ABOUT: Jamie Hale
Contributions
Scientific Literacy in Life
July 6, 2022I have always been interested in knowing how things work. As a child, if I was interested in something I collected all the information I could about it, wanting to know the underlying mechanisms and collecting information from different sources. I have taken those thought processes with me into adulthood, and scientific literacy is important …
Why Multitasking Is a Bad Idea
June 24, 2022If you are like many people, you probably multitask often—maybe even while you’re reading this! It seems there is just so much to do, and so many things to see, that multitasking is required to get to everything. The internet is saturated with information, our cell phones have elaborate programs that require lots of time …
Is Hypnosis Real?
June 10, 2022My first exposure to hypnosis was as a sophomore in college. I attended an event on campus featuring a stage hypnotist, the auditorium packed with students and faculty. Many unusual behaviors occurred on that stage. Some hypnotized people lost the ability to count, while others were stuck in their chairs; still others tried to sing …
The Origins of Higher-Order Thinking
May 23, 2022There is plenty of information about what makes humans unique. A plethora of YouTube videos, books, and articles are dedicated to discussing the topic. Information ranges from deep philosophical discussions to scientific findings. We could ask the same of any species; all species are unique to a degree, hence they are classified as different species. …
Meditation Matters
May 12, 2022My interest in meditation was sparked when I watched a video of neuroscientist Sam Harris speaking on the topic. Harris spoke passionately about meditation and how over the years he had gained extraordinary benefits from meditating. My curiosity peaked when I listened to a podcast in which Harris guided Richard Dawkins through a brief meditation. …
The Stress Mindset
April 13, 2022Everyday discussions on the topic of stress often involve talking about its negative impacts, usually in the context that “stress is bad.” Typical headlines read, “Stress: The Silent Killer,” or “Not Happy … Too Stressed,” or “Stress at Work Makes You Sick.” They reflect the dominant cultural viewpoint that stress is bad for us. It …
Your Brain Is Soft-Wired
April 13, 2022Humans think and behave in specific ways because we are hardwired that way. The term hardwired suggests that a behavior or thought is innate and natural; that is, just the way it is. The macro-structure of the brain (including the basic plan anatomy, structure, and processing) are mostly hardwired and can’t be modified. However, the …
How Memory Changes the Brain
March 30, 2022Memory is one of the most important mental qualities we have. It works well most of the time as a guide to our everyday experiences, shaping almost everything in our lives. We usually don’t think about the role memory plays in life until we witness someone who suffers from memory loss. Memory disorders can have …
What Science Says About The ‘Fat Burning Zone’
March 24, 2022One of the primary reasons people give for exercising is they want to lose weight, more specifically body fat. You may have seen those charts on treadmills, bikes and other cardio equipment that show the “Fat Burning Zone.” This zone is where you need to be if you want to lose body fat. The zone …
Why Critical Thinking Is Important for Everyone
February 22, 2022Critical thinking is an important subject in education, and educators stress the importance of teaching critical thinking beginning at an early age. College professors often dedicate a fair amount of time and effort to developing and implementing lesson plans to make students better critical thinkers. But what does it mean to be a critical thinker? …