Explore how we tell stories about our minds in this episode of "Learning English with Human Beans." George and Alice unpack the evolving classifications of mental health, the crucial difference between medical recovery and personal healing, and the fascinating link between creativity and psychological conditions. Discover how our understanding of mental health reflects cultural narratives while building essential vocabulary for thoughtful discussions in English.

Sources:

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.

Cyrulnik, B. (2001). Les Vilains Petits Canards. Odile Jacob.

Frances, A. (2013). Saving Normal: An Insider's Revolt Against Out-of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis. William Morrow.

Jamison, K. R. (1993). Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament. Free Press.

Kyaga, S., Lichtenstein, P., Boman, M., Hultman, C., Långström, N., & Landén, M. (2013). "Mental illness, suicide and creativity: 40-year prospective total population study." Journal of Psychiatric Research, 47(1), 83-90.

Slade, M. (2009). Personal Recovery and Mental Illness: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals. Cambridge University Press.

Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). "Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence." Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1-18.

Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential Psychotherapy. Basic Books.

Explore the fundamental human search for meaning in this episode of "Learning English with Human Beans." Join George and Alice as they unpack how we create significance in our lives, understand "closure" as a vital psychological need, and learn how our personal stories shape our sense of purpose. Through everyday examples and psychological insights, discover why meaning-making may be our most essential human journey—while building vocabulary to discuss life's deeper questions in English.

Sources:

Frankl, V. E. (1984). Man's Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.

Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential Psychotherapy. Basic Books.

Yalom, I. D. (1992). When Nietzsche Wept. Basic Books.

Neimeyer, R. A. (2001). Meaning Reconstruction & the Experience of Loss. American Psychological Association.

Baumeister, R. F. (1991). Meanings of Life. Guilford Press.

Bibliography

Discover why emotions aren’t obstacles to clear thinking but essential guides in this episode of “Learning English with Human Beans.” George explains neuroscientist Antonio Damasio’s revolutionary work challenging mind-body separation, while Alice adds relatable examples and key vocabulary. Learn the crucial difference between emotions and feelings, explore the fascinating Somatic Marker Hypothesis, and understand why “we are feeling machines that think.” Perfect for expanding your English vocabulary while gaining insights into the science of decision-making and consciousness.

Sources:

Damasio, A. R. (1994). Descartes’ Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain. New York: Putnam.

Damasio, A. R. (2003). Looking for Spinoza: Joy, Sorrow, and the Feeling Brain. Orlando: Harcourt.

Harlow, J. M. (1868). “Recovery from the Passage of an Iron Bar through the Head.” Publications of the Massachusetts Medical Society, 2, 327-347.

Van Vugt, M. (2006). “Evolutionary Origins of Leadership and Followership.” Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10(4), 354-371.

Bechara, A., Damasio, H., Tranel, D., & Damasio, A. R. (1997). “Deciding Advantageously Before Knowing the Advantageous Strategy.” Science, 275(5304), 1293-1295.

Discover the vital science behind your nightly rest in this episode of “Learning English with Human Beans: The Science of Sleep.” Explore how sleep cycles work, why your brain’s glymphatic system cleanses itself at night, the hidden costs of sleep debt, and practical strategies to optimize your slumber—all while building key English vocabulary.

Sources:

Archer, S.N., Robilliard, D.L., Skene, D.J., Smits, M., Williams, A., Arendt, J., von Schantz, M. (2003). “A length polymorphism in the circadian clock gene PER3 is linked to delayed sleep phase syndrome and extreme diurnal preference.” Sleep, 26(4), 413–415.

Dawson, D., & Reid, K. (1997). “Fatigue, alcohol and performance impairment.” Nature, 388(6639), 235–235.

• Edinger, J.D., & Means, M.K. (2005). “Cognitive–behavioral therapy for primary insomnia.” Clinical Psychology Review, 25(5), 539–558.

• Hilditch, C.J., & Shapiro, C.M. (2013). “The clinical relevance of sleep inertia: a comprehensive review.” Sleep Medicine Reviews, 17(4), 243–256.

