How to Learn Skills Faster | Huberman Lab Podcast

This episode I discuss the science and practice of learning physical skills: what it involves at a biological level, and what to focus on during skill learning at each stage to maximize learning speed and depth. I also describe what to do immediately after a training session (note: this is different than the optimal protocol for cognitive skill training) and as you progress to more advanced levels of performance. I also cover the science of skill-based visualization which does have benefits, but only if done correctly and at the correct times. I discuss auto-replay of skill learning in the brain during sleep and the value of adding in post-training ‘deliberately idle’ sessions. I cover how to immediately improve limb-range-of-motion by leveraging cerebellum function, error generation, optimal repetition numbers for learning and more. As always, scientific mechanism, peer-reviewed studies and science-based protocols are discussed.Show more

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Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:06:28 Skill Acquisition: Mental & Physical
00:08:40 Clarification About Cold, Heat & Caffeine
00:12:45 Tool: How To Quickly Eliminate the Side-Stitch ‘Cramp’ & Boost HRV Entrainment
00:16:08 Physical Skills: Open-Loop Versus Closed-Loop
00:18:50 Three Key Components To Any Skill
00:21:00 Sources of Control for Movement: 1) CPGs Govern Rhythmic Learned Behavior
00:23:30 Upper Motor Neurons for Deliberate Movement & Learning
00:25:00 Lower Motor Neurons Control Action Execution
00:25:26 What To Focus On While Learning
00:27:10 The Reality of Skill Learning & the 10,000 Hours Myth
00:28:30 Repetitions & The Super Mario Effect: Error Signals vs. Error Signals + Punishment
00:34:00 Learning To Win, Every Time
00:39:26 Errors Solve the Problem of What Focus On While Trying to Learn Skills
00:43:00 Why Increasing Baseline Levels of Dopamine Prior To Learning Is Bad
00:44:40 The Framing Effect (& Protocol Defined)
00:46:10 A Note & Warning To Coaches
00:48:30 What To Do Immediately After Your Physical Skill Learning Practice
00:53:48 Leveraging Uncertainty
00:56:59 What to Pay Attention To While Striving To Improve
01:04:45 Protocol Synthesis Part One
01:07:10 Super-Slow-Motion Learning Training: Only Useful After Some Proficiency Is Attained
01:11:06 How To Move From Intermediate To Advanced Skill Execution faster: Metronomes
01:16:44 Increasing Speed Even If It Means More Errors: Training Central Pattern Generators
01:19:12 Integrated Learning: Leveraging Your Cerebellum (“Mini-Brain”)
01:22:02 Protocol For Increasing Limb Range of Motion, Immediately
01:28:30 Visualization/ Mental Rehearsal: How To Do It Correctly
01:33:50 Results From 15 Minutes Per Day, 5 Days Per Week Visualization (vs. Actual Training)
01:35:34 Imagining Something Is Very Different Than Actually Experiencing It
01:37:58 Cadence Training & Learning “Carryover”
01:39:00 Ingestible Compounds That Support Skill Learning: Motivation, Repetitions, Alpha-GPC
01:43:39 Summary & Sequencing Tools: Reps, Fails, Idle Time, Sleep, Metronome, Visualization
01:46:20 Density Training: Comparing Ultradian- & Non-Ultradian Training Sessions
01:49:24 Cost-Free Ways to Support Us, Sponsors & Alternate Channels, Closing Remarks

Please note that The Huberman Lab Podcast is distinct from Dr. Huberman's teaching and research roles at Stanford University School of Medicine. The information provided in this show is not medical advice, nor should it be taken or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The Huberman Lab Podcast, its employees, guests and affiliates assume no liability for the application of the information discussed.

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com