Super Brain explores what really happens inside your head when you do the things you do - and how to use that knowledge to get the best out of your brain and yourself. From Season Six, neuroscientist and author Dr. Sabina Brennan dives into one everyday human experience per episode - from procrastination to crying, curiosity to trust - to reveal the science behind it and the practical tools that help you navigate life with greater clarity and intention. Curious, warm and wonderfully human, this…
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Modern life can estrange us from what truly matters. We chase goals that look like success but feel hollow – and before we know it, we’re overwhelmed, reactive and disconnected from our own internal compass. In this episode of Super Brain , Sabina Brennan explores meaning and purpose through a neuroscience lens and offers a powerful practical tool: make an appointment with yourself . You’ll learn…
Episode Summary: Why do some people seem to attract good fortune? In this episode, I explore the neuroscience of serendipity – those chance discoveries and happy accidents that change everything. From Alexander Fleming’s mouldy petri dish to the role of the brain’s default mode network in connecting unrelated ideas, this episode uncovers the science behind what we call “luck.” You’ll learn how…
In this episode, Dr Sabina Brennan explores how generative AI changes learning. She looks at why effortful thinking is the engine of mastery, how AI can create an illusion of competence and practical ways to use AI as a tutor rather than a crutch. Key takeaway: Learning sticks when it’s hard – AI works best when it helps you reach insights, not when it replaces the work. Source: Brian W. Stone…
If New Year’s resolutions leave you inspired one day and flattened the next, it’s not a willpower problem – it’s a nervous system problem. In this episode, Sabina shares three tiny, science-backed “micromoment” resets that help your brain feel safe enough to begin, plus a menu of quick interventions for common January traps like overthinking, doomscrolling, self-doubt, catastrophising, comparison,…
Episode summary What happens when you close your eyes and try to “see” something in your mind? For some people it’s a full-colour mental movie. For others it’s hazy, fleeting or completely blank. In this episode, Dr Sabina Brennan explores the neuroscience of mental imagery, including eigengrau (that grainy ‘intrinsic grey’ most people notice in darkness), the spectrum from aphantasia to…
Have you ever walked into a room and thought, “Any minute now they’re going to realise I’ve no idea what I’m doing”? In this episode of Super Brain , psychologist and neuroscientist Sabina Brennan unpacks what’s often called imposter syndrome – and why the original researchers actually called it the impostor phenomenon instead. Drawing on brain science and real-world examples, Sabina explores…
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…
pisodic-like memory • How dog ageing helps us understand human dementia • Why your dog is a genuine co-regulator of your nervous system Tools in Three Micro-moments matter — a glance, a rub, a kind word Stress buffer — swap doom-scrolling for a dog cuddle Shared routines — walk, play, repeat Takeaway: Every pat, cuddle, and walk is brain medicine — for both of you. Support this show…
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…
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…
