Have you ever noticed that simply imagining something positive happening in the future can instantly brighten your mood? Thinking about an upcoming vacation or an event you’re really excited about?

Optimistic people share patterns of brain activity, and make more of a distinction between positive and negative events than pessimists do, a brain-imaging study has found. “What if the common phrase ...

For most of the day, your brain is on autopilot, guiding you along your familiar drive home and throughout the daily routine you know so well, says psychotherapist and author Steven Stosny. The ...

Get ready for an attitude adjustment. Being a “negative person” or a “positive person” isn’t set in stone — and using a really simple trick that anyone can learn could change your mood, your ...

No need to rack your brain for a way to stop your racing thoughts. Dr. Daniel Amen, a double board-certified psychiatrist and brain-imaging researcher in California, suggests deep breathing to slow ...

What do we know about the brain and learning? We know that the brain constructs all learning and all behavior is brain-based. We know that academic competence cannot be bifurcated from emotional ...

Our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes shape our perception of the world and influence our experiences. While this may cause some to have an inherently negative perception of life, there’s an effective ...

Recordings from brain electrodes show "the physical manifestation of thought." This article first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Technology Review’s weekly biotech newsletter. To receive it in your ...

Imagine you are attending a friend’s housewarming party, and—in front of everyone—you spill a glass of red wine on their brand-new white couch. You are so mortified that every time you see this friend ...