In this episode, I discuss what psilocybin is (chemically) and how it works at the cellular and neural circuit level to trigger neuroplasticity, which is our brain’s ability to rewire itself in ways that lead to long-lasting shifts in our emotional, cognitive and behavioral patterns and abilities. I discuss the emerging clinical trial evidence for the use of psilocybin in the treatment of depression, addictions and other psychiatric challenges. I explain the typical duration and phases of a psilocybin journey, the different categories of dosages often used and I explain the importance of set, setting and support when using psychedelics. I explain which groups of people place themselves at great risk by taking psilocybin as well as groups that could benefit, and I highlight the rapidly changing legal and medical landscape around psilocybin. This episode is a thorough exploration of psilocybin from the scientific and clinical literature perspective and ought to be of interest to anyone curious about psilocybin, mental health, neuroplasticity and/or psychedelics more generally.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://www.wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Psilocybin, Legal Considerations

(00:08:48) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:12:00) Psilocybin Becomes Psilocin in the Gut, Serotonin

(00:17:00) The Serotonin 2A Receptor, Therapeutic Outcomes SSRIs vs. Psilocybin

(00:21:40) Serotonin Receptor Expression; Visual Hallucinations & Eyes Closed

(00:26:02) Sponsor: AG1

(00:27:21) Safety & Cautions for Specific Patient Populations

(00:30:28) Psilocybin, “Magic Mushrooms” Dosing, Micro-Dosing, “Heroic Doses”

(00:36:21) Psychedelic Journey: Set, Setting & Support

(00:43:43) Music & the Psilocybin Journey; Duration of Effects

(00:48:58) Psilocybin & the Brain: Subjective Experiences, Perception

(00:59:48) Brain Networks & Therapeutic Outcomes

(01:05:23) Creativity; Music, Emotionality & Psychedelic Journeys

(01:12:39) Depression & Psychedelics as Neuroplasticity “Wedge”

(01:16:53) Positive Psychedelic Journeys, Unity, “Oceanic Boundlessness”

(01:25:23) “Bad Trips”, Anxiety & Physiological Sighs

(01:32:57) Therapeutic Use of Psilocybin

(01:36:11) Neuroplasticity, Structural Brain Changes & Psilocybin

(01:48:08) Psychedelics: Therapeutic Breakthroughs & Depression

(01:56:37) Combining Psilocybin Therapy & Talk Therapy, Antidepressant Effects

(02:03:11) Psilocybin Experience & Mental Health

(2:06:42) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

In this episode, my guest is Noam Sobel, PhD, professor of neurobiology in the department of brain sciences at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Dr. Sobel explains his lab’s research on the biological mechanisms of smell (“olfaction”) and how sensing odorants and chemicals in our environment impacts human behavior, cognition, social connections, and hormones. He explains how smell is a crucial component of “social sensing” and how we use olfaction when meeting new people to determine things about their physiology and psychology, and he explains how this impacts friendships and romantic partners. He explains how smell influences emotions, hormone levels, memories and the relationship between breathing and autonomic homeostasis. He describes how smell-based screening tests can aid disease diagnosis and explains his lab’s work on digitization of smell — which may soon allow online communication to include “sending of odors” via the internet. Dr. Sobel’s work illustrates how sensitive human olfaction is and how it drives much of our biology and behavior.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://www.wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Dr. Noam Sobel

(00:04:03) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:06:46) Olfaction Circuits (Smell)

