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. For the full show
notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1
(Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT:
https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up:
https://www.wakingup.com/huberman Momentous:
https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00)
Introduction (00:00:32) Sponsors: AG1, LMNT, Waking Up (00:03:50)
Plasticity: What Is it, & What Is It For? (00:06:30) Babies and
Potato Bugs (00:08:00) Customizing Your Brain (00:08:50) Hard-Wired
Versus Plastic Brains (00:10:25) Everything Changes At 25
(00:12:29) Costello and Your Hearing (00:13:10) The New Neuron Myth
(00:14:10) Anosmia: Losing Smell (00:15:13) Neuronal Birthdays Near
Our Death Day (00:16:45) Circumstances for Brain Change (00:17:21)
Brain Space (00:18:30) No Nose, Eyes, Or Ears (00:19:30) Enhanced
Hearing and Touch In The Blind (00:20:20) Brain Maps of The Body
Plan (00:21:00) The Kennard Principle (Margaret Kennard) (00:21:36)
Maps of Meaning (00:23:00) Awareness Cues Brain Change (00:25:20)
The Chemistry of Change (00:26:15) A Giant Lie In The Universe
00:27:10) Fathers of Neuroplasticity/Critical Periods 00:29:30)
Competition Is The Route to Plasticity 00:32:30) Correcting The
Errors of History 00:33:29) Adult Brain Change: Bumps and Beeps
(00:36:25) What It Takes to Learn (00:38:15) Adrenalin and
Alertness (00:40:18) The Acetylcholine Spotlight (00:42:26) The
Chemical Trio For Massive Brain Change (00:44:10) Ways To Change
Your Brain (00:46:16) Love, Hate, & Shame: all the same
chemical (00:47:30) The Dopamine Trap (00:49:40) Nicotine for Focus
(00:52:30) Sprinting (00:53:30) How to Focus (00:55:22) Adderall:
Use & Abuse (00:56:40) Seeing Your Way To Mental Focus
(01:02:59) Blinking (01:05:30) And Ear Toward Learning (01:06:14)
The Best Listeners In The World (01:07:20) Agitation is Key
(01:07:40) ADHD & ADD: Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity)
Disorder (01:12:00) Ultra(dian) Focus (01:13:30) When Real Change
Occurs (01:16:20) How Much Learning Is Enough? (01:16:50) Learning
In (Optic) Flow/Mind Drift (01:18:16) Synthesis/Summary (01:25:15)
Learning With Repetition, Forming Habits As always, thank you for
your interest in science! Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
megaphone.fm/adchoices