Science of Choice

Education

8 Tips for Learning a New Skill Effectively

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on November 28, 2023

Lifelong learners get great satisfaction from pushing themselves to develop new skills.

Lifelong learners get great satisfaction from pushing themselves to develop new skills.

Aging

How Music Can Keep Aging Brains Healthy

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on October 26, 2023

Music can help us train our brains to delay progressive cognitive decline.

Music can help us train our brains to delay progressive cognitive decline.

Depression

How Music Affects Us Emotionally

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on September 27, 2023

Music expresses emotion by somehow imitating the dynamics of our inner life.

Music expresses emotion by somehow imitating the dynamics of our inner life.

Creativity

5 Ways We Can Experience Rhythm

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on August 31, 2023

In rhythmic experience, our bodies often engage with the music consciously or unconsciously.

In rhythmic experience, our bodies often engage with the music consciously or unconsciously.

Creativity

How to Cultivate an Aesthetic Mindset

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on August 1, 2023

Arts and aesthetics can improve well-being and enhance our ability to learn and flourish.

Arts and aesthetics can improve well-being and enhance our ability to learn and flourish.

Chronic Pain

How Music Can Alleviate Your Pain

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on June 28, 2023

Research suggests that music can be a complementary alternative for chronic pain treatment.

Research suggests that music can be a complementary alternative for chronic pain treatment.

Chronic Pain

Determinants of Pain Behavior

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on June 26, 2023

Pain as an experience is influenced by various factors involving direct incoming sensory information along with psychological factors.

Pain as an experience is influenced by various factors involving direct incoming sensory information along with psychological factors.

Catastrophizing

6 Reasons Why Some People Feel Pain More Deeply

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on May 1, 2023

Negative emotions and limited emotional awareness can contribute to greater pain and poorer adjustment.

Negative emotions and limited emotional awareness can contribute to greater pain and poorer adjustment.

Placebo

7 Psychological Factors Affecting Pain Perception

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on April 7, 2023

Cognitive and emotional influences affect how much agony we feel.

Cognitive and emotional influences affect how much agony we feel.

Empathy

The Role of Music in Promoting Our Empathic Reactions

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on March 23, 2023

Musical training can act as a tool to regulate emotion and promote empathic behaviors.

Musical training can act as a tool to regulate emotion and promote empathic behaviors.

Openness

5 Factors Influencing Aesthetic Appreciation

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on February 22, 2023

Aesthetic tastes can reflect deeper aspects of ourselves—and also reveal certain qualities of other people.

Aesthetic tastes can reflect deeper aspects of ourselves—and also reveal certain qualities of other people.

Environment

The Mental Benefits of Seeking Awe

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on January 30, 2023

When we feel wonder at something truly incredible, we perceive ourselves as smaller and less significant in relation to the rest of the world.

When we feel wonder at something truly incredible, we perceive ourselves as smaller and less significant in relation to the rest of the world.

Personality

5 Things Your Taste in Music Reveals About You

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on December 26, 2022

People select musical environments that reflect their personalities, attitudes, and emotions.

People select musical environments that reflect their personalities, attitudes, and emotions.

Health

Kindness and Its Benefits

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on December 6, 2022

Kindness toward others can boost our own physical and mental health.

Kindness toward others can boost our own physical and mental health.

Anxiety

6 Sources of Stage Fright

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on November 27, 2022

Mental preparation is as important as technical mastery to enhance one’s capacity to manage anxiety comfortably.

Mental preparation is as important as technical mastery to enhance one’s capacity to manage anxiety comfortably.

Depression

How Listening to Music Affects Your Mood

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on November 8, 2022

Music can be seen as a coping resource that leads to a feeling of empowerment and provides possibilities for emotion regulation.

Music can be seen as a coping resource that leads to a feeling of empowerment and provides possibilities for emotion regulation.

Motivation

6 Tips for Achieving Long-Term Goals

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on October 19, 2022

The key to reaching difficult, long-term goals and developing the necessary motivation is to start with small acts.

The key to reaching difficult, long-term goals and developing the necessary motivation is to start with small acts.

Stress

6 Ways Music Can Reduce Your Stress

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on October 10, 2022

Music is an easily available resource for the regulation of our emotions, moods, and stress. Here's how it works.

Music is an easily available resource for the regulation of our emotions, moods, and stress. Here's how it works.

Fear

7 Reasons Why Some People Feel Pain More Strongly

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on September 28, 2022

All pain is real, but it is also true that pain is constructed in the brain and that we can have some control over it.

All pain is real, but it is also true that pain is constructed in the brain and that we can have some control over it.

Stress

5 Ways Music Can Empower You

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on September 12, 2022

Listening to music can produce intense pleasure in the brain’s reward systems, commonly referred to as chills.

Listening to music can produce intense pleasure in the brain’s reward systems, commonly referred to as chills.