I have to start with a warning and that is that if you stay in your seats right
is that if you stay in your seats right
is that if you stay in your seats right now your brains are going to be changed
now your brains are going to be changed
now your brains are going to be changed forever the activity there’s going to be
forever the activity there’s going to be
forever the activity there’s going to be caused by this talk in your brain is
caused by this talk in your brain is
caused by this talk in your brain is going to change the activity of your
going to change the activity of your
going to change the activity of your brain cells that is going to send
brain cells that is going to send
brain cells that is going to send signals deep into the nucleus of each
signals deep into the nucleus of each
signals deep into the nucleus of each cell it’s going to cause your DNA within
cell it’s going to cause your DNA within
cell it’s going to cause your DNA within your cells to be read differently to
your cells to be read differently to
your cells to be read differently to create new proteins they’re gonna change
create new proteins they’re gonna change
create new proteins they’re gonna change the membranes of your cells those cells
the membranes of your cells those cells
the membranes of your cells those cells are gonna change their structure and the
are gonna change their structure and the
are gonna change their structure and the way you think is never going to be the
way you think is never going to be the
way you think is never going to be the same again you some we’re excited than
same again you some we’re excited than
same again you some we’re excited than scared that’s good because this is
scared that’s good because this is
scared that’s good because this is exactly what’s happening all the time
exactly what’s happening all the time
exactly what’s happening all the time the only thing that’s really changing
the only thing that’s really changing
the only thing that’s really changing now is that we’re learning so much about
now is that we’re learning so much about
now is that we’re learning so much about how the brain works that we are gaining
how the brain works that we are gaining
how the brain works that we are gaining the capacity to change how our brains
the capacity to change how our brains
the capacity to change how our brains work by design we are actually starting
work by design we are actually starting
work by design we are actually starting to know what we’re doing what this does
to know what we’re doing what this does
to know what we’re doing what this does is it creates a very strange loop and
is it creates a very strange loop and
is it creates a very strange loop and that strange loop is that when we can
that strange loop is that when we can
that strange loop is that when we can think in ways that enable us to change
think in ways that enable us to change
think in ways that enable us to change our thinking it means that we are going
our thinking it means that we are going
our thinking it means that we are going to be creating a future in which the way
to be creating a future in which the way
to be creating a future in which the way we think is unimaginable to us today so
we think is unimaginable to us today so
we think is unimaginable to us today so I think that is bringing on to us the
I think that is bringing on to us the
I think that is bringing on to us the next stage of human evolution we’re
next stage of human evolution we’re
next stage of human evolution we’re changing the way we thinking we’re
changing the way we thinking we’re
changing the way we thinking we’re thinking is going to change the way we
thinking is going to change the way we
thinking is going to change the way we think
think
think forever after what I’d like to talk to
forever after what I’d like to talk to
forever after what I’d like to talk to you about today is well what can you do
you about today is well what can you do
you about today is well what can you do if you’re given the tools to be able to
if you’re given the tools to be able to
if you’re given the tools to be able to manage your own brain and create it in
manage your own brain and create it in
manage your own brain and create it in your own design what are you going to do
your own design what are you going to do
your own design what are you going to do with it and that’s really the big
with it and that’s really the big
with it and that’s really the big question this is a beautiful picture I’m
question this is a beautiful picture I’m
question this is a beautiful picture I’m sure most people know this is the human
sure most people know this is the human
sure most people know this is the human hippocampus and cross section
hippocampus and cross section
hippocampus and cross section it’s really spectacular and one of the
it’s really spectacular and one of the
it’s really spectacular and one of the spectacular things we’ve learned over
spectacular things we’ve learned over
spectacular things we’ve learned over the last couple of decades is that we
the last couple of decades is that we
the last couple of decades is that we used to think that the total number of
used to think that the total number of
used to think that the total number of cells we had in our brains was fixed
cells we had in our brains was fixed
cells we had in our brains was fixed pretty much at Birth if you lost them if
pretty much at Birth if you lost them if
pretty much at Birth if you lost them if they died
they died
they died tough luck you’re not gonna get any more
tough luck you’re not gonna get any more
