Hardiness with Dr Paul Taylor Wisdom Wednesdays: This is what burnout looks like in the brain - and what you can do about it
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Dec 2, 2025 Dive into the neuroscience of burnout and discover how it affects mood and cognitive functions. Learn about the unique brain connectivity changes associated with burnout, distinguishing it from depression. Explore effective multimodal interventions that combine physical, cognitive, and emotional training to combat burnout. Hear about successful studies in military and corporate settings that improved resilience and hardiness in just weeks. Remember, burnout isn't a badge of honor, and there are proven strategies to prevent and reverse it!
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Burnout Is A Distinct Work-Related Syndrome
- Burnout is a psychological syndrome from chronic job stress that impacts mood and cognition.
- It appears across many occupations and can be measured clinically or with surveys like the Maslach Burnout Inventory.
Burnout Changes Brain Connectivity
- A new EEG study found decreased frontal and midline connectivity in people with burnout.
- The strongest drop was in the right frontal alpha3 band linked to attention and emotion regulation.
Frontal Systems Explain Cognitive Decline
- Weakened connections in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate impair executive control.
- That leads to poorer emotion regulation, decision-making, forecasting and sustained attention.
