Control Your Vagus Nerve to Improve Mood, Alertness & Neuroplasticity

In this episode, I explain how to use caffeine to enhance mental and physical health and performance, including the optimal dosages and intake schedules for caffeine. I explain how caffeine powerfully reinforces the consumption of certain foods and drinks—thereby increasing how much we like their tastes and seek them out. I discuss the mechanisms by which caffeine increases focus, alertness and mood and reduces sleepiness. I also explain many practical tools for caffeine use, including delaying caffeine intake after waking, intermittent caffeine use, during fasting, before and during exercise, and the use of theanine to curb jitters caused by caffeine. I also discuss the positive effects of caffeine on overall health and longevity and address several myths about caffeine. Since caffeine is one of the most commonly used substances (more than 90% of adults use caffeine daily!), this episode provides actionable tips for adjusting caffeine consumption to positively impact performance and health, including sleep. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Caffeine (00:02:58) Tool: GLP-1, Yerba Mate, Satiety & Weight Loss (00:11:22) Sponsor: LMNT (00:15:23) Caffeine Benefits for Mental & Physical Performance (00:20:23) Caffeine in Nature & Positive Reinforcement (00:26:44) Caffeine Effects on Brain; Reward Pathways (00:29:55) Caffeine as a Reinforcing Agent (00:35:55) Sponsor: AG1 (00:38:01) Caffeine, Adenosine & Reduced Sleepiness  (00:45:16) Tool: Caffeine Dosage, Caffeine Adapted (00:53:44) Tool: Delayed Caffeine Intake, Afternoon Crash & Sleep (01:04:46) Morning Exercise & Residual Caffeine Effects (01:07:56) Tool: Theanine & Jitteriness; Fasting, Intermittent Caffeine Use  (01:13:00) Theanine: Effects & Dosage (01:18:41) InsideTracker (01:19:45) Other Effects: Osteoporosis, Hormone Levels, Depression (01:27:41) Afternoon Caffeine & Sleep (01:31:45) Tool: Caffeine & Mental/Physical Performance; Cortisol & Caffeine Abstinence (01:46:04) Caffeine, Performance & Menstrual Cycle (01:47:27) Tool: Memory & Caffeine Timing; Adrenaline & Cold Exposure (01:54:08) Caffeine & Naps (01:56:34) Tool: Exercise, Caffeine, Dopamine & Positive Reinforcement  (02:01:55) Dopamine Stacking (02:06:04) Scheduling Caffeine to Maximize Its Effects (02:08:33) Pro-Health Effects of Caffeine (02:13:38) Tool: Sugar Cravings & Reinforcing Effects of Caffeine  (02:20:17) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Social Media, Momentous Supplements, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 Joulu 20222h 18min

My guest this episode is Lex Fridman, Ph.D., a Research Scientist at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT), an expert on artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, and the host of the Lex Fridman Podcast. We discuss Lex’s recent trip to the heart of the Ukrainian-Russian War, geopolitics, perspectives on people living in war zones, the shared human experience, and how information is communicated and controlled. As an experienced podcaster and public educator, Dr. Fridman offers unique insights into the art of holding conversations that grow understanding, especially when they involve people with opposing viewpoints. We also discuss the peer-review process for scientific research publications and how social media and podcasts are evolving the way science and technology are communicated. We consider how to find and follow your life’s purpose, maintain ongoing motivation and implement support systems to build and sustain momentum. Our conversation also covers capitalism, masculinity, chess and cheating, Lex’s idea for an AI robotics start-up and a Q&A from audience questions solicited on social media. As one of the main inspirations for the Huberman Lab podcast, hosting Dr. Fridman for this special centennial episode was an honor and a pleasure! For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Lex Fridman (00:04:46) Sponsor: LMNT (00:08:28) Podcasting (00:12:11) Ukraine, Russia, War & Geopolitics (00:23:17) Conflict & Generalized Hate (00:26:23) Typical Day in Ukraine; American Military & Information Wars (00:36:56) Sponsor: AG1 (00:38:42) Deliberate Cold Exposure & Sauna; Fertility (00:46:44) Ukraine: Science, Infrastructure & Military; Zelensky (00:53:33) Firearms; Violence & Sensitization (00:57:40) MIT & Artificial Intelligence (AI), University Teaching & Pandemic (01:05:51) Publications & Peer Review, Research, Social Media (01:13:05) InsideTracker (01:14:17) Twitter & Social Media Mindset, Andrew Tate & Masculinity (01:26:05) Donald Trump & Anthony Fauci; Ideological Extremes (01:35:11) Biotechnology & Biopharma; Money & Status (01:45:08) Robotics, AI & Social Media; Start-ups (01:53:50) Motivation & Competition; Relationships (02:01:55) Jobs; A Career vs. A Calling; Robotics & Relationships (02:12:11) Chess, Poker & Cheating (02:22:25) Ideas of Lately (02:24:44) Why Lex Wears a Suit & Tie (02:27:50) Is There an AI Equivalent of Psychedelics?  (02:29:06) Hardest Jiu-Jitsu Belt to Achieve (02:32:07) Advice to Young People (02:39:29) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 Marras 20222h 38min