tough luck you’re not gonna get any more of them but now we know especially in
of them but now we know especially in
of them but now we know especially in certain regions of the brain like the
certain regions of the brain like the
certain regions of the brain like the human hippocampus long associated with
human hippocampus long associated with
human hippocampus long associated with learning and memory functions that cells
learning and memory functions that cells
learning and memory functions that cells can actually grow we can stimulate them
can actually grow we can stimulate them
can actually grow we can stimulate them to develop new cells and even more
to develop new cells and even more
to develop new cells and even more incredible you can see there are lots of
incredible you can see there are lots of
incredible you can see there are lots of nice little tendrils going up there
nice little tendrils going up there
nice little tendrils going up there they’re rich neural connections within
they’re rich neural connections within
they’re rich neural connections within the hippocampus and throughout the rest
the hippocampus and throughout the rest
the hippocampus and throughout the rest of the cortex and what we’ve learned in
of the cortex and what we’ve learned in
of the cortex and what we’ve learned in the last twenty years is that the
the last twenty years is that the
the last twenty years is that the capacity for our brains to change the
capacity for our brains to change the
capacity for our brains to change the number of connections is even more
number of connections is even more
number of connections is even more dramatic and it uses a process is
dramatic and it uses a process is
dramatic and it uses a process is referred to as experience dependent
referred to as experience dependent
referred to as experience dependent plasticity a great neuroscientist named
plasticity a great neuroscientist named
plasticity a great neuroscientist named Donald Hebb once said cells that fire
Donald Hebb once said cells that fire
Donald Hebb once said cells that fire together wire together so if you
together wire together so if you
together wire together so if you exercise these brain cells get them to
exercise these brain cells get them to
exercise these brain cells get them to fire together you can actually create
fire together you can actually create
fire together you can actually create new neuronal pathways you can form new
new neuronal pathways you can form new
new neuronal pathways you can form new synapses and in fact this kind of
synapses and in fact this kind of
synapses and in fact this kind of exercise can actually beef up parts of
exercise can actually beef up parts of
exercise can actually beef up parts of your brains like the hippocampus it’s
your brains like the hippocampus it’s
your brains like the hippocampus it’s actually amazing how much we’ve learned
actually amazing how much we’ve learned
actually amazing how much we’ve learned about the brain that we can create brain
about the brain that we can create brain
about the brain that we can create brain processes in the laboratory I don’t know
processes in the laboratory I don’t know
processes in the laboratory I don’t know how many people know exactly what this
how many people know exactly what this
how many people know exactly what this is there’s a great donut shop in West
is there’s a great donut shop in West
is there’s a great donut shop in West what’s called Stan’s Donuts
what’s called Stan’s Donuts
what’s called Stan’s Donuts so the best guests I’ve heard so far is
so the best guests I’ve heard so far is
so the best guests I’ve heard so far is that this is one of the sprinkle
that this is one of the sprinkle
that this is one of the sprinkle doughnuts from Stamp not true that is
doughnuts from Stamp not true that is
doughnuts from Stamp not true that is memory in a dish memories created in a
memory in a dish memories created in a
memory in a dish memories created in a petri dish cells were put into the petri
petri dish cells were put into the petri
petri dish cells were put into the petri dish provided with the right chemical
dish provided with the right chemical
dish provided with the right chemical medium provided with the right
medium provided with the right
medium provided with the right electrical stimulation the cells reach
electrical stimulation the cells reach
electrical stimulation the cells reach out to each other form connections and
out to each other form connections and
out to each other form connections and truly remarkable thing is that we know
truly remarkable thing is that we know
truly remarkable thing is that we know the kind of ingredients the kind of
the kind of ingredients the kind of
the kind of ingredients the kind of stimulation to apply to that cell medium
stimulation to apply to that cell medium
stimulation to apply to that cell medium that once you stimulate one cell it’ll
that once you stimulate one cell it’ll
that once you stimulate one cell it’ll connect to others and it will stimulate
connect to others and it will stimulate
connect to others and it will stimulate those and keep active for a period of
those and keep active for a period of
those and keep active for a period of time that is memory so here we have
time that is memory so here we have
time that is memory so here we have memory in a dish what are we going to do
memory in a dish what are we going to do
memory in a dish what are we going to do with this kind of knowledge how are we
with this kind of knowledge how are we
with this kind of knowledge how are we going to go forward knowing that we can
going to go forward knowing that we can
