mastodon 4.7.2Neuroscientist, author, science bod, vague wit, moderately prominent Twitter person. Tend to chime in with all things brain and mental health related.
"Top egghead neuroscientist" - The Daily Star
Happy NINTH birthday to the truck battling dog dominating home invading malevolent trickster god in a small furry body that is Pickle. Long may he allow us to continue to exist.
Daughter's school was doing a celebration for David Attenborough's 100th birthday today. Out of curiosity, I asked her if she actually knew who he was.
"He's the man who teaches us to care about nature".
...I mean, I can think of infinitely worse legacies.
At Latitude festival, I did an event on the many flaws with the UK social media ban
A woman in a 'Smartphone Free Childhood' top attended
She listened attentively, and asked a reasonable, valid question at the end
If you see this, thank you for being an excellent example of how discourse *should* go
Not saying I've been overly immersed in work, but my immediate reaction to turning on the news just now was "Wait... Prime Minister WHO now?"
Stupid needy platform
Currently watching a Belgian neuroscience documentary, in Flemish but with subtitles, at double speed, and having no problem at all following it.
I have no idea who or what I am any more.
Reading a load of articles in my role as judge for the European Science Journalism prize has made me feel a bizarre sense of national pride. Not because Britain is better or anything, but because it turns out every other country is best with clueless/inefficient/hilariously corrupt institutions too!
In my limited experience, most major football games go into half time with those watching thinking either
A) This is amazing! Let's get back into it asap!
Or
B) This is dreadful! Let's just get it over with.
Either way, a pointlessly long and elaborate half time show is a difficult sell
People claiming that recent UK Prime Ministers are not representative, but I have to say I disagree.
- Signed, a boring white man wearing glasses
"We need to have a credible debate about immigration" would be a reasonable stance if having actual knowledge or experience with immigration/immigrants, or not just flat out hating them on principle, were seen as credible qualities, rather than reasons to immediately disqualify you from any 'debate'
Sure, the World Cup final was boring and tedious, but at least the BBC planned ahead for that by arranging for the commentary to be infused with the rapier wit and sparkling charm of Alan Shearer
Why Are Heavy Metal Fans So Nice?
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTLbL5_DEim/
Dean Burnett's surprisingly popular video explainer of the surprisingly mellow nature of many heavy metal fans.
Look, I'm just going to say it:
A fuel supply that's crucial for the global economy being dependent on the a accessibility of a narrow strip of water right next to a militantly theocratic nation, in an already geopolitically turbulent region, is *not* the most efficient setup
A lot of bugs around makes me realise: You know what you never see any more? Fly paper.
Used to be pretty common in the 80s/90s, and seemed pretty effective. But I guess having the insect equivalent of a public gallows in your kitchen is a tricky sell when hygiene standards are a thing
Smersh Pod - INDEPENDENCE DAY
https://shows.acast.com/smershpod/episodes/independence-day-with-dr-dean-burnett-and-dan-thomas
Dr Dean Burnett joins friends John Rain and Dan Thomas to dissect the 90s megablockbuster about an alien invasion defeated by woeful tech support.
Busting the Biggest Myths in Neuroscience | Dr Dean Burnett | Instant Genius podcast
https://youtu.be/JQYtTcNSHak?si=0OBLlCwdJtoO4HN-
Dean Burnett answers quickfire questions about familiar brain myths, for the Instant Genius Podcast
Neuroscience Secrets for Modern Leadership and Productivity with Dean Burnett
Dean joins Richard Reid on The Business Of Thinking podcast, to discuss productivity, stress, and why our brains makes it incredibly hard to put people in 'boxes'
If you're looking for a valid reason to vote Reform, I think I've got one:
All the evidence shows that Nigel Farage winning a vote, meaning he has to do actual work/make good on his promises, is a reliable method of making him immediately fu*k off, and stay fu*ked off, for the foreseeable future.
SMERSHPOD
'Lucy' with Dr Dean Burnett
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ejG8OGeaBYxYTCT4LeSkx
Dean joins host John Rain to tackle the biggest, bafflingest example of bad Hollywood neuroscience ever produced. Real 'boss level' neurononsense. And making Morgan Freeman say it doesn't change anything!
Got a question for Dr Dean Burnet? Want to get his take on something? Or would like him to be involved with your event/project/show/business?
Then just drop him a line via his new website's contact page
Copilot's AI 'hints' have infested my Word documents, so trying to write anything is like having it critiqued in real time by a hyperactive 6 year old
"What does that mean?" "Are you sure about that?" "Why don't you do this instead?" "Who's that?" "Is that really a word?" "I like this word better"
How to break free from imposter syndrome
Ever felt you don't belong in your workplace? That you're 'blagging it' among qualified colleagues? Imposter syndrome is a common phenomenon caused by how our brains function
Dr Dean Burnett explains for 'Instant Genius' podcast
How to break free from imposter syndrome
Ever felt you don't belong in your workplace? That you're 'blagging it' among qualified colleagues? Imposter syndrome is a common phenomenon caused by how our brains function
Dr Dean Burnett explains for 'Instant Genius' podcast
Reminder that myself and a bunch of neurofriends are doing a panel at the famous Royal Institution of Great Britain tonight, to recap a decade of neuroscietific advances (and nonsense) and answer various questions
https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/our-idiot-brain-10-years-learning
Come along if this appeals
No, AI, I Do NOT Think Nuclear War is a Good Thing
https://thecosmicshamblesnetwork.substack.com/p/no-ai-i-do-not-think-nuclear-war
Do you know what it's like to have AI misunderstand your work to the extent it could wipe out civilisation? Dean Burnett does.
What your favourite movie villain reveals about your brain (Why you can't resist rooting for the wrong side)
https://www.sciencefocus.com/wellbeing/root-for-movie-villain
Dean Burnett, for Science Focus magazine
A thesis that nobody's read, narrated by someone who isn't there, for an audience that doesn't exist.
https://theneuroscienceofeverydaylife.substack.com/p/a-thesis-that-nobodys-read-narrated?r=24oxwv
Dean Burnett explores the bizarre experience of having his PhD thesis hijacked by an AI service that nobody asked for or needs.
How to spot the subtle thinking pattern that can accelerate dementia
https://www.sciencefocus.com/wellbeing/negative-thinking-dementia
A Science Focus article by Dean Burnett, which explores the evidence linking negative thinking with the onset of dementia.
What did dopamine do to deserve this?
A guest post by Dean Burnett for 'Cognitive Wonderland', which explores the surreal demonization in the modern discourse of the vital neurotransmitter dopamine
To get in touch with Dr Dean Burnett, or his 'people', just use the contact page of his website.
Responses guaranteed!
Why Your Parents Are Driving You Up the Wall and What To Do About It
Dr Dean Burnett's increasingly important book for young people, about the parent-teen dynamic, makes the perfect gift for someone else's older child.
Psycho-Logical: Why Mental Health Goes Wrong – and How to Make Sense of It
Dean Burnett's book all about the underlying science of #MentalHealth issues and disorders. An absolute must-read for making sense of a confusing, but vitally important, matter
Where the hell is my 'runner's high'?
https://theneuroscienceofeverydaylife.substack.com/p/where-the-hell-is-my-runners-high?r=24oxwv
Dean Burnett vents his frustration about one of the supposed benefits of exercise that his own body and brain have, thus far, denied him