Bringing Neuroscience to the Masses: Dr. Siddharth Warrier
Jun 15, 2021
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Dr. Siddharth Warrier is a seasoned neurologist and passionate content creator dedicated to making neuroscience accessible. In this engaging chat, he explores how social expectations and internet trolls impact our brains. He shares insights on optimal brain health practices and the importance of information hygiene. Warrier also delves into the complexities of habit formation and skill acquisition, proving that understanding our brain is key to happiness and personal growth. Plus, he reflects on the creative connections between medicine and poetry for a truly captivating discussion.
Dr. Siddharth Warrier emphasizes the significance of understanding how social expectations and online interactions impact our brain's response and mental health.
He discusses the role of environmental factors in facilitating behavior change, underscoring the importance of mindful information consumption for optimal brain hygiene.
Dr. Warrier advocates for integrating creativity into medicine, highlighting how artistic pursuits can enhance the multifaceted identities of healthcare professionals.
Deep dives
Exploring the Mind of a Neurologist
Dr. Siddharth Varyar, a neurologist with nearly a decade of experience, explains his fascination with neuroscience and human behavior. His YouTube channel, 'Neuroscience is Everything', serves as a platform to explore various topics related to science and mental health, bringing diverse guest perspectives to his audience. He emphasizes the importance of understanding human behavior through a scientific lens, revealing how his passion for the brain has shaped his career choice. This connection between his professional expertise and content creation highlights the role of curiosity in his life.
Navigating a Career in Medicine
Dr. Varyar shares insights into a typical day for a neurologist, detailing his routine between online consultations and hospital visits. Despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19, his foundational responsibilities, such as patient care, have remained largely the same. He notes the shift towards telemedicine as a new and significant aspect of his practice, allowing for continued patient engagement. This reflects the adaptability required in the medical field amid changing societal needs.
The Intersection of Creativity and Medicine
While many see medicine as a strictly scientific endeavor, Dr. Varyar challenges this notion by discussing the creative pursuits of doctors. He believes that a significant number of healthcare professionals have artistic talents that often get eclipsed by their medical responsibilities. By sharing his journey of integrating creativity, such as poetry and music, into his life, he inspires other professionals to do the same. He argues for a narrative shift that allows medical practitioners to embrace their multifaceted identities beyond their clinical roles.
Understanding Threat Perception and Anxiety
During the discussion, Dr. Varyar delves into the brain's heightened sensitivity to perceived threats and the impact this has on mental health. He explains how the primitive part of the brain reacts strongly to social validation, making individuals more susceptible to anxiety and panic attacks. This understanding is crucial in today’s media landscape, where sensationalized news can exacerbate feelings of unrest. By highlighting the importance of mindful consumption of information, he encourages listeners to differentiate between real threats and those amplified by external sources.
Legacy of Knowledge and Understanding
Dr. Varyar expresses a desire for his legacy to revolve around expanding public understanding of neuroscience. He believes that knowledge can alleviate many fears associated with mental health conditions, such as anxiety and panic attacks. His goal is to empower individuals by providing them with insights into the workings of their own brains, thus fostering a healthier relationship with mental health issues. By emphasizing the importance of neuroscience, he hopes to demystify common struggles, making complex subjects more accessible to the general public.
Dr. Siddharth Warrier is a Neurologist with close to a decade experience. He is an MD Medicine with super specialisation DM (Neurology). He also holds his MRCP-UK degree from London.
Dr. Siddharth, off duty is an impressive Youtuber. On his channel, he explores science, mental health and human behaviour through the perspective of Neuroscience. He likes to share his enthusiasm and knowledge through his Podcasts, Instagram Live Sessions, Public Speaking and Poetry. In fact one of his poems won a special prize in the International Hippocrates Conference for Medical Poetry in London. He has also appeared on TedX explaining the Neuroscience behind learning.
In this episode, Dr. Siddharth explains:
-How our Brain functions towards social expectations and Internet trolls