Brain Pizza

Brain Pizza, by Shane O'Mara, blends neuroscience, psychology, and personal musings to explore human behavior, societal norms, and the impact of technology. It features discussions on memory, writing processes, collaboration, change, and reading recommendations, alongside insights into 'mindlessness,' exercise's benefits for the brain, and the challenges of modern connectivity.

Neuroscience Psychology Human Behavior Societal Norms Technology Writing and Literature Exercise and Brain Health Mental Health Social Dynamics Reading and Learning

The hottest Substack posts of Brain Pizza

And their main takeaways

What we are losing; what we have lost

1191 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Society Culture History Philosophy
  1. We are losing touch with important aspects of our lives that used to matter a lot. It's like taking for granted things that shaped our experiences.
  2. The world feels like it's moving really fast nowadays, and it can be hard to keep up. This speed makes us miss even more of what we used to value.
  3. Reflecting on changes in our lives can help us understand what we've lost and might find ways to reconnect with those things. Taking a moment to think about it can be helpful.

When power is very personal (part 1)

1125 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership Narcissism Governance Political Behavior Psychology
  1. Narcissism can be both good and bad for leaders. It helps them be confident and make big decisions, but it can also lead to corruption and poor ethics.
  2. Grandiose narcissism makes leaders more persuasive and able to handle crises, but it can also create instability and ethical issues in government.
  3. There's a difference between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. Grandiose narcissists are more outgoing and confident, while vulnerable ones are more sensitive and insecure.

Authoritarians: Some just want to watch the world burn; others prefer spreadsheets

529 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Authoritarianism Democracy Political Psychology
  1. Authoritarianism comes in different styles. Some leaders create chaos with impulsive decisions, while others focus on structured control and planning.
  2. Chaotic authoritarians act unpredictably and often rely on their personal charisma to maintain power. This can create a sense of instability but also keeps followers engaged.
  3. Programmatic authoritarians prefer rules and long-term goals, using structured policies to keep control. They can seem stable but are also vulnerable to collapse during crises.

Pessimistic prospects for a democratic resurgence

860 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Technology Psychology Social media Disinformation
  1. Democracy is facing tough challenges, especially from technology and social media. These platforms can create confusion and division among people.
  2. There is a concern that neuroscience and psychology are being used against us in a way that harms democratic values. This means that our minds can be influenced to think in ways that aren't helpful.
  3. While some believe there is a chance for improvement in democracy, the outlook remains pretty negative right now. It's hard to see how we will overcome these obstacles.
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Base case for a democratic resurgence: We're (not entirely) doomed

595 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Education Neuroscience Psychology
  1. Some countries are improving in education and civic knowledge, but it’s not equal for everyone. Wealthier and urban areas are doing better, while rural and older groups are falling behind.
  2. There is a growing gap in how well people understand important topics, which can affect society. This divide is especially seen between different age groups and urban versus rural populations.
  3. Even though there are challenges, there is still hope for democracy to improve. People are looking at different ways to make government better and more inclusive.

Smarter thinking in everyday life

662 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Cognitive Science Mental health Decision-making Behavioral Science Self-reflection
  1. Understanding how your brain works helps you deal with daily problems better. This means recognizing your own thinking patterns can improve your decision-making.
  2. By knowing common biases and habits, you can improve how you think and behave. This helps you make better choices and reach your goals more effectively.
  3. Small changes in your thinking can lead to big improvements in life. Using these insights helps you shape your actions and make smarter decisions daily.

Your brain 🧠 on exercise: How movement fuels you

1059 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Exercise Brain health Cognition Metabolism Mental health
  1. Aerobic exercise is great for your brain. It helps improve mood, increases brain volume, and boosts cognitive function.
  2. Resistance training is also important. Regular strength workouts can help maintain brain health, especially as we age.
  3. Metabolism is more complex than just calories in and out. Regular exercise and what we eat play big roles in how our body burns energy.

Why do I forget jobs I have completed?

728 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Cognitive Science Memory Psychology Self-care
  1. People often forget what they did at work, even if they were busy. This can make it hard to recall specific tasks later.
  2. Our brains sometimes have trouble accessing completed tasks from memory. It's like they get filed away and are hard to find when we need them.
  3. The Zeigarnik Effect explains that we tend to remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones. This means we might focus more on what’s still left to do rather than what has already been accomplished.

