In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Emily Hird, a cognitive neuroscientist and research fellow at University College London’s Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, whose research focuses on the brain mechanisms underlying depression and other mental health conditions.

Dr Hird’s work examines how changes in reward processing, motivation, and effort-based decision-making contribute to symptoms such as anhedonia and apathy. Her research also explores how dopamine signalling, inflammation, and stress interact in depression — and why physical activity may help by reshaping these brain circuits over time.

Together, we unpack why depression isn’t just a change in mood, why everyday tasks can feel disproportionately effortful, and why exercise can be as effective as antidepressants for some people. Rather than ...