On June 10th, 1906, American physician Mary Putnam Jacobi died of a brain tumor. Her death, similar to her life, was not without careful contemplation. Dr. Jacobi detailed her own demise in an account, titled “Descriptions of the Early Symptoms of the Meningeal Tumor Compressing the Cerebellum. From Which the Writer Died. Written by Herself.” […]
Category Archives: Culture
Remembering Oliver Sacks
posted by socogal42
To celebrate the life and work of Dr. Oliver Sacks, the man who inspired many of us to study the brain, some of the members of NeuWriteSD have chosen a favorite piece or two to share and speak about. Though I’ve been reading his words for over a decade now, Oliver Sacks’ final piece […]
Who wants to be an astronaut?
posted by stephnelli
Sensory deprivation. Cultural isolation. Physical confinement. Throw in relearning every menial task for microgravity, the lack of privacy and the disturbed sleep-wake cycle, and you can be sure your life will never be the same (1,2). Yeah, the job description for being an astronaut is a little intense. Especially since you also need to be intelligent, physically fit, and, […]
Technicalities of the Tingles: The science of sounds that feel good. #ASMR
posted by kkiritah
“I wanted someone speaking in lightly accented English. And I wanted them talking to me about jewelry, slowly and deliberately.” — Andrea Seigel, This American Life #491: Tribes (aired March 29, 2013) Now that NeuWriteSD’s gender month is over, I thought I’d ease our readers back into the usual routine with a scientifically-stimulating but slightly […]
Subtle sexism: Stereotypes and how they shape us
posted by Melissa Troyer
Gender stereotypes are pervasive. Though Disney has recently come out with some kick-ass princesses (my personal favorites are the icy Elsa and fiery Anna, who don’t need a prince to save them in Frozen), enter any major toy store and you can still find row upon row of pink paraphernalia and sparkly tiaras. Trying to […]
“Mind Change”: Does Technology Really Harm Our Brains? A NeuWrite Reads Special Report
posted by socogal42
When I was growing up, there was this idea that the things we did on the Internet were part of a life separate from the one in the “real world” (most literally seen in the online game “Second Life”). The people you met and the things you did weren’t really part of you and the […]
Add A Little Romance (Novel) To This Valentine’s Day- Part 2!
posted by socogal42
One of my favorite things about reading today’s romance novels (and if you see me reading my Kindle, there’s at least a 75% chance I’m reading one) is that women are no longer confined to the role of society belle or ditzy beauty. Heroines are becoming just that- women who kick ass mentally as well […]
Add A Little Romance (Novel) To Your Valentine’s Day- Part 1!
posted by socogal42
Is there a more maligned genre of literature than the romance novel? For years it’s been made fun of as the primary choice of literature for middle aged spinster cat ladies everywhere, as something to sneer and scoff at. No more. The image of romance novels is changing, and changing fast. The genre has moved […]
Hearing voices: Social context influences psychosis
posted by Melissa Troyer
“People are always selling the idea that people with mental illness are suffering. I think madness can be an escape. If things are not so good, you maybe want to imagine something better.” These are the words of John Nash, Jr., the Nobel Laureate who inspired the book and the movie A Beautiful Mind and […]

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