logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2021
36m 31s

335: How does your brain store trauma? |...

MINDBODYGREEN
About this episode

Scott Small, M.D.: “One of the main purposes of sleep is to trim down our memories.”

Small, a neurologist & Alzheimer's researcher, joins mbg co-CEO, Jason Wachob, to discuss how trauma affects your memory, plus:

- How sleep keeps you from having "too much memory"

- Why having a “bad memory” can sometimes benefit your mental health

- How to make sure your brain has a balance of memory and forgetting

- How fear memories impact your health & how to keep them at bay

- How meaningful social connections can enhance your memory


Referenced in the episode:

- Small's book, Forgetting: The Benefits of Not Remembering.

- Research from Francis Crick on why sleeping is for forgetting.

- Columbia University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center website.

- Research on the neurological differences between chimpanzees and bonobos.

- Small's mbg article on how forgetting can boost creativity.


Don't forget to use the code SLEEP25 for 25% off your first month subscription of mbg's best-selling sleep support+ supplement. Our science-backed formula helps you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling rejuvenated.* To learn more about the supplement Jason swears by, visit mindbodygreen.com/SLEEP25.


Enjoy this episode! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: podcast@mindbodygreen.com.


*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Jul 6
605: The 9 pillars for a happier, healthier mind | Drew Ramsey, M.D.
“Simple movements, taking care of your mental health, and building deeper connections— those are drivers of longevity,” explains Drew Ramsey, M.D. Drew Ramsey, M.D., board-certified psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and author, joins us today to explain how all of us can take simple ... Show More
57m 28s
Jun 29
604:  Why so many women are burnt out & what to do about it | Angela Foster
“ Never before has there been a time in history when women have needed more support,” explains Angela Foster. Foster, award-winning nutritionist, health & performance coach, and speaker, joins us today to discuss how exercise is different for women, why syncing with your physiolo ... Show More
51m 14s
Jun 22
603: The science of sleep, sex, & sharing a bed | Wendy Troxel, Ph.D.
“ Sleep is really foundational to those core building blocks of a healthy relationship,” explains Wendy Troxel, Ph.D. Wendy Troxel, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist and certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist, joins us to unpack the powerful—and often overlooked—rol ... Show More
54m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
The New Science Of Memory, How to Remember What Matters & Why We're Designed To Forget with Dr Charan Ranganath #444
We often think about our memories as a record of the past – but what if they’re only a selective and evolving version of it? Today’s guest is a world-leading memory expert who has a surprising message: we’re not supposed to remember everything. In fact, our brains are designed to ... Show More
2h 18m
Dec 2022
#37: Sleep and Memory - Part 3
The final installment of this series focuses on what happens inside your brain during deep, non-REM sleep that allows you to fixate new memories. There are at least two mechanisms at work here. One is a process of shifting information from short to long-term memory. Each night wh ... Show More
18m 11s
Jul 2021
How to Rewire Your Brain For Sleep with Dr. Andrew Huberman
How to Rewire Your Brain For Sleep | This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens, BiOptimizers, and Cozy Earth When I was in medical school, they taught us we can’t regenerate brain cells. If you stayed up too late studying or did drugs, you’d lose precious connections and ... Show More
1h 38m
Feb 2024
The Science of Memory & How to Keep It | Charan Ranganath
Can memory improvement unlock a better life? Neuroscientist Charan Ranganath reveals how memory intertwines with happiness, relationships, creativity, and meaning. In his new book Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters, Charan shares research on how ... Show More
1h 7m
Oct 2023
How To Prevent Dementia | Lisa Genova
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Understanding the difference between ‘normal’ forgetfulness and actual memory loss, practical ways to stave off Alzheimer’s disease, and meditation’s role in ... Show More
1h 1m
Feb 2024
Dr. Mark D'Esposito: How to Optimize Cognitive Function & Brain Health
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Mark D'Esposito, M.D., a neurologist and professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. We discuss the brain mechanisms underlying cognition and the forms of memory required for focus, productivity, planning an ... Show More
2h 28m
Mar 2021
TMHS 463: The Mind Vs. The Brain & Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess - With Guest Dr. Caroline Leaf
One of the most important conversations we can be having at this time in human history is how to prioritize our mental health. And while it’s generally accepted that mental health struggles are something that we fall victim to, we actually have an immense amount of power and auth ... Show More
1h 33m
Jun 2024
#1 Memory Expert: The No. 1 Thing That Weakens Your Brain
In this episode of The School of Greatness, Lewis interviews Dr. Charan Ranganath, a renowned expert in neuroscience and author of "Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold On to What Matters." They delve into the fascinating world of memory, discussing how memories shap ... Show More
1h 54m
Dec 2022
Repressed Memories: Can You Forget About Trauma?
The idea of repressed memories goes all the way back to Freud, through the 90’s when therapists accidentally implanted people with false memories, through the courtrooms, and into today where the idea of repressed memories is still popular among lay people and controversial among ... Show More
14m 51s
Apr 2022
The Science of Sleep | Dr. Sara Mednick
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- If you’re trying to improve your sleep, thinking about doing so right before you get into bed might not be the best approach.  Dr. Sara Mednick, is a cogniti ... Show More
52m 46s