My guest this episode is Chris Palmer, M.D., a board-certified psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He explains the important connection between nutrition, metabolism and mental health and his pioneering work using the ketogenic diet to successfully treat patients with various mental illnesses, including depression and schizophrenia. Dr. Palmer explains how the ketogenic diet is an evidenced-based treatment for epilepsy, mimics the fasted state and can offset the cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s. He describes the key roles of mitochondria in mental health, how certain conditions likely arise from mitochondrial dysfunction, and how low-carbohydrate diets increase mitochondrial turnover to improve mental health. He also explains how low-carbohydrate diets positively impact the gut microbiome and weight loss, important risk factors for mitochondrial health such as marijuana and alcohol, and the best way to increase circulating ketones depending on individual needs. We also cover how a ketogenic diet impacts mood, sleep, and fertility. Dr. Palmer’s work stands as a revolutionary approach to mental health and disease that, given the prevalence of mental health challenges, should be of interest to people of all backgrounds and ages. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Chris Palmer, Mental Health & Metabolic Disorders (00:03:42) Sponsor: LMNT (00:07:18) Nutrition & Mental Health (00:20:43) Low-Carb Diets & Anti-Depression, Fasting, Ketosis (00:27:52) Schizophrenia, Depression & Ketogenic Diet (00:33:58) Sponsor: AG1 (00:35:38) Psychiatric Mediations, Diet Adherence (00:42:35) Highly Processed Foods, Ketones & Mental Health Benefits (00:46:51) Ketogenic Diet & Epilepsy Treatment (00:56:10) Ketogenic Diet & Mitochondria Health (00:57:05) Nutrition & Benefits for Neurologic/Psychiatric Disorders (01:05:44) Mitochondrial Function & Mental Health (01:15:12) InsideTracker (01:16:23) Mitophagy, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Aging & Diet (01:25:09) Neurons, Mitochondria & Blood Glucose (01:31:54) Obesity, Ketogenic Diet & Mitochondria (01:40:00) Mitochondrial Function: Inheritance, Risk Factors, Marijuana  (01:46:34) Alcohol & Ketogenic Diet (01:55:21) Brain Imaging, Alzheimer’s Disease & Ketones (02:01:05) Exogenous (Liquid) Ketones vs. Ketogenic Diet (02:06:27) Neuronal Damage, Ketones & Glucose  (02:10:16) Alzheimer’s Disease, Age-Related Cognitive Decline & Ketogenic Diet (02:23:45) Ketogenic Diet & Weight Loss (02:35:47) Ketogenic Diet & Fasting, Hypomania, Sleep (02:46:37) Low Carbohydrate Diets, Menstrual Cycles, Fertility (02:52:23) Obesity Epidemic, Semaglutide & GLP-1 Medications  (03:01:01) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 Marras 20223h

I explain the science of happiness, including the different types of happiness and how our actions, circumstances and mindset control them. While it is difficult to standardize happiness from one person to the next, I outline a structured framework of what is critical to increasing your innate “natural happiness,” including financial security, purposeful work and relationships, and I explain specific tools to increase internal happiness (so-called “synthetic happiness”). I review how specific types of human connection and attention to our choices (or lack thereof) can increase or undermine our level of happiness. I also discuss the importance of certain types of physical contact, gratitude, financial choices and volunteer contributions that research shows can maximize happiness. And I discuss how factors such as children, pets, physical well-being, substance use, prior traumas and life-phase milestones affect our quest for and depth of happiness. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Happiness (00:06:27) Tool: Light Exposure Timing & Brightness Timing (00:14:30) Sponsor: LMNT (00:17:51) Imprecise Language for Happiness (00:20:26) Happiness: Neuromodulators & Neurotransmitters  (00:26:32) Harvard Happiness Project  (00:29:22) Income & Happiness; Social Interactions & Peer Group  (00:37:20) Work, Sense of Meaning & Happiness (00:40:13) Toolkit for General Wellbeing (00:43:06) Happiness Across the Lifespan, Does Having Children Make Us Happier? (00:47:20) Sponsor: AG1 (00:50:20) Birthdays & Evaluated Happiness (00:52:45) Smoking, Alcohol & Happiness (00:54:23) Trauma & Happiness, Lottery Winner vs. Paraplegic Accident (01:05:05) Synthesizing Happiness (01:09:18) Natural Happiness & Synthetic Happiness; Music (01:13:45) Tool: Synthesizing Happiness: Effort, Environment & Gratitude (01:24:50) Tool: Pro-Social Spending/Effort, Happiness (01:31:55) Tool: Focus, Wandering Mind & Meditation  (01:39:40) Tool: Quality Social Connection (01:41:28) Brief Social Connection, Facial Recognition & Predictability (01:46:33) Deep Social Connection, Presence & Eye Contact (01:54:00) Physical Contact & Social Connection, Allogrooming, Pets (02:03:00) Freedom & Choice; Synthetic Happiness (02:11:57) Happiness Toolkit (02:22:00) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14 Marras 20222h 21min

