How to Rewire Your Brain & Learn Faster | Dr. Michael Kilgard

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Michael Kilgard, PhD, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Texas at Dallas and a leading expert on neuroplasticity and learning across the lifespan. We discuss the need for alertness, effortful focus, post-learning reflection and sleep to induce neuroplasticity, and how dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin and norepinephrine are each involved. He explains the behavioral steps for neuroplasticity, as well as vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) and other therapies for tinnitus, stroke, depression, PTSD and paralysis. This episode ought to be of use to anyone interested in understanding the modern science of brain rewiring and learning to improve cognitive or motor skills or treat sensory or motor disorders. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Wealthfront*: https://wealthfront.com/huberman Carbon: https://joincarbon.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman *This experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients of Wealthfront, and there is no guarantee that all clients will have similar experiences. Cash Account is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) on cash deposits as of December 27,‬ 2024, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to partner banks where they earn the variable‭ APY. Promo terms and FDIC coverage conditions apply. Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer. Timestamps (00:00) Michael Kilgard (03:24) Neuroplasticity (05:13) Child vs Adult Plasticity, Childhood Development & Learning (09:37) Sponsors: Eight Sleep & Wealthfront (12:41) Kids, Real vs Artificial Experiences & Balance, Video Games, Natural World (21:13) Social Media & Videos, Kids, Overstimulation & Development (33:42) Early Language Development, Passive vs Real Experiences, Kids & Adults (39:23) Sponsors: AG1 & Carbon (42:44) Learning & Plasticity Requirements; Focus, Friction, Rest & Reflection (52:24) Brain Connections, Complexity, Life Experiences & Plasticity (1:02:51) Learning, Reflection, Visualization, Testing (1:09:45) Experience Diversity & Time, Happiness, Life Appreciation (1:18:05) Sponsor: Function (1:19:53) Learning & Life Meaning (1:23:25) Neuromodulators, Brain Complexity, Synaptic Eligibility Trace & Learning (1:34:28) Synapses, Therapy for PTSD, Rewiring the Brain (1:39:01) Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Tinnitus, PTSD (1:47:33) Psychedelics, Neurostimulation, Importance of Timing (1:57:47) Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) & Major Depression (2:01:51) Psychedelics/SSRIs as Plasticity Tools, SSRIs & Bone Strength, Failed Clinical Trials (2:13:18) Can VNS Accelerate Learning? (2:16:01) VNS Surgery, Patient Use & Specificity, Closed-Loop Vagus Nerve Stimulation (2:18:18) Tinnitus Cause, Incidence & Self-Amplification; PTSD & Control (2:28:12) VNS for Tinnitus; Disease Complexity & Treatments, Lazy Eye (2:41:05) Complexity of Disease Treatments & Combination Therapies (2:48:50) Brain-Machine Interfaces, Information & Experiences; Closed-Loop Feedback; Resilience (2:59:09) Evolving Clinical Trials, Combination Treatments & Disease Complexity (3:05:21) Acknowledgements (3:07:04) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Om Podcasten

The Huberman Lab podcast is hosted by Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. The podcast discusses neuroscience and science-based tools, including how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health, as well as existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Huberman has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function, and neural plasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behaviors, skills, and cognitive functioning. He is a McKnight Foundation and Pew Foundation Fellow and was awarded the Cogan Award, given to the scientist making the most significant discoveries in the study of vision, in 2017.  Work from the Huberman Laboratory at Stanford School of Medicine has been published in top journals, including Nature, Science, and Cell, and has been featured in TIME, BBC, Scientific American, Discover, and other top media outlets. In 2021, Dr. Huberman launched the Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast is frequently ranked in the top 10 of all podcasts globally and is often ranked #1 in the categories of Science, Education, and Health & Fitness.