In this episode of Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Dr. Chantel Prat—a neuroscientist, psychologist, linguist, and horsewoman. Dr. Prat teaches at the University of Washington and is the author of The Neuroscience of You, a groundbreaking book that examines how every brain is different and what that means for our lives, relationships, and learning processes.

Rupert and Chantel dive deep into individual brain differences, the neuroscience of curiosity, attention, and empathy, and how equine-assisted practices can benefit from this knowledge. From mirror neurons to movement, nature, and neurodivergence, this episode explores how understanding our brains can transform education, therapy, leadership, and horsemanship.

📚 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The Neuroscience of Individuality (Starts at 02:00)

• Why one-size-fits-all brain models fall short.
• How your brain builds reality from bite-sized inputs and past experience.

Rewiring How We Think About Intelligence (Starts at 06:00)

• Moving beyond deficit-based views of learning and attention.
• Understanding the trade-offs and strengths of different brain types.

The Trouble with Normal: Education, Economics, and Brain Diversity (Starts at 14:00)

• Why school systems misunderstand how brains actually learn.
• The mismatch between economic systems and human neurodiversity.

Curiosity, Creativity, and Collaboration (Starts at 17:00)

• How diversity of thought increases innovation and team success.
• Cultivating workplace cultures that support different kinds of brains.

Mirror Neurons and Theory of Mind (Starts at 24:00)

• What mirror neurons really are—and what they aren’t.
• Understanding empathy, imitation, and their relevance in equine work.

Making Implicit Social Cues Explicit in Therapy (Starts at 34:00)

• Strategies for working with people who experience the world differently.
• The power of observation and simplification in building empathy.

Movement, Nature, and Attention (Starts at 41:00)

• Why nature and motion restore brain function and emotional regulation.
• The importance of soft focus, rhythm, and the outdoors for learning.

The Brain and Attention: Not a Deficit, Just Different (Starts at 45:00)

• The real neuroscience behind ADHD and attention struggles.
• Why labeling differences as disorders is often inaccurate and harmful.

Curiosity as the Ultimate Learning State (Starts at 58:00)

• The PACE model: Predict, Assess, Curiosity, Explore.
• Why psychological safety is key to curiosity and learning.

Medication, Diagnosis, and the Developing Brain (Starts at 1:17:00)

• The complexity of medicating kids for attention or behavior.
• Centering the child's experience in therapeutic decisions.

Plasticity, Psychedelics, and States of Consciousness (Starts at 1:29:00)

• What dreams, serotonin, and neuroplasticity tell us about brain healing.
• The difference between natural and artificial brain interventions.

🌟 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• "The brain is not broken. It’s just doing its job in a noisy world."
• Why nature isn’t a distraction—it’s the optimal learning environment (42:00)
• Curiosity increases dopamine and accelerates learning (1:02:00)
• Movement and rhythm unlock creativity and cognitive restoration (44:00)
• Reframing ADHD as adaptive in hunter-gatherer societies (50:00)
• A playdate with mom: the best definition of successful training (1:25:00)

🤝 Connect with Us:

Contact Dr. Chantel Prat:
🌐 Website: http://www.chantelprat.com/

Books by Chantel Prat:
📘 The Neuroscience of You: How Every Brain Is Different and How to Understand Yours – https://amzn.to/3YJ4TBQ

See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:
🌐 Rupert Isaacson: https://rupertisaacson.com
💻 Equine-Assisted Programs: https://newtrailslearning.com

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