Recently I had the pleasure of hosting a live event in Los Angeles, CA. This event was part of a lecture series called The Brain Body Contract. My favorite part of the evening was the question & answer period, where I had the opportunity to answer questions from the attendees of each event. Included here is the Q&A from our event at The Wiltern. Get notified when new live events are announced: https://hubermanlab.com/tour Thank you to our sponsors Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:00:52) Sponsors: Eight Sleep & Momentous (00:02:23) What Occurs in the Mind/Body When You Have ADHD? Are There Ways to Address It Without Medication? (00:11:55) As a Teenager, What Are 5 Things You Would Recommend to Physically Feel My Best? (00:14:42) Should We Wait to Feel the Rise of Adrenaline and the Fall of It Before Bailing From Cold Water? (00:24:03) What Is the Competing Mechanism Behind Bilateral Eye Movement (EMDR & Walking) That Helps Resolve Psychological Trauma? (00:28:07) What New Research or Interventions Are You Most Excited About in the Health & Wellness Realm? (00:37:30) What Lessons From Skateboarding Have You Learned That Can Be Applied to Neuroscience? (00:39:03) Favorite Feynman Story (00:42:10) Do You Suppose This Physiological Stress Regulator Transcends Species? (00:47:20) Is There Any Science Behind Staying Motivated or Developing Discipline? (00:50:48) What Would Be Your Biggest Piece of Advice for Achieving One's Dreams? (00:57:09) What's Your Opinion on Psilocybin? (01:01:07) Why Does My Desire to Eat Disappear After I Use the Sauna? (01:02:26) Conclusion Huberman Lab is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 Marras 20221h 3min

My guest is Layne Norton, Ph.D. — one of the world’s foremost experts in nutrition, protein metabolism, muscle gain and fat loss. We discuss the science of energy utilization and balance, the efficacy of different diets (e.g., ketogenic, vegan, vegetarian, carnivore, omnivore), and how best to build lean muscle mass and lose fat. We also discuss optimal protein and fiber intake, the best sources of protein, the correlation between appetite, satiety signals and exercise, along with male and female-specific needs. Dr. Norton also explains how to support a healthy gut microbiome and offers insight into sugar and artificial sweeteners, processed, cooked, and raw foods, supplements, seed oils, and the relationship of LDL/HDL levels to cardiovascular health. This episode serves as a master class in nutrition, metabolism and exercise and is sure to benefit people of all ages and with different health and fitness goals. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Layne Norton, Nutrition & Fitness (00:03:10) Sponsor: LMNT & Waking Up (00:06:50) Calories & Cellular Energy Production (00:12:35) Energy Balance, Food Labels, Fiber (00:15:19) Resting Metabolic Rate, Thermic Effect of Food (00:19:04) Exercise & Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) (00:25:49) Losing Weight, Tracking Calories, Daily Weighing (00:29:24) Post-Exercise Metabolic Rate, Appetite (00:34:35) Sponsor: AG1 (00:36:19) Exercise & Appetite, Calorie Trackers, Placebo Effects & Beliefs (00:43:46) Exercise & Satiety Signals, Maintain Weight Loss & Identity (00:56:32) Weight Loss & Maintenance, Diet Adherence (01:03:33) Restrictive Diets & Transition Periods (01:08:03) Gut Health & Appetite (01:16:23) Tool: Supporting Gut Health, Fiber & Longevity (01:23:59) LDL, HDL & Cardiovascular Disease (01:30:31) Leucine, mTOR & Protein Synthesis (01:37:31) Tool: Daily Protein Intake & Muscle Mass (01:44:24) Protein & Fasting, Lean Body Mass (01:55:38) Plant-Based Proteins: Whey, Soy, Leucine, Corn, Pea (02:04:28) Processed Foods (02:11:54) Obesity Epidemic, Calorie Intake & Energy Output (02:17:33) Obesity, Sugar & Fiber, Restriction & Craving (02:25:57) Artificial Sweeteners & Blood Sugar (02:38:55) Artificial Sweeteners & Gut Microbiome, Sucralose, Blood Sugar (02:50:19) Rapid Weight Loss, Satiety & Beliefs (02:58:13) Seed Oils & Obesity, Saturated Fat, Overall Energy Toxicity (03:08:15) Females, Diet, Exercise & Menstrual Cycles (03:14:05) Raw vs. Cooked Foods (03:16:32) Berberine & Glucose Scavenging (03:19:12) Fiber & Gastric Emptying Time (03:21:00) Supplements, Creatine Monohydrate, Rhodiola Rosea (03:30:33) Hard Training; Challenge & Mental Resilience (03:36:12) Carbon App (03:47:11) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7 Marras 20223h 47min

