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.

Episode show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/0LbwBp4

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*Dr. Michael Kilgard*
The University of Texas at Dallas academic profile: https://profiles.utdallas.edu/michael.kilgard
Lab website: https://personal.utdallas.edu/~kilgard
Texas Biomedical Device Center: https://txbdc.utdallas.edu/about/leadership
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rXdJOKsAAAAJ&hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-kilgard-9070a26

*Timestamps*
00:00:00 Michael Kilgard
00:03:24 Neuroplasticity
00:05:13 Child vs Adult Plasticity, Childhood Development & Learning
00:09:37 Sponsors: Eight Sleep & Wealthfront
00:12:41 Kids, Real vs Artificial Experiences & Balance, Video Games, Natural World
00:21:13 Social Media & Videos, Kids, Overstimulation & Development
00:33:42 Early Language Development, Passive vs Real Experiences, Kids & Adults
00:39:23 Sponsors: AG1 & Carbon
00:42:44 Learning & Plasticity Requirements; Focus, Friction, Rest & Reflection
00:52:24 Brain Connections, Complexity, Life Experiences & Plasticity
01:02:51 Learning, Reflection, Visualization, Testing
01:09:45 Experience Diversity & Time, Happiness, Life Appreciation
01:18:05 Sponsor: Function
01:19:53 Learning & Life Meaning
01:23:25 Neuromodulators, Brain Complexity, Synaptic Eligibility Trace & Learning
01:34:28 Synapses, Therapy for PTSD, Rewiring the Brain
01:39:01 Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Tinnitus, PTSD
01:47:33 Psychedelics, Neurostimulation, Importance of Timing
01:57:47 Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) & Major Depression
02:01:51 Psychedelics/SSRIs as Plasticity Tools, SSRIs & Bone Strength, Failed Clinical Trials
02:13:18 Can VNS Accelerate Learning?
02:16:01 VNS Surgery, Patient Use & Specificity, Closed-Loop Vagus Nerve Stimulation
02:18:18 Tinnitus Cause, Incidence & Self-Amplification; PTSD & Control
02:28:12 VNS for Tinnitus; Disease Complexity & Treatments, Lazy Eye
02:41:05 Complexity of Disease Treatments & Combination Therapies
02:48:50 Brain-Machine Interfaces, Information & Experiences; Closed-Loop Feedback; Resilience
02:59:09 Evolving Clinical Trials, Combination Treatments & Disease Complexity
03:05:21 Acknowledgements
03:07:04 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer