We are in information overload. AI, social media, 24-hour news cycles, and even podcasts. How do you sift the good information from the bad? In this episode, host Michelle Cross Smith walks you through the foundations of critical thinking, with a focus on the critical thinking skill of evaluating information. There’s lots to learn, so check out the Resources page of incredible-mind.org for videos and downloadable infographics to support your learning.

Episode Guide:

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:26 What is Critical Thinking
• 3:34 Evaluating Info- the Detective
• 5:17 Evaluating Info- The Judge
• 6:57 Going Deeper into Red Flags and Fallacies
• 7:30 Partial Pictures: Incomplete Info, False Dilemma & Circular Argument
• 9:48 But, Numbers! Questionable Data, Cherry-Picking & Random Numbers
• 11:36 Emotional Crutches: Blame Game, Pity Party and Moral Equivalence
• 14:45 Straight-Up Lies: Conspiracy Theories and Disinformation
• 16:49 Other Common Fallacies: Bandwagon, False Authority, Straw Man & Slippery Slope
• 19:41 Conclusion and Credits

Where does knowledge live in our brains? And how do we mentally connect areas of knowledge to solve problems and come up with new ideas? In this fascinating conversation with neuroscientist Yoed Kennet, he answers these questions and more, sharing insights into creative thinking, aging and the brain, and how the limits of AI’s knowledge impacts its users. This episode is an awesome introduction to many important neuroscience concepts- you won’t want to miss it!

NOTE: Season 2 episodes will be released every two weeks.

Episode Guide

0:00 Introduction

2:52 Cognitive and neural components of memory / knowledge

9:50 What is association?

12:35 Cognitive Network Science

15:56 Semantic memory in creative people

22:41 How to make your memory structure more flexible

23:48 Aging and knowledge

25:40 The limitations of AI’s knowledge

27:07 AI creativity studies

33:39 The Riddle studies- knowledge networks evolving

39:04 Conclusion & Credits

Ready to change how you see the space around you? In this Season 1 closer for Incredible Mind, Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics post-doc researcher Vasiliki Meletaki explains neuroaesthetics from the perspective of architecture and nature. In this conversation, we revisit the aesthetic triad, explore the three psychological dimensions of architecture and design, and learn how we can apply these insights in the real world. You’ll be surprised how this information changes your awareness of the built environment!

Episode Guide

0:00 Intro

2:03 Architecture, nature, and the Aesthetic Triad

9:30 Impact of personal experience on our perception of spaces

11:17 Philadelphia’s unique architecture

14:54 What people generally like or dislike in building design

16:08 Coherence, fascination and hominess

22:24 Biophilia and nature

29:33 Applying neuroarchitecture to improve quality of life

31:58 The nuance of research results and how to use them

34:24 Conclusion