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The Matt Walker Podcast
Dr. Matt Walker
147 episodes
6 days ago
Matt ventures into the realm of 40 Hz "gamma" rhythms - the conductor of the biological orchestra during high-order cognition - to explore how non-invasive light and sound stimulation can entrain brain activity, nudging neurons into synchrony. Crucially, Matt examines ground-breaking Alzheimer’s research where this rhythm rallies the brain's immune cells to clear toxic plaques, potentially stabilizing memory and preventing atrophy in early-stage patients. Beyond cognition, Matt uncovers a neu...
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Medicine
Health & Fitness,
Science,
Social Sciences
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Matt ventures into the realm of 40 Hz "gamma" rhythms - the conductor of the biological orchestra during high-order cognition - to explore how non-invasive light and sound stimulation can entrain brain activity, nudging neurons into synchrony. Crucially, Matt examines ground-breaking Alzheimer’s research where this rhythm rallies the brain's immune cells to clear toxic plaques, potentially stabilizing memory and preventing atrophy in early-stage patients. Beyond cognition, Matt uncovers a neu...
Show more...
Medicine
Health & Fitness,
Science,
Social Sciences
Episodes (20/147)
The Matt Walker Podcast
#116 - 40 Hz Brain Stimulation
Matt ventures into the realm of 40 Hz "gamma" rhythms - the conductor of the biological orchestra during high-order cognition - to explore how non-invasive light and sound stimulation can entrain brain activity, nudging neurons into synchrony. Crucially, Matt examines ground-breaking Alzheimer’s research where this rhythm rallies the brain's immune cells to clear toxic plaques, potentially stabilizing memory and preventing atrophy in early-stage patients. Beyond cognition, Matt uncovers a neu...
Show more...
6 days ago
25 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
#115 - Sleep Deprivation for Depression
The counterintuitive use of sleep deprivation as a rapid treatment for major depression finds itself squarely in Matt’s spotlight today. He begins by discussing its origins in the 1970s, where one night of wakefulness induced temporary remission in 40-60% of patients, and goes on to note that this effect is fragile, with an 83% relapse rate after recovery sleep, pointing to a paradox where sleep itself may be depressogenic for some. Matt reviews the neuroscientific explanations, including the...
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1 week ago
17 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
#114 - How to Boost your HRV
Matt delves into Heart Rate Variability (HRV), the subtle variation in timing between each heartbeat. He explains that a healthy heart is like a "jazz drummer," not a rigid metronome, and a higher HRV reflects a resilient body that can adeptly balance its stress and rest systems. This episode unpacks the science behind HRV and explores the actionable strategies you can employ to improve this critical marker of your overall health. Matt then explores the key lifestyle factors that significantl...
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2 weeks ago
25 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
#113 - Modafinil: An All-Nighter In A Pill?
Diving into the controversial world of Modafinil, the "all-nighter in a pill", Matt begins with the story of Olympic sprinters using the narcolepsy drug as a loophole for a competitive edge. He then unpacks the science of how Modafinil affects brain chemistry to boost wakefulness and cognition, tracing its evolution from a medical treatment to a performance enhancer for the military, Wall Street, and students, all attempting to push human limits by cheating sleep. Despite its potent effects, ...
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3 weeks ago
32 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
#112 - How Synesthesia Secretly Shapes Your Reality
Matt explores the fascinating world of synesthesia today, challenging the notion that it's a rare quirk by proposing a bold claim: in subtle ways, we are all synesthetes. This idea is powerfully demonstrated by the famous "Bouba/Kiki" test, which reveals our brain's innate tendency to connect abstract shapes and sounds. The episode argues that this fundamental cross-wiring is not a mere curiosity but the very operating system for human thought, shaping everything from our metaphors to the dev...
