How does the brain do a task or context switching and how it can be assisted with it?
Studies show that up to 40% of time allocated to a certain task goes to restoring the previous state that we were last time when we work on the task. Let alone the anxiety related to forgetting important details when switching tasks. So the question is whether there is a way for a human brain to switch tasks much as computers do - by reliably storing information in some cues and then effectively restoring it afterwards based on the same cues?
Chronic migraine (throbbing top of head) everyday/all day for 3 years varying intensities no response to any medications
My son started having migraines at 15, throbbing pain at the top of his head, it rapidly became all day everyday. It is now for 3 years and he is now 18 years old. He has been unable to go to school since and has essentially become house and mostly bed bound for at least 2 1/2 years (constantly no breaks) all he can tolerate is laying down, all day everyday . He has not responded to any of the prescription medication (x7 types) , both separately or combinations. No physical reason has been found in MRIs, only slightly elevated liver enzymes at the start (now lesions on his liver and enzymes have elevated further) . He can only distract from the pain with music and reading (at same time) . His sleeping has been constantly disrupted and even with intense focus on trying to regulate it to day time it is always changing back to nocturnal. He already was managing depression, social anxiety and low self esteem prior to this but now he has no contact with anyone apart from myself and my other son and rarely for medical appointments. I have him seeing a Phycologist that he trusts but it is extremely difficult to get him to any appointments both due to availability (several months between appointments) and getting him out of the house (he is 6 ft 6’ so physically I can’t just carry him). He desperately wants to get back to a life, learn to drive, finish school. I have to work full time so I am away from the house 10.5 hrs five days a week so I can’t help motivate him to do even basic self care during the day. I have been listening to your pod casts on the way to and from work every day for several months trying to learn about neurobiology and ways to try and find a solution. I don’t have a science background so I am starting from scratch. At the moment I have him taking Vit D, Magnesium, Creatine, Lions Mane, Vit B’s, fish Oil, Tumeric, milk thistle, probiotics. I have also noticed that emotions are the biggest trigger both good and negative outside normal ranges. He also is suffering from panic attacks associated with sleeping, often getting fearful of sleeping and waking in a half sleep state of panic. I have been trying to get him to focus on regulating his sleep, getting out into the sun and outside, movement of any kind but it has got to the point where I get home from work and he hasn’t even been able to get up to get himself something to eat, doesn’t shower for weeks on end and can’t motivate himself to do any self care even though he wants to. I believe that he may also have undiagnosed ADHD (pending appointment with psychiatrist in August) which makes it hard for him to put things into action (I have only just been diagnosed and recently started medication-motivated by the fact I need to be able to be effective myself in order to help him and I had no idea that was what I had been dealing with myself) The information on chronic pain seems to be the closest reasoning for it all from what I have observed (his paediatric neurologist only said that,’ no Dr is going to be able to tell you what has caused it, no Dr is going to be able to fix it, it may or may not resolve in 2 years you just have to distract from the pain’) it has been 3 years and I have tried everything I can find and his mental health and his body is suffering from the isolation and lack of moving. I guess my question would be what is the most efficient way of calming down the nervous system when there is a lot of trauma involved. What would you do? His dad isn’t involved and it is only me, so there isn’t anyone else that can help. Even if I could get someone here his intense social anxiety would have him locking himself in his room. I know you aren’t a ‘medical’ Dr and I know it would be very difficult due to the complexities involved and I am not the best at articulating, but I have learnt more from your podcasts and have come much closer to understanding what could be happening than I have spending thousands of dollars on specialists and various main stream and alternative therapists. It is only very recently that I had heard of what chronic pain actually is, and it’s possible connection to emotion/trauma and it was from your pod casts. I apologise for my inability to be concise, or having anything to contribute. Thank you for putting out relevant up to date information, complex enough to inform but that is still accessible to people like me, who need more than the ‘can’t be cured’ dumbed down endless hollow information found on the general internet. Thank you for your time.
CoolMitt Alternative
At one point you interviewed the creator of the CoolMitt, they are finally available but at a price of $1,400, which is impractical for the average consumer. Do you have any ideas on a cheaper alternative for endurance athletes to attain the same benefit scientifically. It also sounds incredible to a distance runner in Florida.
How does the nootropic supplement Phenibut work?
You have done a number of shows on supplements for mental performance. One very effective supplement that has been missing from your overviews is phenibut. It is often listed as one of the more effective supplements for mental performance on subreddits and other groups devoted to mental performance supplements or nootropics. There is an entire subreddit devoted to just Phenibut and its use. Although it has harmful side effects from excessive use, the powerful performance boost I experience from Phenibut is unlike anything I have ever experienced from any other drug. It somehow reduces anxiety, increases mental energy, improves sleep and increases the desire to be more social. I have been reading up on its chemistry, and I know it somehow affects the GABA system in the brain. However, other drugs affecting the GABA system do not have anywhere near the same effect. I was hoping that you can take a look at phenibut with your extensive knowledge about supplements and mental performance. Perhaps studying the mechanics of phenibut can lead to new insights regarding what supplements can do to improve mental performance.
Fit and flabby
My question is simple and straightforward- are there some people that just can’t have a six pack and get ripped? Both of my parents were short and fat, and I am six feet and have always been thin. No one in my family is particularly fit and haven’t been into health and fitness. Despite whatever I have tried, I can only get my body fat down to a certain level and my belly fat does little to improve. Is it possible I am genetically unable to achieve the ultimate level of six pack and body fat fitness? I have listened to all of the fitness and body fat burning podcasts on Huberman and others. Dexa body scans to confirm body fat getting slightly better and muscle slightly gaining as well but it’s taking forever. Lifting weights six days per week. Seven days of cardio including six two a days for months. I am hopeful to get clear guidance and advice and the right path of diet and exercise to make this happen. Maybe an episode dedicated towards these kind of fitness results and let us know if some people just can’t quite get there!