Confessions of a Tie-Dye-Wearing Neuroscience Nerd
I’m a developmental neuropsychologist—a passionate advocate, creative problem-solver, and proud neuroscience nerd. I dive into data, decode complex cognitive patterns, and help people understand what’s going on in their brains and what to do about it. I love the elegance of statistics and the challenge of putting puzzle pieces together to support healthier, happier lives and to promote success.
But if you see me outside the office, you might not guess it. At Camp Sunshine, where I’ve volunteered since 1988, you’ll find me in neon yellow, head-to-toe tie-dye, or maybe engaging in a spontaneous dance party or kissing a fish. I channel my inner goofball, and I do it on purpose.
Because here’s the thing most people don’t realize:
Fun isn’t the opposite of serious. It’s the fuel for thriving.
From Camp Sunshine to Centerfield: A Newfound Fascination
Recently, I fell headfirst into a bit of a fandom rabbit hole. I discovered the Savannah Bananas—a baseball team that turns every game into a full-out spectacle of joy. They wear bright yellow. They dance on the field.
They challenge, break, and reinvent the rules—not just for the sake of novelty, but to reimagine what the game could be. That kind of outside-the-box thinking, that willingness to question the status quo, speaks to me deeply. As a neuropsychologist, I’ve built my career on solving problems in unconventional ways, and as a person, I believe joy is one of the most powerful disruptors we have.
At first, I was charmed. I’m not a baseball devotee (let’s be honest—nine innings is a long time), but this? This was different. The Bananas don’t sacrifice skill—they elevate it.
They play at a high level, but they never let the joy get lost in the seriousness.
And it hit me: This is what brain health looks like in action.
Fun Isn’t Frivolous: A Quick Brain-Based Case for Play
Here’s the neuroscience behind it. Play and laughter activate multiple brain regions at once—including those involved in problem-solving, emotional regulation, motor coordination, and social connection. When we’re engaged in play, our brains release dopamine and endorphins, improving mood, motivation, and attention.
But the benefits go even deeper: regular play supports resilience, strengthens stress recovery systems, and helps regulate the body’s internal rhythms, including sleep. In kids, play is essential for healthy learning—it builds flexible thinking, adaptive coping, and memory consolidation. And let’s not forget the old-school essentials: recess and screen-free, unstructured playtime aren’t just “nice to have”—they’re critical brain fuel.
They allow kids’ nervous systems to reset, support creativity, and give developing brains the downtime they need to grow stronger.
Play is how the brain learns, adapts, and heals—at every age. In kids, it builds flexible thinking and emotional regulation.
In adults, it supports creativity, resilience, and mental agility. Laughter reduces cortisol, boosts immune function, and even improves memory consolidation. In short: fun is foundational.
Friction, Flow, and the Freedom to Be Silly
We often think of growth as something serious and hard—but growth requires movement. And movement requires friction. That’s not just a neuroscience idea—it’s a physics one.
Brains don’t thrive in static comfort zones. They need stretch, challenge, and spark. And sometimes, the best way to spark something?
Be silly. Break routine. Laugh until you snort.
Play invites us to take risks without fear. It opens the door to creativity and connection. It lets us show up, mess up, and try again—all critical ingredients for learning, healing, and growing.
Brain Health Tips for a Fun-Fueled Summer
So as summer approaches, here’s your prescription for better brain health, along with fresh air and sunshine:
Laugh often – with others, at yourself, and even at bad dad jokes.
Move playfully – dance badly, skip stones, jump into a pool fully clothed.
Try something ridiculous – like a ukulele, pickleball, or hula hoop.
Get outside your comfort zone – growth starts where predictability ends.
Be around kids—or embrace your own inner one – their joy is contagious, and their brains are onto something.
Banana Yellow, Big Laughs, and What Really Matters
With any luck, I’ll get to work a Savannah Bananas game when they roll through Charlotte this June—dressed in yellow, fueled by fun, and donating whatever they pay me to Camp Sunshine to send more kids with cancer to summer camp. Because what matters most isn’t just how we optimize performance or fine-tune executive functioning.
What matters is that we don’t forget the joy. That we choose play. That we make space for laughter, for movement, and for spreading rays of sunshine to lift others up.
For bright yellow shirts and even brighter connections.
Because in the end, a well-loved brain isn’t just healthy—it’s lit up with life.
