TED Theme: How the Mind Works

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Tali Sharot: The op...
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15:07:50 05/14/12

Are we born to be optimistic, rather than realistic? Tali Sharot shares new research that suggests our brains are wired to look on the bright side -- and how that ...

Tali Sharot: The optimism bias

Added 05/14/12
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Tali Sharot: The optimism bias

[LESS INFO] 1 VIEWS | ADDED 15:07:50 05/14/12
Are we born to be optimistic, rather than realistic? Tali Sharot shares new research that suggests our brains are wired to look on the bright side -- and how that can be both dangerous and beneficial.

Joshua Foer: Feats ...
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14:44:52 05/10/12

There are people who can quickly memorize lists of thousands of numbers, the order of all the cards in a deck (or ten!), and much more. Science writer Joshua Foer ...

Joshua Foer: Feats of memory anyone can do

Added 05/10/12
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Joshua Foer: Feats of memory anyone can do

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There are people who can quickly memorize lists of thousands of numbers, the order of all the cards in a deck (or ten!), and much more. Science writer Joshua Foer describes the technique -- called the memory palace -- and shows off its most remarkable feature: anyone can learn how to use it, including him.

Rory Sutherland: Pe...
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14:50:29 05/04/12

The circumstances of our lives may matter less than how we see them, says Rory Sutherland. At TEDxAthens, he makes a compelling case for how reframing is the key t...

Rory Sutherland: Perspective is everything

Added 05/04/12
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Rory Sutherland: Perspective is everything

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The circumstances of our lives may matter less than how we see them, says Rory Sutherland. At TEDxAthens, he makes a compelling case for how reframing is the key to happiness.

Laura Carstensen: O...
3 Views
14:58:34 04/19/12

In the 20th century we added an unprecedented number of years to our lifespans, but is the quality of life as good? Surprisingly, yes! At TEDxWomen psychologist La...

Laura Carstensen: Older people are happier

Added 04/19/12
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Laura Carstensen: Older people are happier

[LESS INFO] 3 VIEWS | ADDED 14:58:34 04/19/12
In the 20th century we added an unprecedented number of years to our lifespans, but is the quality of life as good? Surprisingly, yes! At TEDxWomen psychologist Laura Carstensen shows research that demonstrates that as people get older they become happier, more content, and have a more positive outlook on the world.

Frans de Waal: Mora...
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15:05:48 04/10/12

Empathy, cooperation, fairness and reciprocity -- caring about the well-being of others seems like a very human trait. But Frans de Waal shares some surprising vid...

Frans de Waal: Moral behavior in animals

Added 04/10/12
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Frans de Waal: Moral behavior in animals

[LESS INFO] 12 VIEWS | ADDED 15:05:48 04/10/12
Empathy, cooperation, fairness and reciprocity -- caring about the well-being of others seems like a very human trait. But Frans de Waal shares some surprising videos of behavioral tests, on primates and other mammals, that show how many of these moral traits all of us share.

Susan Cain: The pow...
2 Views
20:20:27 03/02/12

In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert. But, as Susan Cain argues in this p...

Susan Cain: The power of introverts

Added 03/02/12
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Susan Cain: The power of introverts

[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 20:20:27 03/02/12
In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert. But, as Susan Cain argues in this passionate talk, introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world, and should be encouraged and celebrated.

Susan Cain: The pow...
15 Views
20:20:27 03/02/12

In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert. But, as Susan Cain argues in this p...

Susan Cain: The power of introverts

Added 03/02/12
15 Views

Susan Cain: The power of introverts

[LESS INFO] 15 VIEWS | ADDED 20:20:27 03/02/12
In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert. But, as Susan Cain argues in this passionate talk, introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world, and should be encouraged and celebrated.

Shlomo Benartzi: Sa...
12 Views
16:08:38 02/23/12

It's easy to imagine saving money next week, but how about right now? Generally, we want to spend it. Economist Shlomo Benartzi says this is one of the biggest obs...

Shlomo Benartzi: Saving for tomorrow, tomorrow

Added 02/23/12
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Shlomo Benartzi: Saving for tomorrow, tomorrow

[LESS INFO] 12 VIEWS | ADDED 16:08:38 02/23/12
It's easy to imagine saving money next week, but how about right now? Generally, we want to spend it. Economist Shlomo Benartzi says this is one of the biggest obstacles to saving enough for retirement, and asks: How do we turn this behavioral challenge into a behavioral solution?

Neil Burgess: How y...
8 Views
15:58:05 02/06/12

How do you remember where you parked your car? How do you know if you're moving in the right direction? Neuroscientist Neil Burgess studies the neural mechanisms t...

Neil Burgess: How your brain tells you where you are

Added 02/06/12
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Neil Burgess: How your brain tells you where you are

[LESS INFO] 8 VIEWS | ADDED 15:58:05 02/06/12
How do you remember where you parked your car? How do you know if you're moving in the right direction? Neuroscientist Neil Burgess studies the neural mechanisms that map the space around us, and how they link to memory and imagination.

