Mental energy isn’t just about caffeine or motivation—it’s a biochemical process that depends on oxygen, glucose, and...
Oscar Forrester
Very Big Brain is written by Oscar Forrester, a researcher and writer with a long-standing fascination with how the brain works. Oscar spent several years working in hospital IT, including on infection control systems, and grew up in a household shaped by medicine — his father was a physician and his mother a registered nurse. He is not a clinician himself, and nothing on this site should be taken as medical advice. What he brings instead is a rigorous, source-first approach to research, honed over two decades of writing (he’s authored numerous published books, primarily on software development), and a genuine curiosity about the science of cognition. Mr. Forrester strives to present complex topics in a clear and engaging manner, making it easy for you to understand and apply the knowledge to your daily life.
It’s hard to focus when your brain is still processing a tough conversation, an unexpected setback, or...
For millions of people, the day doesn’t start until the first sip of coffee. It’s more than...
In your 40s and 50s, mental sharpness can start to feel a little… dulled. You’re still capable,...
“You’re smarter than you look.” It sounds like praise—until it doesn’t. That’s a left-handed compliment: a remark...
It starts with a dull ache behind your eyes. Then a wave of brain fog. Maybe even...
Learning doesn’t stop after school. Whether you’re picking up a new language, training for a certification, or...
There’s something exhilarating about landing in a city you’ve never seen before. The smells, the sounds, the...
Life throws curveballs—deadlines, pressure, emotional turbulence—and we all have a threshold for how much we can handle...
Staying focused in today’s world is a bit like trying to thread a needle during an earthquake—especially...