Huberman Lab

Essentials: The Science of Learning & Speaking Languages | Dr. Eddie Chang

In this Huberman Lab Essentials [/essentials] episode, my guest is Dr. Eddie Chang, MD, a neurosurgeon and Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). We discuss the neural circuits underlying speech and language, including how the brain controls the larynx, vocal folds and articulators to shape breath into words. We also explore his pioneering work on speech neural prosthetics — brain-machine interfaces that allow paralyzed patients to communicate by decoding neural activity into speech and avatar-driven facial expressions. Additionally, we examine the neurobiology of stuttering, the role of auditory feedback in fluent speech, and the broader ethical questions surrounding brain augmentation technologies. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com [https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/essentials-the-science-of-learning-and-speaking-languages-eddie-chang]. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman [https://drinkag1.com/huberman] BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman [https://betterhelp.com/huberman] Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman [https://functionhealth.com/huberman] Timestamps (00:00:00) Speech & Language (00:00:23) Speech vs Language, Pragmatics, Semantics & Syntax (00:03:11) Larynx, Vocal Folds & Shaping the Breath (00:05:35) Crying & Laughter, Vocalizations vs Speech (00:06:37) Sponsor: Function (00:08:52) Paralysis, Brainstem Stroke, ALS & Locked-In Syndrome (00:10:52) BRAVO Trial, Pancho & First Patient (00:12:31) Brain Surgery, Electrode Array & Decoding Speech (00:14:34) AI, 50-Word Vocabulary & Autocorrect (00:16:06) Sponsor: BetterHelp (00:17:30) Neuralink, Brain-Machine Interfaces & Augmentation Ethics (00:22:21) Avatars, Facial Expressions & Non-Verbal Communication (00:25:48) Sponsor: AG1 (00:27:12) Stuttering, Anxiety & Speech vs Language (00:30:18) Tool: Stuttering Therapy & Auditory Feedback (00:31:50) Recap & Acknowledgments Disclaimer & Disclosures [https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

How to Overcome Social Anxiety | Dr. Nick Epley

Dr. Nick Epley, PhD, is a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago and a leading expert on the science of social connection. We discuss how seemingly small daily interactions with strangers (as well as with people we know) can meaningfully improve our mental and physical health. Dr. Epley also explains how to reduce social anxiety using simple and easily accessible science-supported tools. We also discuss the data on assumptions — both the ones we and others make — and why so often those are wrong when it comes to social dynamics. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com [https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/how-to-overcome-social-anxiety-nick-epley]. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman [https://drinkag1.com/huberman] Wealthfront*: https://wealthfront.com/huberman [https://wealthfront.com/huberman] Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman [https://eightsleep.com/huberman] Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman [https://functionhealth.com/huberman] LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman [https://drinklmnt.com/huberman] Timestamps (00:00:00) Nick Epley (00:02:29) Assumptions about Other Thoughts; Inferring Behavior (00:09:03) Eye Gaze, Social Cues (00:14:27) Sponsors: Wealthfront & Eight Sleep (00:17:18) Tone, Voice vs Writing; AI; Public Figures & Ambiguity (00:29:59) Importance of Social Connection, Communication Types (00:37:18) Social Isolation, Self-Worth (00:42:33) Sponsor: AG1 (00:44:16) Social Media, Conversation & Responsiveness (00:47:52) Social Connection & Cooperation; Adopted Children (00:57:04) Connecting with Strangers, Manners (01:02:52) Fear of Strangers, Tool: Small Moments for Connection (01:08:50) Sponsor: Function (01:10:28) Connection to Humanity, Strangers; Extroversion & Well-Being (01:22:26) Social Anxiety & Changing Beliefs; 100 Days of Rejection (01:33:52) Perceived Creepiness, Social Anxiety; Developing Social Skills (01:41:40) Sponsor: LMNT (01:43:00) Initiating Conversation, Testing Cues, Pessimistic Expectations (01:47:00) Social Gatherings; Blessings of Children with Down Syndrome (01:59:43) Parents, Shame, Children Challenges; Supporting Kids' Pursuits (02:09:17) Outdoors, Hunters, Conservation, Social Connection (02:17:39) Modeling Social Interactions for Kids, Tool: Habits Awareness (02:27:42) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures [https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Essentials: Understanding & Controlling Aggression

