How Your Brain Works & Changes

Today’s episode provides an introduction to how the nervous system works to create sensations, perceptions, emotions, thoughts and behaviors, as well as how we can change our nervous system—a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity. The information sets the stage for all Huberman Lab podcast episodes that follow by covering neurons, synapses, brain chemicals and the rhythms that control our ability to focus, learn and sleep… and more. Thank you for your interest in science. We'll see you next week! Read the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com. Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:25 Sponsors: AG1 & LMNT 00:07:57 What is the Nervous System 00:07:25 Deja Vu 00:08:09 How War, Guns & Soap Shaped Our Understanding of the Brain 00:10:47 Jennifer Aniston Neurons 00:11:58 Sensations 00:13:30 Magnetic Sensing & Mating 00:14:51 Perceptions & The Spotlight of Attention 00:16:33 Multi-Tasking Is Real 00:17:45 Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Control of Behavior 00:18:38 Focusing the Mind 00:21:47 Antidepressants 00:25:01 Thoughts & Thought Control 00:25:56 Actions 00:30:40 How We Control Our Impulses 00:33:44 Neuroplasticity: The Holy Grail of Neuroscience 00:38:34 The Portal to Neuroplasticity 00:43:53 Accelerating Learning in Sleep 00:47:29 The Pillar of Plasticity 00:52:22 Leveraging Ultradian Cycles & Self Experimentation 00:57:17 Summary 00:58:03 Zero-Cost Support, Feedback, Reviews Disclaimer & Disclosures