Our bodies are chronically in "threat mode"—but being kind recalibrates our nervous system

Being kind to others positively impacts your physical and mental health, according to this groundbreaking research by Stanford professor Dr. James Doty.

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  • The default "rest mode" of our brains is often taken over by a "threat mode" setting because of our stressful, "on-the-go" lifestyles. When we are chronically in threat mode, this leaves us with less capacity for compassion.
  • Showing compassion or acting kind to others can actually change your physiology, taking you out of threat mode and putting you back into your natural "rest and digest" mode.
  • Research by a well-known Stanford professor Dr. James Doty has shown that acts of kindness or compassion that put us back into our "rest mode" can have lasting positive impacts on our physical and mental health.
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brain mindfulness neuroscience psychology community empathy health human body personal growth biology

Spotify will now create playlists for your pet

Your cat thinks your taste stinks. Also that you're mingy with the laser pointer.

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  • Spotify has just announced a free playlist-creation site for pets.
  • Research suggests that animals have their own music preferences.
  • Hedgehogs possibly don't get enough respect.
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music neuroscience internet sound art emotions. pet playlist

Is love an addiction?

Love triggers the same regions of your brain as cocaine addiction.

  • Studies have shown that romantic love, while often positive, activates basic brain regions that are also triggered by cocaine addiction.
  • Stalking, clinical depression, and even suicides have been attributed to love addictions.
  • For better or worse, everybody at some time in their life has been or will be addicted to love.
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love emotions depression brain mental health psychology neuroscience addiction

A unique brain signal may be the key to human intelligence

Scientists exploring human neurons directly learn some remarkable things.

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  • Most research regarding human brains is performed with rodent brains on the assumption that it may also apply to us.
  • An unusual study looked at recently resected human brain tissue that turned out to contain some big surprises.
  • Human neurons' unexpected electrical signals and their behavior shed new light on human intelligence.
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intelligence neuroscience animals cognitive science human body neuron dendrite brain

This incredible interactive map plays the 13 emotions music makes us feel

It doesn't matter where you're from — music is an emotional powerhouse.

  • Over 2,500 people from the U.S. and China listened to the same music and were similarly affected by it.
  • The study identifies a specific set of feelings that music can evoke, which you can experience in this incredible interactive map.
  • Further research can use these findings to figure out how music stirs emotion in us.
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neuroscience emotions psychology art language entertainment music