Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health researcher Dr Despina Ganella totally aced Year 12 back in the day, but vividly remembers that year as one of dread, crippling anxiety and a fear of failure that almost but clearly didn’t overwhelm her.
She now spends her time exploring anxiety, testing adolescent brains compared to adult brains, and trying to unravel why young brains are so resistant to ‘exposure therapy’ (where you face a fear repeatedly, and your brain realises it’s not such a big deal).
I have written about Dr Ganella’s work for the Florey donor newsletter, Brain Matters, and the institute’s 2016-2017 annual report.
NOISY BOY MEDIA 