Book · 2009
Spark
How Exercise Will Improve the Performance of Your Brain
- mentions
- 9
- people
- 3
- podcasts
- 2
- episodes
- 7
- recommendations
- 4
John talks about the important role that play exerts in the neuroplasticity process and points to a number of different protocols that one can engage in.
Andrew Huberman · Huberman Lab · Feb 2022 Listen at 1:02:12 What they say about it
- Discusses brain plasticity and exercise“brain plasticity and the relationship”2
- Notes the book is outdated“It is somewhat outdated”2
The best things said about it
One notable book is 'Spark,' authored by my friend and colleague John Ratey, a psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School.
There's an entire book called Spark that talks about the among other things the role of exercise in education and learning.
Tim Ferriss The Tim Ferriss Show · Aug 2018 He wrote a book called 'Spark,' which was one of the early academic books about brain plasticity and the relationship between exercise and movement.
There is a book. It is somewhat outdated, but for people who are interested in some of the growth factor adaptations related to exercise like release of brain drive, neurotrophic factor, and things like that, there is a book.
Tim Ferriss The Tim Ferriss Show · Nov 2022 There's a book called Spark that covers some of it, but it's very outdated.
Tim Ferriss The Tim Ferriss Show · Jan 2026 He wrote a book called, 'Spark' which was one of the early books at least from an academic about brain plasticity and the relationship between exercise and movement and plasticity.
Andrew Huberman Huberman Lab · May 2022 Where and when it comes up
Mentions per year
How it comes up
Why people recommend it
Spark by John J. Ratey and Eric Hagerman is a non-fiction book exploring the connection between exercise, the brain, and neuroplasticity. The book was discussed extensively across several podcast episodes. On The Tim Ferriss Show, Tim Ferriss mentioned the title during conversations with guests like Chris Palmer and in a prior episode with Tony Robbins, noting that while it is somewhat older and parts are outdated, it serves as a valuable resource covering growth factor adaptations, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and the specific role of physical activity in education and learning. Similarly, on the Huberman Lab podcast, Andrew Huberman frequently cited the work. He highlighted John Ratey as a Harvard psychiatrist and noted that the text stands as an early academic contribution explaining how movement relates to brain plasticity and cognitive function. Huberman also pointed to the author's insights regarding the vital role that play exerts in neuroplasticity and recommended reading from physical books rather than screens to broaden the visual window and improve focus. Additionally, guest Coleman Ruiz referenced Ratey's anecdotes from the volume while discussing physical and emotional challenges during an appearance on Huberman Lab. Overall, the speakers characterized the publication as an influential, albeit aging, roadmap linking cardiovascular health to cognitive vitality.
Every mention
Tim Ferriss Uh so I have I have in terms of spacing or I'm sorry that the timing of exercise uh I I have less clarity,… 3
“There's a book called Spark that covers some of it, but it's very outdated. But check out cloth.”
“There is a book. It is somewhat outdated, but for people who are interested in some of the growth factor adaptations related to exercise like release of brain drive, neurotrophic factor, and things like that, there is a book. It is older so I don't recommend it unreservedly because I think that there have been recent discoveries that would probably”
“Uh so I have I have in terms of spacing or I'm sorry that the timing of exercise uh I I have less clarity, but there's an entire book called Spark that talks about the among other things the role of exercise in education and learning”
Andrew Huberman He wrote the book "Spark" a few years back, and I think it's still very relevant. John talks about the impo… 3
“There's this idea that was at least to me first put forth in a book called Spark. Do you know John Ratey's book? It's some It's you know, came out some years ago. He's a a physician. Believe it trained at Harvard Med.”
“He wrote a book called, "Spark" which was one of the early books at least from an academic about brain plasticity and the relationship between exercise and movement and plasticity.”
“He wrote the book "Spark" a few years back, and I think it's still very relevant. John talks about the important role that play exerts in the neuroplasticity process and points to a number of different protocols that one can engage in.”
Coleman Ruiz I mean, since it might go back to John Rady's little anecdote in "Spark." 1
“I mean, since it might go back to John Rady's little anecdote in "Spark."”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker2
“He wrote a book called 'Spark,' which was one of the early academic books about brain plasticity and the relationship between exercise and movement.”
“To improve this, broaden your visual window: print things out or read from a book. One notable book is 'Spark,' authored by my friend and colleague John Ratey, a psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School.”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“There is a bit dated probably, but there's a book called Spark, which also goes into a lot of BDNF, and a lot of the circuitry and biochemical reasons for exercise for this explicit purpose.”