Sense Of Self

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Sense Of Self

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Illustration of a shadowy, humanoid creature with glowing eyes, long fingers, and pointed ears, hunched over against a green background.
8mins
The Well
How one decision can create “a new self”
From Copernicus to Flatland, Yale philosopher L.A. Paul shares examples of transformative experiences, and how participating in them changes more than just your mindset.
L.A. Paul
A digital illustration of a human head in profile showing a highlighted section of the brain with a bright light beam focused on a specific point inside the brain.
6mins
Perception Box
How your brain builds and edits your identity
The voice in your head feels like your own, but it’s actually constructed by neurological processes. Three experts explain how this system shapes both perception and identity.
Ethan Kross, Heather Berlin & Nicole Vignola
Unlikely Collaborators
Person with long hair, wearing a brown blazer, surrounded by text bubbles labeled "Narrative," "Negativity Bias," and "Confirmation Bias." Arrows connect the bubbles.
6mins
Perception Box
A neuroscientist’s guide to building a more positive reality
We’re all assigned a label at some point in our lives. You might be the smart one, the creative one or the lazy one. But is that designation really an […]
Nicole Vignola
Unlikely Collaborators
A faint, grayscale image of a classical statue’s face with soft features and minimal details visible against a plain background.
4mins
The Well
The science of the “self”
How do “you” emerge from a collection of cells? A biologist explains.
Michael Levin
A person in a bowler hat stands before red curtains; next to them is a silhouette with a sky and clouds pattern matching the background.
8mins
The Well
The neuroscience of spiritual experiences
Experimental neuroscientist Patrick McNamara on how we can harness spiritual experiences to explore alternate realities in our minds, and transform our models of the self.
Patrick McNamara
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