Understand and Use Dreams to Learn and Forget

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Cal Newport, Ph.D., a professor of computer science at Georgetown University and bestselling author of numerous books on focus and productivity and how to access the deepest possible layers of your cognitive abilities in order to do quality work and lead a more balanced life. We discuss how to avoid digital distraction, specific systems to best arrange and update your schedule, and how to curate your work and home environment. We discuss how to engage with smartphones and technology, the significant productivity cost of task-switching, and how to avoid and overcome burnout. This episode provides specific protocols for enhancing focus and productivity, time management, task prioritization, and improving work-life balance that ought to be useful for anyone, young or old, regardless of profession. For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com. Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Cal Newport (00:03:09) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up (00:07:00) Smartphones, Office & Walking (00:13:08) Productive Meditation, Whiteboards (00:20:04) Tool: Capturing Ideas, Notebooks (00:24:57) Tool: Active Recall & Remembering Information (00:26:15) Sponsor: AG1 (00:31:29) Studying, Deliberate Practice (00:38:13) Flow States vs. Deep Work (00:41:39) Social Media, Emergencies (00:45:27) Phone & Addiction; Task Switching (00:54:23) “Neuro-Semantic Coherence” vs. Flow; Concentration (01:02:40) Internet Use & Kids; Video Games; Audiobooks (01:08:15) Pseudo-Productivity, Burnout (01:12:34) Social Media Distraction; The Deep Life (01:18:03) Attention, ADHD, Smartphones & Addiction; Kids (01:26:12) TikTok, Algorithm (01:30:39) Tool: Boredom Tolerance, Gap Effects & “Thoreau Walks” (01:37:43) Solitude Deprivation, Anxiety (01:41:22) Tools: Fixed Work Schedule & Productivity, Exercise, Sleep (01:47:52) Deep Work, Insomnia; Productivity & Core Work; Music (01:55:08) Cognitive Focus & Environment; Isolation (02:02:30) Burnout Epidemic, Digital Collaboration (02:11:11) Cognitive Revolution, Balance (02:16:45) Remote, Hybrid vs. In-Person Work; Zoom (02:22:05) Tool: Pull-Based System, Designing Workload (02:28:49) Tools: Multi-Scale Planning, Time Blocking; Deep Work Groups (02:38:56) Tool: Shutdown Ritual (02:42:37) Accessibility, Reputation & Flexibility (02:47:29) Work-Life Balance, Vacation; Productivity (02:54:47) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11 Mars 20242h 52min

In this episode, I discuss placebo and belief and mindset effects — all of which exert a powerful and real influence on our biology and psychology. I discuss how your beliefs and expectation that a certain outcome will occur after taking a substance (or any intervention cause genuine changes in brain and bodily function. I discuss how placebos can change neurotransmitter and hormone release, pain levels, whether the stress response is beneficial or detrimental and more. I also explain how placebo effects can work with traditional drug or behavioral treatments to help improve health outcomes and why some people are more susceptible to placebo effects. By the end of the episode, listeners will understand the placebo effect, how it works, and how beliefs and mindsets can be leveraged toward mental health, physical health, and performance goals.  For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Placebo Effects (00:02:40) Sponsors: Eight Sleep, AeroPress & Levels (00:07:24) Placebo, Nocebo vs. Belief Effect, Prefrontal Cortex (00:14:03) Dopamine, Placebo & Parkinson’s Disease; Placebo Controls (00:21:36) Hormone Release & Placebo Effect, Paired Associations (00:28:52) Conditioning Effect & Insulin; Pavlovian Response (00:32:50) Sponsor: AG1 (00:34:17) Context & Expectations; Placebo Effect & Brain (00:40:51) Cancer, Mind-Body Practices; Placebo Effects & Limits (00:44:54) Asthma, Specificity & Placebo Effects (00:48:01) Sponsor: InsideTracker (00:49:03) Nicotine & Dose-Dependent Placebo Effects (00:55:31) Placebo Effects vs. Belief Effects, Food & Mindset (01:01:02) Exercise & Belief Effects (01:04:08) Placebo Effect, Brain & Stress Response (01:11:18) Individual Variation, Genetics & Placebo Effect (01:16:11) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Mars 20241h 13min

