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How to Learn Faster by Using Failures, Movement & Balance

Huberman Lab

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Achieving Adult Brain Plasticity: The Role of Hunting for Food According to Newsen Lab Study

Adults can experience significant brain plasticity if there is a strong incentive for it to occur, such as the need to find food. The Newsen Lab study found that when subjects had to hunt for food that was displaced in their visual world, their brain plasticity increased. However, if there was no urgency or necessity to find food, the plasticity was slow. The study also revealed that the importance and desire for change determine the speed and magnitude of plasticity in the brain. This implies that simply going through the motions or passively learning is not enough to induce significant neural changes. The nervous system has the ability to change rapidly and extensively at any stage of life, but the level of importance placed on the change is a crucial factor. This insight has implications for individuals seeking to learn faster or better, as well as for those battling addiction, where the level of internal change required plays a significant role. The study emphasizes the role of incentives and the vital importance of a neurochemical response in achieving adult brain plasticity.

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