In this Huberman Lab Essentials [https://www.hubermanlab.com/essentials] episode, I explain the neural circuits that activate and control aggressive states and behaviors. I discuss how hormones, genes and environmental factors such as day length can shift our aggressive tendencies. I also share science-based tools for modulating aggression, including sunlight exposure, heat therapy and supplementation with ashwagandha or acetyl-L-carnitine. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com [https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/essentials-understanding-and-controlling-aggression]. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman [https://drinkag1.com/huberman] LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman [https://drinklmnt.com/huberman] Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman [https://eightsleep.com/huberman] Timestamps (00:00:00) Aggression, Types of Aggression (00:01:43) Context, Aggression vs Sadness (00:03:11) Hydraulic Pressure Model of Aggression (00:06:40) Sponsor: LMNT (00:08:12) Brain Areas for Aggression, Ventromedial Hypothalamus (00:15:26) Biting, Neural Circuits of Physical Aggression (00:17:52) Sponsor: Eight Sleep (00:19:09) Estrogen & Aggression, Testosterone & Competitiveness (00:22:37) Seasonality, Sunlight, Melatonin & Aggression (00:24:50) Cortisol, Serotonin & Aggression (00:26:35) Tool: Reduce Cortisol with Sunlight & Sauna; Ashwagandha (00:30:39) Sponsor: AG1 (00:31:58) Irritability, Aggression & Genetics; Seasonality (00:34:49) Tool: ADHD, Acetyl-L Carnitine & Aggressive Behavior Disclaimer & Disclosures [https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Master Self Control & Overcome Procrastination | Dr. Kentaro Fujita

Dr. Kentaro Fujita, PhD, is a professor of psychology at The Ohio State University and an expert in the science of self-control and motivation. We discuss the best tools for developing strong self-control: to do more of what you aspire to and cease doing things you would like to avoid. We discuss why you need more than one form of willpower to achieve sustained motivation and overcome procrastination. Dr. Fujita also clarifies the data on the 2-marshmallow test, delayed gratification and intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation. Read the show notes at hubermanlab.com [https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/master-self-control-overcome-procrastination-kentaro-fujita]. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman [https://drinkag1.com/huberman] David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman [https://davidprotein.com/huberman] Lingo: https://hellolingo.com/huberman [https://hellolingo.com/huberman] LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman [https://drinklmnt.com/huberman] Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman [https://functionhealth.com/huberman] Timestamps (00:00:00) Kentaro Fujita (00:03:08) Marshmallow Tests, Self-Control; Adult Modeling (00:08:24) Criticism of Marshmallow Tests, Learning Self-Control (00:15:08) Sponsors: David & Lingo (00:17:34) Movement & Motivation (00:21:42) Doing Hard Things; Exhaustion & Depletion Effect (00:29:02) Willpower vs Self-Control, Improving Self-Control (00:34:27) Aspiration or Fear for Motivation, Long- vs Short-Term Outcomes (00:40:55) Self-Control Toolkit, Tool: Failure & Exploration (00:46:44) Sponsor: AG1 (00:48:28) Motivation Warm-Up?, Tools: Mindset; Motivation Orientation (00:57:30) Imperfect Conditions, Self-Control Conflicts, Tool: Why vs How (01:05:25) Tool: "Whys" & Motivation Goals (01:11:26) Competition, Tool: Motivation Types (01:17:13) Sponsor: LMNT (01:18:33) Abstinence vs Moderation, Consistency vs Rigidity (01:27:48) Burnout; "Invisible" Goals, Single Goal & Trade-Offs (01:35:17) Intrinsic Motivation for Sustained Goals (01:40:16) Sponsor: Function (01:41:53) Meaning in Simple Tasks, Ikigai (01:49:03) Self-Control Failure, Tools: Distancing, 3rd Person & Heros (01:55:04) Words as Motivation, Visualization, Social Validation (02:03:51) Music, Anchors, Nostalgia (02:06:46) Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation, Job & Salary (02:14:11) Mindfulness & Taking Breaks, Wabi-Sabi & Imperfection, Ikigai (02:20:56) Future Directions (02:25:19) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures [https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Essentials: Compulsive Behaviors & Deep Brain Stimulation | Dr. Casey Halpern

In this Huberman Lab Essentials [/essentials] episode, my guest is Dr. Casey Halpern, MD, a professor of neurosurgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. We discuss how deep brain stimulation and other neuromodulation approaches are being used to treat Parkinson's disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), binge eating disorder and depression-related symptoms. We also explore the brain circuits that drive compulsions, cravings and impulsivity, as well as emerging non-invasive tools for predicting and treating harmful behaviors. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com [https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/essentials-compulsive-behaviors-deep-brain-stimulation-casey-halpern]. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman [https://drinkag1.com/huberman] Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman [https://functionhealth.com/huberman] Rorra: https://rorra.com.huberman [https://rorra.com.huberman] Timestamps (00:00:00) Casey Halpern (00:00:20) Neurosurgery, Deep Brain Stimulation (00:04:19) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) & Treatments (00:10:11) Sponsor: Function (00:11:49) OCD Brain Areas, Addiction (00:14:12) Nucleus Accumbens, Risk & Rewards; Binge Eating Disorder (00:18:28) Sponsor: AG1 (00:19:46) Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (00:27:31) Sponsor: Rorra (00:28:46) Awareness of Cravings, Severe Binge Eating Disorder (00:32:51) Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning & Predicting Impulsive Behavior (00:36:57) Acknowledgements Disclaimer & Disclosures [https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]