Welcome to a special edition of the 16th Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode, part of Huberman Lab Premium, recorded in Sydney, Australia. This episode is a recording of a live stream AMA, originally exclusive to our Premium members. We've decided to make the full-length version available to everyone, including non-members of Huberman Lab Premium. Huberman Lab Premium was launched for two main reasons. First, it was launched in order to raise support for the main Huberman Lab podcast — 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. If you're not yet a member but enjoyed this full-length livestream AMA, we invite you to join Huberman Lab Premium. By subscribing, you'll gain access to exclusive benefits including our regular monthly full-length AMA episodes, AMA transcripts, podcast episode transcripts, early access to live events and more. Additionally, a significant portion of your membership proceeds contributes to advancing human scientific research. You can learn more about the research we were able to support in our Annual Letter 2023. If you're a Huberman Lab Premium member, you can access the transcript for this AMA episode here. Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:34) Achieving Key Health Pillars While Traveling (00:07:11) Improving Sleep Quality (00:13:11) Understanding and Managing Vertigo (00:20:44) Enhancing Brain Function Post-TBI (00:26:58) Getting Closer to Unraveling OCD (00:30:44) Adjusting Circadian Rhythms for Travel (00:34:58) Optimal Dosage for Fish Oil Supplements (00:40:17) Monitoring Hormone Levels (00:46:09) Optimizing the Gut-Brain Axis (00:52:04) Best Practices for Tongue Cleaning (00:56:36) Conclusion & Thank You Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

29 Feb 202456min

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Becky Kennedy, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and founder of Good Inside, an education platform for parents and parents-to-be. We discuss actionable protocols for raising resilient, emotionally healthy kids and effective alternatives to typical forms of reward and punishment that instead teach children valuable skills and strengthen the parent-child bond. These protocols also apply to other types of relationships: professional, romantic, friendships, siblings, etc.  We explain how to respond to emotional outbursts, rudeness, and entitlement, repair fractured relationships, build self-confidence, and improve interpersonal connections with empathy while maintaining healthy boundaries.  We also discuss how to effectively communicate with children and adults with ADHD, anxiety, learning challenges, or with “deeply feeling” individuals.  The conversation is broadly applicable to all types of social interactions and bonds. By the end of the episode, you will have learned simple yet powerful tools to build healthy relationships with kids, teens, adults, and oneself. For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Becky Kennedy (00:02:44) Sponsors: Mateína, Joovv & AeroPress (00:07:35) Healthy Relationships: Sturdiness, Boundaries & Empathy (00:14:34) Tool: Establishing Boundaries (00:18:24) Rules, Boundaries & Connection (00:22:19) Rewards & Punishments; Skill Building (00:29:48) Sponsor: AG1 (00:31:16) Kids & Inherent Good (00:34:06) Family Jobs, Validation & Confidence, Giving Hope (00:41:54) Rewards, Pride (00:44:48) Tool: “I Believe You”, Confidence & Safety; Other Relationships (00:52:15) Trauma, Aloneness & Repair (00:57:07) Tool: Repair & Apologies, Rejecting Apology (01:01:04) Tool: Good Apologies (01:03:35) Sponsor: InsideTracker (01:04:37) Tool: Rudeness & Disrespect, Most Generous Interpretation (01:12:32) Walking on Eggshells, Pilot Analogy & Emotional Outbursts, Sturdy Leadership (01:20:49) Deeply Feeling Kids; Fears, Sensory Overload (01:30:10) Co-Parenting Differences & Punishment (01:37:11) Tool: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); Meditation (01:41:20) Tool: Tolerating Frustration, Screen Time, Learning (01:51:57) Grace & Parenthood, Parenting Job Description; Relationship to Self (01:55:24) Tool: “I’m Noticing”, Asking Questions; Emotional Regulation (02:01:15) Adolescence & Critical Needs, Explorers vs. Nomads (02:09:58) Saying “I Love You”, Teenagers; Family Meetings (02:15:07) Self-Care, Rage & Boundaries; Sturdy Leaders; Parent Relationship & Conflict (02:22:08) Tool: Wayward Teens, Marijuana & Substance Use, Getting Additional Help (02:30:03) Mentors (02:34:26) Tool: Entitlement, Fear & Frustration (02:41:57) Tool: Experiencing Frustration; Chores & Allowance (02:46:31) Good Inside Platform (02:51:27) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 Feb 20242h 49min

