Sometimes it can feel like our minds have been hijacked. Whether it’s from technologies designed to consume our attention, the anxieties of a pandemic, or simply the stress of working in a world ...

You’re reading Open Questions, Joshua Rothman’s weekly column exploring what it means to be human. I like gadgets, and so, at times, my digital detox has verged on technophilic decadence. A few months ...

You are not your worst thoughts. These practical tools can help you challenge self-criticism, hopelessness, and fear. Bipolar disorder has a way of playing tricks on your mind, especially when you’re ...

In 1979, Harvard researcher Ellen Langer invited elderly men to spend a week at a retreat designed to remind them of their younger days, surrounded by the art, music, food, games, décor, and more from ...

Every day, we’re faced with constant opportunities for stimulation. With 24/7 access to news feeds, emails and social media, many of us find ourselves scrolling endlessly, chasing our next hit of ...

As a chronic pain sufferer, I sometimes surprise people by telling them that my pain doesn’t have a physical cause. It’s a mind-body thing, I say, related to stress and emotions. To many, this sounds ...

Have you ever found yourself thinking about loved ones during a boring meeting? Or going over the plot of a movie you recently watched during a drive to the supermarket? Mind wandering is often used ...

Being smart exists on a spectrum, and there are many different ways that people's intelligence shows up. Some people are emotionally intelligent and maintain strong, close relationships. Other people ...