going to go forward knowing that we can actually create memory in the laboratory
actually create memory in the laboratory
actually create memory in the laboratory and ultimately we’re going to be able to
and ultimately we’re going to be able to
and ultimately we’re going to be able to do this in our own brains well what if I
do this in our own brains well what if I
do this in our own brains well what if I told you that driving a taxi was one of
told you that driving a taxi was one of
told you that driving a taxi was one of the most mentally stimulating forms of
the most mentally stimulating forms of
the most mentally stimulating forms of human activity yeah that it could change
human activity yeah that it could change
human activity yeah that it could change your brain permanently and forever this
your brain permanently and forever this
your brain permanently and forever this looks a little bit like another one of
looks a little bit like another one of
looks a little bit like another one of those brain images with all kinds of
those brain images with all kinds of
those brain images with all kinds of tangled neurons and synapses but it’s
tangled neurons and synapses but it’s
tangled neurons and synapses but it’s actually a map of the London City
actually a map of the London City
actually a map of the London City streets imagine that your job is to know
streets imagine that your job is to know
streets imagine that your job is to know that map well enough that you can figure
that map well enough that you can figure
that map well enough that you can figure out how to get from say Big Ben to the
out how to get from say Big Ben to the
out how to get from say Big Ben to the Isle of Dogs even if there’s traffic and
Isle of Dogs even if there’s traffic and
Isle of Dogs even if there’s traffic and Westminster Bridge is closed
Westminster Bridge is closed
Westminster Bridge is closed how are you gonna do that it’s a pretty
how are you gonna do that it’s a pretty
how are you gonna do that it’s a pretty awesome feat being able to manage all of
awesome feat being able to manage all of
awesome feat being able to manage all of that map and some colleagues including
that map and some colleagues including
that map and some colleagues including Elinor McGuire at University College
Elinor McGuire at University College
Elinor McGuire at University College London thought you know these cabbies
London thought you know these cabbies
London thought you know these cabbies are mastering such a rich visual spatial
are mastering such a rich visual spatial
are mastering such a rich visual spatial map it must be changing their brains and
map it must be changing their brains and
map it must be changing their brains and she had the tools to do it so she
she had the tools to do it so she
she had the tools to do it so she decided to get a bunch of cab drivers
decided to get a bunch of cab drivers
decided to get a bunch of cab drivers and throw them into the MRI scanner and
and throw them into the MRI scanner and
and throw them into the MRI scanner and see what happened to their brains sure
see what happened to their brains sure
see what happened to their brains sure enough and again I know all of you are
enough and again I know all of you are
enough and again I know all of you are familiar with the little red spot on
familiar with the little red spot on
familiar with the little red spot on that brain is the posterior segment of
that brain is the posterior segment of
that brain is the posterior segment of the human hippocampus right it was
the human hippocampus right it was
the human hippocampus right it was bigger in the taxi drivers than it was
bigger in the taxi drivers than it was
bigger in the taxi drivers than it was in a match group of other healthy people
in a match group of other healthy people
in a match group of other healthy people the structure their brain was actually
the structure their brain was actually
the structure their brain was actually bigger in the region that is widely
bigger in the region that is widely
bigger in the region that is widely thought to subserve visual spatial
thought to subserve visual spatial
thought to subserve visual spatial memory process
memory process
memory process but this leaves us with a chicken-egg
but this leaves us with a chicken-egg
but this leaves us with a chicken-egg problem is it the case that people with
problem is it the case that people with
problem is it the case that people with big posterior hippocampi just are good
big posterior hippocampi just are good
big posterior hippocampi just are good at driving taxis so they’re naturally
at driving taxis so they’re naturally
at driving taxis so they’re naturally drawn to it say I have a big posterior
drawn to it say I have a big posterior
drawn to it say I have a big posterior hippocampus I’m gonna go with the cab
hippocampus I’m gonna go with the cab
hippocampus I’m gonna go with the cab driver that makes sense right but we
driver that makes sense right but we
driver that makes sense right but we can’t rule out given the data that she
can’t rule out given the data that she
can’t rule out given the data that she had from this one cross-sectional study
had from this one cross-sectional study
had from this one cross-sectional study could it be that all the activity and
could it be that all the activity and
could it be that all the activity and exercise of learning those routes is
exercise of learning those routes is
exercise of learning those routes is actually what caused the hippocampus to
actually what caused the hippocampus to
