I love the fact that science and coaching work nicely together. In my opinion, understanding how the brain works is a key part of making lasting changes toward a life of greater significance.
Lately, I’ve been listening to the Huberman Lab podcast by Andrew Huberman, Ph.D. If you are up for learning in depth info on how the brain and nervous system work and how to use real science-based approaches to change in a positive way, you can find it on YouTube or your favorite podcast app. Dr. Huberman is a professor of neuroscience at Stanford, and each podcast is approximately 90 minutes of curated, solid information.
I was excited to discover this podcast because the science works nicely with the practice of coaching. In the first episode, Dr. Huberman explains the anatomy of the nervous system and the available functions, and in subsequent episodes, there are deep dives into different topics — such as sleep and neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity, explained in the simplest of terms, is the brain’s ability to change through growth and reorganization. Through the middle of the 20th century, it was widely believed that these changes were only available to children, but more recent research discovered the possibilities for changes in adult brains.
The benefit of failure
When we attempt to perform new tasks and fail, a couple of things happen. We experience frustration, and our brains produce a cocktail of chemicals or neurotransmitters. When adults repeat certain new actions in short durations (approximately 7 to 30 minutes), the neurons actually teach themselves. As you realize and acknowledge improvement, the brain releases dopamine, and the positive reinforcement helps motivate change.
Now here’s the fun part. Take a break. The neurons begin to reorganize during rest. You might have experienced this before. Imagine trying to learn a new piece on the piano, studying for an exam. You try and try and can’t get it, and then in the morning, voila. That’s neuroplasticity at work.
Michele Roberts Coaching 