About Adam
Dr. Adam Gazzaley is a neurologist and neuroscientist who holds the David Dolby Distinguished Professor position in Neurology, Physiology, and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He is the founder and Executive Director of Neuroscape, a major research center focused on developing and testing new technologies to assess and improve brain function. Adam’s core research explores how our brains handle perception, attention, and memory, with a special focus on how distraction and multitasking affect our abilities, especially as we age. His most significant and widely known contribution is the use of custom-designed video games as “digital medicine” to enhance cognitive control. Notably, he invented the technology for the first-ever video game that the FDA approved as a medical treatment for children with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). Beyond the lab, Dr. Adam is a successful entrepreneur, co-founding companies like Akili Interactive, which develops therapeutic video games, and JAZZ Venture Partners, a firm investing in technology to boost human performance. He is also the co-author of the popular book, The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World, and hosted the PBS special The Distracted Mind with Dr. Adam Gazzaley. His current work continues to advance innovative solutions, including combining virtual reality, AI, and even psychedelics to optimize the brain.