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Neuroscientist Dr Mithu Storoni’s Playbook For Optimising Brain Function – Boosting Mental Performance, Easing Stress, and Powering How We Live, Learn, and Create
Dr. Mithu Storoni is a University of Cambridge-trained physician, neuroscience researcher, and ophthalmic surgeon. She advises multinational corporations on mental performance and stress management.
Her latest book, ‘Hyperefficient: Simple Methods to Optimise Your Brain and Transform the Way You Work’, lays out the tools we need to retune our brains to their best settings for complex thinking, creativity, concentration, and decision-making. By proposing that we impose the rhythm of our brains on our work, Dr Storoni demonstrates how to create the perfect environment to thrive individually at work and at home.
Summary
01:06 Transitioning from being an eye surgeon to writing about the brain and human performance
- Her journey from ophthalmology to brain performance was more interconnected than it might appear, as the eye is an extension of the brain.
- Specialisation in neuro-ophthalmology deepened her understanding of the brain’s involvement in vision.
- Observing stressed professionals in Hong Kong prompted her to connect neuroscience research with practical applications for work and recovery.
- She aimed to hone in on actionable aspects of brain research to improve workplace performance and everyday life.
03:26 Why is so much of the human brain dedicated to vision?
- A vast portion of the brain is devoted to vision because visual processing encompasses more than sight; it involves imagination, navigation, creativity, and problem-solving.
- Visual cortex involvement goes beyond just seeing; it relates to functions like learning, novelty detection, and the autonomic nervous system.
- Notably, congenitally blind people seem immune to schizophrenia; one theory suggests evolutionary competition for brain “real estate” between visual and auditory faculties.
- This interplay between senses and brain allocation is complex and ongoing in research.
06:53 What does it mean to be “hyper efficient”, and how is it different from being simply productive?
- Hyper efficiency is about achieving the highest qualitative level of work, not just maximising output.
- The brain functions best in bursts with intervening periods of rest or slower activity, similar to pre-industrial work rhythms.
- Continuous work leads to diminishing returns; the brain needs downtime to reach its peak.
- Efficiency in standard terms is about quantity; hyper efficiency focuses on quality and requires intentional rest, even if it seems visibly inefficient.
11:00 Does everyone need mental rest, even if their work is enjoyable or stimulating?
- The brain operates in different states that are optimal for different tasks, such as creativity, focused work, or rapid execution.
- Mithu compares brain states to car gears: being in the right state (gear two) enables sustained focus and efficiency without excessive fatigue.
- When fatigue, overload, or boredom set in, it signals a need to shift gears and take a break.
- If someone is in a flow state (deeply engaged and energised by work), breaks may not be needed as frequently, since the brain is working very efficiently.
17:10 How do your “mental gears” compare to Daniel Kahneman’s System 1 and System 2 thinking?
- System 1 and System 2 align with output from different brain states or gears: quick, intuitive thinking versus careful, analytical thinking.
- High-quality analytical (“System 2”) thinking is possible only in gear two, the optimal middle state.
- System 1 (automatic, fast thinking) can occur in any state but is less reliable for complex tasks; gear states underpin the quality of these thinking systems.
- Flow theory is brought in to explain synchronisation of challenge and reward, when aligned perfectly, the brain enters a hyper-efficient, effortless state.
24:44 Is there a connection between discipline, sustained performance, and mental gears?
- Sustained high performance in any field often relies on disciplined attention, being able to shift focus to what’s energising.
- Discipline also involves finding enjoyment or meaning in mundane contexts, a skill developed more before constant digital distractions.
- Attention regulation and the ability to derive interest from surroundings are malleable mental muscles that can be honed through repeated practice.
- Mithu points out that cultivating this form of discipline and engagement was more common before the era of smartphones.
29:53 Should we align our work with our brain’s natural rhythms and mental gears? What are the different gears?
- Gear two is the optimal state for mental work: engaged, not overly stressed, but not drifting.
- After sustained focus in gear two, fatigue sets in, often signalled by mind-wandering, a prompt to downshift to gear one, which is a restful, daydream-like state.
- Gear three is driven, high-intensity alertness (often artificially by caffeine or deadlines), effective for speed but not for deep focus or creativity.
- Cycling through these gears, especially allowing periods in gear one, increases the ability to sustain high-quality work in gear two.
35:38 Do you have to progress linearly through these gears, or can you skip between them?
- The gears are a simplification; states are more like a landscape with continuous variation, but transitions often do go through the intermediate gear (gear two).
- Too much stimulation (like excessive caffeine) can push you quickly from gear one to overshooting gear three, making focused work harder.
- Understanding this progression helps individuals manage their attention and energy more effectively.
38:21 How does the Indian philosophy of the three gunas relate to your concept of mental gears?
- Mithu acknowledges the similarity, noting the need for balance among states of rest, activity, and harmony.
- Like the gunas, the brain often features a blending of states but with one dominant at any moment.
- Optimal functioning involves embracing and balancing these states, resonating with both scientific and philosophical frameworks.
42:24 What is the role of nutrition, supplements, or nootropics in optimising brain states and “gears”?
- Brain performance relies heavily on energy efficiency, supported by good nutrition, sleep, and balanced metabolic health.
- Diet, vitamins (like B, D, and fish oil), sleep, and even napping are foundational before considering supplements.
- Creatine shows promise, especially under sleep deprivation, but is only a small part of a much larger, nuanced picture.
- Before reaching for nootropics, Mithu emphasises addressing basic physiological needs as the core of brain efficiency.
49:47 How important is “gear one” (e.g. rest, daydreaming and scheduled downtime) for brain performance?
- Gear one (unfocused, mind-wandering) is neuroprotective and may boost resilience against stress and neurodegeneration.
- Experimental evidence (from mouse studies) shows regular periods in a restful state buffer the brain against future stress.
- Like athletes, peak mental output requires planned periods of rest and recovery to process, consolidate, and refresh.
- The brain uses downtime to reorganise and “file” new knowledge, supporting creativity and learning through neuroplasticity.
56:47 Are some people naturally better in the mornings or evenings? How does this relate to gears and performance under a deadline?
- There are natural variations (“larks” and “owls”) in preferred times of alertness: some people peak in the morning, others in the afternoon/evening.
- Mithu also differentiates people with “stiff gears” (who need high stimulation to engage) and “springy gears” (quickly aroused, easily overstimulated).
- Performance is tied to hitting the gear two “sweet spot”; understanding your own tendencies and structuring work accordingly is key.
- High stress or deadline work (gear three) may sometimes trigger hyper-focus and peak performance in certain people.
1:02:22 What capabilities will be most important for the future, especially alongside AI and automation?
- Creativity, curiosity-driven problem solving, and fluid intelligence will become critical as AI takes over routine tasks.
- Humans should emphasise skills that machines can’t easily replicate: original thinking and adapting to novel situations.
- Education and careers should pivot from rote memorisation to fostering creativity and curiosity from an early age.
- The need for workplaces and educational systems to be redesigned around how the human brain works best.
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