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

Welcome to the Huberman Lab Podcast, where we discuss science and science based tools for everyday life. I'm Andrew Huberman, and I'm a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. My guest today is doctor Michael Kilgard. Doctor Michael Kilgard is a professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, and he is one of the world's leading experts in neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to change in response to experience. Since the beginning of the field of neuroscience, meaning for well over one hundred years, it was understood that the young brain can change. Kids can learn things, they can learn languages, new skills, and young adults can learn. But that the adult brain was less capable of learning. Then in the late 90s, it was Doctor. Kilgard, in collaboration with his colleagues, that discovered that indeed, the adult brain can change massively if the right conditions are set. His work showed that if specific neuromodulators, meaning acetylcholine, norepinephrine, serotonin, or dopamine, are triggered to be released in the adult brain, you can achieve massive rewiring of brain circuits and learning even as an adult. This opened up an entire new field within neuroscience and, of course, has profound implications for health and disease. It's also completely changed the way that we think about learning, longevity, and brain health. More recently, doctor Kilgards' research has focused on vagus nerve stimulation to precisely control the timing of neuromodulator release. As you may know, the vagus nerve connects the body with the brain and the brain with the body. And by stimulating a particular branch of the vagus nerve pathway, his laboratory has shown that people can overcome debilitating conditions such as tinnitus, stroke, and even restore mobility to people who have suffered spinal cord injuries. During today's episode, we discussed the specific actionable strategies that you or anyone can use to rewire your brain at any stage of life. So as you'll soon see, Doctor. Kilgard has an exceptionally clear and practical understanding of how to apply what we know about neuroplasticity so that you can learn better and improve your brain health. Before we begin, I'd like to emphasize that this podcast is separate from my teaching and research roles at Stanford. It is, however, part of my desire and effort to bring zero cost to consumer information about science and science related tools to the general public. In keeping with that theme, today's episode does include sponsors. I have a brief announcement to make about my upcoming book, Protocols, an Operating Manual for the Human Body. I've completed the book now several times, and yet it's not quite ready for release, and I'll tell you why. Some years ago, somebody I highly respect in the research science field that I was working with on a project, said to us as a group, If you have the opportunity to make something better, you do it. Now I realize that runs counter to what we also …