What Lara Boyd has said about Desirable difficulty in learning
2 quotes · 1 episode · Oct 12, 2026
Lara Boyd, Neuroscientist and physical therapist, professor at the University of British Columbia and director of its Brain Behaviour Lab, has been quoted on Desirable difficulty in learning 2 times in 1 episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, most recently on October 12, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Boyd reports that the most neuroplastic change occurs when stroke patients succeed at a task only about half the time.
“when they're struggling, when their success rate is right around 50, 60%, so it's hard. this is when we're seeing the most neuroplastic change”
The Mel Robbins Podcast: #1 Neuroscientist: After Listening to This, Your Brain Will Not Be the Same (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 18:00
Boyd rejects any magic number of practice hours and says practice must get progressively harder to keep changing the brain.
“you can't just practice at the same difficulty over and over again, right? It needs to get harder as you go”
The Mel Robbins Podcast: #1 Neuroscientist: After Listening to This, Your Brain Will Not Be the Same (Oct 12, 2026) · Listen from 43:15
Episodes
#1 Neuroscientist: After Listening to This, Your Brain Will Not Be the SameThe Mel Robbins Podcast · Oct 12, 2026 · 1 h 15 min
Mel Robbins talks with UBC neuroscientist Lara Boyd about neuroplasticity, how struggle, sleep, exercise and stress reduction rewire the brain, and how to make learning stick.
Lara Boyd on other topics
- Sleep and memory consolidation · 2 quotes
- Neuroplasticity · 2 quotes
- Language immersion · 1 quote
- Manifestation and goal setting · 1 quote
- Mental rehearsal and visualization · 1 quote
- Meditation · 1 quote
- Cortisol and stress · 1 quote
- High-intensity interval training · 1 quote