Taiwanese Views of the United States and China: Evidence From the 2026 American Portrait Survey

Why It Matters

The video highlights neuroplasticity’s practical applications, suggesting that accessible mind‑training can transform individual health outcomes and influence the future of mental‑health care.

Key Takeaways

• Mind is the most powerful force in the universe.
• Self‑regulation techniques can reshape brain structure and function.
• 38 years of research underpin Dr. Leaf’s cognitive neuroscience methods.
• Mind control improves mental, cognitive, physical, and spiritual health.
• Practical daily applications empower individuals to manage their wellbeing.

Summary

Dr. Caroline Leaf, a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist, opens the video by outlining her 38‑year career dedicated to exploring how the mind can be harnessed to influence health. She emphasizes that the mind is the most powerful entity in the universe and that its intentional use can rewire the brain, a premise grounded in decades of neuroplasticity research.

Leaf details self‑regulatory techniques—mindful breathing, visualization, and cognitive reframing—that she claims can alter neural pathways, thereby enhancing mental, cognitive, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. She argues that these practices are scientifically validated, offering a practical toolkit for individuals seeking to improve health outcomes across multiple domains.

A memorable quote underscores her thesis: “We actually have the power to change our brains with our minds.” She illustrates this with anecdotes of patients who, after applying her methods, reported reduced anxiety, sharper focus, and greater resilience, reinforcing the claim that mental training yields tangible physiological benefits.

The broader implication is a shift toward proactive, brain‑based self‑care that could reduce reliance on pharmaceutical interventions and reshape mental‑health services. By democratizing neuro‑enhancement techniques, Leaf’s approach promises to empower a wider audience to take charge of their holistic health.

Original Description

Please join the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies on March 11 from 9am to 10am ET for the online launch of the 2026 American Portrait Survey in Taiwan, a project of Academia Sinica. The survey’s findings shed light on Taiwanese perspectives regarding U.S.-Taiwan relations, China-Taiwan relations, defense spending and deterrence, credibility of the U.S. security commitment to Taiwan, Taiwanese people's willingness to fight in a crisis, and more.

The event will feature discussion with Taiwanese scholars responsible for the 2026 American Portrait Survey, including Dr. Wen-Chin Wu, Research Fellow with the Institute of Political Science at Academia Sinica; David W.F. Huang, Executive Director of the Taiwan Heritage Foundation; Hsin-Hsin Pan, Associate Research Fellow with the Institute of Sociology at Academia Sinica; and James Lee, Assistant Research Fellow with the Institute of European and American Studies at Academia Sinica. The event will be moderated by Henrietta Levin, Senior Fellow with the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies.

This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.

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