How to Focus to Change Your Brain

This episode introduces neuroplasticity—which is how our brain and nervous system learn and acquire new capabilities. I describe the differences between childhood and adult neuroplasticity, the chemicals involved and how anyone can increase their rate and depth of learning by leveraging the science of focus. I describe specific tools for increasing focus and learning. The next two episodes will cover the ideal protocols for specific types of learning and how to make learning new information more reflexive. #HubermanLab #Focus #Neuroscience For an updated list of our current sponsors, please visit our website as previous sponsors mentioned in this podcast episode may no longer be affiliated with us: https://hubermanlab.com/sponsors Reference: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.04.010 Social & Website Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Twitter: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network Timestamps below. 00:00 Introduction 03:50 Plasticity: What Is it, & What Is It For? 06:30 Babies and Potato Bugs 08:00 Customizing Your Brain 08:50 Hard-Wired Versus Plastic Brains 10:25 Everything Changes At 25 12:29 Costello and Your Hearing 13:10 The New Neuron Myth 14:10 Anosmia: Losing Smell 15:13 Neuronal Birthdays Near Our Death Day 16:45 Circumstances for Brain Change 17:21 Brain Space 18:30 No Nose, Eyes, Or Ears 19:30 Enhanced Hearing and Touch In The Blind 20:20 Brain Maps of The Body Plan 21:00 The Kennard Principle (Margaret Kennard) 21:36 Maps of Meaning 23:00 Awareness Cues Brain Change 25:20 The Chemistry of Change 26:15 A Giant Lie In The Universe 27:10 Fathers of Neuroplasticity/Critical Periods 29:30 Competition Is The Route to Plasticity 32:30 Correcting The Errors of History 33:29 Adult Brain Change: Bumps and Beeps 36:25 What It Takes to Learn 38:15 Adrenalin and Alertness 40:18 The Acetylcholine Spotlight 42:26 The Chemical Trio For Massive Brain Change 44:10 Ways To Change Your Brain 46:16 Love, Hate, & Shame: all the same chemical 47:30 The Dopamine Trap 49:40 Nicotine for Focus 52:30 Sprinting 53:30 How to Focus 55:22 Adderall: Use & Abuse 56:40 Seeing Your Way To Mental Focus 1:02:59 Blinking 1:05:30 An Ear Toward Learning 1:06:14 The Best Listeners In The World 1:07:20 Agitation is Key 1:07:40 ADHD & ADD: Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder 1:12:00 Ultra(dian) Focus 1:13:30 When Real Change Occurs 1:16:20 How Much Learning Is Enough? 1:16:50 Learning In (Optic) Flow/Mind Drift 1:18:16 Synthesis/Summary 1:25:15 Learning With Repetition, Forming Habits As always, thank you for your interest in science! The Huberman Lab Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com

Andrew Hubermanhost

Feb 8, 20211h 29mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: February 8, 2021
Duration: 1h 29m
Channel: Huberman Lab
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

This episode introduces neuroplasticity—which is how our brain and nervous system learn and acquire new capabilities. I describe the differences between childhood and adult neuroplasticity, the chemicals involved and how anyone can increase their rate and depth of learning by leveraging the science of focus. I describe specific tools for increasing focus and learning. The next two episodes will cover the ideal protocols for specific types of learning and how to make learning new information more reflexive. #HubermanLab #Focus #Neuroscience For an updated list of our current sponsors, please visit our website as previous sponsors mentioned in this podcast episode may no longer be affiliated with us: https://hubermanlab.com/sponsors Reference: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.04.010 Social & Website Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Twitter: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network Timestamps below. 00:00 Introduction 03:50 Plasticity: What Is it, & What Is It For? 06:30 Babies and Potato Bugs 08:00 Customizing Your Brain 08:50 Hard-Wired Versus Plastic Brains 10:25 Everything Changes At 25 12:29 Costello and Your Hearing 13:10 The New Neuron Myth 14:10 Anosmia: Losing Smell 15:13 Neuronal Birthdays Near Our Death Day 16:45 Circumstances for Brain Change 17:21 Brain Space 18:30 No Nose, Eyes, Or Ears 19:30 Enhanced Hearing and Touch In The Blind 20:20 Brain Maps of The Body Plan 21:00 The Kennard Principle (Margaret Kennard) 21:36 Maps of Meaning 23:00 Awareness Cues Brain Change 25:20 The Chemistry of Change 26:15 A Giant Lie In The Universe 27:10 Fathers of Neuroplasticity/Critical Periods 29:30 Competition Is The Route to Plasticity 32:30 Correcting The Errors of History 33:29 Adult Brain Change: Bumps and Beeps 36:25 What It Takes to Learn 38:15 Adrenalin and Alertness 40:18 The Acetylcholine Spotlight 42:26 The Chemical Trio For Massive Brain Change 44:10 Ways To Change Your Brain 46:16 Love, Hate, & Shame: all the same chemical 47:30 The Dopamine Trap 49:40 Nicotine for Focus 52:30 Sprinting 53:30 How to Focus 55:22 Adderall: Use & Abuse 56:40 Seeing Your Way To Mental Focus 1:02:59 Blinking 1:05:30 An Ear Toward Learning 1:06:14 The Best Listeners In The World 1:07:20 Agitation is Key 1:07:40 ADHD & ADD: Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder 1:12:00 Ultra(dian) Focus 1:13:30 When Real Change Occurs 1:16:20 How Much Learning Is Enough? 1:16:50 Learning In (Optic) Flow/Mind Drift 1:18:16 Synthesis/Summary 1:25:15 Learning With Repetition, Forming Habits As always, thank you for your interest in science! The Huberman Lab Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com

SPEAKERS

Andrew Huberman
host

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Huberman Lab, featuring Andrew Huberman, How to Focus to Change Your Brain explores unlock Adult Neuroplasticity: How Focus, Chemicals, and Rest Rewrite Brains Andrew Huberman explains how neuroplasticity works from birth through adulthood, clarifying that while children’s brains change easily through mere exposure, adults must use focused attention, specific neurochemical states, and rest to drive lasting change.

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