Hallucinations, perceptions in the absence of objectively identifiable stimuli, illustrate the constructive nature of perception. Here, we highlight the role of prior beliefs as a critical elicitor of hallucinations. Recent empirical work from independent laboratories shows strong, overly precise priors can engender hallucinations in healthy subjects and that individuals who hallucinate in the real world […]

Pride, shame, and guilt color our highest and lowest personal moments. Recent evidence suggests that these self-conscious emotions are neurocognitive adaptations crafted by natural selection. Specifically, self-conscious emotions solve adaptive problems of social valuation by promoting the achievement of valued actions and characteristics to increase others’ valuations of the individual (pride); limiting information-triggered devaluation (shame); […]

Brady and Crockett [1] ‘agree that moral outrage can have positive social consequences [2], but suggest that online outrage has more downsides than upsides’. At a high level, we take their commentary to ask: is online outrage on balance beneficial or harmful (i.e., for collective action)? And answer: harmful. Read Full Article (External Site) Dr. […]