Neuroscience

The Dopamine Myth: Why Social Media Isn't Actually Hijacking Your Brain

You’ve probably heard it a thousand times: “Social media is hijacking your dopamine system!” It’s become one of those facts everyone knows. Except… it’s not quite accurate.

The Teenage Brain: It's Not Broken, It's Under Construction

Every time a teenager does something risky or impulsive, someone inevitably says “their prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed yet.” While technically true, this framing misses something important: the adolescent brain isn’t deficient—it’s optimized for a specific developmental phase.

Why You Remember What You Remember

Your memory isn’t a video recorder. It’s more like a creative writer who takes some notes and then fills in the gaps with whatever seems plausible. This is both a bug and a feature of human cognition.

Your Attention Span Isn't Shrinking

You’ve probably heard that humans now have shorter attention spans than goldfish. It’s a compelling headline, but it’s also completely made up. The original “study” doesn’t exist, and the comparison doesn’t even make scientific sense.