Schauer Thoughts

Welcome to the wonderful, winding world of Schauer Thoughts! This week we’re meandering through new research from MIT on the rest and digest system, as well as making a sharp turn into “womb envy.” Is the rest and digest system related to womb envy? Not really. I mean, potentially? There is definitely a glandular route through the endocrine system, but I’m not taking that road today! Today I’m just covering two separate topics because I wanted to! Huzzah.

Tear. Pour. Live More. Go to https://LIQUIDIV.com and get 20% off your first order with code SCHAUER at checkout.

“Wait, so what are today’s separate topics?”

Rest & digest and then “womb envy.”

Thank you again for joining me in the communal Schauer! There’s a joke to be made about “womb envy” and a “baby Schauer” - please let me know if you come up with anything solid! Enjoy the episode. 

Nuance for why I “don’t want to get philosophical,” spoiler! It’s not because I don’t like philosophy, it’s because we’re going to get into “zero-sum” thinking and game theory and this is where people are going to argue about what economic systems are the “best” and people feel *compelled* to play devil’s advocate. 

Resources: 

Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst - Robert M. Sapolsky

Could It Be ADHD or… Narcolepsy? - Discover Science, November/December 2025 Edition

Cancer Spreads at Night - Lea Milling Korsholm, Exploring Science

Squishy Math - Kelsey Houston-Edwards, Scientific American, Ultimate Math Edition, Fall/Winter 2025

The Denial of Death - Ernest Becker 

Your brain does something surprising when you don’t sleep

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260119234937.htm

Article from Jan. 20

Attentional failures after sleep deprivation are locked to joint neuromuscular, pupil and cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02098-8

Parietal alpha frequency shapes own-body perception by modulating the temporal integration of bodily signals 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-67657-w

Scientists Found the Brain Rhythm that Makes Your Body Feel Like Yours 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260114080325.htm#:~:text=Researchers%20at%20Karolinska%20Institutet%20studied,sense%20of%20self%20is%20disturbed.%22

REM alpha rhythm: diagnostic for narcolepsy? (2006 - a bit dated)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16751726/ 

FDA Clears First Blood test Used in Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-clears-first-blood-test-used-diagnosing-alzheimers-disease 

Europe’s Journal of Psychology

https://ejop.psychopen.eu/index.php/ejop/article/view/110/110.pdf
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You know what they say, fall down seven times, pursue a class action lawsuit against the establishment. Just kidding but not really (see sources linked below) this week we’re learning about the neuroscience, psychology, and *personal* philosophy of rejection to manufacture some good ol’ fashion luck. This is not a guide on gambling nor a get rich quick scheme, this is a reframe to get you all to take a chance on some weird opportunities to flourish or at least establish a sizable amount of lore.

As always, thank you for joining me in the communal Schauer, please know that I am not perceiving any of you. When I step into the weekly STEAM I can’t see anything beyond the computer in front of me. Wishing you all the best.

Check out Gabbies1000nos aka the woman who inspired this episode! 

 https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThRthGxf/

Gabbie, if you see this, you’ve inspired me and I’m wishing you nothing but luck on your journey!

Resources: 

Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst - Robert M. Sapolsky 

Squares & Sharps, Suckers & Sharks: The Science, Psychology & Philosophy of Gambling - Joseph Buchdahl 

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi 

What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change - Emily Falk

Your brain learns from rejection – here’s how it becomes your compass for connection

https://theconversation.com/your-brain-learns-from-rejection-heres-how-it-becomes-your-compass-for-connection-249124

Neural responses to social rejection reflect dissociable learning about relational value and reward

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2400022121

The Psychological Health Benefits of Accepting Negative Emotions and Thoughts: Laboratory, Diary, and Longitudinal Evidence

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5767148/

Strengthen Your Mind the Way You Strengthen Your Body

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/building-resilient-minds/202601/strengthen-your-mind-the-way-you-strengthen-your-body#:~:text=The%20Window%20of%20Tolerance:%20Whereand%20even%20grow%20from%20it.

The Neuroplasticity of First Attempts

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-from-a-neuroscience-perspective/202509/the-neuroplasticity-of-first-attempts

The Luck Field Manual - “How to Manufacture Luck”

https://substack.com/@polymathinvestor/note/c-194112619

The Spirit of Hope - Byung Chul Han

https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=2YMgEQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT2&ots=l4PW6LyQQ8&sig=bGGFu0gUVQv3hqfvSS0d0ZyBjP4#v=onepage&q&f=false

— My Resources to Help You All Get Lucky! —

On the Art and Craft of Doing Science - Kenneth Catania

How to Find a Research Gap - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThrD8Q8L/ 

Nightshade - https://nightshade.cs.uchicago.edu/whatis.html

Tool for artists :)

Learn More About Adaptive Yoga - Mindbodysolutions.org

Learn More About Class Action Lawsuits - ClassAction.org 

Job Posting Websites to Check Out

Hiring.cafe - https://hiring.cafe/

Welcome to the Jungle - https://us.welcometothejungle.com/?utm_source=foundation&utm_campaign=redirect_modal&utm_content=en 

especially great if you work in tech!

LinkedIn Job Search Hacks - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThryKvGR/ 

Check Out Audrey Gidman’s Substack On Art Residencies 

A non-exhaustive list of writing (and art) residencies in the so-called US https://substack.com/home/post/p-162701566 

Another non-exhaustive list of writing (and art) residencies in the so-called US

https://audreygidman.substack.com/p/another-non-exhaustive-list-of-writing?r=1cyxix 
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Well howdy my curious crew, today we’re taking somewhat of an insightful detour on our discussion of the rest and digest system! Our mode of transportation? Metaphor! We’re using figurative language to figure out what should already be widely known. 