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Mark D'Esposito, M.D., a neurologist and professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. We discuss the brain mechanisms underlying cognition and the forms of memory required for focus, productivity, planning and achieving goals, and learning. We discuss neurochemicals such as dopamine and acetylcholine and how they can be leveraged to improve cognitive functioning. We also discuss concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease, and ways to restore or slow cognitive decline by using pharmacologic, lifestyle and behavioral protocols. This episode provides a modern understanding of cognition and memory and actionable tools to optimize brain health and function. For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Mark D’Esposito (00:02:08) Sponsors: Maui Nui, Joovv & Eight Sleep (00:06:23) Brain & Frontal Lobes, Prefrontal Cortex, Executive Function (00:10:31) Frontal Lobe Development, Children (00:14:12) Rules, Context & Impulse Control; Learning & Goals (00:21:45) Focus, Improving Executive Function (00:26:04) Connections & Top-Down Signals (00:29:02) Sponsor: AG1 (00:30:29) Frontal Lobe Injury; Emotional Regulation (00:37:26) Smartphones, Social Media (00:44:37) Working Memory, Dopamine (00:52:59) Sponsor: LMNT (00:54:22) Dopamine Levels & Working Memory, Cognitive Tasks, Genetics (01:00:03) Bromocriptine & Working Memory, Dopamine (01:06:21) Guanfacine, Neurotransmitter Levels, Pupil Dilation & Biomarker Tests (01:12:46) Bromocriptine, Olympics; Pharmacology & Cognitive Function, Adderall (01:19:27) Concussion, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) (01:25:22) Sleep, TBI, Concussion & Executive Function; BrainHQ (01:31:57) Aging & Frontal Executive System; Brain Health (01:39:26) Tools: Brain Health & Boosting Executive Function, Books (01:47:26) Alzheimer’s Disease, Genetics, Pharmacology (01:51:48) Parkinson’s Disease, L-Dopa; Coping with Alzheimer’s; Nicotine (01:58:37) Estrogen & Dopamine, Cognition; Tool: Physical Exercise (02:04:43) Tool: Mindfulness Meditation & Executive Function (02:10:31) Brain Networks; Modularity (02:17:08) Modularity, Brain Indices (02:22:53) Psilocybin; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (02:30:16) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