Welcome to a preview of the first Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode, part of Huberman Lab Premium subscription. The Huberman Lab Premium subscription was launched for two main reasons. First, it was launched in order to raise support for the standard Huberman Lab podcast channel — which will continue to come out every Monday at zero-cost. Second, it was launched as a means to raise funds for important scientific research. A significant portion of proceeds from the Huberman Lab Premium subscription will fund human research (not animal models) selected by Dr. Huberman, with a dollar-for-dollar match from the Tiny Foundation. Subscribe to Huberman Lab Premium at https://hubermanlab.com/premium Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:09) How do you use ultradian cycles in your daily work? (00:22:38) Huberman Lab Premium In the full 2 hour+ AMA episode, we discuss: Neuroplasticity and dementias (Alzheimer's, MS, Parkinson's) — Protocols for protecting the brain? Zone 2 training What do you do when you live in a northern climate and the sun doesn't rise until hours after you are up? Morning routine for people who work from 8 am to 5 pm Best productivity method: to-do list or time-blocking everything on a calendar? Seed oils and metabolic disease Do recommendations and protocols you give change with age (beyond 60)? What advice would you give to your younger self? Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac Huberman Lab is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Marras 202224min

In this episode, I discuss the biological mechanisms of the state changes that occur during different types of meditation and describe how to develop the meditation practice optimal for you. I explain key meditation principles, such as using specific breathwork patterns and adjusting your perception to specific locations along the continuum between interoception, exteroception and dissociation. I discuss how meditation practices lead to long-term trait changes and neuroplasticity, including changing your default mood, reducing baseline anxiety/depression, increasing your ability to focus, enhancing relaxation, improving sleep, and increasing your overall happiness level. I also explain the concept behind the “third-eye center,” what mindfulness is from a biological standpoint, the power of ultra-brief meditations and how to select the best meditation and time and duration to meditate to meet your need. I also explain a novel open-eyed perception-based meditation that may enhance focus, relaxation and task-switching ability. Whether you are a novice or an experienced meditator or simply interested in how our brain controls different aspects of conscious awareness and self-regulation, this episode should interest you. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Meditation (00:04:48) Sponsor: LMNT (00:08:25) Brief History of Meditation: Consciousness, Psychedelics, fMRI (00:16:19) How the Brain Interprets the Body & Surrounding Environment; Mindfulness (00:26:07) Neuroscience of Meditation; Perceptual Spotlights (00:31:58) Sponsor: AG1 (00:33:41) Interoception vs. Exteroception (00:42:20) Default Mode Network, Continuum of Interoception & Exteroception (00:53:30) Tools: Interoceptive or Exteroceptive Bias, Meditation Challenge (01:01:48) State & Trait Changes, Interoceptive & Exteroceptive Meditations, Refocusing (01:07:35) Tool: Brief Meditations, Waking Up App (01:10:30) “Third Eye Center” & Wandering Thoughts (01:20:46) Meditation: Practice Types, Focal Points & Consistency (01:24:10) Breathwork: Cyclic Hyperventilation, Box Breathing & Interoception (01:30:41) Tool: Meditation Breathwork, Cyclic vs. Complex Breathwork (01:39:22) Interoception vs. Dissociation, Trauma (01:47:43) Model of Interoception & Dissociation Continuum (01:53:39) Meditation & Dissociation: Mood, Bias & Corresponding Challenge (02:00:18) Meditation & Sleep: Yoga Nidra, Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) (02:11:33) Choosing a Meditative Practice; Hypnosis (02:14:53) Tool: Space-Time Bridging (STB) (02:25:00) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Social Media Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

31 Loka 20222h 23min