Brain plasticity is the core theme of ReeThink Episode 17. It sits at the intersection of AI, movement, music and human performance. In this solo episode, host Rudi Adigbli distills what he learned from 16 conversations with neuroscientists, founders and neurotech builders.

Ultimately, the question is simple: how do we design a lifestyle that makes brain plasticity work for us, not against us?

AI is not just another tool. Instead, it acts as a pressure cooker for existing systems and amplifies what is already there, good and bad.

In education, AI exposes weak assignment design. When a chatbot can finish homework in minutes, the problem is not the model. The real issue is the way we teach thinking. Consequently, this pushes us toward training executive function, awareness and metacognition instead of memorizing recipes.

Within the attention economy, AI‑driven feeds exploit our biology. They are tuned to capture focus, not to protect cognitive sovereignty. Therefore, the challenge is to create a new relationship with AI. We must use it to augment thinking, not outsource it.

Brain plasticity is the ability of the brain to rewire itself. It underpins trauma recovery, learning, depression and peak performance. Our digital lifestyle already proves this in practice. Hours of scrolling train the brain toward distraction and emotional volatility.

So the goal is not to ask whether the brain is plastic. Rather, we should ask how we can direct this plasticity. Every habit, every input and every movement either reinforces old patterns or creates new ones.

At this point, embodied cognition becomes central. The brain did not evolve for a chair and a screen; it evolved to control a body in complex 3D environments. Consequently, movement is not separate from thought. It is part of thought.

Coordination drills like rope flow, juggling, BJJ and Muay Thai are more than fitness. They demand timing, rhythm and pattern switching. As a result, this recruits both brain hemispheres and deep motor networks. That is why movement acts as neuromodulation for brain plasticity. It sets the biochemical and electrical stage for change.​

Rudi’s own plan reflects this insight. He adds rope flow and Muay Thai to his existing BJJ practice. The goal is not to fight more, but to be more in his body and to increase controlled struggle and precision under stress.

If you’d like a deeper scientific perspective on this, I recommend checking out former podcast guest Michael Mannino’s TEDx talk, “The Moving Mind: Neuroscience, Philosophy, and Fitness“

Flow is a peak state where effort feels low and performance is high. It is also a powerful driver of brain plasticity. Typically, flow follows struggle. You must stay with difficulty long enough for the brain to reorganize.​

Executive function makes this possible. It allows impulse control, planning and refocusing. In a world of instant AI assistance and constant notifications, this capacity is scarce. Therefore, training executive function becomes a strategic choice. It is how we keep control over our own brain plasticity.​

One way to specifically train the Executive Function is through N-Back training, a cognitive exercise developed and researched at ETH that targets working memory and executive function.

Music is another access point to brain plasticity. It engages motor, emotion and timing circuits all at once. Some brains even respond with goosebumps. This response is not random. Instead, it reflects a unique integration of sensory and emotional processing.​

Moreover, music modulates state. Low frequencies can calm the central nervous system, while high‑energy tracks can increase arousal and focus. By using playlists deliberately, we can prime our brain for learning, deep work or recovery.​

In Episode 17, Rudi commits to using music more consciously. He sees it not just as background, but as a regulation tool, especially in moments of agitation or mental fatigue.

The vagus nerve links brain and body. It helps switch between activation and recovery. Earlier, Rudi saw relaxation as the primary goal. Now he focuses on flexibility instead. True resilience is the capacity to move quickly between sympathetic and parasympathetic states.​

This shift is tied to perception. The thalamus and amygdala filter and tag incoming data. Trauma, media diet and context all shape what we “see.” When the nervous system is stressed, neutral events can feel threatening. In contrast, when the system is regulated, options and nuance reappear.​

Training breath, awareness and body sensing gives us handles on this process. Consequently, it lets us influence how brain plasticity encodes future responses.

Team performance also links back to brain plasticity and embodied cognition. When teams are in sync, their physiology reflects it: heart rate, HRV and even brain rhythms begin to align.

Today, AI and biometrics make that synchrony visible. This matters for investors and leaders because it adds data to intuition. In turn, it supports better decisions about teams, culture and leadership. It is another example of AI used to enhance the human layer instead of replacing it.

ReeThink the Lifestyle. ReeWire Your Potential.