
Dissociation - What is it really?
From PsyDactic by T. Ryan O'Leary
February 3, 2026 · 35 min · Episode 80
About this episode
Dr. O'Leary explores the neuroscience of dissociation and its implications as a neurobiological defense mechanism.
Dr. O'Leary explores the neuroscience of dissociation, defining it as a degenerate concept that refers to a wide range of functional disconnections within the brain rather than a single clinical entity. The discussion moves from the standard medical definitions—such as depersonalization, derealization, and amnesia—toward a broader view of dissociation as a neurobiological defense mechanism that uses sensory attenuation to manage background noise and overwhelming trauma. By examining how speci...
People in this episode
Host: Dr. O'Leary
Topics covered
- dissociation
- neuroscience
- mental health
- defense mechanisms
- trauma
Keywords
- dissociation
- neuroscience
- depersonalization
- derealization
- amnesia
- trauma
- sensory attenuation
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