HabitHacks: Can we make bad memories better?

Ever feel your heart drop into your anal cavity as you set foot in the dentist’s office? Or the eye doctor? Or a church? This “associative learning” can span feelings as mild as the above annoyance all the way to the after-war torture of PTSD. While some don’t mind (or have the wherewithal to attempt) doing the inner work to re-associate our miserable memories into better new ones, it can.. Read More

Optogenetics: Can we Eternally Sunshine bad habits?

Quick! Without thinking: Which bad habit you wish you could break right now? Whether you’re a smoker or a serial relationshipper, you probably couldn’t answer that straight away. Not “without thinking”. Ironically, our habits seem to happen exactly that way – without us giving ’em much thought – like we’re on autopilot. Maybe we reach for a bowl of candy, a cigarette, or a wine glass when we’re stressed. Not.. Read More