(00:14:49) Loss & Regeneration of Smell, Illness

(00:21:39) Brain Processing of Smell

(00:24:40) Smell & Memories

(00:25:11) Sponsor: AG1

(00:29:07) Humans & Odor Tracking

(00:39:25) The Alternating Nasal Cycle & Autonomic Nervous System

(00:48:18) Cognitive Processing & Breathing

(00:54:47) Neurodegenerative Diseases & Olfaction

(01:00:12) Congenital Anosmia

(01:06:19) Handshaking, Sharing Chemicals & Social Sensing

(01:15:07) Smelling Ourselves & Smelling Others

(01:22:02) Odors & Romantic Attraction

(01:24:58) Vomeronasal Organ, “Bruce Effect” & Miscarriage

(01:40:20) Social Chemo-Signals, Fear

(01:50:26) Chemo-Signaling, Aggression & Offspring

(02:03:57) Menstrual Cycle Synchronization

(02:12:11) Sweat, Tears, Emotions & Testosterone

(02:27:46) Science Politics

(02:37:54) Food Odors & Nutritional Value

(02:45:34) Human Perception & Odorant Similarity

(02:52:12) Digitizing Smell, COVID-19 & Smell

(03:05:50) Medical Diagnostic Future & Olfaction Digitization

(03:10:55) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

In this episode, I explore the science of mental visualization and its application for learning motor and cognitive skills. I discuss neuroplasticity-based skill development and the roles of focus, sleep, movement restriction, and agitation. I then present five key principles of mental visualization to enhance learning speed, accuracy, and consistency. I also provide examples of specific protocols, including repetitions, rest periods, and session frequency, and how to adapt these methods for injuries or breaks from traditional training. Throughout, I reference the scientific studies supporting these concepts. This episode should allow anyone to learn or teach more effectively through the use of mental visualization and training.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://www.wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Mental Training & Visualization

(00:05:01) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:08:04) Developmental vs. Adult Neuroplasticity

(00:11:42) Learning New Skills: Focus & Sleep

(00:14:49) Long-Term Potentiation (LTP), Long-Term Depression (LTD) & New Skills

(00:23:42) Principle #1: Very Brief, Simple, Repeated Visualization

(00:26:35) Sponsor: AG1

(00:30:51) Principle #2: Mental Training Cannot Replace Real Training

(00:37:36) Principle #3: Combining Real & Mental Training

(00:43:17) Principle #4: Assigning Real-World Labels to Visualizations

(00:50:37) Principle #5: Mental Imagery Equivalence to Real-World Perception

(00:55:28) Tools: Effective Mental Training: Epochs, Repetitions, Sets & Frequency

(01:05:00) Adding Mental Training; Injury, Travel or Layoffs

(01:11:09) Timing of Mental Training & Sleep

(01:15:17) Role of Gender & Age on Mental Training

(01:17:10) First-Person vs. Third-Person Visualization; Eyes Open vs. Closed

(01:23:53) Physical Skills, Motor Cortex & Cerebellum

(01:31:15) “Go” & “No-Go” Pathways

(01:34:19) Stop-Signal Task, Withholding Action

(01:44:19) Aphantasia, Synesthesia; Social Cognition

(01:52:58) Mental Training Practice & Benefits

(01:57:36) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

In this episode, my guest is Matthew MacDougall, MD, the head neurosurgeon at Neuralink. Dr. MacDougall trained at the University of California, San Diego and Stanford University School of Medicine and is a world expert in brain stimulation, repair and augmentation. He explains Neuralink’s mission and projects to develop and use neural implant technologies and robotics to 1) restore normal movement to paralyzed patients and those with neurodegeneration-based movement disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s, Huntington’s Disease) and to repair malfunctions of deep brain circuitry (e.g., those involved in addiction). He also discusses Neuralink’s efforts to create novel brain-machine interfaces (BMI) that enhance human learning, cognition and communication as a means to accelerate human progress. Dr. MacDougall also explains other uses of bio-integrated machines in daily life; for instance, he implanted himself with a radio chip into his hand that allows him to open specific doors, collect and store data and communicate with machines and other objects in unique ways. Listeners will learn about brain health and function through the lens of neurosurgery, neurotechnology, clinical medicine and Neuralink’s bold and unique mission. Anyone interested in how the brain works and can be made to work better ought to derive value from this discussion.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://www.wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Dr. Matthew MacDougall

(00:04:22) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:07:38) Brain Function & Injury; Brain Tumor Treatment

