#158 - 10 Small Brain Quirks

Matt examines the world of parasomnias this week, focusing on sleepwalking and sleep talking. Dispelling the myth that sleep is a simple on/off switch, he explains how these behaviors reveal a brain that is simultaneously awake and asleep. Reviewing global studies, Matt notes sle ...  Show more

Examining the "Proust phenomenon," Matt reveals how smell acts as a direct portal to our past. Unlike sight or hearing, olfaction bypasses the brain's typical sensory relay and connects directly to memory centers like the hippocampus. This explains why a simple scent can trigger ...  Show more

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Some of us release the stress of the day by working out, venting to friends/family, shopping (like in the movies) and/or taking a nap. Lots of naps. Some could be uncontrollable sleepiness which might be classified as narcolepsy.</span>

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Narcolepsy is one of those amazing rare disorders that everyone thinks they understand – people just fall asleep at random times, even in the middle of doing something. But there’s a lot more to it and – even better – we actually may be able to explain it.

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode my guest is Dr. Matt Walker, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley and host of The Matt Walker Podcast, which focuses on the science and impact of sleep. We explore the importance of sleep a ...  Show more