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Super Brain

作者: Sabina Brennan
最近更新: 7天前
<p><strong>Super Brain</strong> explores what really happens inside your head when you do the things...

Recent Episodes

S6:E6 Brain Rot

S6:E6 Brain Rot

Episode summary:“Brain rot” was named the Oxford Word of the Year 2024 – a tongue-in-cheek term for that fried feeling after too much scrolling or streaming. But what’s really going on in the brain when constant digital stimulation leaves us feeling empty and unfocused?In this episode, Dr Sabina Brennan unpacks the neuroscience of brain rot – how dopamine loops, cognitive overload and attention fatigue are reshaping our mental landscape – and what you can do to reclaim your focus and creativity.You’ll learn:Why “brain rot” isn’t just slang – it reflects a real neurological tug-of-warHow dopamine drives endless scrolling and decision fatigueWhy your attention and memory pay the price for multitaskingThe difference between brain fog (physiological) and brain rot (behavioural)Why daydreaming and mental white space are the healthiest “apps” on your mental home screenThree Tools for Your Super Brain Kit:🧩 The Friction Rule – add small barriers to scrolling and let your brain catch up.⚡ Dopamine Reset – replace passive hits with active rewards like learning or movement.🌿 Stillness Practice – schedule unstructured thinking time to reboot your focus.Mentioned in this episode:Beating Brain Fog by Dr Sabina Brennan – for deeper insights into how clarity and focus are restored in the brain.Oxford University Press Word of the Year 2024: “Brain Rot”.Research on dopamine, attention fatigue and the Default Mode Network.Connect:💬 Share your thoughts and experiences with #SuperBrain📚 Read more: www.sabinabrennan.ie🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcastsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7天前
11:06
S6:E4 Sunshine and SAD

S6:E4 Sunshine and SAD

Summary (short version): Why does winter feel heavier for some of us? In this episode, we explore the neuroscience of Seasonal Affective Disorder — from circadian rhythms and serotonin pathways to evolutionary quirks and the strange possibility that humans may still carry traces of ancient hibernation biology. Learn why your brain struggles with short days, how morning light acts as a natural antidepressant, and practical strategies to help your winter self thrive.I share my own experience with winter mood shifts, what the science says about why they happen, and — most importantly — the tools we can use to reclaim our energy and wellbeing during darker months.Three Tools for Your Super Brain Kit:Light before screens — Get bright light within 30 minutes of waking (10–20 minutes outdoors or a 10,000-lux lamp).Anchor your day — Keep wake and sleep times consistent to stabilise your circadian rhythm.Reverse-winter habits — Add small dopamine-rich rewards before difficult tasks, not after, to counter low motivation.Each episode explores what’s really going on inside your brain when you do the things you do — from the everyday to the extraordinary — and gives you three tools for your Super Brain kit. Sabina's books The Neuroscience of Manifesting Still Me 100 Days to a Younger Brain Beating Brain Fog Brain Gym in a BoxSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3周前
19:18
S6:E3 Self-criticism is self-harm

S6:E3 Self-criticism is self-harm

Why are we so much harsher on ourselves than we are on others? In this episode of Super Brain, I explore the neuroscience of self-compassion — what it is, what it isn’t, and why it’s the antidote to self-criticism.Drawing on the work of Dr Kristin Neff and Buddhist philosophy, we’ll look at self-compassion as a three-part skill: self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connection. I’ll share research showing how self-compassion reduces stress, quiets the amygdala, and activates brain regions linked to empathy and emotional regulation.I’ll also explain why self-criticism is a form of self-harm, and why self-compassion is a foundation for flourishing and manifesting happiness, resilience, and contentment.As always, I’ll wrap up with my Tools in Three — simple ways you can start turning up your brain’s kindness switch today.Each episode explores what’s really going on inside your brain when you do the things you do — from the everyday to the extraordinary — and gives you three tools for your Super Brain kit. Sabina's books The Neuroscience of Manifesting Still Me 100 Days to a Younger Brain Beating Brain Fog Brain Gym in a BoxSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4周前
10:17
S6:E2 Magic Mushrooms and the Human Brain

S6:E2 Magic Mushrooms and the Human Brain

Psilocybin — the psychedelic compound in so-called “magic mushrooms” — has exploded into headlines and social media feeds. Some call it a miracle cure for depression, others dismiss it as hype. In this episode, I take a clear-eyed look at what the science really says.I’ll start with Sarah’s story — a young scientist whose life was turned upside down by a cycling accident and who found hope again through a psilocybin clinical trial at Johns Hopkins. Her words: “This trial changed my life.”From there, I explore:The history of psilocybin, from ancient rituals to 1960s psychiatry to today’s “psychedelic renaissance.”The online buzz, where psilocybin is hyped as everything from a creativity booster to a trauma cure.The scientific evidence, from small pilot trials to the largest modern RCTs.The neuroscience, showing how psilocybin may “reset” rigid brain networks, boost plasticity, and even dampen inflammation.The risks, including panic, paranoia, and psychosis in vulnerable people.Finally, I’ll share my Tools in Three so you can separate the real promise from the hype.Featured ResearchCarhart-Harris RL, et al. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30065-Carhart-Harris RL, et al. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2032994Davis AK, et al. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3285Goodwin GM, et al. S 10.1056/NEJMoa2206443Additional insights from Nature Medicine (Carhart-Harris, 2021) and New Scientist on brain plasticity and inflammation.Each episode explores what’s really going on inside your brain when you do the things you do — from the everyday to the extraordinary — and gives you three tools for your Super Brain kit. Sabina's books The Neuroscience of Manifesting Still Me 100 Days to a Younger Brain Beating Brain Fog Brain Gym in a BoxFollow Sabina Brennan on InstagramSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2个月前
14:25
S6:E1 Tomorrow Brain

