Episode
Dr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
1:51:40
Published: Mon Dec 13 2021
Description
In this episode, my guest is Dr. David Berson, Professor & Chairman of Neuroscience at Brown University. Dr. Berson discovered the neurons in your eye that set your biological rhythms for sleep, wakefulness, mood and appetite. He is also a world-renowned teacher of basic and advanced neuroscience, having taught thousands of university lectures on this topic. Many of his students have become world-leading neuroscientists and teachers themselves. Here Dr. Berson takes us on a structured journey into and around the nervous system, explaining: how we perceive the world and our internal landscape, how we balance, see, and remember. Also, how we learn and perform reflexive and deliberate actions, how we visualize and imagine in our mind, and how the various circuits of the brain coordinate all these incredible feats. We discuss practical and real-life examples of neural circuit function across the lifespan. Dr. Berson gives us a masterclass in the nervous system—one that, in just less than two hours, will teach you an entire course's worth about the brain and how yours works. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. David Berson (00:03:11) Sponsors: AG1, LMNT, Thesis, Momentous (00:08:02) How We See (00:10:02) Color Vision (00:13:47) “Strange” Vision (00:16:56) How You Orient In Time (00:25:45) Body Rhythms, Pineal function, Light & Melatonin, Blueblockers (00:34:45) Spending Times Outdoors Improves Eyesight (00:36:20) Sensation, Mood, & Self-Image (00:41:03) Sense of Balance (00:50:43) Why Pigeons Bob Their Heads, Motion Sickness (01:00:03) Popping Ears (01:02:35) Midbrain & Blindsight (01:10:44) Why Tilted Motion Feels Good (01:13:24) Reflexes vs. Deliberate Actions (01:16:35) Basal Ganglia & the “2 Marshmallow Test” (01:24:40) Suppressing Reflexes: Cortex (01:33:33) Neuroplasticity (01:36:27) What is a Connectome? (01:45:20) How to Learn (More About the Brain) (01:49:04) Book Suggestion, my Berson Appreciation (01:50:20) Zero-Cost ways to Support the HLP, Guest Suggestions, Sponsors, Supplements Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac Disclaimer
Chapters
Dr. David Berson, Professor of Medical Science Neuroscience, Neurobiology, and Ophthalmology at Brown University, joins Andrew Huberman to discuss the discovery of the cells in the eye responsible for setting our circadian rhythms and how our perceptions of the outside world are converted into motor actions.
00:00 - 00:56 (00:55)
Summary
Dr. David Berson, Professor of Medical Science Neuroscience, Neurobiology, and Ophthalmology at Brown University, joins Andrew Huberman to discuss the discovery of the cells in the eye responsible for setting our circadian rhythms and how our perceptions of the outside world are converted into motor actions.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
Dr. Andrew Huberman takes listeners on a journey through the various circuits and structures of the nervous system, explaining how each one functions individually and as a whole.
00:56 - 08:15 (07:19)
Summary
Dr. Andrew Huberman takes listeners on a journey through the various circuits and structures of the nervous system, explaining how each one functions individually and as a whole. By the end, listeners will have gained a deeper understanding of how the brain works and how it affects our everyday lives. <br>
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
This episode discusses how dogs see the world in terms of color, specifically how they are colorblind and can only see shades of blue and yellow due to the missing cone cells in their eyes.
08:15 - 21:56 (13:41)
Summary
This episode discusses how dogs see the world in terms of color, specifically how they are colorblind and can only see shades of blue and yellow due to the missing cone cells in their eyes.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
In this podcast, the guest discusses the circadian clock, which is present in almost all cells of the body and operates on a 24-hour cycle, and how it works to signal different bodily functions at specific times.
21:56 - 27:40 (05:44)
Summary
In this podcast, the guest discusses the circadian clock, which is present in almost all cells of the body and operates on a 24-hour cycle, and how it works to signal different bodily functions at specific times.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
Bright light exposure in the middle of the night, regardless of its wavelength, can suppress melatonin production and disrupt sleep patterns.
27:40 - 35:49 (08:09)
Summary
Bright light exposure in the middle of the night, regardless of its wavelength, can suppress melatonin production and disrupt sleep patterns. It's important to optimize exposure to bright light during the day and limit exposure to bright light, including blue light, at night.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
The vestibular system plays a key role in sensing movement and balance, and is connected to a specific part of the brain called the thalamus that links it to various cortical regions responsible for different functions.
