Neuroscience and the Self: Does Buddhism Get It Right?

a person's brain with a silhouette of the person inside it illustrates neuroscience and the self

Do you ever feel like you don’t have a consistent self? Have you considered that your sense of self might be an illusion created by your brain? Neuroscience is shedding new light on the nature of the self. In his book No Self, No Problem, Chris Niebauer explores how recent findings in neuroscience align with ancient Buddhist teachings about the illusory nature of the self. Read more to learn Niebauer’s fascinating findings about neuroscience and the self.

How Asperger’s Autism Research Created “Aspie Supremacy”

An old fashioned image of research papers on a wooden desk

What were the problems with Hans Asperger’s autism research? How did it mislead future autism researchers? In his book NeuroTribes, Steve Silberman writes that the history of autism research began with the work of Austrian physician Hans Asperger in the 1930s and 1940s. Asperger was an influential figure and thus, his flawed research had long-lasting consequences. Continue reading for a look at the flaws in Asperger’s research.

Kanner and Asperger’s Autism Research: The 4 Major Differences

Two boxing mitts with names on them that read Kanner and Asperger

What were the differences between Kanner and Asperger’s autism research? Whose research came out on top? In the post World War I era, there were two famous doctors studying autism: Leo Kanner in the US and Hans Asperger in Austria. In his book NeuroTribes, Steve Silberman compares the two men’s approaches and points out the differences. Here’s a look at the differences in the autism research.

Bernard Rimland’s Autism Research: A New Perspective

A vintage image of a vaccine needle and bottle on a wooden table in a doctor's office

Who was Bernard Rimland? How did his autism research change how some saw the disorder? What were some of the problems with his theories? Bernard Rimland was an American psychologist in the mid-1900s. It was thanks to Rimland that parents were no longer blamed for causing autism, however, Rimland also promoted the idea that vaccines caused autism. Continue reading to learn about Bernard Rimland’s research and its impacts.

The Upcoming Solar Eclipse—Everything You Need to Know

A family of three watching the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

When is the upcoming solar eclipse? What is a total solar eclipse? How can you safely view the eclipse without causing damage to your eyes? When a total solar eclipse occurs, our planet, our moon, and the sun align to enable the tiny moon to block out the giant sun. While partial solar eclipses aren’t super rare, total solar eclipses are much less common. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming solar eclipse.

What Is the Misinformation Effect? Mo Gawdat Explains

People working at a command center full of computer screens, searching what the misinformation effect is.

What is the misinformation effect? What happens when your brain takes in inaccurate information? One grave error that can cause your brain to misfire is if you feed it inaccurate information. If you want your brain to produce happiness, you must ensure that you’re feeding it the proper information to produce that result. Keep reading to learn more about how the misinformation effect works in the brain.

The Four Types of Information Your Brain Takes in Every Day

A man looking at a computer monitor intaking four types of information with graphs and lines.

What are the four types of information the brain consumes? What’s the difference between interpretations and inaccurate information? Mo Gawdat says there are four main categories of information that the brain takes in: sensory information, interpretations, recurring thoughts and emotions, and inaccurate takes. Your brain reacts differently to every type, so you must consume the right kind of information. Here are details about the four types of information.

How Left Brain Dominance Leads to Depression

A human brain with a frown, sitting on the desk and showing what part of the brain causes depression

What part of the brain causes depression? What’s the difference between the right and left side of the brain? Author Mo Gawdat explains that a processing error in the brain occurs when we use the wrong side of our brain to process information. Overusing the left side of the brain can cause you to overanalyze things and block emotions, which leads to depression. Read more to learn why left-brain dominance can cause mental health problems.