actually what caused the hippocampus to get bigger so Catherine Woollett
get bigger so Catherine Woollett
get bigger so Catherine Woollett colleague of Eleanor’s did another study
colleague of Eleanor’s did another study
colleague of Eleanor’s did another study where she longitudinally examined taxi
where she longitudinally examined taxi
where she longitudinally examined taxi drivers got people before they enrolled
drivers got people before they enrolled
drivers got people before they enrolled in the 2-year course to learn the city
in the 2-year course to learn the city
in the 2-year course to learn the city streets and then study them again
streets and then study them again
streets and then study them again afterwards and what she proved is that
afterwards and what she proved is that
afterwards and what she proved is that it’s the work it’s the hard effortful
it’s the work it’s the hard effortful
it’s the work it’s the hard effortful work of acquiring the knowledge of those
work of acquiring the knowledge of those
work of acquiring the knowledge of those London city streets that led these
London city streets that led these
London city streets that led these hippocampi to get puffed up bigger and
hippocampi to get puffed up bigger and
hippocampi to get puffed up bigger and moreover the amount of growth in the
moreover the amount of growth in the
moreover the amount of growth in the hippocampus was correlated with how hard
hippocampus was correlated with how hard
hippocampus was correlated with how hard they worked how many hours they spent
they worked how many hours they spent
they worked how many hours they spent doing the exams that shows us that the
doing the exams that shows us that the
doing the exams that shows us that the old adage no strain no gain is probably
old adage no strain no gain is probably
old adage no strain no gain is probably true when it comes to exercising your
true when it comes to exercising your
true when it comes to exercising your brain cells you have to actually work
brain cells you have to actually work
brain cells you have to actually work them hard you have to push yourself to a
them hard you have to push yourself to a
them hard you have to push yourself to a point of desirable difficulty you don’t
point of desirable difficulty you don’t
point of desirable difficulty you don’t want to work too hard so you quit but
want to work too hard so you quit but
want to work too hard so you quit but you want to work as hard as you can
you want to work as hard as you can
you want to work as hard as you can comfortably that’s how to change your
comfortably that’s how to change your
comfortably that’s how to change your brain but you think well what could go
brain but you think well what could go
brain but you think well what could go wrong with that right
wrong with that right
wrong with that right but could there be any adverse effects
but could there be any adverse effects
but could there be any adverse effects well what catherine decided to study in
well what catherine decided to study in
well what catherine decided to study in this was whether or not learning the
this was whether or not learning the
this was whether or not learning the london city streets could generate other
london city streets could generate other
london city streets could generate other kinds of gains transfer to other
kinds of gains transfer to other
kinds of gains transfer to other cognitive skills so she picked another
cognitive skills so she picked another
cognitive skills so she picked another kind of a visual spatial learning and
kind of a visual spatial learning and
kind of a visual spatial learning and memory task the learning of a very
memory task the learning of a very
memory task the learning of a very complicated figure and she had people do
complicated figure and she had people do
complicated figure and she had people do that pre and post and she found that
that pre and post and she found that
that pre and post and she found that indeed the training impacted the ability
indeed the training impacted the ability
indeed the training impacted the ability to do this other task and the impact was
to do this other task and the impact was
to do this other task and the impact was negative people were actually worse
negative people were actually worse
negative people were actually worse after they learned along the city
after they learned along the city
after they learned along the city streets on doing another what you would
streets on doing another what you would
streets on doing another what you would call near transfer tasks of ability to
call near transfer tasks of ability to
call near transfer tasks of ability to learn visual spatial complex information
learn visual spatial complex information
learn visual spatial complex information it was almost as
it was almost as
it was almost as by learning the london city streets
by learning the london city streets
by learning the london city streets people had filled up their hippocampus
people had filled up their hippocampus
people had filled up their hippocampus and couldn’t get any other stuff so what
and couldn’t get any other stuff so what
and couldn’t get any other stuff so what this shows is that we can exercise our
this shows is that we can exercise our
this shows is that we can exercise our brains we can develop changes in brain
brains we can develop changes in brain
brains we can develop changes in brain function and structure we can improve
function and structure we can improve
function and structure we can improve and certain activities but we have to
and certain activities but we have to
