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

Top posts of the year

And their main takeaways

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

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.
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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 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.

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

July Readings

1191 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🔬 Science Neuroscience Psychology Research
  1. The post discusses various July readings on topics like anger, self-promotion, sleep, loneliness, and more.
  2. The author, Shane O'Mara, is a neuroscientist, psychologist, and writer who provides regular content on Brain Pizza.
  3. Readers can sign up for a 7-day free trial to access more content from Shane O'Mara.

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.