Episode 116: The Sleep Paradox — Why We Struggle to Sleep & How Neuroscience Will Help

What if the reason you can’t sleep isn’t that you’re doing something wrong—but that your brain has actually learned to stay awake?

In Episode 116 of The Longevity Lounge, Dr. Cherine sits down with Dr. Michael Byrne, CEO and Co-Founder of Bía Neuroscience, to explore why sleep remains such a struggle, even when we’re doing all the “right” things.

From sleep routines and supplements to meditation, wearables, and tracking devices, we have more sleep tools than ever. Yet many people still find themselves exhausted during the day and wide awake the moment their head hits the pillow.

Dr. Byrne explains why sleep is both highly personal and surprisingly universal, how the brain can begin associating bedtime with stress, and why trying harder to fall asleep can sometimes make sleep even more difficult.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why stress may be one of the biggest disruptors of modern sleep
• The neuroscience behind feeling “tired but wired”
• What happens during the different stages of sleep
• How your brain can learn to associate your bedroom with wakefulness or stress
• Why sleep is something that happens to you—not something you can force
• Neuroplasticity and the possibility of retraining sleep patterns
• Why simply tracking your sleep may not be enough
• How personalized sleep technology could help us better understand individual sleep patterns
• Sleep challenges for shift workers and frequent travelers
• How Bía Neuroscience is approaching sleep through brain activity, personalized feedback, sound, light, and other emerging technologies

Dr. Byrne also introduces the technology behind the Bía Smart Sleep Mask, which is designed to measure sleep patterns and use technologies such as neurofeedback, neural soundscapes, light, and haptic stimulation as part of its approach to sleep.

If you’ve optimized your bedroom, put away the electronics, tried meditation, adjusted your routine, and still can’t figure out why you aren’t sleeping well, this conversation offers a fascinating new perspective on what may be happening inside the brain.

Explore Bía Neuroscience & the Bía Smart Sleep Mask:
getbia.com

Explore the science and research behind Bía:
getbia.com/science

Join Dr. Cherine for conversations exploring longevity, nutrition, movement, sleep, recovery, neuroscience, healthy aging, and the emerging technologies changing the way we approach our health.

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Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or replace individualized medical advice. Always consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health, medications, supplements, or treatment plan.