and certain activities but we have to consider there may be costs think about
consider there may be costs think about
consider there may be costs think about going to the gym how many people have
going to the gym how many people have
going to the gym how many people have ever gone to a gym that’s a place where
ever gone to a gym that’s a place where
ever gone to a gym that’s a place where they have weights and that kind of stuff
they have weights and that kind of stuff
they have weights and that kind of stuff yeah now you notice what I did is I
yeah now you notice what I did is I
yeah now you notice what I did is I actually used both arms what if you went
actually used both arms what if you went
actually used both arms what if you went in and just exercised one arm or just
in and just exercised one arm or just
in and just exercised one arm or just did curls you could develop a really
did curls you could develop a really
did curls you could develop a really impressive left bicep now that would be
impressive left bicep now that would be
impressive left bicep now that would be fantastic if you were a left-handed arm
fantastic if you were a left-handed arm
fantastic if you were a left-handed arm wrestler perhaps but not if you’re a
wrestler perhaps but not if you’re a
wrestler perhaps but not if you’re a swimmer or not if you’re doing any other
swimmer or not if you’re doing any other
swimmer or not if you’re doing any other sport so we really have to think about
sport so we really have to think about
sport so we really have to think about this as we gain the methods to change
this as we gain the methods to change
this as we gain the methods to change our brains got to think about what do we
our brains got to think about what do we
our brains got to think about what do we want to change why do we want to change
want to change why do we want to change
want to change why do we want to change it and what do we want to change it for
it and what do we want to change it for
it and what do we want to change it for now when we think about what are the
now when we think about what are the
now when we think about what are the options for changing our brains I think
options for changing our brains I think
options for changing our brains I think we have to start with what mom told us
we have to start with what mom told us
we have to start with what mom told us this is my mom that’s me
this is my mom that’s me
this is my mom that’s me I was cute once and my mom told me you
I was cute once and my mom told me you
I was cute once and my mom told me you got to exercise you got to eat well
got to exercise you got to eat well
got to exercise you got to eat well including vegetables you got to sleep
including vegetables you got to sleep
including vegetables you got to sleep and then you got to socialize I was just
and then you got to socialize I was just
and then you got to socialize I was just at a fantastic talk yesterday by Michael
at a fantastic talk yesterday by Michael
at a fantastic talk yesterday by Michael Greene who is sitting in our audience
Greene who is sitting in our audience
Greene who is sitting in our audience today and Michael highlighted that
today and Michael highlighted that
today and Michael highlighted that socialization is now recognized by the
socialization is now recognized by the
socialization is now recognized by the Surgeon General as being more helpful to
Surgeon General as being more helpful to
Surgeon General as being more helpful to your health and to your brain I predict
your health and to your brain I predict
your health and to your brain I predict and it is more valuable than stopping
and it is more valuable than stopping
and it is more valuable than stopping smoking so this message that we all need
smoking so this message that we all need
smoking so this message that we all need to learn to love each other it’s
to learn to love each other it’s
to learn to love each other it’s probably one of the key things that our
probably one of the key things that our
probably one of the key things that our moms told us and I’m sure many of you
moms told us and I’m sure many of you
moms told us and I’m sure many of you tell your kids and your grandkids if
tell your kids and your grandkids if
tell your kids and your grandkids if you’re lucky enough to have those but
you’re lucky enough to have those but
you’re lucky enough to have those but you didn’t come to hear a brain
you didn’t come to hear a brain
you didn’t come to hear a brain scientist to talk about stuff your
scientist to talk about stuff your
scientist to talk about stuff your mother could have told you so what I
mother could have told you so what I
mother could have told you so what I want to talk to you about is the kinds
want to talk to you about is the kinds
want to talk to you about is the kinds of things that you can do now to modify
of things that you can do now to modify
of things that you can do now to modify your brain and one of the first low
your brain and one of the first low
your brain and one of the first low hanging fruit activities
hanging fruit activities
hanging fruit activities is brain training exercises you can
is brain training exercises you can
is brain training exercises you can easily go online in fact it’s hard to go
easily go online in fact it’s hard to go
easily go online in fact it’s hard to go online and not see advertisements for
online and not see advertisements for
online and not see advertisements for brain training exercises that you can do
brain training exercises that you can do
brain training exercises that you can do you can play these games what we’ve
you can play these games what we’ve
