Episode
Using Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
1:46:00
Published: Mon Feb 07 2022
Description
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 (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) The Power of Play (00:02:23) Tool: Reading on Smart Phones, Sighing & Learning (00:09:33) Sponsors: AG1, LMNT, Thesis, Momentous (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, Spotify/Apple Reviews, YouTube, Sponsors, Instagram, Twitter, Supplements Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac Disclaimer
Chapters
Play can lead to more creative thinking, better leadership skills, and increased happiness, as it has the ability to change our nervous system for the better.
00:00 - 03:42 (03:42)
Summary
Play can lead to more creative thinking, better leadership skills, and increased happiness, as it has the ability to change our nervous system for the better. Anyone can benefit from engaging in play, regardless of their background or access to it during childhood.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Narrowing our visual window by looking at a small smartphone screen can suppress our breathing apparatus due to the control of specific neurons in the brainstem called the paraphacial nucleus.
03:42 - 10:53 (07:11)
Summary
Narrowing our visual window by looking at a small smartphone screen can suppress our breathing apparatus due to the control of specific neurons in the brainstem called the paraphacial nucleus. Widening our visual window through reading on larger screens or printed materials can engage physiological size and improve learning.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
This episode discusses how InsideTracker gives specific recommendations for leading a healthy lifestyle, brain circuitry, and the importance of play in childhood and adulthood.
10:53 - 17:00 (06:06)
Summary
This episode discusses how InsideTracker gives specific recommendations for leading a healthy lifestyle, brain circuitry, and the importance of play in childhood and adulthood.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
The different types of play, including role play, social play, individual play, imaginary play, and competitive play, activate different parts of the brain, including the ancient brain stem, and allow for exploration and development of the prefrontal cortex.
17:00 - 24:09 (07:08)
Summary
The different types of play, including role play, social play, individual play, imaginary play, and competitive play, activate different parts of the brain, including the ancient brain stem, and allow for exploration and development of the prefrontal cortex.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Play allows children and adults to explore different outcomes in a low stakes environment, promoting sharing and cooperative play among children and aiding in their overall development.
24:09 - 32:00 (07:51)
Summary
Play allows children and adults to explore different outcomes in a low stakes environment, promoting sharing and cooperative play among children and aiding in their overall development.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Playing games can engage your prefrontal cortex and allow you to become more adaptable in different scenarios.
32:00 - 37:39 (05:38)
Summary
Playing games can engage your prefrontal cortex and allow you to become more adaptable in different scenarios. The act of playing can increase your plasticity and allow you to become more comfortable in situations where someone may be rigid or cheating.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
In play, people tend to make their body smaller unless the play is highly competitive, which is a distinct form of play.
37:39 - 44:37 (06:58)
Summary
In play, people tend to make their body smaller unless the play is highly competitive, which is a distinct form of play. Physical interactions in animals that are about to play involve marching toward one another very slowly but without pilo erection or the hair standing up to look bigger.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
All animals, including humans, engage in low stakes contingency testing and rule breaking, which serve an important role in learning and development.
44:37 - 48:38 (04:00)
Summary
All animals, including humans, engage in low stakes contingency testing and rule breaking, which serve an important role in learning and development. Sport is different, as it has clearly defined rules and consequences.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
This episode explores the evolutionary uses of play for the self, others, and cultural formations, and how engaging in low-stakes thinking and play can expand the function of the prefrontal cortex to facilitate being more flexible, creative, and effective.
48:38 - 1:00:13 (11:35)
Summary
This episode explores the evolutionary uses of play for the self, others, and cultural formations, and how engaging in low-stakes thinking and play can expand the function of the prefrontal cortex to facilitate being more flexible, creative, and effective.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Engaging in low-stakes, playful activities can enhance neuroplasticity, or the brain and nervous system's ability to change in response to experience.
1:00:08 - 1:06:57 (06:49)
Summary
Engaging in low-stakes, playful activities can enhance neuroplasticity, or the brain and nervous system's ability to change in response to experience. Studies have shown that animals that engage in playful behaviors for longer periods of time exhibit higher levels of neuroplasticity.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Tinkers and creatives tend to be unafraid of exploring new things in a low-stakes way, and can learn through passive exposure.
1:06:57 - 1:14:02 (07:04)
Summary
Tinkers and creatives tend to be unafraid of exploring new things in a low-stakes way, and can learn through passive exposure. Examples of this are street artists like Banksy, who uses playfulness and creativity to use cities and art in unusual ways.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Trauma and stress can inhibit neuroplasticity by inhibiting play at a deeper neurobiological level, hindering children and young adults to engage in the game of play.
1:14:02 - 1:25:47 (11:45)
Summary
Trauma and stress can inhibit neuroplasticity by inhibiting play at a deeper neurobiological level, hindering children and young adults to engage in the game of play. However, many trauma therapies now emphasize the significance of play through forms of talk therapy, exploration of different contingencies, and bodily movements like dancing to help people in trauma recovery.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Engaging in play that involves dynamic movements such as dance or sports has been found to be conducive to play-related circuitry and plasticity in the brain, which allows for exploration of different roles and thoughts.
1:25:47 - 1:32:19 (06:31)
Summary
Engaging in play that involves dynamic movements such as dance or sports has been found to be conducive to play-related circuitry and plasticity in the brain, which allows for exploration of different roles and thoughts.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Personal play identity plays a key role in how we see ourselves not just in the context of play but in our work and relationships, impacting our behaviour as adults.
1:32:19 - 1:44:39 (12:19)
Summary
Personal play identity plays a key role in how we see ourselves not just in the context of play but in our work and relationships, impacting our behaviour as adults. Playing novel games can induce neuroplasticity, more so than engaging in activities that we are already experts at, like chess.
EpisodeUsing Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
This is an ad for Momentous Supplements partnership that provides high-quality, single-ingredient supplements and international shipping.
1:44:39 - 1:46:06 (01:27)
Summary
This is an ad for Momentous Supplements partnership that provides high-quality, single-ingredient supplements and international shipping. They also offer various protocols related to the discussed supplements on the Huberman Lab podcast.