How Your Nervous System Works & Changes

Andrew Huberman・2 minutes read

The Huberman Lab Podcast hosted by Andrew Huberman provides science-based tools for everyday life, focusing on the parts list of the nervous system and its impact on experiences. The nervous system governs all biological systems, communicates through electrical activity, and is influenced by factors like sleep quality and neuromodulators, shaping perception, memory, and emotions.

Insights

  • The nervous system, encompassing the brain, spinal cord, and organ interactions, forms a vital communication loop that governs all biological systems and is influenced by them.
  • Neurons, the building blocks of the nervous system, communicate through synapses via electrical activity, encoding perceptions, experiences, and memories as patterns of electricity, shaping our sensations, thoughts, emotions, and actions.

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Recent questions

  • What is the Huberman Lab Podcast about?

    The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses science and tools for everyday life.

  • Who hosts the Huberman Lab Podcast?

    Andrew Huberman hosts the podcast.

  • What are some sponsors of the Huberman Lab Podcast?

    Athletic Greens and Inside Tracker sponsor the podcast.

  • What is the focus of today's podcast episode?

    Today's podcast focuses on the parts list of the nervous system.

  • How does the nervous system function?

    The nervous system governs all biological systems through electrical activity.

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Summary

00:00

"Classic Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe"

  • Recipe for classic spaghetti carbonara
  • Ingredients: spaghetti (400g), eggs (4), pecorino cheese (100g), guanciale (100g), black pepper
  • Boil spaghetti until al dente
  • Mix eggs, cheese, and pepper in a bowl
  • Fry guanciale until crispy
  • Toss cooked spaghetti with guanciale
  • Add egg mixture, stirring quickly to coat spaghetti
  • Serve immediately with extra cheese and pepper on top

00:00

"The Huberman Lab Podcast: Nervous System Insights"

  • The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses science and science-based tools for everyday life.
  • Hosted by Andrew Huberman, a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine.
  • Today's podcast focuses on the parts list of the nervous system, essential for all experiences in life.
  • The nervous system's history offers insights into engineering, warfare, religion, and philosophy.
  • The podcast aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the nervous system functions.
  • Huberman promises to share the parts list of the nervous system through various lenses.
  • The podcast will include stories, discussions on discoveries, and technical language.
  • Huberman emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility for healthcare and well-being.
  • The podcast aims to provide zero-cost information to the general public.
  • Sponsors of the podcast include Athletic Greens and Inside Tracker.
  • Athletic Greens offers an all-in-one greens drink with vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and prebiotics.
  • Listeners can visit athleticgreens.com/huberman and use the code "Huberman" for a year's supply of vitamin D3 and K2.
  • Inside Tracker is a health monitoring company using blood and saliva tests to assess DNA and metabolic markers.
  • Listeners can visit insidetracker.com/huberman for a 25% discount at checkout.
  • The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, connections, and organ interactions.
  • It forms a continuous loop of communication between the brain, spinal cord, and body.
  • The nervous system governs all biological systems and is influenced by them.
  • Neurons, discovered in the early 1900s, are the building blocks of the nervous system.
  • Neurons communicate through synapses, where chemicals are exchanged.
  • The nervous system functions through electrical activity between neurons.
  • Perception and experiences are encoded as patterns of electricity in neurons.
  • Memories are stored as patterns of electricity in neurons.
  • The nervous system's discoveries were influenced by wartime injuries revealing brain functions.
  • Brain regions control specific functions like memory, speech, and facial recognition.
  • Neurons can be activated by specific stimuli, leading to unique responses.
  • The brain is a map of experiences, shaped by electrical activity in neurons.
  • The nervous system governs sensation, perception, feelings, thoughts, and actions.
  • Sensation involves sensory receptors perceiving external stimuli.
  • Perception interprets and focuses on sensations, shaping our experiences.
  • Attention acts as a spotlight, directing focus on specific sensations or perceptions.
  • Thoughts are like perceptions, drawing on past experiences and future anticipations.
  • Actions are crucial as they create a record of our existence and shape our behaviors.
  • Movement is controlled by reflexive and deliberate pathways in the nervous system.
  • Deliberate actions require top-down processing and effort to control reflexive responses.
  • Emotions and feelings are influenced by neuromodulators like dopamine and serotonin.
  • Neuromodulators bias neuron activity, affecting emotions and behaviors.
  • Adaptive plasticity allows the brain to change in response to experiences.
  • Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to rewire and change connections.
  • Neuroplasticity is triggered by neuromodulators and occurs during rest and sleep.
  • Sleep and deep rest are crucial for consolidating learning and shaping the nervous system.
  • The autonomic nervous system regulates alertness and calmness, influencing focus and relaxation.
  • Ultradian rhythms, like 90-minute cycles, govern focus and attention throughout the day.
  • Understanding sleep quality, timing, and ultradian rhythms can optimize learning and neuroplasticity.
  • Mastering the autonomic nervous system and ultradian rhythms can enhance focus and learning.
  • The podcast will delve deeper into sleep, rest, and optimizing brain function in future episodes.
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