The Use of Metaphors in Brain Scans

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Brain scan research and neral science aspects. Are there different neural networks that are operating with the spotlight versus the floodlight? And can you see those in scans? Yes. All three of these networks are identifiable from brain imaging. What's very cool about them is that they are mutually antagonistic. If all of a sudden we're directing our flashlight, flashlight to auditory information, like i'm ing to see, if, you know, i hear the door banging on the other side of my house, we'll still see that frontal and pariedal note but now a sud wer gainst the auditory cortex.

Research shows we are missing 50 percent of our lives because we aren’t paying attention. Many of us often feel mentally foggy, scattered, and overwhelmed. Why is it that no matter how hard you try, you seem to find yourself somewhere else — if you’re even aware you’ve drifted off to that place.

In this conversation with the acclaimed neuroscientist Amishi Jha, she recounts what her neuroscience research revealed, and shows why whether you’re simply browsing, talking to friends, or trying to stay focused in an important meeting, you can’t seem to manage to hang on to your attention.

Shermer and Jha discuss: the neuroscience of attention; what attention evolved to do; how stress, attention bias, negativity bias, thought flooding, and active listening affect attention; multitasking; the “flashlight” metaphor; mindfulness and well-being, and more…