• Killgore, W.D.S. (2010). “Effects of sleep deprivation on cognition.” Progress in Brain Research, 185, 105–129.

• Mullington, J.M., Haack, M., Toth, M., Serrador, J.M., & Meier‐Ewert, H.K. (2009). “Cardiovascular, inflammatory, and metabolic consequences of sleep deprivation.” Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 51(4), 294–302.

• Van Dongen, H.P.A., Maislin, G., Mullington, J.M., & Dinges, D.F. (2003). “The cumulative cost of additional wakefulness: dose-response effects on neurobehavioral functions and sleep physiology from chronic sleep restriction and total sleep deprivation.” Sleep, 26(2), 117–126.

• Wittmann, M., Dinich, J., Merrow, M., & Roenneberg, T. (2006). “Social jetlag: misalignment of biological and social time.” Chronobiology International, 23(1-2), 497–509.

• Xie, L., Kang, H., Xu, Q., Chen, M.J., Liao, Y., Thiyagarajan, M., O’Donnell, J., Christensen, D.J., Nicholson, C., Iliff, J.J., Takano, T., Deane, R., & Nedergaard, M. (2013). “Sleep drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain.” Science, 342(6156), 373–377.

Why do humans both seek out authority figures and resist them? Discover the fascinating psychology behind our complex relationship with authority in this episode of "Learning English with Human Beans." From classroom dynamics to political paradoxes, we explore how the desire for leadership shapes American society while building essential vocabulary to discuss power, governance, and social structures in English.

References:

Arendt, H. (1954). "What is Authority?" In Between Past and Future: Eight Exercises in Political Thought. Viking Press.

Canivenc, S. (2012). "Autogestion et nouvelles formes organisationnelles dans la société de l'information, de la communication et du savoir." Thèse de doctorat, Université Rennes 2.

Desor, D. (1973). "Le comportement social des rats soumis à un problème de surpopulation expérimentale." Archives de biologie. 84(4).

Dos Santos, J. R. (2024). The Chaos Protocol. HarperCollins.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York. (2021). The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates. Retrieved from https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/college-labor-market

Kubrick, S. (Director). (1964). Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb [Film]. Columbia Pictures.

Levitsky, S., & Ziblatt, D. (2023). Tyranny of the Minority: How to Reverse an Authoritarian Turn and Forge a Democracy for All. Crown Publishing.

Milgram, S. (1974). Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View. Harper & Row.

Orwell, G. (1945). Animal Farm: A Fairy Story. Secker & Warburg.

Orwell, G. (1949). Nineteen Eighty-Four. Secker & Warburg.

Prairat, E. (2012). "L'autorité éducative au risque de la modernité." Recherche et formation, 71.

Russell, B. (1949). Authority and the Individual. Routledge.

Simon-Nahum, P. (2023). Sagesse du politique. Le devenir des démocraties. L'Observatoire.

The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015). [Film]. Directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez. IFC Films.

Strada Institute for the Future of Work & Burning Glass Institute. (2024). Talent Disrupted: New Data on Bachelor's Degree Underemployment. Retrieved from https://www.burning-glass.com/research-reports/talent-disrupted/

van Vugt, M. (2006). "Evolutionary Origins of Leadership and Followership." Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10(4), 354-371.

Discover how our minds play “what if” games to learn from the past and manage emotions in this episode of Learning English with Human Beans: “What If...? – Exploring Counterfactual Thinking.” We unpack the psychology behind imagining alternative outcomes, show how these thoughts help-or sometimes hinder-us, and illustrate the concept with everyday examples and popular fiction.

References:

• Roese, N. J., & Olson, J. M. (1995). What Might Have Been: The Social Psychology of Counterfactual Thinking. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

• Roese, N. J. (1997). Counterfactual Thinking. Psychological Bulletin, 121(1), 133–148 .

• Roese, N. J. (2007). The Functional Theory of Counterfactual Thinking. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 11(4), 168–192 .

