The Science of Hearing, Balance & Accelerated Learning

This episode I describe how our ears and nervous system decode sound waves and gravity to allow us to hear and make sense of sounds. I also describe protocols for rapid learning of sound and other types of information. I discuss sound localization, doppler effects (sound motion), pitch perception and how we isolate sounds in noisy environments. I also review the scientific findings on binaural beats and white noise and how they can improve learning. Other topics and protocols include tinnitus, sea sickness, ear movement, ear growth and the science-supported ways we can all accelerate learning using "gap effects".

Read the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

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LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab

Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman

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Timestamps

00:00:00 Overview of Topics  

00:02:20 Protocol: New Data for Rapid Learning  

00:09:10 Introduction: Hearing & Balance  

00:09:30 Sponsors: AG1, LMNT & Waking Up

00:13:53 How We Perceive Sounds  

00:21:56 Your Hearing Brain (Areas)  

00:23:48 Localizing Sounds  

00:28:00 Ear Movement: What It Means  

00:33:00 Your Ears (Likely) Make Sounds: Role of Hormones, Sexual Orientation  

00:35:30 Binaural Beats: Do They Work?  

00:43:54 White Noise Can Enhance Learning & Dopamine  

00:51:00 Headphones  

00:55:51 White Noise During Development: Possibly Harmful  

01:03:25 Remembering Information, & The Cocktail Party Effect  

01:12:55 How to Learn Information You Hear  

01:18:10 Doppler  

01:22:43 Tinnitus: What Has Been Found To Help?  

01:30:40 Aging: How Big Are Your Ears?  

01:35:00 Balance: Semi-Circular Canals  

01:40:35 A Vestibular Experiment  

01:43:15 Improve Your Sense of Balance  

01:48:55 Accelerating Balance  

01:51:55 Self-Generated Forward Motion  

01:56:25 Dizzy versus Light-Headed  

01:58:38 Motion Sickness Solution  

02:01:23 Synthesis  

Disclaimer & Disclosures