Have you heard of Popcorn Brain? It may be stifling your walk with God

With each swipe of a screen producing another distraction, Chris Witherall explores the concept of Popcorn Brain. Is the fast-pace of modern life inhibiting our ability to deepen our faith and cultivate a more meaningful relationship with God? 

I’ve had something of a neurological complaint recently. It’s annoying, but thankfully it isn’t serious. Recently, my brain has felt itchy. I’m speaking figuratively, of course - I’m told that there are no nerve endings running through my grey matter - but the itch has felt very real.  

On occasion, it’s been maddening that I can’t simply pop my skull open and have a good scratch. I was trying to get to the bottom of this sensation, when an email arrived in my inbox and explained everything. I was working hard that morning (by which, I mean flicking distractedly between social media apps), and it took exactly zero seconds to abandon my toil and open the message. I usually ignore this type of digital missive, but I was intrigued by a clinical - and frankly painful - sounding term, which I hadn’t heard of before. 

This term was ‘popcorn brain’. 

Popcorn brain may sound like a snack beloved by zombies everywhere, but I’ve discovered otherwise. I’d like to tell you about it and examine the implications for our faith. I think there are a few.