you can play these games what we’ve learned from now a lot of study is that
learned from now a lot of study is that
learned from now a lot of study is that yes you can change certain functions
yes you can change certain functions
yes you can change certain functions working memory functions that’s the
working memory functions that’s the
working memory functions that’s the ability to keep things in mind long
ability to keep things in mind long
ability to keep things in mind long enough to use them like remembering a
enough to use them like remembering a
enough to use them like remembering a telephone number long enough to to dial
telephone number long enough to to dial
telephone number long enough to to dial it memory of the kind that is used to
it memory of the kind that is used to
it memory of the kind that is used to recall shopping lists when you’re in the
recall shopping lists when you’re in the
recall shopping lists when you’re in the store processing speed the ability to do
store processing speed the ability to do
store processing speed the ability to do certain kinds of tasks quickly also
certain kinds of tasks quickly also
certain kinds of tasks quickly also certain language and visual spatial
certain language and visual spatial
certain language and visual spatial functions you can beef up those
functions you can beef up those
functions you can beef up those functions and in almost every study
functions and in almost every study
functions and in almost every study that’s been done what we see is that the
that’s been done what we see is that the
that’s been done what we see is that the regions of the brain that are mediating
regions of the brain that are mediating
regions of the brain that are mediating and responsible for those activities
and responsible for those activities
and responsible for those activities actually get puffed up and you can make
actually get puffed up and you can make
actually get puffed up and you can make them bigger so that we know we know you
them bigger so that we know we know you
them bigger so that we know we know you can do but what about other things what
can do but what about other things what
can do but what about other things what about electricity I present to you what
about electricity I present to you what
about electricity I present to you what is to my knowledge the earliest form of
is to my knowledge the earliest form of
is to my knowledge the earliest form of electrical stimulation applied to the
electrical stimulation applied to the
electrical stimulation applied to the brain this is the electric catfish
brain this is the electric catfish
brain this is the electric catfish torpedo electric as’ which was used by
torpedo electric as’ which was used by
torpedo electric as’ which was used by the Roman Emperor Claudius his
the Roman Emperor Claudius his
the Roman Emperor Claudius his physicians grew boniest applied directly
physicians grew boniest applied directly
physicians grew boniest applied directly to the forehead
to the forehead
to the forehead to cure headaches later in the 11th
to cure headaches later in the 11th
to cure headaches later in the 11th century it was used as a treatment for
century it was used as a treatment for
century it was used as a treatment for epilepsy again by being applied to the
epilepsy again by being applied to the
epilepsy again by being applied to the scalp very effective a treatment
scalp very effective a treatment
scalp very effective a treatment modality a little slimy that was a
modality a little slimy that was a
modality a little slimy that was a problem and now we have a lot more
problem and now we have a lot more
problem and now we have a lot more respect for fish rights and so it’s not
respect for fish rights and so it’s not
respect for fish rights and so it’s not not recommended but you can if you want
not recommended but you can if you want
not recommended but you can if you want go online and get the plans go into your
go online and get the plans go into your
go online and get the plans go into your garage and with common household
garage and with common household
garage and with common household supplies make for yourself a
supplies make for yourself a
supplies make for yourself a transcranial direct current stimulation
transcranial direct current stimulation
transcranial direct current stimulation to your brain now I don’t recommend that
to your brain now I don’t recommend that
to your brain now I don’t recommend that everyone rush off to do this you have to
everyone rush off to do this you have to
everyone rush off to do this you have to be very careful if you switch the poles
be very careful if you switch the poles
be very careful if you switch the poles of the battery so that you got plus and
of the battery so that you got plus and
of the battery so that you got plus and minus confused it could have bad effects
minus confused it could have bad effects
minus confused it could have bad effects if you apply it to the wrong spots in
if you apply it to the wrong spots in
if you apply it to the wrong spots in your brain it could have bad effects but
your brain it could have bad effects but
your brain it could have bad effects but done properly and now in the research
done properly and now in the research
done properly and now in the research laboratories around the world we’re
laboratories around the world we’re
laboratories around the world we’re getting more and more evidence that
getting more and more evidence that
getting more and more evidence that there are ways that this technique can
there are ways that this technique can
