We had the honor of welcoming an extraordinary guest to our university – Dr. Yulia Golland from Reichman University in Israel. In her lecture and specialized workshop, she offered a captivating perspective on how the brain processes uncertainty, surprise, and spontaneous mind-wandering, blending neuroscience with everyday life and mindfulness practice.
Last month, we had the pleasure of welcoming a distinguished guest to our university – Dr. Yulia Golland from Reichman University in Israel. In her lecture titled Playful Brains: Why the Brain Doesn’t Like Surprises and How to Play Your Way Through Uncertainty, she introduced students and the general public to the reasons why our brain dislikes surprises and how playfulness can help us cope with uncertainty.
The lecture received an enthusiastic response – Dr. Golland skillfully intertwined insights from neuroscience, psychology, and everyday life, offering the audience a fresh perspective on how the mind reacts to unexpected situations and why uncertainty can feel so challenging.
The discussion following the lecture was lively and inspiring. Participants raised questions about the practical application of research findings and shared personal strategies for coping with stress and unpredictability. Dr. Golland presented scientific content with a touch of humour and human warmth, which allowed her to connect with both expert and non-expert audiences.
The following day was dedicated to a specialised workshop, The Restless Brain: Mind-Wandering, Default Mode, and Mindfulness, aimed primarily at psychologists and mindfulness instructors. Participants immersed themselves in the fascinating topic of the brain at rest, when it is not engaged in any particular task, and the so-called default mode network becomes active.
Dr. Golland presented cutting-edge research showing how spontaneous mind-wandering can impact mental well-being negatively through rumination and anxiety, but also positively as a source of creativity, introspection, and constructing an “inner narrative of the self.”
Over the course of three thematic blocks, lectures were interwoven with reflection and meditative exercises, allowing participants not only to understand the theoretical foundations but also to explore their own inner experience.
The atmosphere was open, safe, and intellectually stimulating – participants greatly appreciated both Dr. Golland’s scientific expertise and her ability to explain complex topics with clarity, empathy, and depth.
Members of the Scientific Board of the Masaryk University Faculty of Medicine met for their final session of the year at the Simulation Centre. The key agenda items included the discussion of three habilitation procedures and a proposal to award an honorary doctorate to the dean of a prestigious American medical school.
Volunteers from IFMSA CZ Brno transformed the Brno shopping center Olympia into an improvised clinic over the weekend of November 15-16. On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, they offered passers-by a moment to pause, free examinations, and important education on preventing lifestyle diseases.
