Category: Brain
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From Local to Global: Rethinking Our Mindset for Progress
Read more: From Local to Global: Rethinking Our Mindset for ProgressI remember when the song Around the World by the French electronic music duo Daft Punk (1997) was trending in France. I was in middle school, and the music video stood out as something truly unique. Each group of characters in the video represented a different instrument. According to Michel Gondry’s notes, the robots represent…
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The Impact of Sleep on Our Perception and Well-Being
Read more: The Impact of Sleep on Our Perception and Well-BeingThe movie Ring by Hideo Nakata left a profound impact on me, particularly in how I viewed sleep. Now that I understand more about the brain and its functions, I realize how incredibly powerful it is and why it deserves to be at the center of our attention. I first watched Ring during high school,…
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The Hidden Costs of Addiction: My Journey with Final Fantasy XIV
Read more: The Hidden Costs of Addiction: My Journey with Final Fantasy XIVIt’s not easy to write about Final Fantasy XIV—a game I’ve undoubtedly spent the most time on. When I decided to take a break, I captured a screenshot to reflect on my gaming hours. Written in Japanese, it recorded 218 days, 9 hours, and 3 minutes—a staggering total of 5232 hours. I accumulated this within…
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The Power of Neuroplasticity: A Path to Lifelong Learning and Personal Growth
Read more: The Power of Neuroplasticity: A Path to Lifelong Learning and Personal GrowthI don’t really remember how I started watching his podcasts on YouTube, but Andrew Huberman’s podcasts are always a pleasure to watch or listen to. For those who are not familiar with him, he is a neuroscientist and professor at Stanford University. He begins his podcasts by telling his mission is to provide at no…
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Rediscovering The Shawshank Redemption: Reflections on Society and Basic Needs
Read more: Rediscovering The Shawshank Redemption: Reflections on Society and Basic NeedsI first watched The Shawshank Redemption, directed by Frank Darabont, on French TV during my youth. Recently, I rewatched it, this time in its original language, English, to see how my memories of the film held up. Memory is fascinating—our brain doesn’t work like a video camera. Instead, it reshapes memories over time, influenced by…
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Battle Royale: A Deep Critique of Society and the Future of Generations
Read more: Battle Royale: A Deep Critique of Society and the Future of GenerationsI watched Battle Royale on the recommendation of friends during my university years when I was studying Japanese. The movie sparked controversy but was also widely praised, notably by Quentin Tarantino, who listed it as one of his favorite films of the past two decades. Set in a dystopian future after a recession, a totalitarian…
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Space Brothers: A Journey Beyond Rivalry
Read more: Space Brothers: A Journey Beyond RivalryI was recommended the manga Space Brothers by Chūya Koyama, and its premise intrigued me enough to give it a try. As the title implies, the story revolves around two brothers who dreamt of going to space as children. The younger brother, Hibito, successfully becomes an astronaut for JAXA, while the older brother, Mutta, faces…
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Cool Runnings: A Tale of Culture, Dreams, and Unity
Read more: Cool Runnings: A Tale of Culture, Dreams, and UnityWhile browsing Disney Plus, I stumbled upon Cool Runnings by Jon Turteltaub—a movie that brought a smile to my face before I even hit play. Watching it again (this time not dubbed in French) reminded me of the unique charm that 90s movies had. It’s short, uplifting, and leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.…
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The Inspirational World of Yowamushi Pedal by Wataru Watanabe
Read more: The Inspirational World of Yowamushi Pedal by Wataru WatanabeI first encountered the manga Yowamushi Pedal when I joined Cannondale, an American bicycle company known for its high-performance bikes used in events like the UCI Road World Championships. Famous cyclists such as Peter Sagan have ridden these bikes. At the time, I didn’t even know how to ride a standard bicycle—I simply hadn’t had…
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L’Enfer by Stromae: A Reflection on Depression
Read more: L’Enfer by Stromae: A Reflection on DepressionI was living in Japan when Stromae’s song L’Enfer was released, creating a buzz as it debuted in a unique way—during a live interview on French national news. Stromae, whose name is the reverse of “maestro” in French slang (verlan), is a Belgian artist with roots in Rwanda and Flanders. Drawing inspiration from Jacques Brel…