Did you know that many emotions are processed in a specific part of the brain called the amygdala? This small almond-shaped structure plays a crucial role in processing emotional information and is especially active when we experience fear and anger. The way we feel emotions is also influenced by other parts of the brain –...
Why are we attracted to some people but not others? And why is attraction sometimes a bolt from the blue, while at others it’s a gentle, slow burn? Join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin in unraveling the tangle of factors that lead to attraction and love. Uncover the complex processes in your body triggered by...
Brand new to the Hen & Chicken- Altered State: Conversations for Grownups Altered State’s mission is to foster intelligent debate and stimulating thought through live talks and podcasts. They explore politics, pop culture, contemporary lifestyles, and a green future. They strive to inspire forward-thinking ideas and to cultivate a community for the curious and open-minded, bringing...
The traditional use of psychoactive plants and fungi for spiritual and shamanic rituals has occurred for thousands of years, whereas the Western scientific research of these substances has only been explored in the last 100 years, and prohibition stalled the last 50 years of this. In this talk you will be introduced to the science...
We are all in the pursuit of happiness. So what is it and where is it? In this talk we’ll be looking inside the brain and the mind to understand the science of happiness. We’ll learn from the locations and mechanisms of pleasure and reward in the brain and ask if this is happiness, and...
Have you ever wondered if a psychedelic experience could affect your sex and love life, or even hold the key to transformative couples therapy? Emerging research from Imperial College London suggests that psychedelics could indeed enhance partner communication, self-satisfaction, and sexual pleasure. Other studies have shown the promising role of MDMA in couples therapy. In...
