How Our Sensory Modalities & Their Nuances Shape Us

A woman smiling and smelling fresh-baked bread as she takes it out of the oven illustrates sensory modalities

What role do your senses play in shaping your thoughts and emotions? How do sensory experiences influence your behavioral choices and responses to different situations? When you think about past experiences or imagine future scenarios, your brain processes information through various sensory channels. Understanding how these sensory modalities work can help you recognize their impact on your emotional responses and decision-making patterns. Keep reading to discover how your brain constructs meaning from sensory experiences and learn why changing established thought patterns can be challenging.

Sensory Information Processing: What’s Behind Your Thoughts

A depiction of the brain illustrates sensory information processing

What happens in your mind when you think about past experiences or future events? How do your senses shape the way you interpret and respond to different situations? Understanding sensory information processing reveals the hidden mechanisms behind your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Your brain constantly collects and organizes data from your environment, creating a complex web of sensory impressions and memory associations that guide your responses to every experience. Read on to explore how your brain transforms raw sensory data into meaningful thoughts and emotions, and discover ways to take control of this process.

Your Protective Instinct: Learning to Listen to Your Gut

A woman with a worried look on her face walking in a dark alley illustrates the protective instinct

Do you trust your gut? How can you tap into your innate protective instinct? Security specialist Gavin de Becker contends that your intuition is a powerful tool for survival. It’s constantly working to keep you safe, even when you’re not aware of it. Learning to recognize and trust your intuitive signals can help you navigate potentially dangerous situations more effectively. Read on to discover how to harness your protective instinct and make better decisions in your daily life.

Information as a Commodity: Who Rules the Superhighway?

A man wearing glasses looking at generic search engine results on a computer screen illustrates information as a commodity

Is the internet truly an information superhighway, or is it more like a controlled maze? How does the commodification of information affect our ability to learn and retain knowledge? In The Shallows, Nicholas Carr writes that the digital age has transformed how we access and consume information. Search engines and social media platforms have become gatekeepers, shaping our online experiences. They prioritize speed and quantity over depth and quality, treating information as a commodity to be packaged and sold. Keep reading to learn how, according to Carr, this shift impacts our learning and the future of knowledge sharing.

The Luck Factor by Richard Wiseman—Book Overview

A girl wearing a yellow shirt reading a book while lying in a field of lucky four-leaf clovers

Is luck real? What do science and psychology say? Is it possible to improve your luck? In his book, The Luck Factor, psychologist Richard Wiseman conducted extensive research on people who claim to have good or bad luck. Wiseman explores the science behind luck and how you can improve yours by deliberately applying the unconscious methods that lucky people use.   Keep reading to learn how people create their own luck, how to turn bad luck into good luck, and more.

How Has the Internet Changed Society? 2 Ways Life Is Worse

People walking around in a city looking at their mobile phones illustrate how the has internet changed society

How has the internet changed society? Are our values changing because of it? How are search engines and social media altering our access to knowledge? The digital age has brought about significant changes in how we process information and interact with the world. From the way we consume content to the impact on our cognitive abilities, the internet’s influence is far-reaching and complex. Keep reading to discover how the internet has changed our world and what it means for the future.

Altered Traits: Book Overview (Goleman & Davidson)

A young woman with blonde hair and a denim jacket looking through a book in a book shop

Is meditation just a passing fad, or can it truly change your brain? What benefits can you expect from a regular meditation practice? Meditation has gained popularity in recent years, but its effects are often misunderstood. Altered Traits, a book by Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson, explores the science behind meditation. The authors separate fact from fiction and reveal how different types of meditation can impact your mind and body. Read on to discover the surprising ways meditation can transform your life, backed by rigorous scientific research.

Loss of Concentration? Your Internet Use Might Be to Blame

A woman sitting at a desk but looking away is suffering from a loss of concentration at work

Is your attention span shorter than it used to be? Have you noticed a change in how you read and process information? The internet has revolutionized our access to knowledge, but it may come at a cost. Nicholas Carr explores how our constant online interactions might be reshaping our cognitive abilities. He delves into the impact of digital media on our reading habits and thought processes. Continue reading to get Carr’s insights on the loss of concentration in the digital age.

How Does Luck Work? The 4 Psychological Factors

A man's fist knocking on a wooden table for good luck to represent how luck works

Do you believe in luck? How does luck work? Is there a scientific explanation for luck? In his book, The Luck Factor, psychologist Richard Wiseman set out to test whether or not luck could be proven scientifically. He determined that there are four psychological factors that lucky people unknowingly engage in to increase their chances of success and satisfaction. Keep reading to learn about each factor.