Under the Cortex

How do you design a study that captures human experience as it unfolds in real time? In this episode, Under the Cortex explores the Experience Sampling Method (ESM), a powerful approach for studying psychological...

Why do some people struggle to control their actions when emotions run high? What happens in the brain when impulsive decisions take over? Why do some brains lose control under high arousal, while others stay composed...

Most linguistic datasets focus on written text, but what about the way we actually speak? TalkBank, the world’s largest open-access repository of spoken language, is helping researchers understand everything from child...

Scientific credibility depends on valid research. But with growing concerns about replication failures and questionable research practices, how can scientists ensure their findings stand up to scrutiny? In this episode...

Do young children prefer to rely on their memory, or do they take the easier route and use external aids like lists and reminders? How do they decide when to put in the mental effort and when to lean on available tools...

Is there a single explanation that accounts for all addictive behaviors, or is the reality more complex? How can quantitative classification methods help uncover the nuances of substance dependence? In this episode...

Psychological research often focuses on disparities, but how do the populations studied impact the reliability of findings? In this episode of Under the Cortex, Özge Gürcanlı Fischer Baum hosts Wen Wei Loh and Dongning...

Children often surprise us with the details they remember—sometimes even better than adults! But what if their ability to learn comes not from focus, but from a broader, less selective attention? This episode unpacks...

Although meditation apps are gaining popularity, a clear link between usage dosage and intervention outcomes has yet to be established. In this episode of Under the Cortex, host Özge Gürcanlı Fischer Baum teams up with...

As populations age, the need for informal caregivers is increasing. As individuals step up to provide care for loved ones in need, they face their own mental health challenges. In this episode, Under the Cortex features...

How do the five love languages hold up to empirical research? How do psychological researchers feel about self-censorship? How does gender equality vary by country globally? Tune in to hear highlights from this year’s...

When children play, how do they develop the essential skill of cooperation? What methods do they use to solve complex problems while working in teams? How do they approach a threshold dilemma when their personal...

What potential do everyday devices, like smartwatches, have in transforming the management and treatment of eating disorders? In this episode, Under the Cortex explores how commonly used technology, such as heart rate...

What drives the onset of alcohol dependence in midlife? How does it present unique challenges, and what strategies can help when it disrupts the lives of individuals and their families? In this episode of Under the...

How does the brain’s memory function change as we grow older? What recent discoveries are helping us understand these changes better? In this episode of Under the Cortex, Özge Gürcanlı Fischer Baum welcomes Karen...