Essentials: Optimize Your Learning & Creativity With Science-Based Tools

My guest is Dr. Christof Koch, PhD, a pioneering researcher on the topic of consciousness, an investigator at the Allen Institute for Brain Science and the chief scientist at the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation. We discuss the neuroscience of consciousness—how it arises in our brain, how it shapes our identity and how we can modify and expand it. Dr. Koch explains how we all experience life through a unique “perception box,” which holds our beliefs, our memories and thus our biases about reality. We discuss how human consciousness is changed by meditation, non-sleep deep rest, psychedelics, dreams and virtual reality. We also discuss neuroplasticity (rewiring the brain), flow states and the ever-changing but also persistent aspect of the “collective consciousness” of humanity. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AGZ by AG1: https://drinkagz.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Our Place: https://fromourplace.com/huberman Helix: https://helixsleep.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Timestamps (0:00) Christof Koch (2:31) Consciousness; Self, Flow States (8:02) NSDR, Yoga Nidra, Liminal States; State of Being, Intelligence vs Consciousness (13:14) Sponsors: BetterHelp & Our Place (15:53) Self, Derealization, Psychedelics; Selflessness & Flow States (19:53) Transformative Experience, VR, Racism & Self; Perception Box, Bayesian Model (28:29) Oliver Sacks, Empathy & Animals (34:01) Changing Outlook on Life, Tool: Belief & Agency (37:48) Sponsors: AGZ by AG1 & Helix Sleep (40:23) Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) & Higher Power (42:09) Neurobiology of Consciousness; Accidents, Covert Consciousness (51:09) Non-Responsive State; Disability Bias, Will to Live, Resilience (55:34) Will to Live, Akinetic Mutism, Neural Correlates of Consciousness (57:43) Conflicting Perception Boxes, Meta Prior, Religion, AI (1:06:47) AI, Violence, Swapping Perception Boxes, Video (1:12:19) 5-MeO-DMT, Psychedelics, Light, Consciousness & Awe; Loss of Self (1:20:54) Death, Mystical Experience, Ocean Analogy; Physicalism & Observer (1:27:57) Sponsor: LMNT (1:29:29) Meditation, Tool: Spacetime Bridging; Ball-bearing Analogy; Digital Twin (1:36:16) Mental Health Decline, Social Media, Pandemic, Family & Play, Tool: Body-Awareness Exercises (1:41:34) Dog Breeds; Movement, Cognitive Flexibility & Longevity (1:47:17) Cynicism, Ketamine, Tool: Belief Effect; Heroes & Finding Flaws (1:52:46) Cynicism vs Curiosity, Compassion; Deaths of Despair, Mental Health Crisis (1:57:26) Jennifer Aniston, Recognition & Neurons; Grandmother Hypothesis (2:03:20) Book Recommendation; Meaning of Life (2:09:10) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I discuss science-supported nutrients that directly support brain structure, function and long-term cognitive health. I highlight specific nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, creatine, phosphatidylserine, anthocyanins, choline and glutamine, and discuss their recommended doses and dietary sources. I also describe how taste perception, gut-brain signaling and learned associations shape what foods we prefer and crave. Finally, I share practical behavioral tools to help rewire your food preferences toward healthier choices. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AGZ by AG1: https://drinkagz.com/huberman David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Food & Brain Health 00:01:32 Structural Fat & Neurons, Tools: Omega-3s, EPA; Phosphatidylserine 00:05:11 Acetylcholine & Focus, Tool: Dietary Choline 00:06:48 Creatine & Brain Health, Tool: Creatine Supplementation 00:08:26 Sponsor: David 00:09:41 Anthocyanins & Brain Function, Tool: Blueberries & Berries 00:10:52 Glutamine & Brain, Tool: Glutamine & Offset Sugar Cravings 00:12:48 Brain-Boosting Nutrients, Foods & Supplements 00:15:03 Food Preference; Yum, Yuck or Meh; Mouth, Taste & Palatability 00:19:30 Gut, Nutrients & Subconscious Signaling 00:21:56 Learned Food Preferences 00:23:36 Sponsors: AGZ by AG1 & LMNT 00:26:16 Food & Learned Associations, Tool: Unpair Artificial Sweeteners 00:30:18 Belief Effects, Satiety, Tool: Rewiring Food Preferences 00:35:48 Recap & Key Takeaways Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest is Michael Snyder, PhD, professor of genetics at Stanford and an expert in understanding why people respond differently to various foods, supplements, behavioral and prescription interventions. We discuss how to optimize your health and lifespan according to what type of glucose responder you are, which genes you express, your lifestyle and other factors. Dr. Snyder also explains the key ages when you need to be particularly mindful about following certain health practices. We also discuss how people respond in opposite ways to different fiber types. This episode ought to be of interest and use to anyone seeking to understand their unique biological needs and how to go about meeting those needs. Sponsors AGZ by AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Wealthfront*: https://wealthfront.com/huberman David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman *This experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients of Wealthfront, and there is no guarantee that all clients will have similar experiences. Cash Account is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) on cash deposits as of December 27,‬ 2024, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to partner banks where they earn the variable‭ APY. Promo terms and FDIC coverage conditions apply. Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer. Timestamps 00:00 Michael Snyder 03:33 Healthy Glucose Range, Continuous Glucose Monitors CGM, Hemoglobin A1c 09:02 Individual Variability & Food Choice, Glucose Spikes & Sleepiness 12:18 Sponsors: AGZ by AG1 & Wealthfront 15:16 Glucose Spikes, Tools: Post-Meal Brisk Walk; Soleus “Push-Ups”; Exercise Snacks 21:06 Glucose Dysregulation, Diabetes & Sub-Phenotypes, Tool: Larger Morning Meal 28:34 Exercise Timing, Muscle Insulin Resistance 30:49 Diabetes Subtyping, Weight, Glucose Control; Incretins 35:41 GLP-1 Agonists, Diabetes, Tool: Muscle Maintenance & Resistance Training 38:40 Metformin, Berberine, Headaches 41:01 GLP-1 Agonists, Cognition, Longevity, Tool: Habits Support Medication; Cycling 47:41 Subcutaneous vs Visceral Fat, Organ Stress 49:10 Sponsors: David & Eight Sleep 51:58 Meal Timing & Sleep, Tools: Post-Dinner Walk, Routines, Bedtime Consistency 57:16 Microbiome, Immune System & Gut; Diet & Individual Variability 1:02:52 Fiber Types, Cholesterol & Glucose, Polyphenols 1:09:50 Food As Medicine; Fiber, Microbiome & Individual Variability; Probiotics 1:18:48 Sponsor: Function 1:20:35 Profiling Healthy Individuals, Genomes, Wearables 1:26:31 Whole-Body MRIs, Nodules, Healthy Baseline, Early Diagnosis 1:34:07 Sensors, CGM, Sleep, Heart Rate Variability HRV, Tools: Mindset Effects, Increase REM 1:39:30 HRV, Sleep, Exercise, Tool: Long Exhales; Next-Day Excitement & Sleep 1:42:48 Organ Aging, “Ageotypes”; Biological Age vs Chronological Age 1:49:41 Longevity, Health Span, Genetics, Blue Zones 1:52:19 Epigenetics, Viral Infection & Disease 1:58:54 ALS, Heritability; Neuroprotection, Nicotine 2:03:47 Air Quality, Allergies, DEET & Pesticides, Inflammation, Mold; Microplastics 2:15:02 Single-Drop Blood Test & Biomarkers, Wearables, Observational Trials 2:20:33 Acupuncture, Blood Pressure 2:26:40 Immersive Events & Mental Health Benefits 2:34:59 Data, Nutrition & Lifestyle; Siloed Health Care vs Personalized Medicine 2:43:06 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Dr. Alia Crum, PhD, professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Mind & Body Lab. Dr. Crum explains that our mindsets—for example, what we believe about stress, exercise and the food we eat—shape how we feel, behave and even how our bodies respond. We discuss studies showing simply believing a food is indulgent can shift satiety hormones and that viewing your daily activity as real exercise can improve weight loss and health markers. We also discuss how to reframe stress so it becomes a tool for growth and improved performance. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Carbon: https://joincarbon.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00) Alia Crum (00:20) Mindset, Core Beliefs; Examples of Mindset (04:56) Mindset Shapes Body's Response, Placebo Effects, Tool: Mindset for Weight Loss (10:18) Sponsor: Function (11:58) Different Diets & Mindset (13:32) Nocebo Effect (14:26) Exercise Mindsets, Weight Loss & Health Benefits (17:11) Stress, Tool: Stress is Enhancing Mindset, Mental & Physical Benefits (24:24) Mindset, Stress, Motivation & Physiology (26:18) Sponsors: AG1 & Carbon (29:21) Stress, Mindset & Hormones (30:53) Mindsets as Portals to Unconscious, Tool: Stress Mindset Awareness (32:28) Leverage Stress, Tool: Adopt a Stress is Enhancing Mindset (35:31) Mindsets Matter, Athletics (37:19) Resources, Toolkits & Acknowledgements Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest is Alex Honnold, a professional rock climber considered by many to be one of the greatest athletes of all time for his historic free solo (no ropes or man-made holds) ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite. We discuss how to envision massive goals in any part of life and the process of breaking down those goals into actionable daily steps. Alex shares how embracing your uniqueness and mortality is the most powerful way to envision and live a fuller, more intentional life. We also discuss strength and endurance training, assessing risk and how Alex prepares mentally and physically for extreme challenges. We also discuss how to balance goal-seeking with family and work. Regardless of your goals, profession or age, this conversation will very likely reshape how you think about and approach your life, goals and potential. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Joovv: https://joovv.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Maui Nui: https://mauinuivenison.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00) Alex Honnold (02:17) Intrinsic & Extrinsic Motivation, Setting Big Goals (05:00) Preparing for Free Solo of El Capitan, Route Memorization & Conditions (10:09) Sponsors: Joovv & BetterHelp (12:35) Overthinking, Kinesthetic Flow; Climbing & Surprise (16:24) Aging & Climbing; Olympics & Broadening Climbing Culture; Parkour (23:04) Grip Strength, Aging, Climbing Technique, Yosemite National Park, Half Dome (29:00) Free Soloing & Rope Climbing, Safety & Risk; Aging & Death; Mentors (38:32) Sponsors: AG1 & Maui Nui (41:29) Climbing Lifestyle, Training, Career; Recovery (47:44) Technology, Smartphones & Distraction from Goals, Focus (51:09) Pursuing Ambitious Goals, Tool: Small Daily Challenges (55:56) Fear, Brain Scan & Public Speaking; Evaluating Risk (59:40) Doing What You Love, Life Crisis, Tool: Contemplating Death (1:03:49) Childhood, Passion & Choosing Career Path; University (1:11:46) Sponsor: Function (1:13:34) Outdoor Exploration, Yosemite, National Parks, Rucking, Trail Running (1:18:18) Girl Climber Film, Effort & Dedication (1:23:29) Strength Training, Pull-Ups, Muscle-Ups, Tool: Increase Sets & Reduce Soreness (1:31:59) Endurance & Strength Training Schedule; Posture; Running (1:38:52) Body Balance, Leanness; Muscle Cramps; Multi-Day Climbs (1:42:31) Awe in Nature, Spiritual Experiences; How Geckos Climb; Cliff-Dwelling Wildlife (1:46:46) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices