Isolation and the Brain

Parents have spent years worrying about screens. Now the screen talks back. Dr. Sanjay Gupta asks early child development expert Dr. Dana Suskind what AI may be doing to kids’ brains — and why “brain rot” may be the wrong worry. Resources mentioned in this episode: • Common Sense ...  Show more

At 10 years old, brainiac ⁠'Sean the Science Kid⁠' Atitsogbe already has plenty in common with Dr. Sanjay Gupta: He loves to learn and explain science to his million-plus Instagram followers. He's an advocate for positivity. And when he grows up, he wants to be a ("neuro-cardio") ...  Show more

The U.S. is in the midst of a loneliness epidemic. And for a lot of people, the feeling is even more pronounced during the holidays. In addition to its emotional impact, chronic loneliness and social isolation have some dramatic health consequences: increased risk of heart diseas ...  Show more

<div>Older people can face serious health effects from being isolated — and yet, being isolated is the only thing that can keep them safe, Senior Producer Maggie Penman reports. Plus, Global Opinions writer Jason Rezaian on how he survived solitary confinement in Iran — and how y ...  Show more

With social distancing in place around the globe, it might seem as though loneliness is the new normal. But there’s a big difference between being lonely and just being alone, says Stephanie Cacioppo, PhD, often cited as the world’s leading expert on the emotion. On this episode ...  Show more

Even if quarantining alone, distractions like Zoom calls, TV binge-watching, and nonstop news can pull us away from ourselves. Taking time for solitude helps us reconnect, making us better for both ourselves and those around us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f ...  Show more