The ‘NeuroMyths’ Neuroletter
NeuroTips #17 | November 2024
Shape Your Future Mind.
Thank you for continuing to read and share the ‘NeuroMyths Neuroletter’
Where we bring you the latest Applied Neuroscience that impacts your brains potential and performance. Plus busting some neuromyths, and latest news on creativity, innovation and critical thinking that can drive your business successfully.
What’s in store for 2025?
Leading through erratic change.
How the Menopause delivers Creativity, Innovation and Critical Thinking.
1 x Neuro-hack. 1 x Neuro busting myth.
Latest Products and Services for boosting potential and brain health.
2025 Predictions?
During the summer at a friend’s party in the beautiful Sussex Downes I went as Madame RayRay with my crystal ball. I kid you not even though people knew who I was and that I had no crystal ball mystical skills, I had a queue of adults wanting a reading!
What is it about wanting to know the future!
Well, I haven’t used my crystal ball, although AI might come close, I’ve used our readily available human skill of reading and analysing respected studies and comments to predict what may lay ahead in 2025 and try and do my best to clear the swirling brain fog and give it what it craves– certainty:
Leading with the brain in-mind
Employee-centric approach – salary and benefits remain important but managing expectations are equally so if business wants to continue letting peoples potential and strengths flourish. Change isn’t going to slow down. It’s constant, exhausting and for many frightening.
Erratic Change
How you lead through change is not rocket science the principles are well known, and the intentions well meant. But we are going through erratic and unpredictable change following a period of disruption. The key difference here is what has been happening in all the brains around you including your own, and so how do you now raise awareness and best practice to brain wellness and wellbeing just as you protect your heart?
To access our knowledge and pick our brains drop us an email for more information on our ‘Neuroscience of Future Leadership’ workshop. Designed for thought leaders in their own fields who embrace the need to change the status quo and to come together and explore.
Curious? We’re eager to begin the conversations.
Brain Health - Sweet Spot
Each day we wake up as a slightly different person as our mental states are influenced by daily external factors. We know from many different studies and books the importance of the quality of our diet, exercise, sleep and our environment on our brain health, but little is known about how long these interventions have on our brain, and specifically the effect on brain connectivity.
A new study published in PLOS Biology opens the window on how our daily mental states, experiences, behaviours and physical activity leave a lasting imprint on our brain’s internal superhighway connectivity. This longitudinal study used brain scans and data from wearable devices to track the brain activity and physiological states of a single participant over 133 days.
Contrary to belief what the study found was that brain connectivity is influenced by immediate events for up to 15 days shaping the behaviours and the brains functional connections.
What this means is that short-term fluctuations in our environment and physiological states plays a much more sustained role in brain dynamics, and that daily life has a much more complex effect on brain function than previously thought.
What we don’t know and that further studies will explore, is if these brain-behaviour relationships vary across different individuals with varied lifestyles and health conditions, or if changes in brain connectivity influence future behaviour and physiological responses.
My take-out is that we need to be mindful of how we live our lives. Caring for the mental and physical wellbeing of ourselves and others has a long-term impact on our brain health, mood states, our behaviours and overall health.
Simply - what you put in, is what you get out, especially if you want to age well and stay sharp. It is all too easy to lose your ‘self-care, so remember:
“Look after yourself like you would look after someone else” Dr. Jordan Peterson.
World Mental Health Day 2024 – Now for some creativity!
Move for your mind.
However and where ever you are working, this well-crafted campaigns made me chuckle and it also gets the message home so effectively - Your Desk is Your Killer!
Thank you, Asics, Golin and the masterful Succession star Brian Cox for reminding us of the importance of regular desk breaks and rest for our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
One Neuro Hack – Chunking
Your working memory can typically only handle up most of 4 pieces of information (Nelson Cowan). Boost your focus and memory by breaking big tasks or information into smaller, manageable chunks. This reduces mental overload and helps your brain process more efficiently.
One Neuro Busting Myth
I read on a Linked In post from a “Neuroscience person” that male brains are bigger and better!
For goodness sake this is a much debunked NeuroMyth!!!!!
The slightly larger size of the male brain compared to the female brain is not considered by science significant in terms of intelligence or cognitive ability. This size difference is largely attributed to the fact that, on average, men tend to have larger body sizes than women, which correlates with overall brain volumes. Obvious!
Brainy Podcasts – Episode 12 Just Released!
Fancy a walk around your brain? In this latest episode Tracy and I take a deep dive into how leaders and individuals can transform their brain health & wealth to optimise their potential for success with invaluable brain and mind insights, and plenty of actionable takeaways.
Including - Why should you avoid the ‘pop and pings’? What’s the love hormone got to do with the magic of cuddles and smiles? How does finding mutual respect take trust to jettison the fear of Imposter Syndrome. Reflection on the honesty and emotional intelligence needed for self-awareness and emotional regulation plus the skill of challenging the task, not the person. Enjoy!
If you’re curious to explore about how you can get everyone to bring all their brains to work and enjoy their lives, than let’s have a chat. Direct Contact or via Linked In or browse the Website
Soraya is an expert in applying neuroscience insights to business transformations, with a focus on behaviour and change. A former global suit at Ogilvy & Mather, she is an Applied Organisational Neuroscientist and C-suite leadership coach. Her passion lies in the intersection of Human Capital, where brain science, human skills, and AI come together to shape future mindsets and drive meaningful collaboration.
See you next month.
In the meantime, we value all your contributions and in helping us reach more readers – Enjoy!
