The first time neuroscientist Nicole Vignola held a brain in her hands, she thought that within it lay an entire person's life. This moment sparked a cascade of questions: What makes us who we are? How much do our beliefs shape our lives? Can we rewire our brains to change our habits and improve our well-being? As the author of the book Neurohabits: Break the Loop, Transform Your Thoughts, and Create Lasting Change (2025), she believes the key to it all lies in brain plasticity: "We all have habits and behaviors that hold us back from reaching our full potential. Thanks to neuroscience, we now understand how to change our minds to change our lives." Nicole Vignola not only explains how brain plasticity works, but also shows how we can use our behavior, attention, and thoughts to make meaningful and lasting changes in our lives. "Changing habits, overcoming fear, breaking the loop of negative thoughts, getting out of the stress cycle… all of that is possible," she says. And she adds: "If there are habits and behaviors standing in the way of the person you want to become, don't believe you're stuck. With attention and intention, you can become whoever you want to be. The habits you build today will determine who you are in the future."

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.