there are ways that this technique can lead to improved cognitive ability and
lead to improved cognitive ability and
lead to improved cognitive ability and most remarkably in this experiment done
most remarkably in this experiment done
most remarkably in this experiment done by a colleague Adam green he stimulated
by a colleague Adam green he stimulated
by a colleague Adam green he stimulated people to have increased creativity
people to have increased creativity
people to have increased creativity following stimulation to this region of
following stimulation to this region of
following stimulation to this region of the brain which you all recognize as the
the brain which you all recognize as the
the brain which you all recognize as the frontal pole region creativity and the
frontal pole region creativity and the
frontal pole region creativity and the solution of novel anagram problems was
solution of novel anagram problems was
solution of novel anagram problems was enhanced and people are able to identify
enhanced and people are able to identify
enhanced and people are able to identify new analogies in a way that they were
new analogies in a way that they were
new analogies in a way that they were not able to before
not able to before
not able to before they were able to increase the search
they were able to increase the search
they were able to increase the search space of possible solutions in a way
space of possible solutions in a way
space of possible solutions in a way that’s been linked to higher levels of
that’s been linked to higher levels of
that’s been linked to higher levels of creativity amazing huh
creativity amazing huh
creativity amazing huh but that’s the kind of stuff that’s in
but that’s the kind of stuff that’s in
but that’s the kind of stuff that’s in the research labs today where is it
the research labs today where is it
the research labs today where is it going in the future
going in the future
going in the future nanobots nanobots just refers to really
nanobots nanobots just refers to really
nanobots nanobots just refers to really really small robots things that are so
really small robots things that are so
really small robots things that are so small that now there are robots that can
small that now there are robots that can
small that now there are robots that can take atoms and make molecules out of
take atoms and make molecules out of
take atoms and make molecules out of those what that means is it’s easy to
those what that means is it’s easy to
those what that means is it’s easy to create these kinds of robots that we
create these kinds of robots that we
create these kinds of robots that we could inject into our bloodstream and
could inject into our bloodstream and
could inject into our bloodstream and that can then go to target organs and do
that can then go to target organs and do
that can then go to target organs and do a whole range of things that are
a whole range of things that are
a whole range of things that are probably useful and really cool like
probably useful and really cool like
probably useful and really cool like cleaning out your coronary arteries
cleaning out your coronary arteries
cleaning out your coronary arteries going into your brain capillaries and
going into your brain capillaries and
going into your brain capillaries and getting rid of stuff they’re going into
getting rid of stuff they’re going into
getting rid of stuff they’re going into your brain cells and getting rid of the
your brain cells and getting rid of the
your brain cells and getting rid of the plaques and tangles that are associated
plaques and tangles that are associated
plaques and tangles that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease those would all
with Alzheimer’s disease those would all
with Alzheimer’s disease those would all be good things right I’ve also always
be good things right I’ve also always
be good things right I’ve also always wanted to learn French I’ve never been
wanted to learn French I’ve never been
wanted to learn French I’ve never been able to master it what if I could inject
able to master it what if I could inject
able to master it what if I could inject nanobots and they could go and remodel
nanobots and they could go and remodel
nanobots and they could go and remodel the neural connections in my temporal
the neural connections in my temporal
the neural connections in my temporal lobe and enable me to have a command of
lobe and enable me to have a command of
lobe and enable me to have a command of French would that be cool is it creepy
French would that be cool is it creepy
French would that be cool is it creepy yeah for every one of these amazing
yeah for every one of these amazing
yeah for every one of these amazing utopian fantasies there’s an equal and
utopian fantasies there’s an equal and
utopian fantasies there’s an equal and opposite dystopian future so I just want
opposite dystopian future so I just want
opposite dystopian future so I just want everybody to think about that before you
everybody to think about that before you
everybody to think about that before you inject the nanobots read up on gray goo
inject the nanobots read up on gray goo
inject the nanobots read up on gray goo covering the earth I’m not gonna say any
covering the earth I’m not gonna say any
covering the earth I’m not gonna say any more about it but self-replicating
more about it but self-replicating
more about it but self-replicating nanobots can lead to a lot of gray goo
nanobots can lead to a lot of gray goo
nanobots can lead to a lot of gray goo very fast so please be careful with
very fast so please be careful with
