Devin Effinger, PhD | Neuroscientist

It’s been a long road of self discovery and inward reflection to get to a point where I feel reconnected to this little boy. The purity that exists in young children is sacred and should be guarded unequivocally. That being said, life has a way of dimming the light of innocence in us all. I highly doubt anyone gets through the first 20 years of their lives without some accrued build up of emotional entanglement. The inward journey involves deep examination of your life. It involves fearless exploration into residual core fears and the purging of pent up emotional wounds. It’s a process that is at times extremely painful, but is ultimately the greatest gift you can give to yourself, because on the other end is the prospect of an entirely new life. A rebirth. Until I familiarized myself with every nook and cranny of my emotional being, I was being driven by past experiences. These experiences had given birth to subconsciously implanted defense mechanisms that imposed limitations on an experience that should be, for the most part, limitless. Get to know yourself. Get to love yourself. You’re worth it. 🙏

During the more informative, vulnerable years of my early development, I was given the gift of my grandfather. He showed up in my life a monumental force of love and support when I needed it the most. An exploration geologist turned retired park ranger, he would spend hours with me in the mountains teaching me about navigating the wilderness. When I needed a box car for the soap box derby, he carved one for me. When I showed interest in nature, he enrolled me into RMNP junior park ranger training, spent hours with me tracking animals in the park, and eventually took me on an African safari. He was my hero, my best friend, and my rock. He instilled in me the curiosity and sense of critical thinking that served as the foundation for me becoming a scientist. To me, he was larger than life. . . Part of what makes life such a spectacular and valuable experience is that it has an end, and his came sooner than I’d hoped. To say his loss has been devastating would be a gross understatement. That said, I’m grateful for the many years, the mentorship, and the love. I am grateful I was sober and present enough to show up for him in the final days and sit by his side, holding his hand as he gradually made his transition. I find great peace in knowing that, much like he showed up when I needed him the most, I was able to show up for him when he needed me. ❤️

Psychedelics can open the door. But they don’t walk you through it. That’s the problem Psio is built to solve. The experience may create a window of plasticity, but what happens next determines whether someone changes or slips back into old circuitry. Psio helps bring structure, measurement, and nervous system training to the arc of psychedelic care. Because the breakthrough is not the finish line. It’s the beginning.

Your brain is a prediction machine. Not a truth machine. In any moment, you have limited sensory data. So your brain fills the gaps with guesses. Those guesses are built from past experiences and biases, and the brain usually chooses speed over accuracy. That is why your mind can “know” something is wrong before you have evidence. Then comes the trap: You mistake the prediction for reality. And your body reacts to the story like it’s true. Meaning creates emotion. Change the meaning, change the emotion. Next time you spiral, ask: “What do I actually know from my senses, and what am I adding?” Save this for the next time your brain writes a doom story. Comment “FACTS” if you want a 10-second reset script. #neuroscience #brainhealth #nervoussystem #emotionalregulation #stressresponse

New Year’s resolutions fail for a reason. Your brain runs on habit loops wired through the dorsal striatum — not motivation. You don’t think your way into change. Your brain follows your feet. Take the contrary action, consistently, and over time the brain rewires to match who you’re becoming. #neuroscience #neuroplasticity #brainhealth #resolutions #brain

Your brain wasn’t built for this world. It was built for scarcity, danger, and survival—not endless dopamine, constant stimulation, and zero pauses. Modern life hijacks ancient circuitry… and will run it into the ground if you let it. What saved me wasn’t insight alone—it was action. Deliberate, uncomfortable, contrary action that slowly rewired my brain and changed my life. Awareness is the start. Action is the switch. 🧠⚡️ Voluntary evolution is a choice. #VoluntaryEvolution #Neuroscience #BrainHijack #TEDx #Neuroplasticity

Most people wait to feel different before they act different. The RISE framework flips that. Contrary action creates the neural shift you’ve been waiting for. If you’re stuck, don’t wait for motivation — move first. Comment “RISE” if you want the full breakdown. #neuroscience #mentalperformance #personaldevelopment

My TEDx talk is officially LIVE. I went from traumatic brain injury → heroin addiction → neuroscientist… and the lessons in between reshaped everything. Link to full talk in bio! #tedxtalks #tedx #neuroscience

1 week out! 🎤 If you’re in Colorado, come join us for @tedxboulder this Sunday, September 28th. The lineup is incredibly diverse, with speakers covering a wide range of ideas and experiences. For me, the journey here has been surreal — from a TBI-induced speech impediment, through the depths of addiction, to standing on this stage as a neuroscientist. Grateful to the organizers for making this possible.

That post-workout glow? It’s not just a vibe — it’s neurobiology. Here’s what the science says: 📌 Endocannabinoids like anandamide spike after aerobic exercise. In humans, this “runner’s high” is more strongly linked to endocannabinoids than endorphins — Raichlen et al., 2012. 📌 Dopamine transmission increases in animal models, especially in the nucleus accumbens — the brain’s reward hub. This likely boosts motivation and mood (Greenwood et al., 2011). 📌 BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) rises after exercise in both humans and rodents, enhancing learning, memory, and long-term plasticity (Szuhany et al., 2015). 📌 fMRI studies show reduced amygdala reactivity and enhanced prefrontal control post-exercise — meaning you’re literally more emotionally regulated after moving your body (Kujach et al., 2018). 📌 Long-term training alters monoamine systems — serotonin and norepinephrine — similar to how antidepressants work, especially shown in rodent studies (Meeusen & De Meirleir, 1995). 🧠 Here’s the wild part: Just 10–30 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise is enough to produce measurable increases in BDNF and endocannabinoids in human studies. Even a brisk walk counts. TL;DR: You don’t need to train like an athlete to get the neurochemical benefits. You just have to move. Drop a 🧠 or 🏃‍♂️ if you’re exercising for your brain. #Neuroscience #ExerciseScience #BDNF #Endocannabinoids #MentalHealth #RunnerHigh #Neuroplasticity #fMRI #Dopamine #RecoveryTools

The inaugural #GRCPsychedelics was a success! I am honored to have been one of a few chosen to receive a travel award and be able to share the stage with the leaders in the field. Very grateful to the organizers. 🙏