The Science of Hearing, Balance & Accelerated Learning

About this video

Huberman explains hearing and balance and how the auditory and vestibular systems can be leveraged to learn faster. He highlights a study published in Cell Reports in which, he explains, injecting brief rest periods within a learning episode itself improved skill learning, distinct from resting or napping after learning; learners practiced sequences such as keys on a piano in short bouts with pauses. Huberman also discusses tinnitus and emerging treatments, and notes that, he says, 70% of people make otoacoustic emissions, sounds their ears produce that they cannot perceive. On hearing protection, Huberman warns from personal experience that listening at high volume costs high-frequency hearing, and he cites work by Edward Chang and Mike Merzenich published in Science showing, in his account, that white noise exposure in young animals disrupted auditory maps in the brain. Huberman closes by connecting low-level white noise and binaural beats to learning states and linking the vestibular system, vision, and gravity to balance and learning.

Key takeaways

• Huberman describes research suggesting brief rests within practice sessions can accelerate skill learning.
• Huberman warns that chronic high-volume headphone listening damages high-frequency hearing.
• Huberman cites animal work linking developmental white noise exposure to disrupted auditory maps.
• Huberman explains that ears themselves emit sounds most people cannot perceive.
• Huberman connects vestibular-visual coordination to improved balance and learning.

Episode details: published July 5, 2021 · 325.8K views · 2:03:37 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. The science and protocols described are Andrew Huberman’s, presented for education — not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before changing your own health practices.

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