What We Are

What it is to be human: “a modern secular view.” First in a series of six talks by the distinguished cognitive scientist, in this long-running philosophical lecture series.

Darkness Calls

A bullied young man in the Arctic resists suicidal thoughts through comic book battles with a demon, in an epic animated story. Subtitled in English, narrated in the Gitxsan language.

Stanford’s Sapolsky On Depression in U.S.

“Basically, depression is like the worst disease you can get.” This renowned neuroscientist has convincing arguments to back up his opening statement. See also: an excellent lecture on the neurodegenerative effects of stress.

Left Brain, Right Brain: Human nature and political values

Trends in economics and politics including consumerism and changes in democracy, and how research into psychology, social networks and behavioural economics is relevant.

On Fake

Behavioural economist Dan Ariely explains his experiment in which wearing sunglasses perceived as designer counterfeits led people to cheat in an economic game. Amusing, nicely produced DIY video, featuring a great wardrobe. Check out more of his vids on Ariely’s YouTube channel (a very funny intro to his work: The Dan Ariely Show), and watch a lecture on irrational behaviour in the archives.

Pink Brain, Blue Brain

Mythbusting sex differences in the brain: author/neuroscientist Lise Eliot discusses her book.

[U Mich library graffiti. Image by quinn.anya]

A Better Brain: The Ethics of Neuro-enhancement

The neuroethics of cosmetic psychopharmacology. Four hypothetical situations (with real parallels) are debated by major thinkers on a panel at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism: a person who wants to take a drug for narcolepsy to stay awake in order to work more, a parent considering giving their child a psych med to help with social skills, healthy students who take “Rememberall, made by Hype Pharmaceuticals” to enhance studying, and memory dampening. Highlights. Close captioned.

Hearing Our Voices: A Participatory Research

Being involved in designing and carrying out an academic participatory research project on housing for people with severe psychiatric challenges. Research team members also reveal their personal experiences and symptoms of schizophrenia, and talk about the group program The Unsung Heroes. Includes video of the Making Our Voices Heard presentation, a powerful theatrical reading from their research findings [PDF script]. Lots more info at a luxe project web site with a photo essay, graphic novel (!), script & performances, travelling exhibit, publications and more. “Back when we started, I never thought we would get that far. I never thought that it would be such a difference, you know, of yeah, we’ve discovered these facts. We’ve discovered that homelessness is a universal problem, and that it doesn’t have to be, and if we have the political will we can make a difference, and that if we lend our voices and our expertise and our experiences, we can put it into a format to make our voices heard.” — Candace Watson.

Connected Minds: Loneliness, Social Brains and the Need for Community

A recent release from the excellent RSA Vision lecture series: the leading expert in social neuroscience explains the subdiscipline.

Office Life

Not to be confused with The Office, this is an amusing series too. Mental health issues and stigma in the workplace are the focus. The Interview, The Breakdown, and The Return.