Designs for Strong Minds

Memory

The Power of Words

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on August 23, 2022

Word games like The New York Times crossword puzzle and Wordle can be important tools in developing verbal agility.

Word games like The New York Times crossword puzzle and Wordle can be important tools in developing verbal agility.

Cognition

How to Think: Cracking the Code

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on January 21, 2022

Feeling overwhelmed by a new project? Here's a method for tackling that new project!

Feeling overwhelmed by a new project? Here's a method for tackling that new project!

Trauma

The Feet Tell the Story

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on November 21, 2021

Though it's not mentioned in the song, the foot bone's connected to the brain!

Though it's not mentioned in the song, the foot bone's connected to the brain!

Creativity

Organizing Chaos

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on August 20, 2021

Making sense our of chaos is more than just putting things in their proper place. Unlike sorting, categorization spurs you to look at both salient details and the big picture.

Making sense our of chaos is more than just putting things in their proper place. Unlike sorting, categorization spurs you to look at both salient details and the big picture.

Mindfulness

Did I Already Do That?

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on May 24, 2021

Ever stop in your tracks and wonder whether you just did something? We've all done it. While we might assume it's a memory issue, it's really a matter of mindfulness.

Ever stop in your tracks and wonder whether you just did something? We've all done it. While we might assume it's a memory issue, it's really a matter of mindfulness.

Intelligence

A Problem Well-Stated Is a Problem Half-Solved: The Options

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on March 5, 2021

Part 2: How well can you figure out all your options?

Part 2: How well can you figure out all your options?

Neuroplasticity

A Problem Well-Stated Is a Problem Half-Solved

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on December 29, 2020

How well did you meet the challenges posed by 2020? This exercise in this post can help you assess your flexibility—and improve it.

How well did you meet the challenges posed by 2020? This exercise in this post can help you assess your flexibility—and improve it.

Trauma

Rewiring the Brain After Injury—What a Simple Drawing Says

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on September 29, 2020

A seemingly simple drawing can go a long way in revealing a baseline for traumatic brain injury patients.

A seemingly simple drawing can go a long way in revealing a baseline for traumatic brain injury patients.

Personality

Why Do Smart People Do Dumb Things? Personality Plays a Role

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on July 15, 2020

What could they have been thinking? We always have such questions when people make bad decisions. Here's a way to understand their thought process.

What could they have been thinking? We always have such questions when people make bad decisions. Here's a way to understand their thought process.

Motivation

Why Do Smart People Do Dumb Things?

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on July 14, 2020

Understanding why people act against their own interests.

Understanding why people act against their own interests.

DSM

Repairing and Rewiring the Brain

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on June 11, 2020

Post-traumatic brain injury patients don't have to settle for living with residual dysfunction.

Post-traumatic brain injury patients don't have to settle for living with residual dysfunction.

Relationships

How to Make an Important Decision

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on March 9, 2020

Getting bogged down in important decisions? Here's a way to break through all the noise.

Getting bogged down in important decisions? Here's a way to break through all the noise.

Cognition

It’s Just Too Much

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on March 2, 2020

Getting out of the weeds: Making sense of information overload.

Getting out of the weeds: Making sense of information overload.

Mind Reading

Why Doesn’t Anyone Understand What I Want?

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on February 9, 2020

Do you have trouble getting what you ask for? Maybe it's how you're asking the question.

Do you have trouble getting what you ask for? Maybe it's how you're asking the question.

Attention

Why Can’t We See Eye-to-Eye?

Donalee Markus Ph.D. on January 20, 2020

We all have that one person with whom everything turns into an argument. Here's a different way to help you understand each other's perspectives and dodge some arguments.

We all have that one person with whom everything turns into an argument. Here's a different way to help you understand each other's perspectives and dodge some arguments.