Unleash your brain's FULL POTENTIAL
Summary
TLDRIn this neuroscience-focused video, Dr. Sidhart Warrior, a neurologist, discusses the concept of neuroplasticity and how anyone can enhance their brain's capabilities regardless of age. He outlines five key functions of the prefrontal cortex, including goal-directed behavior, pattern recognition, language, inhibition, and movement, and provides practical exercises to strengthen each area. From adding timers to to-do lists for better prediction to practicing speech and physical exercises for enhanced motor control, the video offers actionable tips to improve focus, creativity, and productivity.
Takeaways
- đ§ Everyone starts with the same brain structure, but capabilities can vary due to differences in brain function.
- đ Neuroplasticity allows anyone at any age to learn skills and improve their brain capabilities.
- đšââïž Dr. Sidhart Warrior, a neurologist, discusses how to train the brain to be more productive.
- đŻ The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a key area of the brain for planning, attention, and risk assessment.
- đ Goal-directed behavior involves planning and predicting actions, which can be improved by using timers on to-do lists.
- 𧩠Pattern recognition is a function of the PFC, and can be practiced through puzzles and games like Sudoku and crosswords.
- đŁïž The PFC's language area can be strengthened by practicing speech and writing, such as journaling.
- đ« Inhibition, or the ability to say no, is crucial for sticking to goals and can be developed through practice.
- đ The PFC controls eye and body movement, and exercises like the candle test can help improve focus and attention.
- đ Movement and physical exercise are essential for building neural networks related to the PFC, and can also boost motivation through dopamine spikes.
- đ A simple hack for increasing motivation is to take a short walk, which can elevate dopamine levels and help kickstart productivity.
Q & A
Do all humans have the same number of neurons in their brains?
-Yes, according to the script, everyone is born with approximately 100 billion neurons in their brain.
What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in the brain?
-The prefrontal cortex, especially the frontopolar area, is responsible for planning ahead, predicting future actions, and is involved in goal-directed behavior.
How can one practice pattern recognition to strengthen the prefrontal cortex?
-Playing games like jigsaw puzzles, Rubik's Cube, Sudoku, and solving crossword puzzles can help practice pattern recognition and strengthen the prefrontal cortex.
What is the function of the 'broadcast area' in the prefrontal cortex?
-The 'broadcast area' in the prefrontal cortex is responsible for determining what words to use and what to say, which is crucial for language processing.
How can journaling or writing down thoughts help in strengthening the prefrontal cortex?
-Journaling or writing down thoughts can strengthen the broadcast area of the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in language and speech.
What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in inhibiting actions or saying 'no'?
-The prefrontal cortex helps in developing the ability to inhibit actions or say 'no', which is crucial for sticking to one's goals and resisting distractions.
How can practicing saying 'no' to small things improve self-control?
-Practicing saying 'no' to small things can strengthen the neural network responsible for inhibition, leading to better self-control and focus on goals.
What are the two movement areas in the prefrontal cortex and their functions?
-The two movement areas are the visual eye field, which controls eye movement, and the primary motor cortex, which controls the movement of the rest of the body.
What is the 'candle test' and how can it help in strengthening attention networks?
-The 'candle test' involves gazing at a candle flame without letting the eyes move or flicker away. This exercise can strengthen attention networks by improving focus and concentration.
How does physical exercise affect the primary motor cortex and motivation levels?
-Physical exercise helps build the neural networks in the primary motor cortex and can increase dopamine levels, which in turn can boost motivation levels.
What is the 'kickstarter strategy' mentioned in the script and how does it work?
-The 'kickstarter strategy' refers to the act of moving, such as walking and swinging arms, to increase dopamine levels in the brain, which can help in boosting motivation when feeling low.
Outlines
đ§ Unlocking Brain Potential Through Neuroplasticity
The video script introduces the concept of neuroplasticity and its implications for brain development. Dr. Sidhart Warrior, a neurologist, explains that despite all humans having the same number of neurons, some brains are more capable due to differences in focus and creativity. The script emphasizes that anyone can improve their brain function through learning and training. It also introduces the prefrontal cortex (PFC) as a key area for enhancing productivity, outlining five specific functions of the PFC that can be improved: goal-directed behavior, pattern recognition, language, inhibition, and movement. The importance of prediction, practicing cognitive games, journaling, and physical exercise is highlighted as methods to strengthen these areas.
đïžââïž Boosting Motivation and Brain Function with Movement
The second paragraph delves into the role of movement in enhancing brain function, particularly the PFC. It discusses the link between physical activity and dopamine spikes, which are crucial for motivation. The 'kickstarter strategy' is introduced as a method to increase motivation by simply moving, which in turn raises dopamine levels in the brain. The summary also mentions the importance of eye and body movement exercises, such as the candle test and trataka meditation, to strengthen attention networks and the primary motor cortex. The paragraph concludes with a reminder of the video's educational purpose and an invitation for viewers to engage with the content by liking and subscribing to the channel.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄNeuroplasticity
đĄPrefrontal Cortex
đĄGoal Directed Behavior
đĄPattern Recognition
đĄLanguage
đĄInhibition
đĄMovement
đĄDopamine
đĄJournaling
đĄTrataka Meditation
đĄKickstarter Strategy
Highlights
Everyone is born with a similar brain structure, having 100 billion neurons, yet there are differences in capabilities such as focus and creativity.
Neuroplasticity allows individuals of any age to learn skills that can enhance their brain's capabilities.
Dr. Sidhart Warrior, a neurologist, discusses how to improve brain productivity through training the prefrontal cortex.
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for planning, sustained attention, and risk assessment.
Training the prefrontal cortex involves understanding its five key functions: goal-directed behavior, pattern recognition, language, inhibition, and movement.
