Over time, neural pathways become myelinated through repetition. Myelination speeds up communication between neurons, making processing faster and more efficient, but also more automatic and less conscious. The first time you saw a sunset, every color, shadow, and temperature shift was new data, and your brain had to actively decode it. By the... See more

simple experiments

• quiet the default mode network. presence and attention training (e.g., mindfulness, meditation, or simply pausing to notice) reduces activity in the DMN. try it in small, ordinary moments, like brushing your teeth, waiting for the microwave, washing dishes. pause and notice what is actually, literally happening around you in

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Children live in a near-constant state of novelty, so this system fires often. Everything is important. Everything is stimulating. As adults, we can activate that same system by giving something (anything!) our full attention. When we do, we signal to our brain, “this matters” , and the result is an experience that feels richer and more memorable.

The default mode network (DMN) tends to activate when we’re not fully engaged in the present moment. The DMN is a collection of interconnected brain regions that drift through memories, simulate possible futures, and maintain our ongoing sense of self. This allows us to plan, imagine, and reflect, but it also pulls us out of direct experience. In... See more

Children haven’t built those efficiency shortcuts yet. Their sensory systems are still developing, so everything is computationally expensive and requires full attentional resources. The humid air, the sound of cicadas, the pink haze of evening - each detail demands conscious processing. And that unfiltered sensory reality creates the magic we... See more