Play in Mind

Neuroscience

Your Brain on Zero

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on October 29, 2024

Neuroscience helps show why the concept of zero took (takes!) so long to take hold, both for deep thinkers and for children's developing minds.

Neuroscience helps show why the concept of zero took (takes!) so long to take hold, both for deep thinkers and for children's developing minds.

Gaslighting

Playing With Gaslighting and Other Newly Minted Words

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on October 18, 2024

The 1944 thriller 'Gaslight' gave rise to a useful new word that describes coercive, toxic relationships in personal life and politics.

The 1944 thriller 'Gaslight' gave rise to a useful new word that describes coercive, toxic relationships in personal life and politics.

Artificial Intelligence

Building Mental Muscles in the Age of AI

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on October 12, 2024

An AI simulation is still no match for a real writer, but uneasiness with the speed and effortlessness of machine creation remains.

An AI simulation is still no match for a real writer, but uneasiness with the speed and effortlessness of machine creation remains.

Creativity

Handwriting: The Way of the Brush vs. The Path of the Pen

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on August 16, 2024

In America in the 19th century, simpler and less elaborate handwriting systems friendlier to commerce began to replace the beautiful, older, elaborate styles.

In America in the 19th century, simpler and less elaborate handwriting systems friendlier to commerce began to replace the beautiful, older, elaborate styles.

Artificial Intelligence

The Prose and Cons of AI Writing

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on July 18, 2024

A test of AI writing.

A test of AI writing.

Evolutionary Psychology

Play, Personhood, and Fergus the Relentless

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on July 4, 2024

To play is to understand, even if the understanding passes between different species.

To play is to understand, even if the understanding passes between different species.

President Donald Trump

Finding Empathy Without Sympathy for Donald Trump

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on June 19, 2024

Mal-attuned, distant parents left the brittle, young Donald Trump, with lifelong psychological trouble.

Mal-attuned, distant parents left the brittle, young Donald Trump, with lifelong psychological trouble.

Politics

“Rolling Coal” and Other Taunts: The Psycho-Politics of a Bad Joke

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on June 8, 2024

Political and cultural hatred targets bicyclists and pedestrians.

Political and cultural hatred targets bicyclists and pedestrians.

Creativity

Mash-Ups and Creativity: Playing for Understanding

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on May 30, 2024

Mash-ups, sometimes inadvertent and amusing, sometimes purposeful and consequential, have changed the world.

Mash-ups, sometimes inadvertent and amusing, sometimes purposeful and consequential, have changed the world.

Identity

Handwriting, Rebooted

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on April 30, 2024

Can "drill and kill" give way to play in handwriting instruction?

Can "drill and kill" give way to play in handwriting instruction?

Magical Thinking

Superstition Along the Path of Totality

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on April 12, 2024

The recent eclipse awed onlookers and primed catastrophists.

The recent eclipse awed onlookers and primed catastrophists.

Cognition

Handwriting Reconsidered

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on April 7, 2024

As handwriting skill wanes states push back and readers respond.

As handwriting skill wanes states push back and readers respond.

President Donald Trump

Golf, Integrity, and Presidents Past

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on April 3, 2024

Presidents and moralists have championed the virtues of honest golf, but Donald Trump undermines the sport's moral lessons in fairness, companionship, and trust.

Presidents and moralists have championed the virtues of honest golf, but Donald Trump undermines the sport's moral lessons in fairness, companionship, and trust.

Deception

Deception as Play

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on March 24, 2024

Mischief is play as long as it stays playful.

Mischief is play as long as it stays playful.

Education

Handwringing Over Handwriting

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on March 14, 2024

Neuroscience has boosted the nostalgia for the waning skill of writing by hand.

Neuroscience has boosted the nostalgia for the waning skill of writing by hand.

Memory

The Mystic Chords of Memory

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on March 7, 2024

Aromas and flavors switch on a neural wayback machine that accesses deep recollection.

Aromas and flavors switch on a neural wayback machine that accesses deep recollection.

Memory

Playing to Learn with Memory Games

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on January 22, 2024

Playing memory games helps us master complex information.

Playing memory games helps us master complex information.

Deception

Santos vs. Play

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on January 4, 2024

Disregard for the truth undermines the foundations of our democracy.

Disregard for the truth undermines the foundations of our democracy.

Fear

Replacing Fear with Play at Halloween

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on October 5, 2023

Halloween is tamed now, and played mainly for laughs. But a more frightful history haunts the holiday.

Halloween is tamed now, and played mainly for laughs. But a more frightful history haunts the holiday.

Fantasies

You’ve Come a Long Way, Barbie!

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on September 4, 2023

Barbie clicked because she has reflected the extraordinarilu widening aspirations for women in the years since 1959.

Barbie clicked because she has reflected the extraordinarilu widening aspirations for women in the years since 1959.