Brief Summary
This YouTube video features Raj Shamani in conversation with Dr. Shweta Adatia, a leading neurologist and founder of Limitless Brain Lab, discussing how to train your brain for success and stress-free living. They explore brainwave types, morning routines, the power of visualization, and techniques to strengthen the frontal cortex. The discussion also covers sleep chronotypes, activating brain power, differences between men's and women's brains, overcoming pain and addiction, and the impact of negative self-talk. The video concludes with a brain scan analysis of Raj and practical advice for improving brain function.
- Brainwave types and their impact on daily activities
- Morning routines to prime the brain for success
- Techniques to strengthen the frontal cortex and manage emotions
- Understanding sleep chronotypes and their influence on performance
- Strategies to overcome procrastination and rewire the brain
Intro
Raj Shamani introduces Dr. Shweta Adatia, a neurologist and founder of Limitless Brain Lab, to discuss brain training for stress reduction and success. The conversation aims to explore how to rewire the brain to be more productive and excited about challenging tasks. They plan to discuss various tools and techniques for overcoming pain, understanding the differences between men's and women's brains, and activating 100% of brain power. Raj mentions that they will also conduct a brain scan during the show.
Main brainwave types
Dr. Adatia explains the four main types of brainwaves: alpha, beta, theta, and delta. Beta waves are active when engaged in conversation or problem-solving, while alpha waves appear when the eyes are closed and the mind is in a relaxed state. Delta waves occur during sleep, and theta waves are present just before falling asleep. She emphasizes the importance of transitioning smoothly from delta to theta to alpha to beta upon waking, rather than abruptly jumping to beta with an alarm. Hacking the theta and alpha waves in the morning can be achieved by closing the eyes for five minutes and incorporating autosuggestions and visualizations for the day, week, month, or year ahead.
MOVERS
Dr. Adatia introduces the "MOVERS" technique for a successful morning routine: Meditation, Oxygenation (breath work), Visualization, Exercise, Reading something positive, and Scribing (writing out what is not serving you). She suggests dedicating just five minutes to each activity.
Power of visualisation
Dr. Adatia discusses the power of visualization, referencing a study where piano players who physically practiced and those who mentally rehearsed showed similar brain growth after three months. Another study demonstrated that imagining strengthening a little finger resulted in comparable power gains to actual exercises. Raj Shamani shares his belief in visualization, describing how he mentally prepares for high-stakes meetings and speeches by visualizing every detail. Dr. Adatia explains that visualization primes the brain and prepares the chemicals, reducing stress by creating scenario analyses in advance.
Raj’s morning routine
Raj Shamani describes his morning routine, which includes checking his phone, reading in the bathroom, walking on a treadmill while listening to motivational speeches, and then going to the gym. Dr. Adatia advises against the sudden transition from sleep to activity and suggests using the mind's capacity to wake up naturally by setting an intention the night before, referring to it as "pillow talk power." She also cautions against checking notifications immediately upon waking, as it can introduce unpleasant stimuli.
Body clock
Dr. Adatia explains that priming the body clock is essential, as the body listens to our thoughts. She references the field of psychoneuroimmunology, which highlights the connection between the mind, brain, hormones, and immunity. She also mentions Dr. Emoto's experiments on how talking to water can change its chemistry and the placebo effect, where people heal even with sugar pills due to a switch in the brain.
Layers of the brain
Dr. Adatia explains the three layers of the brain: the brain stem (responsible for basic functions), the reptilian or limbic brain (the emotional system that scans for threats), and the frontal cortex (responsible for emotional control, choices, and connecting past and future). She notes that most people are primarily controlled by the limbic system, leading to constant rumination and preventing them from thinking ahead.
Power of the frontal cortex
Dr. Adatia emphasizes the importance of the frontal cortex, which is larger in humans than in other animals, accounting for 40% of the brain. She describes the "C's" of the frontal cortex: emotional Control, Commitment, Choices, and Command. The frontal cortex allows individuals to regulate themselves, convert reactions into responses, and ignore distractions. She notes that those who can effectively use their frontal cortex are better able to ignore negative messages and focus on positive, affirmative inputs.
How to make the brain strong
Dr. Adatia discusses how to strengthen the brain, emphasizing that everyone has the same basic brain structure and physiology. She highlights the critical development period from ages zero to five, when the speed of neuron growth is astronomical. She also mentions another influential period between 13 and 20, during which habit building can significantly impact frontal cortex development. She stresses the importance of awareness regarding the limbic and frontal cortex, suggesting activities to strengthen the frontal cortex, such as practicing all four brainwaves (alpha, beta, theta, delta) throughout the day.
