Credit: iStock With Thanksgiving now behind us, the sounds of Christmas seem to flood the airwaves. Some songs are lively and joyful, while others are slow and contemplative. But whatever the tune, there’s an undeniable familiarity that comes with hearing those omnipresent songs associated with “the most wonderful time of the year.” For some, these … Continue reading How Your Brain Reacts to the Sounds of the Season
Music
Studying for Your Next Exam? Write a Song.
Credit: iStock Let’s pretend you hear the opening kick of “I Want You Back” by the Jackson Five. As the piano slides into the first verse and you hear: “Find the concentrations of ions out and in; Figure out the quotient, and take the log (base 10).” You can’t believe your ears. The Nernst Equation—a … Continue reading Studying for Your Next Exam? Write a Song.
March to the Beat of Your Own Drum
My two young children absolutely love to beat on drums (or tables, chairs, any flat surface really). I recently took them to a family-oriented drum circle. They had a blast, and I was surprised at how good I felt too, both during and after the event. It turns out all that drumming—especially with others—is beneficial … Continue reading March to the Beat of Your Own Drum
Being Left (Handed) Is All Right
"There's something I ought to tell you. I'm not left-handed either." - Westley, The Princess Bride Throughout history, left-handedness has both fascinated and frightened people. Maybe it is because only about 15 percent of the population is left-handed. Or maybe it is because the reasons for left-handedness remain somewhat of a mystery. What makes a person left- … Continue reading Being Left (Handed) Is All Right