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Time Travelling with Apollo

Literature, neuroscience, and the constructive brain.

Memory
Forgetting to Remember the Past

Hal McDonald Ph.D. on March 29, 2019

Research indicates that as we age, retrieving past memories becomes less voluntary. Instead, we become more dependent on external cues such as smells and sounds.

Research indicates that as we age, retrieving past memories becomes less voluntary. Instead, we become more dependent on external cues such as smells and sounds.

Memory
Walk Backward to Better Memory

Hal McDonald Ph.D. on December 31, 2018

New research suggests that backward motion, whether real, virtual, or imaginary, can improve our recall of the recent past.

New research suggests that backward motion, whether real, virtual, or imaginary, can improve our recall of the recent past.

Career
Multitasking in the Mind's Eye

Hal McDonald Ph.D. on November 23, 2018

While multitasking is a demonstrably inefficient way of getting things done, the illusion that we are multitasking can actually improve rather than impede our efficiency.

While multitasking is a demonstrably inefficient way of getting things done, the illusion that we are multitasking can actually improve rather than impede our efficiency.

Memory
Action...Cut! Sitting in the Director's Chair of Our Brain

Hal McDonald Ph.D. on November 8, 2018

New research suggests that the brain’s hippocampus acts like a movie director to transform the minutes that we live through into the moments we remember.

New research suggests that the brain’s hippocampus acts like a movie director to transform the minutes that we live through into the moments we remember.

Attention
A Little Chaos With Your Coffee?

Hal McDonald Ph.D. on July 2, 2018

A recent study shows that consuming caffeine increases entropy, or disorder, in your brain, and that's not a bad thing.

A recent study shows that consuming caffeine increases entropy, or disorder, in your brain, and that's not a bad thing.

Attention
Seeing the World Through Music

Hal McDonald Ph.D. on June 15, 2018

A recent study demonstrates that listening to melodies can modulate the way our brains process visual information.

A recent study demonstrates that listening to melodies can modulate the way our brains process visual information.

Memory
Raise a Glass (Half Full) to Tomorrow

Hal McDonald Ph.D. on May 23, 2018

New research shows that a positive outlook on the future creates positive memories to look back on when the future becomes the past.

New research shows that a positive outlook on the future creates positive memories to look back on when the future becomes the past.

Memory
The Prospective Power of Savoring

Hal McDonald Ph.D. on April 19, 2018

Savoring a present experience may support emotion regulation by creating nostalgic memories for us to enjoy in the future.

Savoring a present experience may support emotion regulation by creating nostalgic memories for us to enjoy in the future.

Neuroscience
Saying, and Hearing, the "Thing Which Is Not"

Hal McDonald Ph.D. on February 16, 2018

Recent brain imaging studies have revealed that distinguishing between truth, deceit, and irony requires the activation of distinct neural networks.

Recent brain imaging studies have revealed that distinguishing between truth, deceit, and irony requires the activation of distinct neural networks.