S6:E1 Tomorrow Brain

Why do we put off the very things that matter most? In this episode of Super Brain, I explore procrastination — the irrational gap between what we want to do and what we actually do. From ancient Greek philosophy to modern neuroscience, we’ll unpack why our brains resist long-term goals in favour of short-term mood fixes.I’ll share two leading theories that explain procrastination, what’s happening in the brain when we delay, and why the closer the deadline, the more motivated we become.And of course, my Three tools for your Super Brain kit will give you practical strategies to shrink tasks, hack your “future you”, and harness the magic of deadlines.Procrastination is deeply human — but it doesn’t have to rule your life.References:📖 The Neuroscience of Manifesting (Dr Sabina Brennan) – on making your goals personal and vivid so they feel worth acting on today.📚 Research on procrastination from psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience.Each episode explores what’s really going on inside your brain when you do the things you do — from the everyday to the extraordinary — and gives you three tools for your Super Brain kit. Sabina's books The Neuroscience of Manifesting Still Me 100 Days to a Younger Brain Beating Brain Fog Brain Gym in a BoxFollow Sabina Brennan on InstagramSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2个月前
12:47
Season 6 Promo: 'Super Brain is Back!'

Season 6 Promo: 'Super Brain is Back!'

If you’ve ever wondered why you do the things you do, you’re going to love Season Six of Super Brain. In each episode, psychologist and neuroscientist Dr Sabina Brennan takes you inside your brain to explore what’s really going on when you laugh, cry, procrastinate, or connect. You’ll discover how understanding your brain helps you understand yourself — and unlock your true potential. This season, Sabina introduces a new format: each episode explores one fascinating aspect of human behaviour, and ends with Three Tools for Your Super Brain Kit — practical, science-based strategies to help you do it better, do it less, or not do it at all.Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and have each new episode drop straight into your playlist.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2个月前
0:35
S5:E1 Imaginers

S5:E1 Imaginers

The Super Brain podcast returns with this audio documentary produced and presented by Super Brain host Dr Sabina BrennanDr Edward O'Sullivan, Director of the Migraine Clinic at Cork University Hospital takes us inside the migraine brain offering a medical and scientific perspective and Dr Sabina Brennan shares her own experience of living with chronic migraine. Migraine is the 7th most debilitating condition in the world (WHO) affecting 10-12% of the population. Vox pops threaded through the doc illustrate the misconceptions and misappropriation of migraine. This audio documentary aims to bust the myth that migraine is just a headache and get people to think twice about appropriating this neurological condition to describe a hangover or pull a sickie." Producer/Presenter Sabina BrennanEditor Emily BurkeAssistant Producer Angela MezzettiSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2022/3/21
47:56
S4:E10 That Knocking Sound with Barnaby Walter

S4:E10 That Knocking Sound with Barnaby Walter

BP Walter's Sunday Times best seller, The Dinner Guest is one of the best books I've read in quite some time. As soon as I finished it I felt compelled to contact the author to see if he would be a guest on Super Brain because I wanted to get inside the head of such a fabulous author. I must admit I was utterly blown away to discover that BP aka Barnaby is only 29 years old! This episode is all about thriving in life, having dreams and working hard to make them come true. His new book, another excellent read, The Woman on The Pier, comes out 11th November 2021. Check out www.sabinabrennan.ie for links to his four books, full transcripts of the episode and other bits and bobs.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2021/11/8
1小时11分钟
S4:E9 Sexual pleasure with sexologist Emily Power Smith

S4:E9 Sexual pleasure with sexologist Emily Power Smith

I've had a clitoris all of my life and never knew that what we refer to as the clitoris is actually only the sensitive tip of an extensive internal organ that is capable of erection. The clitoris was removed from anatomy manuals in the beginning of the 20th century because its only purpose is pleasure. This video by Betty Dodson sketches out the full extent of the clitoris that is absent from text and medical books.I've learned so much from my guest this week, sexologist and sex therapist Emily Power Smyth who is on a mission to make sure that the sex we have is safe, consenting and above all pleasurable.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2021/11/1
1小时22分钟
S4:E8 Making new dreams with Lauren White Murphy

S4:E8 Making new dreams with Lauren White Murphy

Lauren White-Murphy, aka @lolopopworld was a successful ghost writer signed with Warner Bros whose music had featured on hit shows like American Horror Story when her own horror story struck just weeks before her 30th birthday, Multiple sclerosis not only had her falling down at work but failing to find the words that had helped her become a successful lyricist in Hollywood. Alone with a diagnosis she initially saw as a life sentence she felt an incredible urge to buy art materials and paint..... Scroll forward 3 years and Lauren's art hangs in the homes of the rich and famous in Hollywood. Lauren is now an MS Ambassador who is living proof that while MS is life changing it can be life-enhancing. Lauren feels happier than ever but also tells it like it is admitting that it's not all plain sailing. Despite seeming to have endless energy MS does take its toll and while Lauren may have to take to her bed when symptoms strike she is never far from finding a silver lining. Lauren's life sparkles like her smile and her artwork which is currently on exhibit in the IFSC Custom House Plaza in Dublin. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2021/10/24
1小时11分钟