When Rachel Barr, a neuroscientist from Fife, Scotland, began studying the brain, it was personal. Her mother had long struggled with mental health before her death, an experience that shaped Rachel’s belief that we must learn to “work with, not against, your brain” (according to The Telegraph). She explains that we should treat our brain “with the care and compassion we reserve for young children and pets” (The Telegraph).
Her words echo Catholic teaching on the dignity of the human person: we are body and soul, and both require compassion. Just as the Church urges us to care for the vulnerable, Rachel reminds us that our own minds often need that same gentleness.
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Loneliness and the Need for Communion
Rachel warns that loneliness is not just painful but dangerous, noting that it is “a legitimate health hazard and one of the strongest factors that drive people to consider suicide” (The Telegraph). Science shows that prolonged isolation alters brain function, making us misinterpret social cues and withdraw even further.
Catholics know that we are not made to be alone. From Genesis onward, God shows us that human beings are created for communion. The Eucharist itself is both a mystery of divine love and a remedy for isolation, binding us together as one Body in Christ. Rachel’s advice to practice empathy and “give yourself – and others – the benefit of the doubt” (The Telegraph) complements the Christian call to charity and forgiveness.
Stress and the Call to Rest in God
Modern life leaves many of us chronically stressed. Rachel describes how the brain’s stress system, when overused, burns out—leaving us trapped in constant anxiety. Her solution is what she calls “microdosing on delight”: small bursts of joy like listening to a favorite song, playing with a pet, or sipping tea in peace (The Telegraph).
In Catholic life, we recognize these “bursts of delight” as moments of grace. Pausing to pray a decade of the Rosary, lighting a candle, or noticing God’s creation can restore calm to the soul and body alike. The Catechism reminds us that Sunday rest is not a luxury but a commandment, for our good. Science, too, confirms that delight and rest are not indulgences—they are lifelines.
Self-Doubt, Identity, and the Truth of Who We Are
Rachel also speaks about self-doubt and fractured identity. She points out that in evolutionary history, exile from the group meant death, which is why our brains can panic when we feel out of place. She explains that the temporo-parietal junction helps us “read the room” and maintain social identity, but in today’s world, false signals from trends and consumer culture can erode that stability (The Telegraph).
Her advice is to experiment with identity, finding what genuinely brings joy and belonging. For Catholics, this aligns with discovering our true identity as sons and daughters of God. No fashion trend, social signal, or fleeting opinion can take away the baptismal truth that we belong to Christ. Rachel notes that self-esteem often wavers depending on others’ approval, but “self-compassion” is steadier and more resilient (The Telegraph). Catholic spirituality has always taught something similar: humility and mercy, both toward others and ourselves, root us in God’s love rather than human praise.
Working With Grace and Science
Rachel Barr’s upcoming book, How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend: A Neuroscientist’s Guide to a Healthier, Happier Life (DK RED, August 28), is not a theology manual, but her insights harmonize with a Catholic worldview. To work “with, not against, your brain” (The Telegraph) is another way of saying we should care for the gifts God has given us—our bodies, our souls, and yes, our minds.
Neuroscience confirms what faith has always taught: we are not machines to be “hacked” into constant productivity, but beloved children of God, called to compassion, rest, communion, and joy.
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