(00:13:52) Frontal Lobe Filter; Sleep Deprivation

(00:19:00) Neuroplasticity, Pharmacology & Machines

(00:22:10) Neuralink, Neural Implants & Injury, Robotics & Surgery

(00:27:52) Sponsor: AG1

(00:32:20) Neocortex vs. Deep Brain

(00:36:45) Decoding Brain Signals

(00:42:08) “Confidence Test” & Electrical Stimulation; RFID Implants

(00:51:33) Bluetooth Headphones & Electromagnetic Fields; Heat

(00:57:43) Brain Augmentation & Paralysis

(01:02:09) Brain Implants & Peripheral Devices

(01:12:44) Brain Machine Interface (BMI), Neurofeedback; Video Games

(01:22:13) Improving Animal Experimentation, Pigs

(01:33:18) Skull & Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

(01:39:14) Brain Health, Alcohol

(01:43:34) Neuroplasticity, Brain Lesions & Redundancy

(01:47:32) Car Accidents & Driver Alertness

(01:50:00) Future Possibilities in Brain Augmentation & BMI; Neuralink

(01:58:56) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

In this episode, I explain the biology of hair, hair growth, why hair growth slows and what causes hair to stop growing and/or “fall out.” I discuss the essential role of hair stem cells and other supporting biological factors for healthy hair growth. Then I describe various approaches (mechanical and chemical) to slow hair loss by increasing blood flow to hair stem cells, including minoxidil, tadalafil, PRP, microneedling, Botox and ketoconazole treatments. I also discuss how age-related hormone changes cause hair loss and explain the effectiveness of treatments such as caffeine, saw palmetto, growth hormone, finasteride and dutasteride. For all hair growth options, I describe potential side effects, how soon to expect results and the amount of hair regrowth to expect and I highlight effective combination treatments for hair regrowth even in hair “dead” (bald) zones. For many listeners, thinning, brittle hair, or pattern baldness are a source of anxiety and stress. This episode explains the mechanisms underlying hair regrowth tools and the science behind them so that you can evaluate potential treatments and associated side-effect profiles and select the best one(s) for you.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://www.wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Hair

(00:04:29) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:08:04) Psychological States & Hair

(00:13:19) Hair Anatomy & Stem Cells

(00:26:05) 3 Phases of Hair Growth

(00:32:06) Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens)

(00:36:55) Minoxidil & Blood Flow

(00:45:37) Increase Blood Flow: Massage, Tadalafil, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), Microneedling

(00:56:10) Microneedling, Minoxidil & “Dead Zones”

(01:01:25) Botox Treatments

(01:06:27) Androgens, Hair Growth & Pattern Hair Loss; Scalp vs. Beard Hair

(01:15:46) Topical Caffeine & Slowing Hair Loss

(01:21:06) IGF-1: Growth Hormone & Sermorelin; Insulin Sensitivity: Myo-Inositol

(01:25:52) Iron & Hair Growth

(01:27:04) 5-Alpha Reductase & Saw Palmetto; Curcumin

(01:33:22) Ketoconazole & Offsetting Hair Loss

(01:38:46) Topical & Oral Finasteride

(01:51:00) Post- Finasteride Syndrome

(01:56:01) Dutasteride

(01:58:53) Mechanical & Chemical Stimulation for Hair Growth

(02:02:46) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

In this episode, my guest is Elissa Epel, Ph.D., professor and vice chair of the department of psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and the author of a new book entitled “The Stress Prescription.” We discuss her work showing how stress impacts mood, eating behavior, mental health, physical health, and aging. She explains stress intervention tools using “top-down” techniques (e.g., radical acceptance, mindfulness, reframing), body-based methods (e.g., breathwork) including the Wim Hof Method, exercise, meditation, body scans, and environmental shifts proven to help people cease unhealthy rumination patterns. We discuss how stress can positively impact psychology and sense of purpose, how stress affects cellular aging, how our narratives of stressful events impact our mood and biology, and how to effectively reframe stress. She explains science-based techniques to break stress-induced cycles of craving and overeating and thereby improve insulin sensitivity and metabolic health. Dr. Epel provides a wide range of tools shown to be effective in reducing stress and improving various aspects of our health.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://www.wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Dr. Elissa Epel

(00:02:33) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:06:18) Stress; Effects on Body & Mind

