Using Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain

About this video

Huberman discusses the biology, psychology and utility of play for children and adults, arguing play can change the nervous system for the better, support focus, creativity, leadership and performance in non-play activities, and let people explore new identities and ways of being. He notes research he describes exploring play as a treatment area for ADHD, and his claim that children without enough play at certain stages are more prone to develop ADHD. Huberman highlights a study in Scientific Reports of 34 healthy individuals in which, as he summarises it, reading comprehension was much poorer on smartphones than on paper, linked to differences in physiological sighs rather than overall breathing patterns. He explains play as low-stakes contingency testing, in which animals and humans test rules, receive feedback such as a puppy’s yelp teaching bite inhibition, and use role play to expand prediction. At the end Huberman suggests one hour of play per week.

Key takeaways

• Huberman argues play rewires neural circuits for better performance beyond play itself.
• Huberman describes role play as expanding the prefrontal cortex’s prediction abilities.
• Huberman explains low-stakes contingency testing teaches rules through feedback from others.
• Huberman cites a study linking smartphone reading to poorer comprehension and altered physiological sighs.
• Huberman suggests engaging in one hour of play per week.

Episode details: published February 7, 2022 · 495.9K views · 1:46:36 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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