Goal-directed behavior involves planning and predicting outcomes, which can be practiced by adding timers to to-do lists.
Pattern recognition can be improved by playing games like jigsaw puzzles, Rubik's Cube, Sudoku, and crossword puzzles.
Language skills in the prefrontal cortex can be strengthened through journaling, speaking, and teaching complex subjects.
Inhibition is the ability to say no, which can be practiced by resisting temptations and distractions.
Movement training includes eye exercises like the candle test and physical exercises to strengthen the prefrontal cortex.
Dopamine spikes from movement can increase motivation, a strategy referred to as the 'kickstarter strategy'.
The 'kickstarter strategy' suggests that a short walk can boost motivation by increasing dopamine levels.
Physical exercise helps build neural networks in the primary motor cortex, part of the prefrontal cortex.
Yogic meditation practices like trataka can improve attention networks by maintaining gaze on a focal point.
Solving Sudoku and crosswords can delay the onset of memory problems in older individuals.
The broadcast area in the PFC is responsible for language formulation and can be enhanced through speech and writing practice.
The lyic system, an older part of the brain, is constantly seeking pleasure or avoiding harm, often distracting from goals.
Strengthening the prefrontal cortex can lead to improved productivity and cognitive abilities.
Transcripts
everyone's born with the same brain
right all brains have 100 billion
neurons so why are some brains more
capable than others some people are able
to focus more be more creative While
others procrastinate struggle with
everyday tasks why is there so much
difference the good news is that because
of
neuroplasticity anyone at any age can
learn skills that can make them as good
as anyone else and that is what we are
going to talk about in today's video hi
everyone I'm DR sidhart warrior I'm a
neurologist and welcome back to my
YouTube channel where we talk about
neuroscience and everything if you
haven't subscribed to it yet consider
doing so you will find more such videos
on your timeline and that'll only
benefit you so if you've been following
my channel you already know that the
prefrontal cortex in your brain is the
most evolved part of the brain and it is
responsible for some very important
tasks like planning your future or
sustained attention or even calculating
the risk of something bad happening to
you so if you want to train your brain
to become more productive you are
actually training your prefrontal cortex
so let's understand five things that
your prefrontal cortex does and how you
can improve each one of them number one
is goal directed Behavior the prefrontal
cortex are specifically a part called a
frontop polar area in the PFC is
responsible for planning ahead this part
has the job of planning what you will do
later and also predicting how will you
do it and the key word here is
prediction the better you are able to
predict your own behavior the stronger
your prefrontal cortex gets a simple way
to do this is to add a timer to all your
to-do lists and predict how much time
will it take for you to complete a
particular task the second thing that
your PFC does is pattern recognition
your PFC has the job of quickly
analyzing a situation breaking it down
into smaller parts and putting it
together to understand a situation in
its own way how you can practice this is
by playing games like jigsaw puzzles
Rubik's Cube and even games like Sudoku
and solving crossword puzzles Studies
have found that older people who solve
Sudoku and crosswords have a later onset
of memory problems like dementia and
Alzheimer's disease the third thing that
your PFC does is language there's an
area in the PFC called broadcast area
which is responsible for figuring out
what words you are going to use and what
will you say the way to make this area
stronger is to practice speech and
writing I've made a video already on how
you should Journal so if you want to see
that you can check it out here but today
I'm here to tell you that the act of
journaling or writing down your thoughts
is a way to strengthen your broadcast
area so the more you speak up out
complex things the more you teach other
people or the more you write abstract
thoughts the stronger the language area
becomes and the stronger your PFC
becomes the fourth thing that your PFC
does is inhibition or in other words it
develops the ability to say no now
remember that the lyic system which is
the old part of your brain is constantly
chasing after something that is
pleasurable or running away from things
that it considers as a harm in other
words it is constantly trying to sway
your attention from your goal now the
only way that the PFC can stick to its
path is if it develops the ability to
say no now the good news is that the
ability to say no is a neural network
just like anything else the more you
practice saying no the easier it becomes
so practice saying no to small things to
everyday things for example go to a
supermarket take a walk and don't buy
anything and come out or the next time
you feel like binge eating something eat
one chip and put the packet away
practice saying no to yourself more and
more and you will see how much more in
control you feel and finally the fifth
thing that your PFC does is movement
your prefrontal cortex has two movement
areas one is the visual eye field which
controls where your eyes will go and the
other is the primary motor cortex which
controls the rest of your body's
movement the more you practice these two
movements the strong stronger your PFC
gets so how do you control your eye
movement a simple eye exercise is the
candle test put a candle in front of you
and gaze at the flame and do not let
your eyes move or flicker away from it
the longer you're able to hold your gaze
the stronger your attention networks
become there's a yogic meditation
practice called trataka meditation which
talks about the exact same thing try it
out and tell me how long you are able to
maintain your Gaze on the candle flame
when it comes to your body's movement
and your primary motor cortex all forms
of physical exercise helps build those
networks now here's a very important
point that I wanted to share with you
all movement is based on dopamine spikes
now you know that dopamine is the
pleasure or motivation chemical so here
is a very simple hack for anytime you
feel that you are low on motivation just
get up walk for a minute swinging your
arms and come back and sit and see if
your motivation level has changed what
happens is just by the act of movement
the dopamine levels in your brain go up
and you will feel more motivated than
you did before I call this the
kickstarter strategy I compare it to
kickstarting a scooter that wouldn't
have started otherwise just by moving
you get more motivation try it out and
tell me if this works for you so these
are five different training techniques
for you to try at home to strengthen
your prefrontal cortex I hope this video
was useful if you liked it hit the like
button subscribe to the channel it means
a lot to me and I will see you guys in
the next one bye everyone take care
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