19 Feb 20242h 28min

In this episode, I discuss the importance of oral health for dental and microbiome health and general physical and mental well-being. I explain science-supported protocols for strengthening your teeth and gums, including how to remineralize your teeth. I cover the best approaches and timing for brushing and flossing, tongue, gum, and oral microbiome care and how oral health is critically important to offset metabolic, cardiac, and brain diseases, including dementia. I also discuss proper nutrition for oral health, fluoride, and how sugar and mouth breathing can accelerate tooth decay. This episode ought to be of interest to everyone seeking to improve their physical health, mental health, and lifespan, given the critical role that oral health plays in all of these. Read the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Timestamps 00:00:00 Oral Health   00:03:44 Sponsor: LMNT   00:07:13 Oral Health Quiz   00:13:53 Teeth Biology, Cavity Repair   00:20:01 Mouth, Gums, Saliva   00:23:54 Sponsor: AG1   00:28:51 Cavity Formation, Bacteria, Sugar, Acidity   00:35:10 Teeth Remineralization, Fluoride, Water   00:43:58 Tools: The “Do Nots” of Oral Health, Mouth Breathing   00:54:48 Tools: Fasting & Teeth Remineralization; Nighttime Toothbrushing   01:03:23 Proper Teeth Brushing; Tooth Sensitivity & Gums   01:08:16 Bacteria, Plaque & Tartar; Tooth Polishing   01:11:02 Proper Flossing Technique, Waterpik; Children & Flossing   01:14:23 Tool: Xylitol, Bacteria & Cavity Prevention   01:19:43 Toothpastes: Xylitol, Fluoride, Hydroxyapatite   01:22:38 Mouthwash & Alcohol, Antiseptic Mouthwash   01:26:29 Tools: Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide?, Salt Water Rinse   01:32:36 Alcohol-Based Mouthwash, Nitric Oxide   01:34:52 Tools: Canker Sore Prevention & Gut Microbiome; Sleep   01:37:47 Tools: Tongue Brushing; Toothbrush Care   01:41:38 Teeth Sealants; Metal Fillings, Mercury, Mastic Gum; Root Canals   01:48:43 Dentist Visits, Daily Routines & Oral Health   01:54:17 Practices for Oral Health, Oil Pulling   01:58:21 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter   Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

12 Feb 20241h 56min

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Kay Tye, Ph.D., Professor of Systems Neurobiology at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator. We discuss the neural circuit basis of social interactions and loneliness. We also discuss how animals and people establish themselves in a group hierarchy by rank and how the brain responds to dominance and subordination. Much of our discussion relates to how social media impacts our sense of social connectedness or lack thereof. The topics covered in this episode are directly relevant to anyone interested in the neuroscience of mental health, work-life balance, abundance versus scarcity mindset, and interpersonal dynamics. Read the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Timestamps 00:00:00 Dr. Kay Tye   00:02:56 Sponsors: LMNT   00:06:40 Amygdala; “Valence”   00:12:43 Novelty; Reward & Punishment Response   00:20:06 Amygdala & Hunger; Social Interaction   00:26:21 Social Media & Social Connection; Tool: Email & Time Management   00:31:21 Sponsor: AG1   00:36:30 Social Media; Friction & Feedback, Leadership   00:43:44 Social Isolation, Harlow Experiments, “Loneliness Neurons”   00:51:47 Social Homeostasis, COVID-19 Pandemic & Loneliness   01:01:29 Quality of Social Contact, Social Homeostasis, Social Media   01:09:42 Social Media, Relationships; Social Isolation & Exclusion   01:18:26 Empathy: Friend vs. Foe   01:28:40 Background & Empathy, Diversity, Emotional Regulation   01:34:34 Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset   01:37:22 Social Rank & Hierarchy, Sibling Order, Development   01:45:54 Dynamic Hierarchy; Dominants vs. Subordinates; Mentors   01:55:32 Psychedelics: Research & Mechanisms; Psilocybin   02:06:28 Work-Life Balance, Fitness & Extracurriculars   02:11:56 Personal Life, Diversity, Happiness; Typical Day   02:15:42 Science & Academia; Future Directions   02:23:48 Research & Science Outreach   02:28:48 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 Feb 20242h 26min

Welcome to a preview of the 15th Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode, part of Huberman Lab Premium. Huberman Lab Premium was launched for two main reasons. First, it was launched in order to raise support for the main Huberman Lab podcast — 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. Read our Annual Letter 2023. If you're an existing Premium member, you can login to access the full episode. If you're not a member, you can join Huberman Lab Premium to enjoy exclusive content, including monthly Ask Me Anything (AMA) episodes, AMA transcripts, podcast episode transcripts, early access to live events and help advance human scientific research. Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:46) Why Is Fluoride in Water and Is It Harmful? (00:26:44) Huberman Lab Premium In the full AMA episode, we discuss: What Are the Effects of the Vagus Nerve on Calming the Body and the Brain? Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1 Feb 202429min