Unlocking the Brain’s Potential, with Gül Dölen

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. https://T-Mobile.com/HomeInternet Get the NEW StarTalk book, 'Lost in Space: 5,000 Facts for Navigating the Universe' on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cCD19e What if you could reopen your childhood brain and what do octopuses on MDMA have to do with it? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly sit down with neuroscientist and psychedelics expert Gül Dölen, to explore the cutting edge of psychedelic science, critical periods, and what a high octopus can teach us about the human mind. Learn about the history of psychedelics and how LSD got its start with inventor Albert Hofmann's first accidental trip on a bicycle. Why did Gul give MDMA to octopuses? Because studying a creature maximally different from humans, but capable of surprisingly similar social behaviors under the drug, strips away the accidents of evolution and reveals something fundamental about brain chemistry itself. What is a critical period? Learn how this powerful discovery is leading to new methods of approaching mental conditions. Gul explains how every form of learning and memory is regulated by windows of sensitivity that open and then close and how the reason we are so terrible at treating brain diseases is that by the time we intervene, those windows have already shut. How can psychedelic reopening of critical periods help create therapeutic treatments? We discuss the therapeutic uses of MDMA, LSD, and ibogaine. Is opening a critical period always a good thing, or is it opening Pandora's box? Could psychedelics help stroke patients relearn motor skills, or help people fall in love again? What is the noetic property of psychedelics? We discuss why people get a sense that they know the “real truth” after taking drugs. Finally we ask: what does the fact that a single molecule can radically alter consciousness tell us about the nature of reality itself? Thanks to our Patrons Edward Tuten, CJP, David Williamson, Shelsea Evans, Curious1, brittanivstheworld, Mark Huth, Annmarie Pine, Austin Wiggins, John Sprot, T.C. Polk, David Rossi, Murat Tahtali, Levi Jackson, Jeff L Kelly, Average Joe Paracord, gert alex, Ruthanne, joe, Arash Ghorbani, Fretbuzz Lightyear, Cody Asbury, Doyle Vann, APwater, Daniel Baker, K, Adam Boyher, Thom@0, Michael D Saladino, Cyrus Niccore, Lance W Roberts, Merix Style, Serhii Rieznik, slowbrow, Kamil Ignatowski, Dustin DeRollo, Jake Spector, Teemu Rönkkö, Kamron Barker, Chris Michel, Lee Patrick Anderson, Adam Deeb, Joshua10902, Arash Mehrnama, Juliejon Rondeau, Nickolaos Podias, Alex Seymour, Robert Harwood, William Ridout, Enck, Ryan Robertson, Fi Higgins, Roger Wacker, Bryce Weicht, Max, Burgai Atal, Misselvira, Kangee Gold, Bill Beauregard, and Jim Derych for supporting us this week. Order Take Me to Your Leader here 👇 https://www.simonandschuster.com/book... Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Gul Dolen 05:57 - Our Fascination with Psychadelia 08:53 - The Very First LSD Trip 11:15 - Giving Octopuses MDMA 16:46 - What Do Psychedelics Have in Common? 12:35 - Critical Period Reopening 22:54 - Plasticity & Encoding Memory 27:35 - Why Critical Periods Are Critical 37:12 - The Noetic Property 41:45 - Using Reopened Critical Periods 50:50 - What’s Ibogaine? 59:11 - Relationship to Reality 01:06:00 - Why Octopuses? Check out our second channel, @StarTalkPlus Support us on Patreon:   / startalkradio   FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: Twitter:   / startalkradio   Facebook:   / startalk   Instagram:   / startalk   About StarTalk: Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up! © 2026 Curved Light Productions. All rights reserved. STARTALK is a registered U.S. trademark of Curved Light Productions. Curved Light Productions also maintains rights in the A/legs design logo, STARTALK, STARTALK+, STARTALK PLUS in the U.S. and various countries throughout the world, and these and all other associated logos, marks, and trade dress are the property of Curved Light Productions. This video, including all audio, video, graphics, and accompanying materials, is the exclusive property of Curved Light Productions. No part of this video may be reproduced, distributed, publicly performed, transmitted, or used to create derivative works, in whole or in part, in any medium now known or hereafter devised, without the prior express written permission of Curved Light Productions. Unauthorized use, including reuploading, re-editing, or incorporation into third-party content, is a violation of United States and international copyright law and will be enforced. For licensing and permissions inquiries: licensing@startalkmedia.com #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson