Discover powerful insights from the makers of Psychology Now as we delve into understanding your emotions and the science behind why we feel the way we do. Equip yourself with essential tools to cope with grief, handle betrayal, manage anxiety, embrace regrets, and ultimately transform your relationship with the past. Join us on this journey to emotional empowerment and unlock the potential for a more fulfilling life!
Welcome
Biology
Your brain explained… • The human brain is the most mysterious—and complex—entity in the known universe
Neurons explained • Neurons fire like electrical circuits
Brain maps • TrackVis generates unique maps of the brain
How do nerves work? • Nerves carry signals throughout the body—a chemical superhighway
What does the spinal cord do? • The spinal cord actually is part of the brain and plays a major role in the body
What is muscle memory? • How neural shortcuts in your brain make practiced activities feel familiar
Unraveling the nervous system • Explore the electrically charged network composed of billions of cells that coordinates your thoughts, feelings and actions from head to toe
Divisions of the nervous system • Learn the hierarchies of nerve structures that keep our bodies running and safe from harm
The reflex arc • Your nervous system rescues you from imminent harm using hard-wired reflex actions
Relaxing or taxing • How we feel can affect our body in many ways
Diseases and damage • As the connective network coordinating our body, damage to the nervous system can be debilitating
Multiple sclerosis
The gut-brain axis • How does the bacteria in your gut act like a “second brain”?
The science of pain • Our internal alarm system works around the clock to keep us safe from harm
Sensing danger • The pain pathway is the body’s built-in alert system
The different types of pain
Acute vs chronic pain • Spot the difference between these two major types of pain
Killing pain
Gate control theory
What is the blood-brain barrier? • How does this gateway control the molecules that pass from the blood into the brain
Pituitary gland up close • What does this hormone factory do and why couldn’t we live without it?
How the brain sees • Eyes are often likened to windows, but their role in our perception of the world is a little more complex
Sending signals • Working together, the eyes and brain build up images of our surroundings
Never forget a face • We have facial recognition to thank for our wide social circles
The science behind your accent • How an accent is generated by the brain and shaped over time
What is brain plasticity?
Ten English-speaking accents • How much can the same language vary when used around the world?
Ten weird things you never knew about your brain • Discover the science and psychology behind the brain’s fascinatingly quirky and unique design
Sleep
Why do we sleep? • The science behind your body’s ability to power down at night
Nightmares, phobias and everyday fears explained • We tend to fear what we don’t understand. But learning about our fears can make them much less frightening
Psychology
The science of emotions • How our ancient brains evolved the perfect way to keep us safe by controlling the chemicals in our minds to moderate our behavior
The anatomy of emotions • Different areas of of your brain and body are are stimulated by by different emotions
Why do we lie? • It’s not just bad behavior—deception is a product of evolution and it gives your brain a real workout
How to catch a lie • It’s all...