The Power of the Mind

Hearing's believing... or is it? Listen to impossible sounds, find out what your ears have in common with a forest, and learn never to take your hearing for granted.

Bilingualism has been found to be related to various cognition and brain outcomes that may help us function more efficiently in the world we live in. It has also been argued to carry potential to protect our brains healthy for longer in our late adulthood: to what extend is this true?

With the NHS under pressure, we need better care for older people at home — but is technology the answer? Can a camera understand when Grandma needs a break from being watched? Can a robot understand that getting the cat out from under the bed or calling her son Henry is more important to her than the pill? More importantly, how can those designing AI truly know what makes someone feel safe psychologically? This talk will ponder whether we can create AI that is truly responsive to our psychological needs, especially for older people in the community.

Within each and every one of our lives, we can recall at least one major event, alongside a range of daily hassles. Ever wonder why some people still have higher levels of wellbeing - the secret lies in how our minds process it all. This talk will explore various concepts to show the power of our minds in determining our wellbeing, and discuss some science-backed means of enhancing our capacity to flourish.