practice of efficiently building your mental toolkit.The post #229: Learning to Learn a

#228: Perception as a Controlled Hallucination

May 29th, 2018 44m 34s

Our senses provide us with a best-guess interpretation of reality -- but it's only a guess. Dr. Anil Seth explains how perception and consciousness interact, and how we can intentionally shift our "reality filter" with methods like induced syn

#227: How Language Affects Thought

May 14th, 2018 45m 43s

Is "a rose by any other name" still a rose... to your brain? Dr. Viorica Marian explains how the language that we use affects how we actually think.The post #227: How Language Affects Thought appeared first on Smart Drug Smarts.

#226: The Return of Metabolism

May 5th, 2018 50m 1s

You don't think much about your electricity until the power goes out. And human metabolism is kind of the same way. Dr. Navdeep Chandel explains why metabolism is worth paying attention to -- for lifespan, healthspan, and for dodging disease.

#225: Schizophrenia with Dr. Tyrone Cannon

Apr 21st, 2018 52m 38s

"Schizophrenia" is a word that strikes fear in the hearts (and minds) of those who have seen its effects. It's often misunderstood -- but one aspect that's universally recognized is that it's a *big deal.* And it affects nearly 1% of the adult

#224: Don’t forget about Prospective Memory

Apr 10th, 2018 47m 28s

Prospective Memory is something we notice most when it fails -- when we recall (too late!) something we meant to remember. Dr. Michael Scullin tells us how to keep ideas top-of-mind.The post #224: Don’t forget about Prospective Memory appeared

#223: Ketone Esters with Dr. Brianna Stubbs

Apr 2nd, 2018 56m 46s

Ketogenic Diets, Ketone Salts, Ketone Esters... What does all this mean -- and which ones will help turn your brain into a well-lubricated fat-burning engine most easily? Dr. Brianna Stubbs -- who is a biohacker and world-class athlete as well

#222: What are “Fast-Spiking Interneurons”?

Mar 23rd, 2018 39m 3s

What are "interneurons" and how do they affect our brains' ability to function, to change, and to learn? Research scientist Dr. Scott Owen explains the latest findings.The post #222: What are “Fast-Spiking Interneurons”? appeared first on Sma

#221: Marijuana, the Non-Medical Kind ;)

Mar 13th, 2018 1h 4m

It's easier to smoke marijuana legally these days than it is to study it. Strange, but true. But with tens of millions of Americans using recreational marijuana regularly...isn't it time we learned what it's doing to our brains?The post #221

#220: Cognitive Fallacies with Dr. Richard E. Nisbett

Mar 3rd, 2018 48m 40s

Social scientists have built up a wealth of knowledge about the ways the human brain reliably gets things wrong. Luckily for us - if we stay conscientious, we can work around our built-in bugs.The post #220: Cognitive Fallacies with Dr. Richa

#219: Aphantasia with Dr. Joel Pearson

Feb 17th, 2018 36m 18s

Some people's minds don't come equipped with a "mind's eye." We call these people aphantasics -- and there are many millions of them. And they get by just fine.The post #219: Aphantasia with Dr. Joel Pearson appeared first on Smart Drug Smart

#218: Oxytocin, Love and Social Awareness

Feb 10th, 2018 49m 52s

For our special Valentine's Episode, we look at the hormone Oxytocin...sometimes called "the love molecule" -- although as you'll hear, it does much more than *just* that.The post #218: Oxytocin, Love and Social Awareness appeared first on Sma

#217: Fighting Migraines with Dr. Sid Kapoor

Feb 3rd, 2018 42m 25s

Sometimes the brain can seem like it has a "self-destruct" button. Migraine headaches and epilepsy are two such examples.The post #217: Fighting Migraines with Dr. Sid Kapoor appeared first on Smart Drug Smarts.

#216: Music and Creativity with Dr. Psyche Loui

Jan 27th, 2018 39m 25s

Music, maybe second only to language, seems to be one of the defining characteristics of the human brain -- and an abiding interest for all known human cultures. And it turns out to be both a read/write interface.The post #216: Music and Crea

#215: Social Illusions with Dr. Erica Boothby

Jan 19th, 2018 39m 12s

Optical Illusions are interesting "glitches." But social illusions -- and there are MANY -- actually drive our behavior. Dr. Erica Boothby pulls back the veil on your own inner thoughts.The post #215: Social Illusions with Dr. Erica Boothby

#214: Ibogaine with Dr. Emeline Maillet

Jan 13th, 2018 44m 5s

Ibogaine could be an effective therapy against addiction -- or it could be (literally) the cure that kills the patient. Hear about the many facets of this plant-derived substance from Dr. Emeline Maillet.The post #214: Ibogaine with Dr. Emeli

#213: Sleep Deprivation with Dr. Paul Whitney

Jan 6th, 2018 49m 6s

As biological imperatives go, sleep is the one we need less than air and water, but more than food and sex. Try to get by without it, and the problems start cropping up - fast.The post #213: Sleep Deprivation with Dr. Paul Whitney appeared fi

#212: Multi-Lingual Brains with Dr. Ellen Bialystok

Dec 30th, 2017 36m 11s

Conventional wisdom holds that knowing more languages is "good for your brain." But what makes it so? And good in which ways? Dr. Ellen Bialystok is one of the world's foremost experts, and conducted many of the studies that has brought this

#211: MDMA vs. PTSD

Dec 23rd, 2017 40m 46s

The FDA has given a green light to a Phase 3 trial using MDMA as a psychologist-assisted therapy against PTSD. How might this "party drug" work in a non-party context?The post #211: MDMA vs. PTSD appeared first on Smart Drug Smarts.

#210: Mind Wandering

Dec 16th, 2017 38m 47s

Mind wandering is bad if you're operating a chain saw. But if you're stuck on a well-defined intellectual problem, it could be just the ticket. Christine Godwin explains the latest research in...um...what was I just talking about?The post #2

#209: Addiction – Old and New Schools

Dec 9th, 2017 1h 3m

Can you be "addicted to Facebook"? And if so, is that much like being addicted to heroin? Two addiction researchers specializing in pharmacology and cyberpsychology weigh in.The post #209: Addiction – Old and New Schools appeared first on Sm

#208: Optimizing Epigenetics with Dr. Daniel Stickler

Dec 2nd, 2017 46m 13s

If genes are the "Book of You," then epigenetics are the dog-eared pages marking the parts you're interested in right now. Dr. Daniel Stickler explains how to use this active overlay on genetic information to your advantage.The post #208: Opt

#207: Bugs on Drugs

Nov 18th, 2017 46m 21s

Giving LSD to fruit flies sounds like a fraternity prank. But with the right tools, it could be an approach that helps unlock the brain's secrets in perception, mood, and even consciousness.The post #207: Bugs on Drugs appeared first on Smart

#206: Ayahuasca vs. Depression with Dr. Draulio Araujo

Nov 11th, 2017 58m 46s

Ayahuasca may mark the first time that a nausea-inducing beverage has gotten...popular. But there may be valid medical reasons why "Mother" Ayahuasca -- a brew featuring strong psychedelic effects -- is becoming well known outside the Brazilia