BRAIN BASICS
Priming
How recent experiences bias what comes next
Your brain is constantly being shaped by what it was just exposed to, even when you don't realize it. Priming is what happens when encountering one stimulus influences how you respond to the next one. It works below conscious awareness, subtly steering your perceptions, decisions, and even your behavior.
In real life...
Use priming to your advantage before important tasks. If you need to be creative, spend a few minutes browsing inspiring artwork or reading imaginative writing. Before a difficult conversation, review notes about positive outcomes. You're essentially warming up the relevant neural networks.