Optimistic prospects for a democratic resurgence

529 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Civic engagement Psychology Social media Education Trust
  1. Technology and neuroscience can help make political information easier to understand. This means more people can join in discussions about democracy without feeling overwhelmed.
  2. Better education focused on critical thinking will help people resist misinformation. This way, citizens will make smarter choices and be more engaged in their communities.
  3. Social media platforms are likely to change for the better, promoting respectful discussions and fact-checking. This shift can help reduce anger and division online.

Predictions about the future of neurogrifters and neuro-nonsense

728 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
🔬 Science Neuroscience Health Psychology Education Technology
  1. Neuroscience is becoming popular, but this can lead to the rise of people trying to take advantage of it for their own gain. It's important to be wary of those exploiting this trend.
  2. Predictions are hard to make, especially about the future of neuro-related claims and theories. Many ideas about neuroscience may not hold up over time.
  3. The term 'neuro-' is becoming a buzzword, which can lead to confusion and misinformation. It's vital to approach neuro-based claims with a critical eye.

Notes on cities

927 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🏝 Travel Urban Exploration City life Cultural Insights Travel experiences
  1. Cities are really fascinating places to explore and enjoy, often more appealing than the countryside. There's a lot of energy and life in urban areas that many people love.
  2. As more people move to cities, the populations keep increasing. For example, London's population grew 1.04% in just one year.
  3. Visiting iconic cities can bring back memories and highlight how they've changed over time. It's interesting to see what has remained the same and what is new.

Altered states: The new science of appetite and brain plasticity

662 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Medicine Mental health Addiction Research
  1. New weight-loss drugs like semaglutide can help people lose weight and improve their overall health. They might change how we think about appetite and cravings.
  2. These medications could have benefits beyond just weight loss, including helping with anxiety and even substance use disorders. They show promise in many areas of health.
  3. There is potential for these drugs to change society by reducing healthcare costs, improving self-esteem, and even aiding in the treatment of diseases like Parkinson’s.

What if societies were (deliberately) built to learn? (part one)

794 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🚌 Education Learning methods Social Issues Public Policy Behavioral Science
  1. An 'experimenting society' uses real-life experiments to solve social problems. Instead of guessing solutions, we can test ideas to see what really works.
  2. Complex issues like poverty and health don’t have easy answers. We often need deep expertise and careful study to find effective solutions instead of relying on common sense.
  3. Learning from mistakes is important. If societies are built to learn, they can adapt and improve over time by evaluating what strategies succeed or fail.

'Just put your phone away' - Dec 2024 catch up service #1

595 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Smartphones Social media Digital Culture Communication Consumer behavior
  1. Putting your phone away improves conversation quality. It's easier to connect and enjoy talking to each other without distractions.
  2. Smartphones are a big part of our lives, and almost everyone has one. They have changed how we communicate but can sometimes take away from real-life interactions.
  3. Being aware of smartphone usage can help us be more present in conversations. Taking a break from our devices can do wonders for our social experiences.

Invisible feedback loops: How the body shapes the brain

662 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🔬 Science Neuroscience Cognition Health Biology Philosophy
  1. The brain is not separate from the body; they work together in complex ways. Understanding how they interact can give us better insights into health and disease.
  2. Various bodily factors like gut health, muscle activity, and fat can influence how our brain functions. This shows the importance of considering the whole body when studying the brain.
  3. Topics like cancer cachexia and the gut-brain axis highlight specific connections between body signals and brain function, which can impact cognitive health.

Burning questions: Why the ways we think about our metabolism are all wrong

331 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism Diet Exercise Nutrition Health Science
  1. Metabolism is more complex than simply burning calories. It’s affected by what we eat, how active we are, and even our age.
  2. The advice to 'eat less and exercise more' doesn’t work for many people and can lead to feelings of guilt. Our bodies just don’t function that way.
  3. Physical activity is still very important for health but doesn’t burn as many calories as commonly believed. Understanding how our metabolism operates can help us use exercise better.

Interesting reads, November 2024 edition

529 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🔬 Science Health Technology Psychology Environment Society
  1. The new 'Collective Minds' lab focuses on understanding how we think as a group. It's an interesting place to explore collective thought.
  2. Smartphones are often blamed for many problems in the world, but there might be other factors contributing to these issues.
  3. There's ongoing research about how our brain reacts to stories while watching movies. It's cool to see how our thoughts are tied to brain activity.