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1 month ago
22 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
#111 - The Price of Sleep
Framing sleep not as a biological necessity, but as a critical economic asset, Matt reveals that sleep deprivation costs the U.S. economy up to $411 billion annually, with billions more lost globally. These costs stem from lost workplace productivity, severe cognitive impairment equivalent to intoxication, and massive strains on healthcare and public safety systems due to chronic disease and accidents like drowsy driving. Matt provides the solution: investing in sleep as a powerful economic s...
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1 month ago
19 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
#110 - The Science Behind Wearable Sleep Monitoring
In this user's guide to sleep trackers, learn the science behind how they work using motion and optical sensors as Matt explains the key metrics of Sensitivity, Specificity, and Accuracy. Revealing why most trackers overestimate sleep by failing to detect wakefulness, he reveals the crucial difference between a device's flawed "absolute accuracy" and its more valuable "relative accuracy," which highlights the importance of tracking long-term trends over single-night scores. Matt goes on to ex...
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1 month ago
1 hour 2 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
#109 - How to Get More REM Sleep
Matt takes a deep dive into REM sleep this week, highlighting methods to enhance this vital stage for emotional regulation and creativity. Detailing pharmacological approaches, he focuses on the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and how medications like donepezil and modern DORAs can boost REM sleep, while also identifying common suppressors like alcohol and THC. Throughout the episode, he also emphasizes that the goal is not to maximize one stage but to achieve a balanced sleep architecture. Th...
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1 month ago
51 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
Cozy Cabin Retreat: A Sleep Story Read by Matt Walker
In this soothing episode, Matt guides you on your personal sleep story towards deep, restorative rest. He invites you to find comfort and release the day's worries through intentional breathing, transporting you to a cozy, imagined haven bathed in soft lights and calming aromas. As twilight descends, experience the tranquil silence and the moon's gentle glow, replacing any turmoil with profound inner peace. A powerful visualization encourages you to shed thoughts and concerns, picturing them ...
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2 months ago
29 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
#108 Implanting False Memories Into Your Brain
In this week’s episode, Matt Walker explores memory's astonishing malleability, challenging the belief that recollections are fixed. He highlights Loftus's car crash study, showing how subtle language altered speed memories and implanted false details, and reviews the "Lost in the Mall" experiment which proved fabricated autobiographical memories can be instilled. Matt also notes that neuroimaging reveals false and true memory patterns in the hippocampus are remarkably similar, underscoring m...
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2 months ago
24 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
#107 - Medicine 3.0 with Dr. Avinish Reddy
Founder & CEO of Elevated Medical, Dr. Avinish Reddy, joins Matt today on this very special episode to discuss a comprehensive approach to longevity. One core theme presented is the profound interconnectedness of physical, mental, and cognitive well-being, essential for true health optimization. Dr. Reddy emphasizes the striking impact of social connection: isolation can increase early death risk by 50%, comparable to smoking. He believes fostering strong social bonds is a fundamental pil...
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2 months ago
1 hour 29 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
Ask Me Anything Part 22: Latitude, Pain Gating, Temperature & Shift Work
In this latest AMA instalment, Matt and Dr. Eti Ben Simon begin by discussing environmental influences on sleep. The conversation covers how high latitude and prolonged daylight disrupt circadian rhythms, with Eti sharing her own personal experience. Together, our duo shares strategies for managing light exposure and regulating core body temperature with methods like warm baths. The episode also offers evidence-based approaches for shift workers, including strategic napping and forward-rotati...
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2 months ago
45 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
#106 - Can A Sleeping Pill Help Fight Alzheimer’s?
Matt explores the critical link between sleep and Alzheimer's disease today, explaining how the brain’s "glymphatic system" clears toxic proteins like amyloid and tau during deep sleep. He describes how insufficient sleep impairs this process, creating a vicious cycle where protein accumulation damages sleep-generating brain regions and increases dementia risk. Matt goes on to discuss groundbreaking research on a new class of sleeping pills, Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonists (DORAs), that may ...
