How Perceptions Are Formed With the Unconscious Mind

A woman taking a bite of a chocolate bar illustrates how perceptions are formed

How are perceptions formed? Is your brain really showing you the world as it actually exists? What happens in the gap between what your senses detect and what you consciously experience? In Subliminal, Leonard Mlodinow reveals how perceptions are formed through unconscious processes that fill in gaps and filter information. Your brain doesn’t simply record reality—it actively constructs it by making inferences, combining sensory data, and drawing on past experiences. Keep reading to discover why you’ve never noticed your own blind spots and how your expectations might be changing the taste of your chocolate.

How Are Emotions Created? The Role of the Unconscious Mind

A jigsaw puzzle of various feelings and facial expressions illustrates how emotions are created

How are emotions created? Why can the same physical sensation feel like anxiety in one situation but excitement in another? What happens when our bodies experience emotions without us knowing why? Leonard Mlodinow challenges our basic understanding of feelings, showing how our unconscious mind actively constructs emotions. His research on how emotions are created reveals that our interpretation of physical sensations plays a key role in determining whether we feel fear, joy, or something else entirely. Read more to learn about the invisible processes that create your emotional life.

7 Elements of Consciousness & How They Shape Everyday Life

A painting of a woman's head with artistic swirls around it illustrates elements of consciousness

What exactly makes us conscious beings? How did humans develop the mental tools that allow us to think abstractly, reflect on our inner lives, and imagine the future? In his book The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, Julian Jaynes suggests that consciousness isn’t biologically hardwired but culturally learned. He identifies seven core elements of consciousness, including metaphorical language and an internal “mind-space.” Keep reading to learn about these fascinating elements of consciousness and discover how they shape our everyday experience of being human.

Music Therapy for Autism and William’s Syndrome

A young man listening to music as a form of therapy

How can music be beneficial for those with neurodevelopmental disorders? Why can some people recognize music better than faces? In his book I Heard There Was a Secret Chord, neuroscientist and musician Daniel J. Levitin explains that music is more than just a source of pleasure. He argues that music is a powerful medicine and therapy that can be backed by science. Keep reading to take a look at the benefits of music therapy for autism spectrum disorder and William’s Syndrome.

What Is the Hard Problem? Why Consciousness Is Tricky

A man looking up with blackboard scribbles behind him illustrates the question, "What is the hard problem of consciousness?"

What is the hard problem of consciousness? What can modern science tell us about how our subjective experiences arise from objective reality? In The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, Julian Jaynes explores the complex nature of consciousness beyond simple sensory awareness. He defines consciousness, but his theory (and everyone else’s) can’t explain what gives rise to the subjective experience of consciousness. Read on to explore theories about what consciousness is, how it evolved, and why philosophers call it “the hard problem.”

3 Benefits of Music on the Brain, Neuroscientist Explains

A baby dancing to music, displaying the benefits of music on the brain

What role does music play in childhood development? How can playing music improve your mental processing? There are many benefits of music on the brain, and neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin explains them in his book I Heard There Was a Secret Chord. From releasing oxytocin to generating empathy, music can have profound impacts on humans. Here’s a look at the top three benefits of music.

Bicameral Mentality: How Pre-Conscious Humans Thought & Acted

Bicameral Mentality: How Pre-Conscious Humans Thought & Acted

What exactly went on in the minds of our ancestors before modern consciousness emerged? How did ancient humans make decisions without the self-awareness we take for granted today? In The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, Julian Jaynes presents a theory about human cognition before consciousness. He proposes that our ancestors operated with a bicameral mentality, where decisions came as auditory hallucinations. Keep reading to discover how Jaynes believes this ancient mental organization worked.

How Human Self-Consciousness Emerged (Julian Jaynes)

A pre-historic woman looking at her reflection in water illustrates the evolution of human self-consciousness

What exactly led our ancestors to discover their own minds? How did humans transition from simply experiencing the world to consciously interpreting their experiences? Julian Jaynes proposes a fascinating theory about the development of human self-consciousness. He suggests this capacity evolved through a two-step process: first recognizing the internal mental lives of others—and then turning this awareness inward. Read more to learn how evolution might have transformed humans from beings who merely perceived the world into those who could reflect on their inner selves.