I went to some great Pint of Science nights recently, the annual festival where scientists give talks in pubs. I saw Professor Jon Cooper speak about his research into Batten’s Disease, Dr Claire Troake describe the Brain Bank where people can donate their brain tissue after death, Dr Gemma Modinos describe her research into social and emotional aspects of psychosis and Dr Nigel Blackwood talk about psychopathic traits. Continue reading
Category Archives: Random Shiny Stuff
Why is our inner critic often so harsh? And what can we do about it?
I saw the film Birdman recently, where Michael Keaton’s critical alter ego looms so large as to become quite corporeal (and visually reminiscent of the amazing wings in the Digital Revolution exhibition described below). It got me thinking about the idea of the inner critic, how difficult inner criticism can be to live with, and what solutions contemporary talking therapies have to offer us. Continue reading
How can you keep your New Year’s Resolutions?
Top psychological tips on how to stick to it here on HuffPo from yours truly, along with some beautiful hand-lettered resolution reminders from the fab illustrator Linzie Hunter.
Radiohead
A couple of interesting links here relating to using technology therapeutically. Continue reading
What makes a healthy hospital?
A longform piece I wrote for Mosaic Science here on what makes a well-designed hospital (with robots included!), plus three shorter extras on design for mental healthcare, design for dementia, and the science behind how buildings effect our wellbeing.
Virtual reality boosts self-compassion
Virtual reality, in the form of a unique avatar-based experience, can help people be less self-critical and more self-compassionate, scientists have found. The new study published in PLOS ONE showed positive results in naturally self-critical individuals and is now being tested in people experiencing depression. Continue reading
Computer games: fun or wrong?
Baroness Susan Greenfield’s recent book, ‘Mind Change‘, has brought familiar arguments about whether or not computers are a bad influence into the media spotlight again. Greenfield takes an anti-digital stance, which worries about the effects of video games, social media and search engines. Continue reading
The Psychology of Coping With War
A blog for the Huff Post here on the psychology of coping with war, and a new exhibition at the Temple Church in London (as featured in the Da Vinci Code).
How do talking therapies work? Leading scientists call for collaboration
“How does one human talking to another, as occurs in psychological therapy, bring about changes in brain activity and cure or ease mental disorders? We don’t really know. We need to.” Continue reading
Facebook study went against ethics guidelines
So, an interesting controversy over Facebook experimentation this week… Continue reading