Think Twice Podcast

In 2017, CBC was considered the most biased media news outlet in Canada due to its liberal-leaning bias. While they do publish factual information, they utilize loaded or suggestive words that attempt to influence their audience by appealing to emotions or stereotypes in order to favour liberal causes. CBC receives around 60% of their funding from government grants, while gaining other funding from sponsorships, advertising and other sources. But what’s important to understand is that every newspaper, radio, podcast and television program is inherently biased. Check out this week's episode to hear more about ways the media can take advantage of just a basic neuroscientific understanding of how easily our memory can be persuaded and manipulated.

In 1992, Gary Chapman published his book The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate which became widely popularized and, still to this day, is pervasive in society. But are the five love languages actually backed by neuroscience? What is the best way to cultivate long-lasting love according to neuroscience? Be our Valentine today and tune in for this special episode of Think Twice to find out.

Did you know that MDMA (ecstasy) may be a potential tool in couples therapy? According to recent research, MDMA may help improve communication, introsepction, and fear of emotional pain in couples therapy by acting on several love-related brain mechanisms in humans. Although more research is need, this is just one of many emerging research topics in the field of love and relationships. Tune in this Friday to hear more about the neuroscience behind romance, attraction, and attachment!

Curious about what makes the brain fall in love? Whether you're a hopeless romantic or skeptic scientist, we've got you covered this Valentine's day with an episode all about love. From synapses to soulmates, we discuss the neurobiology of love, the role of social media and dating apps, obsession, heartbreak, and so much more. We also provide 8 practical tips, based on neuroscience, to improve your own love-life and relationships. Check it out this Friday!

Thank you for voting 🫶 We are so honoured to receive recognition from CIHR in their IHDCYH Talks competition for our episode on Mental Health Misinformation on TikTok. We look forward to using the award funds to improve the podcast iniative and help reach new audiences. As always, we really appreciate your support and interest in neuroscience. Check out our award-winning episode with the link in our bio 🎙️🧠

You’ve probably seen products that claim to read your mind, boost your focus, or even influence your decisions using neuroscience. But how much of this is science, and how much is just clever marketing? Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and neuromarketing are becoming more common in everyday products, from wearable tech to advertising strategies. But what are the realistic applications of these technologies, and what are their true limitations? In this episode, neuroscientist Susan Boehnke joins us to explore how BCIs are shaping the future and how neuromarketing has been influencing us for years—perhaps more subtly than you think. Tune in to separate fact from fiction! This episode is sponsored by the Connected Minds program. Connected Minds, funded by the Canadian First Research Excellence Fund, is a 7-year collaborative program between York University and Queen’s University that focuses on interdisciplinary, ethical, and socially responsible research and technology development. The program offers funding for trainees, researchers, and artists. To learn more and get involved, visit the Connected Minds website. Website: https://lnkd.in/dPwd_NTi

You might have heard that brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are the future of technology—offering the potential to enhance cognitive abilities, restore lost functions, and even revolutionize the way we interact with the world. But did you know that BCIs are already making their way into consumer products, promising to improve focus, productivity, and even emotional well-being? Beyond the hype, understanding the realistic applications and limitations of BCIs is crucial as they become more integrated into our daily lives. In this episode, neuroscientist Susan Boehnke helps us break down what BCIs can actually do, how they are being marketed to us, and what ethical questions we should be asking. This episode is sponsored by the Connected Minds program. Connected Minds, funded by the Canadian First Research Excellence Fund, is a 7-year collaborative program between York University and Queen’s University that focuses on interdisciplinary, ethical, and socially responsible research and technology development. The program offers funding for trainees, researchers, and artists. To learn more and get involved, visit the Connected Minds website. Website: https://lnkd.in/dPwd_NTi

Technology is advancing rapidly; some innovations empower us, some challenge us, and some blur the line between human and machine. But what happens when our brains become part of the equation? Are we ready for the ethical dilemmas that come with it? In this week's episode, neuroscientist Susan Boehnke discusses the rise of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and the growing role of neuroscience in marketing, exploring the fine line between innovation and intrusion. This episode is sponsored by the Connected Minds program. Connected Minds, funded by the Canadian First Research Excellence Fund, is a 7-year collaborative program between York University and Queen’s University that focuses on interdisciplinary, ethical, and socially responsible research and technology development. The program offers funding for trainees, researchers, and artists. To learn more and get involved, visit the Connected Minds website. Website: https://lnkd.in/dPwd_NTi

Is it possible to restore vision simply by stimulating the brain's visual cortex? With Neuralink's Blindsight technology having recently being granted the Breakthrough Device Designation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), we can expect rapid developments in the field. Blindsight is expected to restore vision by allowing individuals to visualize low resolution images. But some have hinted that in the future, these images may actually be of higher resolution than what is possible with natural vision. While we may not be quite there yet, is it possible that we will one day be capable of seeing wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum? Tune in to our new episode released today to find out!

While BCIs have tremendous potential to treat neurological conditions, they rely on the use of an individual's neural activity. This allows the BCI to determine desired outcomes and produce actions accordingly, like move a cursor, move a robotic limb, etc., but it also provides access to extremely personal and sensitive information like thoughts, emotions and intentions. Who has access to this information and how is it protected? Are data breaches likely to lead to much more devastating cases of identity theft? Join us in this week's episode where we talk about the bioethics of using BCI technologies!