All In The Mind

Turn on, tune in and drop out … that was the catch cry of U.S. psychologist Timothy Leary in the 1960s. By 1966 psychedelics were demonised and banned, but now—in controlled scientific settings—there's a psychedelic 'renaissance' in mental health therapy. Early research on the use of ecstasy in the treatment of stress disorders looks promising.

Having children can be wonderful but there’s no doubt that parenting can be challenging, especially for women with mental illness. We hear about the lives of mothers diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder—it’s a disorder defined by extreme emotional instability and is surrounded by stigma. The treatment can make a real difference to the wellbeing of families.

Empathy is the power of understanding other people, which in turn allows societies to co-operate and function. But a leading British media executive is concerned that it’s lacking in today’s society, and that the arts and popular culture can bridge the gap.

Our memories form the basis of our sense of self. When a brain disorder damages memory, it’s not clear what remains of the person when some of those memories are missing. A neurologist from the UK explores memory and identity through the moving stories of her patients.

What does it take to drag yourself off the couch and get motivated on a fitness regime? In all areas of life, to be well motivated we need to feel autonomous and find our own internal rewards. We hear from a renowned motivational psychologist and a personal trainer about what works.

When refugees first arrive in Australia they’re understandably relieved to be relatively safe. But significant trauma—from their past as well as the daily stresses of their lives here—can cause real disruption to their wellbeing. Top 5 scientist in residence Belinda Liddell teams up with us to discuss her research into the refugee experience and its impact on mental health and the brain.

If you’ve ever been depressed you may have wondered—is this the real me? And if anti-depressants work for you, do they get you back in touch with who you really are or make you feel more inauthentic? The findings from a University of Cambridge study suggest that how authentic you feel when being treated for depression may be relevant to your recovery.

We're so bombarded by our mobile devices that our ability to pay attention is declining—and extensive research on leadership shows a crisis of engagement in the workforce. Leaders are not satisfying their employees’ needs to find engagement in what they do. Hear about the three most important qualities a leader needs to help solve the crisis.

If you love your pet dog, do they love you? This question intrigued Professor of Neuroscience Gregory Berns. He wanted to know what it’s really like to be a dog—if they feel the same emotions and have similar thoughts to us. So he persuaded his own dog to get into an MRI machine for a brain scan. He’s now trained 100 dogs to go into the scanner and they think it’s a fun game.

Adam Ladell was delighted to be runner-up in The Voice on Australian TV a few years ago. He’s a talented and confident singer—but offstage it’s a slightly different story. He caused a stir at school with his involuntary repetitive movements and loud, inappropriate vocal twitches which are part of his Tourette syndrome. Adam talks to us about working with Tourette’s and developing his performance s...

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Optimism may protect you from depression. But pessimism could be roughly equivalent to smoking more than 2 packs of cigarettes a day. Known as The Father of Positive Psychology, Professor Martin Seligman continues his talk to an Australian audience about how to promote human flourishing, and positive education.

During the 1960s the field of psychology focussed on the science of how past trauma creates present symptoms, and how to reduce people’s misery. Professor Martin Seligman wanted to change that focus. He’s become known as the Father of Positive Psychology, and he’s had a profound influence worldwide. In Part 1 of our 2 programs with Martin Seligman, hear him address an exclusive audience in Austral...

Throughout art history we see a culture of expanded perceptions from artists like Kandinsky, to musicians like Duke Ellington. Artist Nina Norden sees colours and shapes in association with just about everything she experiences. In fact, she can’t imagine how things can exist without a colour and a shape—she has synaesthesia and it forms the basis of her art.

For some people the number six is red and music evokes a range of colours and shapes. Seeing sounds and hearing colours is one type of synesthesia—where the senses are crossed.  Meet an 11-year-old girl who was surprised to find out that not everyone sees colourful auras around people, and who feels that numbers have colours and personalities.

We take it for granted that we have a common understanding of the world. But there are some rare and strange brain disorders which offer a very different insight into our very existence. Their experiences and the latest research illustrate how the brain can shape our lives in unexpected and sometimes brilliant or alarming ways.

If you’ve ever witnessed someone having an epileptic seizure you’ll know how frightening it is. And if you have epilepsy you’ll know that the unpredictability of seizures severely impacts your life. It’s like an ‘electrical problem’ in your brain. Researchers are now using AI technology to develop a wearable seizure forecaster.

We humans have ‘creative software’ in our brains—so says neuroscientist and author David Eagleman. We're driven to invent and innovate, yet at the same time we’re attracted to the familiar—and our creativity lives in that tension.

An extra from All in the Mind—and RN's Big Ideas program with a panel discussion moderated by Lynne Malcolm. From at the 2018 World Science Festival—Probing the Eternal Sunshine: Memories and Fears.

May 1968 saw over a million people protesting on the streets of Paris. Some say it caused a social revolution, and things were never the same again. We look at extensive research on protest behaviour, and what makes community action effective.

The brain is shaped and changed by our lives, our genes, and our hormones. Neuroscientist Dr Sarah McKay investigates the influence of female biology and hormones on the brains of women as they move through key stages of life.

We all have different sides to ourselves. The angry self, the anxious self, the sad self … and then there’s the compassionate self. We head to a workshop which explores the power of cultivating compassion in those who hear voices, and in their therapists.

Billions of people across the world and throughout time have held strong metaphysical beliefs—whether religious in nature, or more supernatural or spiritual. This year’s World Science Festival dared to ask what science can tell us about religion, spirituality and our belief instinct—without passing judgement.

Some surprises from the updated results of a famous psychological test involving marshmallows—and, when it comes to mood and happiness, teens of today may be on the brink of a mental health crisis—due to the widespread use of smart technology.

All in the Mind would like to share with you a story from the ABC podcast Tall Tales and True. Vanessa O'Neill tells the story about being with her father as he gradually declined due to Alzheimer's disease. It was a long, drawn-out period of grief, for the sufferer and for the whole family. Vanessa's story is a heartfelt, first-hand account of losing a parent. And note that the story also contain...

The placebo effect demonstrates that the mind-body interaction can be powerful. Placebos can turn on the body’s natural biological processes to relieve a range of conditions, and in the future deception may not even be necessary.