35:49 - 43:24 (07:35)
Summary
The vestibular system plays a key role in sensing movement and balance, and is connected to a specific part of the brain called the thalamus that links it to various cortical regions responsible for different functions.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
The hearing and vestibular self-motion sensing systems detect signals in the same way, allowing the brain to unpack information about head movements without actively thinking about it, similar to how the three types of cones in our eyes read incoming photons in the wavelength domain differently.
43:24 - 48:01 (04:36)
Summary
The hearing and vestibular self-motion sensing systems detect signals in the same way, allowing the brain to unpack information about head movements without actively thinking about it, similar to how the three types of cones in our eyes read incoming photons in the wavelength domain differently.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
This podcast explores the connection between sensory information and the brain's integration of that information, including the circadian clock and melatonin.
48:01 - 53:39 (05:37)
Summary
This podcast explores the connection between sensory information and the brain's integration of that information, including the circadian clock and melatonin. They also discuss how advanced phone apps have software for image stabilization that compensates for head rotation, making it easier to align images.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
The cerebellum is involved in motor learning and refining precision of movements, allowing individuals to get better with practice, such as learning a new athletic move or playing an instrument.
53:39 - 1:01:50 (08:11)
Summary
The cerebellum is involved in motor learning and refining precision of movements, allowing individuals to get better with practice, such as learning a new athletic move or playing an instrument. It functions as an air traffic control system for the body, relying on accurate information to operate effectively.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
The midbrain, specifically the superior colliculus, plays a crucial role in processing visual information and handling complicated events related to spatial awareness.
1:01:50 - 1:09:04 (07:13)
Summary
The midbrain, specifically the superior colliculus, plays a crucial role in processing visual information and handling complicated events related to spatial awareness. It is an important component in the evolution of the brain and the integration of sensory neurons for meaningful decision-making.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
The speaker discusses the pleasure that some people experience from movement despite motion sickness, and the importance of having multiple sources of sensory information in the brain.
1:09:04 - 1:12:57 (03:53)
Summary
The speaker discusses the pleasure that some people experience from movement despite motion sickness, and the importance of having multiple sources of sensory information in the brain.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
This episode discusses the interplay of hierarchically organized centers in the nervous system, specifically the automatic sensors and centers, basal ganglia, and cerebral cortex when it comes to motor learning, skill execution, and behavior suppression or activation.
1:12:58 - 1:20:06 (07:08)
Summary
This episode discusses the interplay of hierarchically organized centers in the nervous system, specifically the automatic sensors and centers, basal ganglia, and cerebral cortex when it comes to motor learning, skill execution, and behavior suppression or activation.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
The visual cortex is responsible for processing visual information, forming a map of the objects and movements in the visual world in our brain.
1:20:06 - 1:29:16 (09:10)
Summary
The visual cortex is responsible for processing visual information, forming a map of the objects and movements in the visual world in our brain. It then sends this information to the highest level of the brain to be analyzed and used for implementing plans and making decisions.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
The podcast delves into how different life experiences are processed and organized in the nervous system through various examples, including how the visual cortex gets repurposed as a center for processing tactile information in people who are blind from birth.
1:29:16 - 1:38:22 (09:06)
Summary
The podcast delves into how different life experiences are processed and organized in the nervous system through various examples, including how the visual cortex gets repurposed as a center for processing tactile information in people who are blind from birth.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
In this podcast episode, the guest, who is a neuroscientist, discusses the beauty and complexity of the nervous system, as well as the importance of research in mapping out its cells.
1:38:22 - 1:49:57 (11:34)
Summary
In this podcast episode, the guest, who is a neuroscientist, discusses the beauty and complexity of the nervous system, as well as the importance of research in mapping out its cells. The podcast provides an accessible way to learn more about the nervous system for those interested in neuroscience.
EpisodeDr. David Berson: Understanding Your Brain's Logic & Function
PodcastHuberman Lab
The Huberman Lab Podcast is now partnered with Momentous Supplements, which provides high-quality single ingredient supplements that ship internationally.
1:49:57 - 1:51:22 (01:24)
Summary
The Huberman Lab Podcast is now partnered with Momentous Supplements, which provides high-quality single ingredient supplements that ship internationally. Hosts also share related tools and posts related to health and neuroscience on their blog.