Neuroscience of Play

<p>Most of us stopped playing long before we realized it — and it turns out, that might be costing us more than we know. In this episode, we&#39;re diving into the neuroscience of play: what it actually is (hint: it&#39;s not about the activity), why it&#39;s as fundamental to our biology as sleep and food, and what happens to our brains — and our lives — when we don&#39;t get enough of it. From dopamine and neuroplasticity to why boredom might actually be good for your kids, we&#39;re making the case that play isn&#39;t just for children. It&#39;s one of the most powerful tools we have for resilience, joy, and mental wellness — at any age.</p><p>&gt;&gt; <a href="https://www.patreon.com/BrainBlownPodcast">⁠⁠Support the Brain Blown on Patreon⁠⁠</a></p><p>&gt;&gt; Have questions, stories, or topics you want us to cover? Email us at <a href="">⁠⁠info@brainblownpodcast.com⁠⁠</a>.</p><p>&gt;&gt; Learn more at <a href="www.brainblownpodcast.com">⁠⁠www.brainblownpodcast.com</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Resources:</strong></p><ul><li><em>The Importance of Pleasure in Play</em> — Bruce Perry</li><li><em>Selected Principles of Pankseppian Affective Neuroscience</em> — Kenneth L. Davis &amp; Christian Montag</li><li><em>Yes, We Need a Neuroscience of Play</em> — Phillip Stevens Jr.</li><li><em>Neuroscience and the Magic of Play Therapy</em> — Anne L. Stewart, Thomas A. Field &amp; Lennis G. Echterling</li><li><em>Neuroscience, Early Childhood Education and Play: We Are Doing It Right!</em> — Stephen Rushton</li><li><em>Neuroscience and Learning Through Play: A Review of the Evidence</em> — Liu, Solis, Jensen, Hopkins, Neale, Zosh, Pasek &amp; Whitebread</li><li><em>Adult Play: A Neuroscientific and Psychoanalytic Perspective</em> — Ellen Park Psy.D.</li><li><em>In Search of the Neurobiological Substrates for Social Playfulness in Mammalian Brains</em> — Stephen M. Siviy &amp; Jaak Panksepp</li><li><em>The Playful Mediator, Moderator, or Outcome?</em> — Shen &amp; Masek</li><li><em>Risky Play in Children&#39;s Emotion Regulation, Social Functioning, and Physical Health</em> — Sandseter, Kleppe &amp; Kennair</li><li><em>National Institute for Play</em> — Dr. Stuart Brown</li></ul><p></p>