Essentials: Understanding & Conquering Depression

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Dr. Matthew Johnson, PhD, a senior researcher for the Center of Excellence for Psilocybin Research and Treatment at Sheppard Pratt’s Institute for Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics. We explore the science and therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine, including psilocybin, MDMA and LSD. We discuss how these substances can profoundly alter perception and self-identity, providing long-lasting relief from depression, addiction and trauma when used in controlled clinical settings. We also discuss microdosing and emerging research on psychedelics’ potential to support recovery from neurological injuries. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Matthew Johnson; Psychedelics 00:01:44 Different Classes of Psychedelics 00:04:33 Psychedelics & Altering Models 00:06:18 Sponsor: David 00:07:33 LSD, Psylocibin & Serotonin 00:09:55 Psychedelic Clinical Trials 00:13:40 Therapy, Trust, Psychedelics 00:16:47 Letting Go & Psychedelic Experience, Self-Representation, Lasting Changes 00:22:31 Sponsors: AG1 & BetterHelp 00:25:26 MDMA, Dopamine & Serotonin; Bad Trips & Transcendental Experience 00:28:49 Dangers of Psychedelics 00:31:11 Microdosing Psychedelics, Antidepressant 00:35:27 Head Injuries, Psychedelics, Depression 00:38:29 Acknowledgements Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest is