because intense sensorimotor processing inhibits parts of
our brain responsible for self-awareness.^44 During a movie,
this is exactly what we want—cinema is meant to be, after
all, a dream shared by audience and director. But in day-to-
day life, unintentional overload can occur at the expense of
our executive function. The modern world can be
excessively excitatory—music, electronic billboards, the
light from a smartphone screen, the flickering of a TV
screen, or simply the sound of a train entering the station.
These are all factors that, when combined, can overload our
prefrontal cortexes and deplete our neurotransmitter stores.
Here are some ways to reduce excessive stimulation:
When requiring focus, such as when working or
studying, ensure that any music you choose to listen
to is instrumental only. Lyrics engage the brain’s
language center, which can compromise your ability
to use language in other tasks simultaneously.
Turn the volume down on your devices (TV,
smartphone, etc.). Keep the volume as low as
possible while still being able to enjoy your content.
Turn down the brightness on your screens. Many
people keep their smartphone screen brightness up to
the maximum setting. Set yours to adjust
automatically to ambient light, and keep it on
minimum brightness at night.
Use warmer-colored bulbs in your home. Bulbs that
give off a more “orange” glow contain less of the
blue wavelengths of light, which can overstimulate
the brain in evening hours.