Brain Expert: How to Improve Focus and Manage ADHD

"It might sound corny, but I think this technology will change the world. Imagine how much of our life is dictated by how our brain works and how we've been conditioned by the past. This will help us break free." – James Croall

What happens when a successful Silicon Valley cybersecurity expert keeps falling asleep in executive meetings and struggles to focus? For James Croall, this frustrating reality led to a profound discovery that would completely transform not only his own life but also his entire career trajectory.

In this eye-opening next episode of The Humanware Project, Méline sits down with James Croall, a self-described "neurohacker" who spent 25 years in cybersecurity before pivoting to help others optimise their brain function. Through his own journey overcoming attention deficits and sleep disorders, James discovered that we aren't limited by the brains we think we have – they can be trained, conditioned, and fundamentally rewired.

James reveals the fascinating science behind neurofeedback and neurostimulation, explaining how techniques like transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), photobiomodulation, and PEMF therapy can create lasting changes in brain function. As he puts it, "We're trying to understand the language of the brain and then hack it." The results can be remarkable – from clients who go from completing 20% of their to-do lists to 80%, to those overcoming anxiety patterns that had previously paralysed their careers.

Perhaps most compelling is James's breakdown of how our modern environment has rewired many of our brains for distraction. Social media, constant notifications, and multitasking have disrupted our dopamine reward circuitry, leading to attention difficulties even in those without genetic predispositions. Through the neurotherapy techniques James employs, we can potentially reverse these patterns and reclaim our capacity for sustained focus.

What sets this conversation apart is James's unique perspective as someone who approaches the brain like a computer system – identifying patterns, applying the right inputs, and measuring outputs. His background in programming and cybersecurity gives him a distinct advantage in understanding the "language" of the brain and how to hack it for optimal performance.

In this wide-ranging conversation, you'll discover:

- How neurofeedback acts like a "mirror" for your brain, allowing it to see and correct its own patterns
- Why neurostimulation can create faster, more effortless changes in brain function
- The surprising connection between sleep quality and attention span
How vagus nerve stimulation can help balance your autonomic nervous system
- Why ADHD may actually confer certain creative advantages when properly managed
- The ethical considerations around "neurohacking" and finding qualified practitioners
- Through James's eyes, we glimpse a future where technologies like these could fundamentally change how we approach mental health, cognitive performance, and human potential – not by medicating symptoms away, but by teaching our brains to function more optimally from the inside out.