We're told creativity is just for artists, but neuroscience reveals it's essential for problem-solving, mental health, and human flourishing. So why do modern environments and habits systematically shut down our creative networks? What's really happening in our brains when we create—and how can we redesign our lives to unlock it?

👉 Find the full playlist of episodes HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO6l9CNQoSFdYrSofAAHBcTdsnpYk8iYg

Saskia Wheeler is a science communicator specializing in neuroscience as applied to mental wellbeing. She translates neuroscience research into practical, human-centered tools that support healthier minds and environments. At Kyan Health, she collaborates with organizations to foster cultures emphasizing psychological safety, collective resilience, and long-term wellbeing.

Her academic background combines Neuroaesthetics and Creativity (MSc, Goldsmiths) with Philosophy of Mind and Aesthetics (MA, Trinity College Dublin), bridging neuroscience, design, and human experience to apply science-led strategies in workplace wellbeing and environmental influence on cognition, emotion, and performance.

Today, expect to learn:

• What the three brain networks involved in creativity actually do and why they rarely work together

• Why creative people have "attenuated latent inhibition" and can't filter out irrelevant information like others

• How this relates to ADHD and why neurodivergent minds often show enhanced creativity

• Why survival mode brain states completely shut down creative thinking• How AI tools might be rewiring our brains in concerning ways by reducing cognitive effort

• What "neuroaesthetics" reveals about how our physical environment affects our mental state

• Practical methods to regulate your nervous system and shift from survival to creation mode

• How psychological safety helps you to better regulate emotions and how that can support better creativity

• How to redesign your environment and habits to support your brain's creative networks

W H A T T O D O N E X T :

GUEST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://www.saskiawheeler.co.uk

LINKEDIN: https://linkedin.com/in/saskiawheeler

INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/neuro.aesthetic

HOST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://sevenjacobs.com

SUBSTACK: https://sevenjacobs.substack.com

SOCIALS: https://sevenjacobs.com/links

SHOW LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://sevenjacobs.com/lost-and-searching

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@lostandsearchingpodcast

ALL EPISODES (Spotify): https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lostandsearching

ALL EPISODES (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-and-searching/id1771369908

Sources & Further Reading:

[1] Neuroscience communication research on public engagement and accurate messaging

[2] Studies on the intersection of AI and neuroscience in mental health applications

[3] Academic research on neuroplasticity, creativity networks, and environmental neuroscience

[4] Neuroaesthetics research on how design impacts brain function and wellbeing

Jargon Buster:

• Default Mode Network: Brain network active during rest and daydreaming, crucial for creative thinking

• Executive Control Network: Brain system responsible for critical thinking, planning, and decision-making

• Salience Network: Neural network that determines what captures our attention and feels meaningful

• Attenuated Latent Inhibition: Reduced ability to filter out irrelevant stimuli, common in creative individuals

• Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections throughout life

• Neuroaesthetics: The study of how aesthetic experiences affect the brain and behaviour