How to improve the brain’s alpha waves
Dr. Adatia explains two ways to build alpha waves: sitting with eyes closed and letting thoughts flow, or walking barefoot on the ground. She also mentions specific music frequencies that can change brain frequencies, referencing lab-tested music pieces created by Limitless Brain Lab in collaboration with Maona TV Germany. She describes binaural beats, where different frequencies are played in each ear to create an alpha state.
How to improve beta waves
Dr. Adatia recommends "Trataka," a focus and concentration exercise, to build good beta waves. She advises following a formula, either moving from beta to delta or from delta to beta, and suggests finishing Trataka before moving on to meditation practices.
Sleep chronotypes
Dr. Adatia discusses sleep chronotypes, which determine how a person's clock is primed. The four types are lions (early risers), bears (gradual risers), wolves (late risers), and dolphins (random energy patterns). She mentions that it is possible to shift these chronotypes and highlights the importance of aligning activities with one's optimal capacity.
How to activate 100% of brain power
Dr. Adatia clarifies that the myth of using only 5-10% of the brain is false; the entire brain is always engaged. She emphasizes that performance optimization involves maximizing the 40% capacity of the frontal cortex through multi-sensory challenges. She suggests incorporating neurobics into daily life, such as changing the location of items on a desk to challenge the brain.
Brains of top performers
Dr. Adatia explains that while it may seem that top performers have monotonous routines, they often keep themselves sensory-stimulated through activities like gardening, reading, and traveling. She emphasizes that any sportsman wins not only because of strategy or strength but because of the frontal cortex. She also shares that studies of soccer and basketball players show that those with a balanced frontal cortex perform better.
A billionaire's brain
Dr. Adatia explains that billionaires often have a natural spark and a strong "why" that drives them. She believes that everyone can design their brain to achieve great success. She also supports the idea of neuro-manifestation, emphasizing that the mind and brain are essential for achieving desired outcomes.
How to break procrastination
Dr. Adatia reveals that 95% of people procrastinate because the brain is fundamentally lazy. She suggests breaking procrastination by starting with the city draft first, working for just the first five minutes to gain momentum.
How to rewire the brain
Dr. Adatia suggests not just rewiring the brain but rewiring reality. She advises having a firm commitment and a purpose book to remind oneself of their mission. She emphasizes that the brain loves meaning, so attaching waking up in the morning to a meaningful purpose can drive action.
Men’s vs. women’s brains
Dr. Adatia discusses the differences between men's and women's brains, noting that scientists initially expected significant differences but found only one major distinction: women have a slightly larger lobe for vocal capabilities, leading to more conversation dominance. She also mentions that women's memories are more tuned to emotional aspects.
How to recover from pain
Dr. Adatia outlines a three-step process for recovering from pain: Awareness, Breathing, and Commitment to daily habits. She emphasizes that the breath is the bridge to the mind, and slowing down breathing can help control the mind.
How to fix migraines
Dr. Adatia notes that migraines affect two billion people worldwide and have no cure but can be controlled. She recommends hydration, exercise, and avoiding trigger factors. For quick relief, she suggests stimulating the vagus nerve and applying pressure to the occipital area. She also mentions the Cefaly device, which uses neuro-modulation to alleviate headaches.
What to do when feeling low
Dr. Adatia recommends "Power Bhramari," or Humming Bee technique, to combat feelings of being drained. This involves taking a deep breath and making a humming sound, which produces nitric oxide and relaxes the brain. She suggests doing three to four rounds daily, cutting off distractions and focusing solely on the humming.
Addiction in humans
Dr. Adatia discusses the neuroscience of addiction, noting that it is a common problem that can manifest even in simple habits like coffee consumption. She explains that addiction often starts in adolescence due to an underdeveloped frontal lobe. Once a substance reaches a certain level, it changes the brain's wiring, causing structural damages in areas like the hippocampus, amygdala, and frontal cortex.
What negative self-talk does to the brain
Dr. Adatia explains that negative self-talk keeps individuals in a loop, preventing them from progressing in life. She mentions the Default Mode Network (DMN) in the brain, which is self-referential and often associated with self-doubt. Peak performers have a quieter DMN, indicating less self-doubt and more focus on the present moment.
Aura photography
Dr. Adatia discusses aura photography, explaining that it captures a person's energy body and can provide validation for mental processes. She notes that while it may not be scientifically proven, it can offer feedback on how mental focus and practices change energy patterns.
Conclusion
Raj Shamani thanks Dr. Adatia for the insightful conversation.
Raj’s brain scan
Dr. Adatia analyzes Raj Shamani's brain scan, noting that his alpha waves are slightly high when his eyes are closed, which is a positive sign. She points out that his face coherence indicates he can modulate his brain well. However, she notes that his eyes-open state shows a lot of theta, suggesting distractibility. She recommends Trataka to balance the theta and beta ratio.
Outro
Raj Shamani encourages viewers to subscribe to the channel, provide feedback in the comments, and share the episode with someone who might benefit from it.