very fast so please be careful with nanobots don’t rush out to inject them
nanobots don’t rush out to inject them
nanobots don’t rush out to inject them if we can do all these amazing things
if we can do all these amazing things
if we can do all these amazing things with our brains it brings back the
with our brains it brings back the
with our brains it brings back the question why why do we want to change
question why why do we want to change
question why why do we want to change our brains and for what
our brains and for what
our brains and for what and what I’d like to describe briefly is
and what I’d like to describe briefly is
and what I’d like to describe briefly is this distinction as we pursue happiness
this distinction as we pursue happiness
this distinction as we pursue happiness between cadonia brief and fleeting
between cadonia brief and fleeting
between cadonia brief and fleeting happiness that comes from gratifying our
happiness that comes from gratifying our
happiness that comes from gratifying our immediate needs and eudaimonia a term
immediate needs and eudaimonia a term
immediate needs and eudaimonia a term most people probably not familiar with
most people probably not familiar with
most people probably not familiar with but which refers to the sustained
but which refers to the sustained
but which refers to the sustained happiness that comes to living a life
happiness that comes to living a life
happiness that comes to living a life with purpose and meaning and I think as
with purpose and meaning and I think as
with purpose and meaning and I think as we decide how we want to manage our own
we decide how we want to manage our own
we decide how we want to manage our own brains we wanted to determine what is
brains we wanted to determine what is
brains we wanted to determine what is the purpose what are the values that we
the purpose what are the values that we
the purpose what are the values that we really want to exemplify if we align our
really want to exemplify if we align our
really want to exemplify if we align our actions with the values that we treasure
actions with the values that we treasure
actions with the values that we treasure then that will make a huge difference
then that will make a huge difference
then that will make a huge difference for our future so I’d like to leave you
for our future so I’d like to leave you
for our future so I’d like to leave you with three words that I think exemplify
with three words that I think exemplify
with three words that I think exemplify what are components of the path to how
what are components of the path to how
what are components of the path to how to manage your brain with some guidance
to manage your brain with some guidance
to manage your brain with some guidance and that is think of the balance of your
and that is think of the balance of your
and that is think of the balance of your training activity don’t end up with a
training activity don’t end up with a
training activity don’t end up with a left bicep that’s over inflated or a
left bicep that’s over inflated or a
left bicep that’s over inflated or a left hippocampus that’s over inflated
left hippocampus that’s over inflated
left hippocampus that’s over inflated think about all of the spectrum of
think about all of the spectrum of
think about all of the spectrum of engagement social interpersonal exercise
engagement social interpersonal exercise
engagement social interpersonal exercise diet memory working memory attention
diet memory working memory attention
diet memory working memory attention having fun these things need to be
having fun these things need to be
having fun these things need to be balanced and and used in equal equal
balanced and and used in equal equal
balanced and and used in equal equal equal components in a long language your
equal components in a long language your
equal components in a long language your goals effort must be exerted if you want
goals effort must be exerted if you want
goals effort must be exerted if you want to change your brain keeping on top of
to change your brain keeping on top of
to change your brain keeping on top of your effortful performance and pushing
your effortful performance and pushing
your effortful performance and pushing yourself as far as you can go is clearly
yourself as far as you can go is clearly
yourself as far as you can go is clearly associated with higher levels of
associated with higher levels of
associated with higher levels of satisfaction happiness and also is going
satisfaction happiness and also is going
satisfaction happiness and also is going to remodel your brain most effectively
to remodel your brain most effectively
to remodel your brain most effectively and finally always asking yourself the
and finally always asking yourself the
and finally always asking yourself the why why am I doing this what is the
why why am I doing this what is the
why why am I doing this what is the purpose where am I going and why do I
purpose where am I going and why do I
purpose where am I going and why do I want to be there with these ingredients
want to be there with these ingredients
want to be there with these ingredients I think you all can manage your brains
I think you all can manage your brains
I think you all can manage your brains optimally for empowered aging so with
optimally for empowered aging so with
optimally for empowered aging so with that all thank you very much for
that all thank you very much for
that all thank you very much for listening
listening
listening [Applause]
”
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