Brain Science: Neuroscience, Behavior

Latest Episodes:

Cognitive distortions Jul 03, 2020

Show notes

How reflective are you with the thoughts you think? In this episode, Mireille and Adam talk through a few more cognitive distortions. These “distortions” are general tendencies or patterns of thinking that are false or inaccurate, which also have the potential to cause psychological damage. Generally speaking, people develop cognitive distortions as a way of coping with adverse life events. The more prolonged and severe those adverse events are, the more likely it is that one or more cognitive distortions will form. By recognizing these patterns in our thoughts and possibly how, when, or why we’re prone to use them, like many things, we create the opportunity to change them.

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Featuring:

Mireille Reece, PsyD – LinkedIn
Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X

Show Notes:

Mireille is giving a talk at Heartifacts in August — check out this blog post for details on her talk and ways you can win a free pass to the conference!

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!

Your brain can change Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

You are not what you’ve been dealt. You might have heard in your life that you’ve inherited bad genes or even good genes, and from that you conclude that you’re doomed or blessed. In some cases there’s a margin of truth to that. However, the role of genes, Epigentics, and Neuroplasticity tell a different story. It’s a story of hope and opportunity for change.

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Featuring:

Mireille Reece, PsyD – LinkedIn
Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X

Show Notes:

Dr Sarah McKay - an Oxford University-educated neuroscientist
What are DNA and Genes?
What are Proteins?
Basics of neural transmission
What is Epigenetics?
BDNF gene - brain-derived neurotrophic factor
What is neuroplasticity and how does it work?

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!

The Neuroscience of touch Jun 13, 2020

Show notes

How much do you focus on your sense of touch? Have you ever considered how or why this sense is so critical to our lives and how we manage ourselves? In this episode, Mireille and Adam discuss the neurophysiological underpinnings of our sense of touch and how our brains process these sensory experiences. According to David Linden, Ph.D., Professor of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, “The sense of touch is intrinsically emotional.”

Not only is touch relevant to our emotional experience, but it is a foundational aspect of the development of our nervous system and it impacts how we manage stress and respond to pain. It isn’t surprising then to consider that touch is also extremely relevant to our relationships as we are apt to feel more connected to those with whom we engage in touch.

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Featuring:

Mireille Reece, PsyD – LinkedIn
Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X

Show Notes:

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!

The power of story May 28, 2020

Show notes

Researchers have examined the power of story and discovered the way in which stories provide a framework that has the capacity to transcend language for universal understanding. According to Joe Lazauskas, “Stories illuminate the city of our mind…stories make us remember and they make us care.” In this episode we dive deep into the power of story to explore the ways in which stories play a role in our emotions and in our relationships with others.

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Featuring:

Mireille Reece, PsyD – LinkedIn
Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X

Show Notes:

Stories are designed to take you on a journey; a journey you’re more likely to remember and relate with as you are apt to examine ways in which you can see yourself in the story. While our biases can interfere with our understanding of others, stories have the power to circumvent the challenges these pose and allows the opportunity for changes in our attitudes and henceforth our responses. When we’re able to see ourselves in others’ stories, we make others more relatable, and therefore easier to live with and work alongside.

Listen to Adam’s backstory
Me Before You (2016) (this is the movie Adam couldn’t remember)
The Neuroscience of Storytelling (CCO Podcast)
How Stories Change the Brain
Something universal occurs in the brain when it processes stories, regardless of language
How Narratives Can Improve Intergroup Attitudes
The mind’s mirror - A new type of neuron–called a mirror neuron–could help explain how we learn through mimicry and why we empathize with others.
What’s So Special about Mirror Neurons?

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!

Navigating perfectionism May 20, 2020

Show notes

High expectations for performance in both life and work are common, but what do you do when you get stuck and you’re not able to achieve the results you desire? In this episode, Mireille and Adam talk through the different aspects of perfectionism and ways in which is can be adaptive and helpful and other ways in which it poses additional challenges. What happens when we avoid the possibility of failure as opposed to simply having high standards for our performance? How can we begin to focus on healthy striving as opposed to reaching for perfection?

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Featuring:

Mireille Reece, PsyD – LinkedIn
Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X

Show Notes:

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!

Step away to get unstuck May 14, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Mireille and Adam talk through the challenge of problem solving. It’s all to common to utilize the “try harder” approach when things aren’t working out the way you’d like. While that kind of effort is valuable, this approach is often wrought with further frustration, wasted time and less than desirable results. This episode offers you an alternative perspective and ways that you can practice getting unstuck and utilize more of the resources of your unconscious mind.

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Featuring:

Mireille Reece, PsyD – LinkedIn
Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X

Show Notes:

A neuroscience approach to innovative thinking and problem solving - this covers the research and study from Corinne Canter and Dr Trisha Stratford
Freud and the Unconscious Mind
Brainwave Basics
The Pomodoro Technique created by Francesco Cirillo

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!

Building resiliency May 08, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Mireille and Adam discuss the importance of building resiliency and how we can build skills to navigate unexpected and unwanted adversities. Fundamentally, we are designed to adapt out of a place of survival. Given that, we have to learn how to manage our fear while building awareness of the perceptions we have so that we can learn how to be both flexible and calm. Not surprising, we also talk about the way in which our relationships with others help us buffer the challenges better so that we are able to remain calmer and henceforth, see the opportunities within the obstacles.

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Featuring:

Mireille Reece, PsyD – LinkedIn
Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X

Show Notes:

Building your resilience on American Psychological Association
10 Traits of Emotionally Resilient People
25 Ways to Boost Resilience
How resilient are you? (Resiliency quiz)

CORRECTION!! The phrase in Batman Begins is “Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” You can watch it here and again here.

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!

Start with gratitude Apr 22, 2020

Show notes

It’s been said that happy people are thankful, but maybe it’s the other way around. Thankful people are happy. In this episode we discuss the value of and the way that practicing gratitude can improve your overall outlook and mental health. Mireille and Adam talk through some of the underlying neuropsychological aspects of this habit including the key brain structures and neurotransmitters that are affected by practicing this routinely. This is one show that will pay–over and over again–that is, if you’re willing to put the knowledge into practice. Just how “happy” do you want to feel?

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Featuring:

Mireille Reece, PsyD – LinkedIn
Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X

Show Notes:

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!

Developing a mental framework Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

The quality of your thinking depends on your mental framework. To become a better thinker you need to have an understanding of this mental framework and how you view the world. But, what exactly is a mental framework? How have we all been programmed throughout our lives? In what ways have you been programed that you like, don’t like, or want to change? Join us as we explore and examine the key components of developing a mental framework.

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Featuring:

Mireille Reece, PsyD – LinkedIn
Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X

Show Notes:

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!

Working from home Apr 08, 2020

Show notes

Given all of the recent changes and adjustments many individuals have made to working remotely, Mireille and Adam discuss some of the relevant aspects of working from home. How do you develop habits that work for you to be the most productive? Which factors make a difference to be successful in navigating challenges that emerge and how can you develop ways of staying socially connected while being physically distant?

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