The Psychology of your 20s
The Psychology of your 20s

468. The psychology of brain fog

October 12, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The psychology of brain fog

Brain fog is not a formal medical condition. The term was coined by people living with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a condition that has been understudied and underrecognized for decades. Because medical professionals often dismissed their symptoms, patients created their own language to validate their experiences — and "brain fog" stuck. For years, it was written off as psychological, code for "made up." But modern fMRI scans have since confirmed what patients have been saying all along: something physical is happening in the brain. Brain fog is not just tiredness. Tiredness comes from a lack of energy. Brain fog comes from a genuine decline in cognitive capacity — the inability to pay attention, to hold a train of thought, to string a sentence together, even when you know what you want to say and desperately want your brain to cooperate.

Three pathways to brain fog

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (04:07) **Episode Introduction & Defining Brain Fog** - Host Gemma Spike introduces the topic and explains why brain fog is finally receiving serious research attention after years of neglect.
  • 2 (09:19) **Three Categories of Causes: Overview** - Gemma introduces the three major explanatory frameworks for brain fog: physiological depletion, cognitive overload, and disease-based disruption.
  • 3 (10:38) **Cause #1: Physiological Depletion** - The brain lacks physical resources like sleep, nutrition, and hydration needed for optimal function.
  • 4 (14:42) **When Depletion Causes Episodic vs. Chronic Fog** - Physiological depletion typically produces temporary, episodic brain fog that resolves with rest, food, and water—unlike the other two categories.
  • 5 (15:05) **Cause #2: Cognitive Overload Theory** - Developed by John Sweller in the 1980s, this theory frames the mind as having limited working memory that gets overwhelmed by competing demands.
  • 6 (18:22) **City Life and Chronic Pain as Cognitive Load** - Two specific examples show how environmental and physical factors consume attentional resources and create brain fog.
  • 7 (22:21) **Cause #3: Disease-Based Disruption & Neuroinflammation** - The most severe pathway involves actual biological changes to the brain, often triggered by infection, inflammation, or environmental toxins.

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Guests on this episode

Gemma Spike

Show Notes

Brain fog is so much more than just feeling tired. It's that frustrating feeling of knowing what you want to say or do, but your brain simply won't cooperate. And whilst it's incredibly common, we're only just beginning to understand what actually causes it.

Watch on Netflix: HERE

In today's episode, we're breaking down the fascinating new research behind brain fog, including:

  • The three main causes of brain fog, from physical depletion to cognitive overload and neurological disruption

  • Why chronic stress, anxiety and mental load can leave your brain feeling exhausted

  • The surprising links between brain fog, inflammation, long COVID and gut health

  • Why women may be more susceptible to brain fog

  • The science of sleep, nutrition and the brain's natural cleaning system

  • What actually helps clear brain fog, beyond just drinking more water and getting more rest

Extra links: 

Brain fog and trauma: HERE

Brain fog and ADHD: HERE

Brain fog and food: HERE

The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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