Recent columns at "The Fallible Mind"
Richard E. Cytowic, MD MFA
Professor of Neurology @ George Washington University | Creative Writing
Stuff to Read While Isolating — 11of my recent columns at Psychology Today
1. Tips For Emotional Self–Management in These Uncertain Times
Instead of ruminating, why not have some tools handy to calm yourself and take the focus off negative thoughts?
2. Sneezing an Unlikely Coronavirus Symptom: A Comparison Guide
Testing can sort out seasonal allergy from common colds and the coronavirus, but what to do given the lack of tests?
3. Can Apps Like Zoom Replace Face-to-Face Interaction?
Zoom and similar apps leave much to be desired in satisfying our need to connect. Even reading does a better job of making us feel connected.
4. Would You Dip Your Testicles in Soy Sauce for Science?
A TikTok user urges men to slather their testicles in foodstuffs “for science.” Misreading the news leads to hilarious results, yet in the end a kernel of truth may be stranger than fiction.
5. Does Loneliness Eat at You? Screen Media May Be to Blame.
Everybody has someplace to go, even if only with the crowd on the street. Loneliness is conquered by the company of others and by reaching out. Ironically, the instant gratification of tech stunts your ability to connect and empathize.
6. Do No?tropics Actually Help Alzheimer's and Other Ills?
Life hackers make dubious claims for all sorts of cognitive enhancers. A small number have withstood scrutiny. More evidence-based research lies ahead to repair failing minds.
7. Without iPhones Can German Education Save Kids From Screens?
Social media competes with brain networks for social intelligence. Outdoor learning and self–directed education do wonders to both socialize kids and build resilience.
8. Too Many Reasons Why Daylight Saving Time Is Bad for You
Daylight Savings Time goes against our natural rhythms, with ill effects—most notably in those short on sleep beforehand.
9. Why Loneliness Hurts So Much
Close relationships aren’t a luxury, but a necessity. The need for social connection just as innate as the need for food, sleep, and air. Affection affects mental, physical, and spiritual health, and the stress of balancing obligations can leave even the most social individuals among us longing for deeper connections.
10. How Facial Botox Injections Change Your Brain—Literally
The limited facial paralysis caused by Botox injections alters the brain’s sensory maps of the hands.
11. Shielding Children from Hard Truths Hurts Rather Than Helps
Well–meaning parents try to shield kids from unpleasant facts, assuming that uncongenial facts will upset and harm them. But evidence to the contrary shows how mistaken they are.
You can read previous “Fallible Mind” columns here.