Ariel Garten: Know ...
10 Views
16:05:50 01/26/12

Imagine playing a video game controlled by your mind. Now imagine that game also teaches you about your own patterns of stress, relaxation and focus. At TEDxToront...

Ariel Garten: Know thyself, with a brain scanner

Added 01/26/12
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Ariel Garten: Know thyself, with a brain scanner

[LESS INFO] 10 VIEWS | ADDED 16:05:50 01/26/12
Imagine playing a video game controlled by your mind. Now imagine that game also teaches you about your own patterns of stress, relaxation and focus. At TEDxToronto Ariel Garten shows how looking at our own brain activity gives new meaning to the ancient dictum "know thyself."

Daniel Goldstein: T...
34 Views
16:30:31 12/21/11

Every day, we make decisions that have good or bad consequences for our future selves. (Can I skip flossing just this one time?) Daniel Goldstein makes tools that ...

Daniel Goldstein: The battle between your present and future self

Added 12/21/11
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Daniel Goldstein: The battle between your present and future self

[LESS INFO] 34 VIEWS | ADDED 16:30:31 12/21/11
Every day, we make decisions that have good or bad consequences for our future selves. (Can I skip flossing just this one time?) Daniel Goldstein makes tools that help us imagine ourselves over time, so that we make smart choices for Future Us.

Antonio Damasio: Th...
17 Views
15:57:36 12/19/11

Every morning we wake up and regain consciousness -- that is a marvelous fact -- but what exactly is it that we regain? Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio uses this si...

Antonio Damasio: The quest to understand consciousness

Added 12/19/11
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Antonio Damasio: The quest to understand consciousness

[LESS INFO] 17 VIEWS | ADDED 15:57:36 12/19/11
Every morning we wake up and regain consciousness -- that is a marvelous fact -- but what exactly is it that we regain? Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio uses this simple question to give us a glimpse into how our brains create our sense of self.

Annie Murphy Paul: ...
21 Views
16:27:22 11/29/11

Pop quiz: When does learning begin? Answer: Before we are born. Science writer Annie Murphy Paul talks through new research that shows how much we learn in the wom...

Annie Murphy Paul: What we learn before we're born

Added 11/29/11
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Annie Murphy Paul: What we learn before we're born

[LESS INFO] 21 VIEWS | ADDED 16:27:22 11/29/11
Pop quiz: When does learning begin? Answer: Before we are born. Science writer Annie Murphy Paul talks through new research that shows how much we learn in the womb -- from the lilt of our native language to our soon-to-be-favorite foods.

Allan Jones: A map ...
22 Views
15:31:06 11/10/11

How can we begin to understand the way the brain works? The same way we begin to understand a city: by making a map. In this visually stunning talk, Allan Jones sh...

Allan Jones: A map of the brain

Added 11/10/11
22 Views

Allan Jones: A map of the brain

[LESS INFO] 22 VIEWS | ADDED 15:31:06 11/10/11
How can we begin to understand the way the brain works? The same way we begin to understand a city: by making a map. In this visually stunning talk, Allan Jones shows how his team is mapping which genes are turned on in each tiny region, and how it all connects up.

Daniel Wolpert: The...
24 Views
14:37:34 11/03/11

Neuroscientist Daniel Wolpert starts from a surprising premise: the brain evolved, not to think or feel, but to control movement. In this entertaining, data-rich t...

Daniel Wolpert: The real reason for brains

Added 11/03/11
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Daniel Wolpert: The real reason for brains

[LESS INFO] 24 VIEWS | ADDED 14:37:34 11/03/11
Neuroscientist Daniel Wolpert starts from a surprising premise: the brain evolved, not to think or feel, but to control movement. In this entertaining, data-rich talk he gives us a glimpse into how the brain creates the grace and agility of human motion.

Pamela Meyer: How t...
17 Views
14:26:38 10/13/11

On any given day we're lied to from 10 to 200 times, and the clues to detect those lie can be subtle and counter-intuitive. Pamela Meyer, author of Liespotting, sh...

Pamela Meyer: How to spot a liar

Added 10/13/11
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Pamela Meyer: How to spot a liar

[LESS INFO] 17 VIEWS | ADDED 14:26:38 10/13/11
On any given day we're lied to from 10 to 200 times, and the clues to detect those lie can be subtle and counter-intuitive. Pamela Meyer, author of Liespotting, shows the manners and "hotspots" used by those trained to recognize deception -- and she argues honesty is a value worth preserving.

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Tali Sharot: The optimism bias

Show: TED Theme: How the Mind Works

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Tali Sharot: The optimism bias
05/14/12

Are we born to be optimistic, rather than realistic? Tali Sharot shares new research that suggests our brains are wired to look on the bright side -- and how that can be both dangerous and beneficial.