It's still not fully understood how placebos work – but an alternative theory of consciousness could hold some clues

The mind is a powerful thing – it can generate both symptoms of illness and symptoms of healing. Here’s what this could tell us about consciousness.

Steve Taylor, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Leeds Beckett University • conversation
Sept. 8, 2021 • ~8 min

Consciousness: how the brain chemical 'dopamine' plays a key role – new research

Drugs which act through the brain chemical dopamine may one day help restore consciousness in people who have lost it.

Lennart Spindler, PhD Candidate of Neuroscience, University of Cambridge • conversation
Aug. 4, 2021 • ~7 min

Can consciousness be explained by quantum physics? My research takes us a step closer to finding out

New experiments could help scientists settle the longstanding debate about whether consciousness is generated by quantum activity.

Cristiane de Morais Smith, Professor, Theoretical Physics, Utrecht University • conversation
July 19, 2021 • ~8 min

Is it time to give up on consciousness as 'the ghost in the machine'?

Consciousness is sometimes referred to as 'the ghost' in the machinery of our brain. Is it time we gave up the ghost to focus on the machine?

David A Oakley, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, UCL • conversation
June 3, 2021 • ~7 min

To what extent are we ruled by unconscious forces?

Decades of research gives insight into how free our choices really are.

Magda Osman, Reader in Experimental Psychology, Queen Mary University of London • conversation
May 26, 2021 • ~14 min

To what extent are we are ruled by unconscious forces?

Decades of research gives insight into how free our choices really are.

Magda Osman, Reader in Experimental Psychology, Queen Mary University of London • conversation
May 26, 2021 • ~14 min

Psychedelic drugs: how the brains of informed users are different

As the UK's first clinic to offer psychedelic drugs for mental health disorders opens, a study reveals that informed users don't have problems with self control.

George Savulich, Research Associate in Psychiatry, University of Cambridge • conversation
March 24, 2021 • ~8 min

How does your brain wake up from sleep?

The mystery of how the brain creates consciousness still puzzles scientists, but the mechanics of waking up are starting to be understood.

Aneesh Hehr, Medical Student, Wayne State University • conversation
Jan. 4, 2021 • ~6 min

Visual illusion that may help explain consciousness – new study

How we perceive what's going on in the periphery can reveal a lot about our conscious minds.

Bilge Sayim, Research Scientist in Psychology, Université de Lille • conversation
Dec. 17, 2020 • ~7 min

If a robot is conscious, is it OK to turn it off? The moral implications of building true AIs

Philosophers say now is the time to mull over what qualities should grant an artificially intelligent machine moral standing.

Anand Vaidya, Associate Professor of Philosophy, San José State University • conversation
Oct. 27, 2020 • ~10 min

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