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Metacognition and the Mind

Thinking about thinking—and how we come to know what we know

Career
Back to Work We Go: What Are the Costs and Benefits?

Alan Castel Ph.D. on June 11, 2020

Are the habits and structure of working from home influencing our motivation, mood, productivity, and creativity? Having some balance may be the secret.

Are the habits and structure of working from home influencing our motivation, mood, productivity, and creativity? Having some balance may be the secret.

Education
Parents as Struggling Teachers Can Have Long-Term Benefits

Alan Castel Ph.D. on May 18, 2020

Parents who are struggling as impromptu homeschool teachers are actually teaching important life-long learning skills by showing the challenges that accompany learning.

Parents who are struggling as impromptu homeschool teachers are actually teaching important life-long learning skills by showing the challenges that accompany learning.

Creativity
Tinkering Can Lead to Creative Insight and Innovation

Alan Castel Ph.D. on April 23, 2020

Tinker means playing around with things, ideas, and trying out something to see what happens. This can lead us to discover what we don’t know — all key ingredients to creativity.

Tinker means playing around with things, ideas, and trying out something to see what happens. This can lead us to discover what we don’t know — all key ingredients to creativity.

Aging
Retire Young and Have Fun? 

Alan Castel Ph.D. on October 2, 2018

While retirement is often the goal, it can also be just as equally scary and uncertain for many others.

While retirement is often the goal, it can also be just as equally scary and uncertain for many others.

Memory
Why We Stop Noticing the World Around Us

Alan Castel Ph.D. on June 26, 2018

In an era of information overload, how much of our day do we spend on autopilot? What might we miss if we aren't observant and present?

In an era of information overload, how much of our day do we spend on autopilot? What might we miss if we aren't observant and present?

Dementia
Can Reading Help My Brain Grow and Prevent Dementia?

Alan Castel Ph.D. on April 11, 2018

In the era of smartphones and computer-based brain training, we might overlook how reading keeps our minds active. It can also make us more socially aware.

In the era of smartphones and computer-based brain training, we might overlook how reading keeps our minds active. It can also make us more socially aware.

Memory
Focused Distractions? How We Adapt to Multi-Tasking

Alan Castel Ph.D. on July 31, 2017

“Don’t distract me, I am multitasking”: Distractions can be damaging, but even when multi-tasking, we learn how to focus on what is important.

“Don’t distract me, I am multitasking”: Distractions can be damaging, but even when multi-tasking, we learn how to focus on what is important.

Aging
Why Should We Slow Down? The Lost Art of Patience

Alan Castel Ph.D. on June 10, 2017

Technology allows us to get things done quickly, and we love our smartphones. But slowing down might make you happier and healthier, and also more productive in the long run.

Technology allows us to get things done quickly, and we love our smartphones. But slowing down might make you happier and healthier, and also more productive in the long run.

Dopamine
Why We Like Online Shopping, and Delayed Gratification

Alan Castel Ph.D. on November 14, 2016

Need it, find it, buy it (and then wait for it in the mail) actually makes for an enjoyable experience, and the perfect return shopper, according to delayed gratification.

Need it, find it, buy it (and then wait for it in the mail) actually makes for an enjoyable experience, and the perfect return shopper, according to delayed gratification.

Memory
Money, Memory, and Growing Older: Remember the Good Times?

Alan Castel Ph.D. on June 20, 2016

It can be good to remember positive emotions and the good times as opposed to focusing on gloomy events. But how might this cost us for financial matters?

It can be good to remember positive emotions and the good times as opposed to focusing on gloomy events. But how might this cost us for financial matters?

Memory
Think More, Eat Less? Memory Can Make Us Eat Less

Alan Castel Ph.D. on May 9, 2016

Hungry? Surprisingly, the trick to eating less might be our memory, and not our stomach. Remembering a past meal, or thinking about a future meal, can lead to less snacking!

Hungry? Surprisingly, the trick to eating less might be our memory, and not our stomach. Remembering a past meal, or thinking about a future meal, can lead to less snacking!

Aging
Can Kobe Bryant Rebound From Retirement?

Alan Castel Ph.D. on March 16, 2016

Old age can come sooner for professional athletes. Often with millions of dollars in the bank, and time on your hands, this presents a psychological challenge: how to retire.

Old age can come sooner for professional athletes. Often with millions of dollars in the bank, and time on your hands, this presents a psychological challenge: how to retire.

Memory
Improve Your Memory: The Case Against Crosswords and Google

Alan Castel Ph.D. on September 28, 2015

Do crosswords help improve cognitive functioning, or are you just strengthening a strength?
And if you can’t recall some bit of information, should Google always be the answer?

Do crosswords help improve cognitive functioning, or are you just strengthening a strength?
And if you can’t recall some bit of information, should Google always be the answer?