(00:12:50) Tools: Overthinking & Stress

(00:15:37) Acute, Moderate & Chronic Stress, Breathing

(00:21:23) Stress Benefits, Aging & Cognition; Stress Challenge Response

(00:27:23) Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens)

(00:32:19) Tool: Shifting Stress to Challenge Response, “Stress Shields”

(00:37:400 Stress, Overeating, Craving & Opioid System

(00:48:55) Tools: Breaking Overeating Cycles, Mindfulness

(00:54:44) Soda & Sugary Drinks

(01:00:51) Smoking, Processed Food & Rebellion

(01:06:47) Tools: Mindfulness, Pregnancy & Metabolic Health

(01:14:11) Body Scan & Cravings

(01:17:28) Tool: Meditation & Aging; Meditation Retreats

(01:23:35) Meditation, Psychedelics & Neuroplasticity

(01:26:02) Mitochondrial Health, Stress & Mood

(01:29:49) Chronic Stress & Radical Acceptance, “Brick Wall”

(01:37:57) Tool: Control, Uncertainty

(01:45:25) Stress Management, “Skillful Surfing”

(01:50:25) Narrative, Purpose & Stress

(01:52:49) Breathwork, Wim Hof Method, Positivity & Cellular Aging

(02:03:11) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

In this episode, my guest is Peter Attia, M.D. He completed his medical and advanced training at Stanford University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Attia is host of the health and medicine podcast, The Drive, and the author of a new book, “Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity,” which examines disease prevention and healthy aging, including emotional health. He explains the leading causes of death worldwide and how to measure one’s risk of death and mitigate each risk factor. Dr. Attia shares how, in addition to blood-based markers of lipids and hormones, there are behavioral measures and interventions, and key aspects of emotional health (i.e., relationships, emotional stability, purpose, etc.) that fundamentally impact our physical health and longevity, and how to assess and adjust our emotional health. This episode is rich with actionable information related to disease screening and biomarker testing, nutritional, exercise, behavior and prescription-based tools that area useful to all people regardless of age, male or female, and that can significantly improve vitality, health and lifespan.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman  

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Dr. Peter Attia

(00:03:39) Sponsor: LMNT

(00:07:34) Lifespan vs. Healthspan

(00:10:54) “4 Horseman of Death”, Diseases of Atherosclerosis

(00:14:44) Tool: Hypertension & Stroke, Blood Pressure Testing 

(00:23:14) Preventing Atherosclerosis, Smoking & Vaping, Pollution

(00:28:33) Sponsor: AG1

(00:33:29) Cholesterol, ApoB

(00:42:21) Cholesterol Levels, LDL & ApoB Testing

(00:49:29) ApoB Levels & Atherosclerosis, Causality

(01:01:06) ApoB Reduction, Insulin Resistance, Statins, Ezetimibe, PCSK9 Inhibitors

(01:12:30) Monitoring ApoB

(01:18:30) Reducing Blood Pressure, Exercise & Sleep

(01:20:50) High Blood Pressure & Kidneys

(01:23:11) Alcohol, Sleep & Disease Risk

(01:31:21) Cancer & Cancer Risks: Genetics, Smoking & Obesity

(01:39:47) Cancer Screening & Survival

(01:44:17) Radiation Risks, CT & PET Scans

(01:48:48) Environmental Carcinogens

(01:52:11) Genetic & Whole-Body MRI Screening, Colonoscopy

(01:58:47) Neurodegenerative Diseases, Alzheimer’s Disease, ApoE

(02:08:08) Alzheimer’s Disease & Amyloid

(02:13:58) Interventions for Brain Health, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

(02:21:26) Accidental Death, “Deaths of Despair”, Fentanyl Crisis

(02:31:20) Fall Risk & Stability, 4 Pillars of Strength Training

(02:41:05) Emotional Health

(02:53:45) Mortality & Preserving Relationship Quality

(03:02:20) Relationships vs. Outcomes, Deconstructing Emotions

(03:09:34) Treatment Centers, Emotional Processing & Recovery

(03:16:34) Tool: Inner Monologue & Anger, Redirecting Self-Talk

(03:27:37) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer