Using Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain

In this episode, I discuss the transformative nature of play—how it
changes our feelings, thoughts and actions and indeed, how it can
rewire our brain to function better in all contexts. I explain the
role of play in childhood, as well as adulthood in skill and social
development and describe key characteristics of the mind and body
during play. Additionally, I explore how play allows the brain to
test contingencies in different roles/environments. Throughout, I
discuss the underlying neurobiology of play. I also describe how
low-stakes play, and tinkering can broaden and shape your future
capabilities. Finally, I discuss how our childhood ‘personal play
identity’ informs our adult personality. Throughout the episode, I
use the science of play to outline recommendations for using play
as a means to enhance neuroplasticity and explore novel situations,
regardless of age. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman
LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up:
https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous:
https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) The Power
of Play (00:02:23) Tool: Reading on Smart Phones, Sighing &
Learning (00:09:33) Sponsors: AG1, LMNT (00:13:57) Homeostatic
Regulation of Play (00:23:53) Childhood Play & Mindsets
(00:29:21) Contingency Testing (00:32:17) The (Power of) Playful
Mindset (00:36:13) Body Postures (00:44:03) Rule Testing &
Breaking (00:48:24) Role Play (00:50:39) Neurobiology of Low-stakes
Play (00:54:22) Expanding Capabilities through Tinkering (01:00:03)
Play Is THE Portal to Neuroplasticity (01:04:44) Adulthood Play
(01:10:14) Fire Together, Wire Together (01:18:03) Trauma &
Play Deficits & Recovery (01:23:25) Competition & Dynamic
Movement (01:27:36) Chess, Mental Roles, Novelty (01:32:52)
Personal Play Identity (01:37:24) Play Transforms Your Future Self
(01:40:55) Recommendations for Play (01:44:25) Zero-Cost Support,
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