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3 months ago
29 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
Ask Me Anything Part 21: Sleep Debt, Snooze Button, Naps & Sleep Myths
Matt and Dr. Eti Ben Simon join forces once again to answer all of your top sleep questions. This time around, they break down the science behind the snooze button, why you might be falling asleep during passive activities like watching TV, and the truth about sleep fads like consuming salt before bed or using "grounding sheets." The episode also explores the frustrating issue of sleep fragmentation - waking up multiple times a night - and why it undermines sleep quality even if you fall back...
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3 months ago
1 hour 1 minute

The Matt Walker Podcast
#105 - Delta Sleep Inducing Peptides
In this episode, Matt delves into the curious and cautionary tale of Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide (DSIP), once hailed as a potential miracle cure for insomnia. In the 1970s, researchers were on a quest for a single "somnogenic molecule" that could act as the brain's natural sleep switch. A Swiss team believed they had found it, isolating a peptide that appeared to rapidly induce deep, slow-wave sleep when injected into animals. This initial excitement led to bold claims and sparked decades of...
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3 months ago
21 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
#104 - Humans Can Navigate Like Bats
Matt explores the human capacity for echolocation this week, dismantling the myth that this "biological sonar" is exclusive to animals. Revealing how peer-reviewed research shows all human brains possess the neural hardware to "see" with sound, Matt explains the physics of how sound creates detailed acoustic maps of our environment and introduces the brain's remarkable plasticity, setting the stage for this incredible sensory adaptation. The episode features stories of pioneers like Daniel Ki...
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3 months ago
24 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
#103 - 172 Diseases, One Hidden (Sleep) Cause?
While we've long been told to focus on the quantity of our sleep, in today’s episode, Matt suggests a paradigm shift in our understanding of sleep health. He argues that the true cornerstone may not be how many hours we get, but the consistency of our sleep schedule. This concept of regularity - maintaining a stable bedtime and wake-time - is presented as the most impactful of four key sleep components, which also include the more familiar aspects of quantity, quality, and timing. Matt suppor...
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3 months ago
29 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
The Dreamer's Embrace: A Sleep Story Read by Matt Walker
Settle in for a deeply comforting experience as Matt returns with a gentle voyage aboard "The Dreamer." This sleep story is crafted to soothe the heart and quiet the mind, creating a perfect sanctuary for rest. Tonight, we journey to a peaceful, seaside village to meet Henry, an elderly widower whose sleepless nights are filled with a profound sense of loss and treasured memories of his late wife, Margaret. As Henry steps onto the boat, feeling the weight of his grief begin to soften wi...
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4 months ago
29 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
#102 - Mouth Taping
This week, Matt examines the viral trend of mouth taping, a practice touted as a remedy for snoring and sleep apnea. He explains the core theory, which centers on promoting the benefits of nasal over mouth breathing, before critically assessing whether this popular ritual is a scientifically sound solution or a risky trend whose dangers are lost amidst the online hype. Matt navigates the scientific evidence, revealing a cautionary tale: while preliminary data suggests a potential benefit for ...
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4 months ago
25 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
Ask Me Anything Part 20: Sleep Under the Influence
In their latest Ask Me Anything episode, Matt and Dr. Eti Ben Simon delve into the complex relationship between common substances and sleep. They first tackle cannabis, explaining that while THC may initially help with sleep onset, its chronic use is detrimental, leading to tolerance, withdrawal insomnia, and a powerful suppression of restorative REM sleep. The discussion then moves to two other major sleep disruptors: caffeine and alcohol. You'll learn how caffeine's long half-life can reduc...
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4 months ago
1 hour 4 minutes

The Matt Walker Podcast
Matt ventures into the realm of 40 Hz "gamma" rhythms - the conductor of the biological orchestra during high-order cognition - to explore how non-invasive light and sound stimulation can entrain brain activity, nudging neurons into synchrony. Crucially, Matt examines ground-breaking Alzheimer’s research where this rhythm rallies the brain's immune cells to clear toxic plaques, potentially stabilizing memory and preventing atrophy in early-stage patients. Beyond cognition, Matt uncovers a neu...