• Epstude, K., & Roese, N. J. (2017). The functional theory of counterfactual thinking: New evidence, new challenges, new insights. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 55, 1–52

Learn English while discovering how to spot fake news! In this episode, we explore why false information spreads so quickly and how our minds can be tricked. Using everyday vocabulary and clear examples, we'll help you understand important concepts like "confirmation bias" and "information bubbles" while improving your English listening skills. You'll pick up useful phrases to discuss media literacy while learning practical tips for checking sources and recognizing manipulation techniques. A perfect blend of language practice and essential life skills for navigating today's information-filled world!

References:

- Kahneman, D. (2011). *Thinking, Fast and Slow*. [System 1 and System 2 thinking]

- Wason, P. C. (1960). On the failure to eliminate hypotheses. *Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology*. [Confirmation bias]

- Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1973). Availability: A heuristic for judging frequency. *Cognitive Psychology*. [Availability bias]

- Bacon, F. (1620). *Novum Organum*. [Early work on confirmation tendencies]

- Vosoughi, S., Roy, D., & Aral, S. (2018). The spread of true and false news online. *Science*. [False information spreads six times faster than truth]

- Festinger, L., et al. (1956). *When Prophecy Fails*. [Cognitive dissonance]

- World Economic Forum. (2024). *Global Risks Report*. [Misinformation as critical global risk]

- Brandolini, A. (2013). Brandolini's law. [The asymmetry of bullshit principle]

- Bronner, G. (2021). Conspiracy theory formation. *Journal of Social Psychology*. [Analysis of conspiracy emergence timeframes]

- Johnson, N. F., et al. (2020). The online competition between pro- and anti-vaccination views. *Nature*. [Vaccination discourse on social media]

- Bronner, G. (2023-2024). *Rationality in the Age of Misinformation*. Seminar series at La Sorbonne University.

Sources

# Key References

- Kahneman, D. (2011). *Thinking, Fast and Slow*. [System 1 and System 2 thinking]

- Wason, P. C. (1960). On the failure to eliminate hypotheses. *Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology*. [Confirmation bias]

- Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1973). Availability: A heuristic for judging frequency. *Cognitive Psychology*. [Availability bias]

- Bacon, F. (1620). *Novum Organum*. [Early work on confirmation tendencies]

- Vosoughi, S., Roy, D., & Aral, S. (2018). The spread of true and false news online. *Science*. [False information spreads six times faster than truth]

- Festinger, L., et al. (1956). *When Prophecy Fails*. [Cognitive dissonance]

- World Economic Forum. (2024). *Global Risks Report*. [Misinformation as critical global risk]

- Brandolini, A. (2013). Brandolini's law. [The asymmetry of bullshit principle]

- Bronner, G. (2021). Conspiracy theory formation. *Journal of Social Psychology*. [Analysis of conspiracy emergence timeframes]

- Johnson, N. F., et al. (2020). The online competition between pro- and anti-vaccination views. *Nature*. [Vaccination discourse on social media]

- Bronner, G. (2025). *Rationality in the Age of Misinformation*. Seminar series at La Sorbonne University.

In our latest “Learning English with Human Beans” episode, discover the fascinating science of mind-body connections. Learn how thoughts and emotions directly impact physical health, explore innovative therapies like neurofeedback and hypnosis, and gain practical vocabulary to discuss stress, meditation, and holistic wellness in English. Your mind and body are constant conversation partners-join us to understand their language.

References:

- Benson, H., & Klipper, M. Z. (2000). The Relaxation Response. HarperCollins.

- Buckley, T., et al. (2015). “Angry outburst could trigger heart attack within hours.” European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care.

- Danner, D. D., Snowdon, D. A., & Friesen, W. V. (2001). “Positive Emotions in Early Life and Longevity: Findings from the Nun Study.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80(5), 804–813.

- Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind. Delta.

- Salminen, J., et al. (2023). “Assessment of the Mind–Body Connection: Preliminary Psychometric Properties of the Body–Mind Connection Questionnaire.” Psychosomatic Medicine.

- Shapiro, S. L., Carlson, L. E., Astin, J. A., & Freedman, B. (2006). “Mechanisms of Mindfulness.” Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(3), 373–386.

- Selye, H. (1956). The Stress of Life. McGraw-Hill.