Architecture of the self: Unlocking neuroplasticity

Architecture of the self: Unlocking neuroplasticity

Author: Charts & Leisure November 19, 2025 Duration: 42:43

In part three of our special series, Architecture of the Self, Kurt sits down with neuroscientist and pioneer in the world of psychedelic research, Dr. Gül Dölen, to explore the concept of “critical periods,” unique windows when the brain is most open to learning and change. Dr. Dölen explains how these periods shape everything from language and social behavior to habits and personality, drawing on decades of research that reveal why early experiences hold such lasting power.

The conversation explores how and when these windows can reopen: naturally, after injury, or through Dr. Dölen’s discovery that psychedelics like MDMA, ketamine, psilocybin, and LSD can create a state of heightened plasticity in the adult brain. She also discusses why environment, support, and therapeutic integration are essential for turning that plasticity into meaningful growth and healing.
Join us for a look at the future of medicine, mental health and the new possibilities for healing, growth, and lasting change at any stage of life.

Links:
dölenLAB: exploring critical periods, psychedelics, and the social brain


There’s a thread that connects our inner lives to the culture we live in, and Unravelling pulls on it to see what emerges. This isn’t a lecture series, but a conversation guided by therapist Kurt White and journalist Mary Wilson, who bring their distinct perspectives to every discussion. They explore how mental health is woven into everything from our daily fitness routines and societal pressures to the art we consume and the relationships we keep. In each episode, you’ll hear from experts who study the mind alongside individuals sharing their personal, lived experiences, creating a dialogue that feels both intellectually rigorous and deeply human. The aim is to move beyond simple definitions, examining how anxiety, resilience, joy, and struggle shape our collective reality. Produced by Charts & Leisure, this podcast provides a space for nuance, challenging the idea that our psychological worlds exist in a vacuum. It’s for anyone who has ever felt the tension between their private thoughts and the public world, offering not easy answers but a more textured understanding. By listening, you become part of a broader exploration into how compassion, for ourselves and our society, can actually be built from a place of genuine curiosity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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