How bad will you feel when your side loses the election?

662 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Voting Emotions Cognition Public Opinion
  1. People often think losing an election or a game will make them really sad, but they usually recover faster than they expect.
  2. We tend to imagine the worst emotional outcome when our side loses. However, we are naturally resilient and adapt quickly.
  3. Many times, we forget how quickly we can move on from disappointments and let other distractions take over our feelings.

Science of Dread

595 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Stress management Emotional Wellbeing Psychology Personal Growth
  1. Our minds often generate stress and anxiety, especially during challenging times like deadlines. It's important to understand where these feelings come from.
  2. Dark thoughts can shape our behavior and mindset. They often relate to fear and dread, which can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves.
  3. Events like Halloween highlight our fascination with fear. Exploring why we feel dread can help us cope with anxiety and stress better.

The onward march of semaglutide and friends

662 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Medication Addiction Diabetes Research Public Health
  1. New diabetes drugs, like GLP-1 agonists, may help reduce cravings for alcohol and opioids. This suggests they could be useful for treating substance use disorders.
  2. These medications were originally designed for weight loss and diabetes management, but they are showing potential in other areas of health.
  3. The findings from recent studies hint at a broader impact of these drugs, which could change how we approach treatment for various health conditions, not just diabetes.

Food sharing

1655 implied HN points • 27 Dec 23
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes
  1. Humans share food unlike other species
  2. Human food consumption habits are unique
  3. Food is essential for human survival

Some interesting reads for February 2024

1258 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Neuroscience Long Covid Brain Activity Brain health
  1. Chernobyl's mutant wolves have developed resistance to cancer, showcasing altered immune systems and genetic resilience.
  2. Long COVID can lead to cognitive impairments, such as attentional deficits and cognitive slowing, persisting over months.
  3. Horizontal leaderless organizations may struggle in enacting change effectively, necessitating a theory of change and hard work for success.

Dementia (.... and Joe Biden)

1258 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Dementia Cognition Ageing Memory Alzheimer's
  1. Our world is getting older as life expectancy increases, leading to a significant demographic shift with implications for society.
  2. As we age, changes in mental abilities are natural, with factors like brain tissue flexibility diminishing and communication speed between nerve cells slowing down.
  3. Dementia is a complex condition, not a normal part of aging, and it is essential to recognize signs early for timely interventions and support.

Zealots, extremists, ideologues, and fanatics (ZEIFs)

860 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Belief systems Fantasy Institutions Conversations
  1. ZEIFs, including zealots, extremists, ideologues, and fanatics, may exhibit cognitive rigidity, black-and-white thinking, and resistance to considering alternative perspectives.
  2. ZEIFs may have underlying personality traits like low agreeableness, high conscientiousness, and high neuroticism, but personality dimensions alone may not fully explain extreme behavior.
  3. Social factors like group identity, echo chambers, and societal polarization play key roles in reinforcing and amplifying the extreme beliefs and actions of ZEIFs.

Interesting reads, March 2024 edition

794 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Essays Fiction Fantasy Psychology Book Reviews
  1. Maximising happiness is not the only goal in life, different societies value different aspects of well-being.
  2. Current thinking on happiness is evolving to include the concept of psychological richness as a facet of a fulfilling life.
  3. Exploring the idea of benign masochism reveals that some activities initially seen as unpleasant can bring joy and pleasure.

Belief exhaustion (part one)

728 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Beliefs Ideologies Psychology Neuroscience Crisis
  1. Belief exhaustion is the emotional and psychological toll on individuals rigidly adhering to extreme beliefs, resulting in mental and emotional fatigue.
  2. Some people experience belief exhaustion and end up giving up their convictions due to the demanding nature of their beliefs.
  3. The collapse of political regimes sometimes shows the phenomenon of belief exhaustion, where individuals abandon their certainties leading to a rapid disintegration of shared reality.

Finishing a book

1522 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. The post discusses finishing a book by Shane O'Mara.
  2. Shane O'Mara shares his thoughts on ending the writing process.
  3. The post mentions a fourth book that Shane O'Mara has written.

Talking Heads is now published...

1258 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
📚 Literature Conversation
  1. New book 'Talking Heads' by Shane O'Mara explores how conversations shape our world
  2. Readers can support O'Mara's work by becoming free or paid subscribers to Brain Pizza
  3. Get a 7-day free trial to access the full post archives of Brain Pizza