logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2024
50m 6s

Your Brain On... Sleep

Drs. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai
About this episode

We spend a third of our lives sleeping. The benefits for our brain are incredible.

Restorative sleep is essential for good brain health. When you sleep, your brain washes away waste products from around your synapses, consolidates short-term memories into long-term knowledge, and processes thoughts and emotions.

In this episode, we explain how, and discuss:

• How much sleep your brain really needs • The different phases of sleep, and how each one strengthens your cognition • Why good sleep is key for minimising the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases • Insomnia, sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders, and how to treat them • The environmental factors which can help improve sleep • Why paying too much attention to sleep trackers and smart wearables can do more harm than good

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Donn Posner, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine.

We also welcome Dr. Sujay Kansagra, the Director of Duke's Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program and an Assistant Professor in Duke's School of Medicine.

‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

Drs. Ayesha and Dean are now welcoming patients via the Brain Health Institute: https://brainhealthinstitute.com/

‘Your Brain On... Sleep’ • SEASON 2 • EPISODE 7

———

LINKS

Dr. Donn Posner:

Sleepwell Consultants: https://www.sleepwellconsultants.com/

Dr. Sujay Kansagra:

at Duke Health: https://www.dukehealth.org/find-doctors-physicians/sujay-kansagra-md

on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsleepdoc

———

FOLLOW US

Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com

Instagram: @thebraindocs

Website: TheBrainDocs.com

More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

Up next
Yesterday
Your Brain On... Alzheimer’s (Mythbusting Special)
Alzheimer’s disease is constantly surrounded by myths and misinformation. Let’s set the record straight. In this episode, we bust through the most persistent Alzheimer’s myths, with facts based on decades of clinical experience and cutting-edge research. Myths include: • “Alzheim ... Show More
50m 4s
Jun 25
Your Brain On... Purpose (Sherzai Family Special)
With big changes happening in the Sherzai family household, we sat down for a roundtable discussion about the concept that will shape what we’re all doing next: our purpose. In this ‘unplugged’ mid-season chat, we’re joined by our kids — Sophia and Alex! — for a wide-ranging conv ... Show More
34m 8s
Jun 18
Your Brain On... Creatine
Creatine for Alzheimer’s — let’s separate the hype from the hope. A new study has caused a stir in June 2025, but lead researcher Matthew K. Taylor told us: “ I don’t think I can recommend it to a patient that this is going to ultimately have some sort of cognitive influence.” We ... Show More
49m 47s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 12
Essentials: The Science & Practice of Perfecting Your Sleep
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
41m 2s
Sep 2024
TMHS 829 - Do THIS at Night To Get Deeper Sleep & Transform Your Body
Sleep is a critical pillar of human health. Getting a good night of sleep is an important input for your mood, brain health, gut, and so much more. And luckily, learning how to optimize your sleep is simple when you understand the key behaviors that impact your biology. Today you ... Show More
1h 18m
Mar 2023
Sleep - Dr. Dan Pardi - Neuroscience
Are you ready for part two? A couple of months ago we released an encore episode of a conversation between Dr. Dan Pardi, sleep researcher at Stanford and Leiden University and CEO of humanOS.me, and Neurohacker Co-founder, Daniel Schmachtenberger. The conversation drew a remarka ... Show More
1h 43m
Apr 10
The Extra Scoop: Sleep 101
Sleep is something we all do every night, yet many of us struggle to get enough of it. With so much conflicting advice, it can be hard to know what really matters. To help us separate fact from fiction, we’re joined by Dr. Lindsay Browning, a chartered psychologist, neuroscientis ... Show More
32m 46s
Feb 2025
What Your Sleep Is Trying To Tell You: How To Fix Your Sleep Problems, Reset Your Brain & The Difference Between Fatigue and Tiredness with Guy Leschziner #528
Did you know that up to 40% of adults in Western countries struggle to get enough sleep?While some societies have historically never even had a word for insomnia, our modern world has created an epidemic of sleep problems, which affect not only our creativity, empathy, appetite a ... Show More
1h 46m
Jan 2024
Stephanie Romiszewski on Sleep
For some, sleeping is as easy as closing your eyes, for others, it’s a nightly struggle. The cornerstone of good health can be frustratingly elusive, particularly in midlife, so we thought it was time to speak with an expert on all things the land of nod! Sleep Physiologist and t ... Show More
49m 42s
Jul 2024
Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
This episode is packed with essential high-yield information for your MCAT prep, covering the biological, physiological, and psychological aspects of sleep. We’ll explore various sleep theories, like the Memory Consolidation and Brain Plasicticity Theories, and even discuss the c ... Show More
44m 44s
Sep 2024
The Sleep Doctor: What Bad Sleep Is Doing To Your Health with Dr. Guy Leschziner
In this enlightening episode, I sit down with Dr. Guy Leschziner, one of the world’s leading experts on sleep and neuroscience. We dive deep into the pivotal role sleep plays in every facet of our lives, from brain function to overall health. If you think you're getting enough sl ... Show More
40m 54s
Jan 2019
Sleep Rain and Binaural Beats - Follow us on Facebook and give your feedback on the sounds we make
Give us feedback og Facebook here: https://bit.ly/2MAxbs3 Invest in yourself, invest in sleep 😴 NEED LONGER SLEEP MEDITATIONS? Follow our Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and YouTube playlists here: https://www.sleepmeditationpodcast.com GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK BELOW Get your own persona ... Show More
1h 1m
Aug 2024
2657: Your Goldilocks Brain and Sleep by Doctor Jenny Brockis on Advice for Proper Rest & Recovery
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2657:Discover the crucial balance between too much and too little sleep with insights from Dr. Jenny Brockis. Learn how opti ... Show More
11m 12s