For anyone new here, we’ll be discussing neuroscience, math, fluid dynamics, lateral learning and inhibition - we cover a lot of ground. Feel free to trilateral my position on information silos and receive a high five when you get here.

Apologies to those who aren’t mathematically inclined, sometimes you have to “take it there” to prove a point, coordinate frustration. 

Also, please feel free to leave your favorite marching band performance! They’re so hypnotic and incredibly impressive, I’d be honored to have them in the communal Schauer.

Make sure to rate my 5 stars on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, any place you get your podcasts!

Resources:

‘Next Albert Einstein’ is 32-year-old woman who turned down $1.1m offer from university

https://www.ladbible.com/news/science/next-albert-einstein-sabrina-gonzalez-pasterski-327566-20260112

I know, I never thought I’d cite LadBible either…



Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Solved Brain Disorders and How We Can Change That - Nicole C. Rust 

This Is What It Sounds Like - Susan Rogers & Ogi Ogas

On the Art and Craft of Doing Science - Kenneth Catania 

The Meaning of Proofs: Mathematics as Storytelling - Gabriele Lolli

Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement - Ashley Shew 

Neurogastronomy: How the Brain Creates Flavor and Why It Matters - Gordon Shepherd
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Welcome to the first Schauer of 2026, this week we’re discussing “brain washing” (a function of cerebrospinal fluid during sleep states) and integrating some g-dang information on the rest and digest system! Get ready for a gut-load of neuroscience and gastroenterology as well as a crude but functional amount of chemistry. Make sure to take your fiber after the communal STEAM session as sudden, public motility is frowned upon in most cultures.

I do apologize for mispronouncing molecules and neurological components, since I’m self-taught I don’t often get the experience to say these words out loud. Feel free to spell anything phonetically in the comments or DM me an *labeled* audio clip on Instagram. 

Part two coming next Wednesday!

Resources:

This Is What It Sounds Like - Susan Rogers & Ogi Ogas

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams - Matthew Walker PhD

The Mind Gut Connection: How the Hidden Conversation Within Our Bodies Impacts Our Mood, Our Choice, and Our Overall Health - Emeran Mayer, MD

Fragmented: A Doctor’s Quest to Piece Together American Health Care - Ilana Yurkiewicz

Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Solved Brain Disorders — And How We Can Change That - Nicole C. Rust

The Beauty Molecule: Introducing Neurocerticals, the Breakthrough for Ageless Beauty - Nicholas Perricone, MD

How Your Brain’s Nightly Cleanse Keeps It Healthy 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-sleep-cleans-the-brain-and-keeps-you-healthy/

Reduced Brainstem Volume is Associated with Mobility Impairments in Youth with Cerebral Palsy

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9949252/#:~:text=The%20study%20also%20found%20that%20the%20reduced,Respiration%20*%20Cardiac%20function%20*%20Reflex%20control

Sleep and the heart: Interoceptive differences linked to poor experiential sleep quality in anxiety and depression

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5606300/

Source: Slow-wave sleep, acetylcholine, and memory consolidation

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.0400237101#:~:text=These%20results%20suggest%20that%20the,1). 

Additional source: How is Sleep Regulated?

https://www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/sleep/2012/how-is-sleep-regulated#:~:text=The%20balance%20of%20neurotransmitters%20in,external%20sensory%20stimuli%20produces%20dreams.

Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5: A Potential Target for Neuropathic Pain Treatment

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11808587/
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Welcome back to the communal Schauer! This week we’re doing a part two to how to make your new years resolutions actually stick and hint; we need to efficiently, effectively, and strategically utilize saliency. We want to find the most direct route, give ourselves guardrails, space expectations, and leave a little *rewarding* bread crumb trail so our brain and body (together) keep showing up! I’m wishing you all nothing but the absolute best, you can absolutely do this. Do not beat yourself up if you flub in January, just keep it pushing. 

Thank you all for making this year an absolute delight! I cannot stress how much you all have made my learning and growth journey so incredibly worthwhile. Your belief in me, a somewhat total stranger, has been invaluable. Please absolutely utilize that with yourself and your goals. I have received but a fraction of your conviction and I can only imagine what you can achieve if you aim that power, that consistency, back at yourself. 

That being said, I hope you all have a wonderful New Year’s, we’ll chat in 2026!

Resources:

The Science of Nutrition: Debunk the Diet Myths and Learn How to Eat Well for Health and Happiness - Rhiannon Lambert

What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change - Emily Falk

On Muscle : The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters - Bonnie Tsui

This Is What It Sounds Like - Susan Rogers & Ogi Ogas

Reparenting: Seeking Healing for Your Inner Child

https://positivepsychology.com/reparenting/

Difference between expectations and standards

https://theeverymom.com/expectations-versus-standards-with-kids/

5 Rules for Setting SMART goals

https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/5-rules-for-setting-smart-goals#:~:text=You%20may%20have%20learned%20about,met%20in%20the%20time%20allotted 

Substack Recommendations:

Finding the Best (free) Resources for Your 2025 Self-Study Goals

https://substack.com/home/post/p-171479150

Where to find media to consume instead of doomscrolling

https://substack.com/home/post/p-168039199

Learn for Fun or Free or Fun & Free

https://substack.com/home/post/p-175242020
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