Neuroscientist Clayton Page Aldern and Dr Xand van Tulleken - How the Climate Crisis Affects Our Brains and Bodies
Apr 24, 2024
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Neuroscientist Clayton Page Aldern and Dr Xand van Tulleken discuss the harrowing effects of the climate crisis on our physical and neurological wellbeing, from psychiatric risks on unborn babies to neurotoxic algal blooms. They explore how rising temperatures impact cognitive function and decision-making, emphasizing the urgent need for interdisciplinary collaboration and policymakers to address the neurological costs of climate change.
Memory inaccuracies help update perceptions of changing climate.
Rising temperatures increase impulsivity and affect cognitive functions.
Deep dives
Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health
The book explores the effects of climate change on mental health, highlighting the intricate relationship between the changing climate and neurological processes. It delves into how increasing temperatures and environmental toxins influence brain function and cognition, emphasizing the need to reframe our understanding of memory and expectations within the context of a changing world.
Memory and Climate
The interplay between memory and climate is examined, shedding light on how cultural expectations shape our perceptions of the weather and broader climate changes. By exploring the inaccuracies in our memories as the climate shifts, the book explores how forgetting serves as a neurological mechanism to update our models of the world to align with present realities.
Psychological Effects of Climate Change
The podcast discusses the psychological impacts of climate change, emphasizing how rising temperatures and environmental factors influence behavior and decision-making. It showcases empirical evidence revealing the correlation between extreme heat and increased impulsivity, affecting cognitive functions and behavioral responses in various contexts such as academics and workplace productivity.
Neurological Health and Climate
The relationship between climate change and neurological health is explored, highlighting the rising risks of infectious brain diseases and neurotoxins due to a changing climate. The book delves into the alarming consequences of toxic algal blooms and freshwater amoebas thriving in higher temperatures, indicating a potential surge in neurological diseases due to environmental shifts.
Personal Reflections and Community Engagement
The book urges individuals to engage with nature as a means to protect neurocognitive health amidst climate change challenges. It promotes immersive experiences in natural environments as a way to counterbalance the negative impacts of environmental stressors on mental well-being. By advocating for a deeper connection with nature, the book encourages personal reflections and community efforts towards resilience and adaptation in the face of climate-related brain health risks.
The very real consequences of climate change are taking a toll on our humanity from the inside out: and climate anxiety is just the tip of the iceberg. From the psychiatric risks of climate stress on unborn babies, to the growing danger of neurotoxic algal blooms and brain-eating amoebas, neuroscientist and award-winning journalist Clayton Page Aldern joins Dr Xand van Tulleken to explore the harrowing effects of the climate crisis on our physical and neurological wellbeing.