Shades of blue with a strong touch of gray. Synergy of artificial and natural. Hard and soft. Reflecting who? Reflecting what? Have we peaked yet?

The best executives I coach aren't blocked by lack of strategy. They're blocked by a nervous system that learned to survive by staying in control. Unlearning that is the actual work.

We ran a pilot clinical trial using electrical brain stimulation to modulate brain rhythms for treatment-resistant depression. 80% of patients responded. I've spent twenty years building toward that number. Next study of this technology will launch soon. Still processing it.

Desire doesn't fade in long-term relationships because people stop caring. It fades because the nervous system stops feeling safe enough to want. That's a neurobiological problem with a clinical solution.

Five kids, one espresso, and a 5:30 AM gym ritual. The neuroscientist in me knows exactly why this works. The dancing part just shows up anyway.

Learn more about my biggest passion - understanding how to heal by modulating brain rhythms - all informed by how our brains engage with music. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsaO... Thank you @MyPBSNC

What can music tell us about the brain?

UNC-Chapel Hill researcher Flavio Frohlich uses music to help unlock how the brain works and develop new treatments to help those with psychiatric illnesses. Sci NC is supported by a generous…

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Most people optimize their thinking. Few optimize the nervous system doing the thinking. That's the gap I work in.

1/ My nervous system is contagious. Literally. When I'm dysregulated — rushed, distracted, still in professor mode at dinner — my kids' and wife's brains entrain to mine. I used to think I could hide stress. The hyperscanning data says otherwise. Presence isn't a virtue. It's a physiological act.

Last week, I talked to a great group of educators from @UNCWolrdView about why art isn't a luxury subject. Here's the neuroscience case I made. A thread. 🧵

Brain stimulation, coaching, couples therapy, sex therapy. The espresso holds it all together.

Proof that the human LLM also does early morning reps. The dancing part insisted.

Almost twenty-five years. One oath to become American. Still feels like a dream.

Join me in playing catch up - things have piled up on my desk. I have about 200 emails in my inbox that deserve/require action from me. Time to tackle it. Let's go!!!

Without giving the body a chance to express, cognitive complexity creates an illusion of control free of actual meaning.

My dancing part balances out the many other parts of me that could be lovingly described as human LLMs.

Priority is singular - Friendly reminder and Happy Monday to y'all.

Sunday evening ritual: 3 questions I ask myself every week that actually change how I operate. A thread. 🧵

One of my favorite findings! We discovered how to literally make people more creative using brain stimulation! 10Hz electrical stimulation to the frontal cortex increased creativity scores by 7.4% in the gold-standard creativity test. 🧵👇

We discovered why brain stimulation works for some people but not others! The secret isn't the stimulation itself—it's whether your brain is "tuned in" to the right frequency. This could revolutionize mental health treatment 🧵👇

We discovered that anesthesia doesn't just "turn off" the brain—it reveals how different brain regions have completely different operating systems! 🧵👇

Continuing in the series - next up a paper that was about 10 years ahead of its time - a bit of a hidden gem - worth a first/another look. A detailed investigation of how dual-site stimulation synchronizes networks. Lots of state dynamics and interesting mechanisms of t#ACS.

An almost typical day at work...

Leading up to my 15 year anniversary at UNC next year, I decided to share with you our scientific journey from neuronal mechanisms to novel treatments in the @FrohlichLab

Your brain doesn't completely shut off these slow waves during wakefulness—they're just much smaller and more localized. When you're tired or not engaged, these waves can increase even while you're awake! #BrainStates

As we age, our deep sleep (and those important slow waves) tends to decrease. This may partly explain age-related memory issues. Protecting your sleep quality could be one key to maintaining cognitive health! #AgingBrain #SleepHealth

Sleep isn't just for humans! Every animal with a complex brain needs it, and they all show these slow brain waves during deep sleep. Evolution has preserved this feature for a reason—it's essential for brain health and function! #ComparativeNeuroscience

Fascinating brain fact: Neurons in your thalamus (deep in your brain) and cortex (outer layer) talk to each other during sleep, creating different rhythms. This "thalamocortical dialogue" orchestrates your sleep cycles and helps process memories. #NeuroscientistLife

Just like ocean waves, slow waves in your sleeping brain actually travel! They typically start in frontal regions and move toward the back of your brain. Each person has their own unique pattern of wave origin and direction. #NeuralWaves

Ever notice how a power nap can improve your memory? During deep sleep, your brain replays neural activity patterns from your day, strengthening important connections and weakening less useful ones. It's like your brain's natural memory optimization! #BrainFacts #EEG

Brain fact: Your cortex alternates between "Up states" (neurons active and firing) and "Down states" (neurons quiet) during deep sleep. This slow rhythm is like your brain's nighttime heartbeat, occurring about once per second. #NeuroscienceFacts