We throw the word “burnout” around like it’s a diagnosis. Tired at work? Burnt out. Struggling to...
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.
For years, my afternoons followed a predictable pattern: around 3 p.m., my energy would dip, my focus...
I used to be terrible with names. I’d meet someone at an event, repeat their name out...
“Find balance.” It’s the go-to advice for anyone feeling mentally exhausted or emotionally off-kilter. Balance your work...
I used to be a flashcard fanatic. In school, I’d stack them high with vocabulary words, historical...
There was a time when keeping track of detailed information felt impossible. Whether it was a multi-step...
Everyone seems to have an opinion about the “perfect” morning routine. Cold showers. Journaling. Yoga. Reading 10...
You sit down to get something done. Ten minutes later, you’re on your phone. Five minutes after...
There’s no shortage of advice about how to keep your brain sharp as you age. One of...
You’ve heard the slogans. “No pain, no gain.” “Tough it out.” “Discipline equals freedom.” We’ve built a...