Applied Neuroscience

Learning Science

The Neuroscience of Gratitude: Brain Chemistry, The Gap and The Gain, and the Perfect Nap

Mike Palmer returns to the Thanksgiving table to serve up a side of applied neuroscience. Powered by the recently released Gemini 3, he examines the “gratitude cocktail,” a potent neurochemical mix of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin that mimics the effects of antidepressants and strengthens social bonds. Beyond the chemistry, Mike explores the psychological framework of⁠ The Gap and the Gain⁠ by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. He explains how measuring progress against an ideal future creates unhappiness, while measuring against the past generates resilience and satisfaction.

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