Your brain is capable of some seriously baffling feats! But how much does your brain really know about how it functions?

Explore this circle to learn more about the ins and outs of the machine that keeps us running. You’ll discover how music can reshape our brains, why two people can see the same thing so differently, the magic that results from boredom, and so much more to wrap your brain around!

In this Circle

Click an article in this circle to read. Click here to go back to view all circles.

Image: Backyard Brain's Neuroscience made fun

Neuroscience Made Fun!

16 minutes

[ Education Enrichment ]

By Ethan Sawyer

Can neuroscience be inspiring and even fun? It absolutely can! This TED Talk is a jaw-dropper and will change the way you think about your own body, and what is possible!
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Image: Hand throwing a paper airplane out of a window over a city

How Productive is Your Procrastination?

9 minutes

[ Business ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

Do you have a procrastination problem? Don't worry, most of us do. Lucky for us, there are ways that we can turn our formerly wasted time into some productive procrastination!
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Image: A man wearing the headset and staring out into the distance at a sunset

What if You Could Record All of Your Memories?

25 minutes

[ Innovation ]

By Sam Burns

Want more control over your life? This piece of wearable technology may help us all do just that by recording our experiences. The creator of this innovation tells us all about the ways this can be utilized, from understanding ourselves better, to making better decisions, to assisting Alzheimer's patients. Check this out!
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Image: Reversible Head with Basket of Fruit by Giuseppe Arcimboldo

It’s True, We Don’t See the World the Same

12 minutes

[ Art ]

By Sam Burns

Our own perception of the world differs greatly from those around us. We've all had different experiences, and like it or not, they shape us. Let's explore why and how that might make us more tolerant of others.
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Image: The natural fractals of an aloe plant

When You Accidentally Become a Genius

15 minutes

[ Pebbles ]

By Sam Burns

What if you woke up one day with a completely new skill set? What would your life be like? Today we look at the mysterious acquired savant syndrome!
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Image: Twins with who look like the have the same face

Do You Have a Doppelgänger?

16 minutes

[ Education Enrichment ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

Do you have lookalikes out there? We've seen the images of people who have met their doppelgängers, but is there really a face like yours out there or are our own brains just being fooled? Here's your marvelous brain at its best!
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Seeing the Brain…With Diapers (What?!)

8 minutes

[ Education Enrichment ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

In a strange twist of fate, neuroscientists discovered that they could be using diapers to see the details of the brain better! Take a look...
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Image: Neuroscience Artist Dr. Greg Dunn's piece Maki-e-neurons. Neurons in gold leaf

The Brain Most Beautiful

9 minutes

[ Art ]

By Heidi Jackson

Have you ever wondered what the brain looks like in all of its complexity? Neuroscientist and artist, Dr. Greg Dunn, is creating work that defies the limits of art and science and captures the beauty of the brain...
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Image: Woman asleep on a tree limb over a pond

It’s Okay, Let Yourself be Bored!

7 minutes

[ Education Enrichment ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

One of the best ways to increase your creativity and problem-solving may surprise you. It doesn't involve a fancy app, or much practice, in fact, the tools you need are always with you!
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Image: colorful roller coaster loops

Change Your Habits By Learning How They Change Your Brain!

10 minutes

[ Books ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

Have a habit you'd like to change? Here's what you need to know about how your brain works to make it happen! This is a game-changer for expanding your life and possibilities.
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Image: People in a crowd dancing at a concert

How Music Reshapes Our Brains

14 minutes

[ Creativity ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

Have you ever gotten chills when the right song comes on? What about that feeling of euphoria you experience singing your favorite song at the top of your lungs on a beautiful day? Is this just a quirk of humanity or is there something deeper going on here that connects us to our shared humanity? Science has some pretty remarkable answers to these questions!
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Image: One of our favorite motivational speakers , Daniel Kish. riding a bike without sight.

Living Beyond Expectations: Daniel Kish

15 minutes

[ #ConspiracyofGoodness ]

By Dr. Lynda

Despite not having eyes, Daniel Kish has taught himself to "see" with a human "eco-location" and he is teaching others. His story is a remarkable testament to what happens when we never get the memo about things that are "impossible" and instead make what we have work for us!
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Image: fruit flies on an orange

You Should Really Thank the Fruit Flies

6 minutes

[ #ConspiracyofGoodness ]

By Sam Burns

Would you believe that your genes are super similar to a fruit fly's? They've been helping us discover our own bodies for years, here's how...
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Image: Dr. Amen and brain scans

What 83,000 Brain Scans Teach Us!

16 minutes

[ Curators' Best ]

By Dr. Lynda

What if we were able to treat anxiety, depression, or ADHD by looking inside of our brains? This form of diagnostic imaging is now a reality, and it is helping doctors treat patients more effectively than ever before.
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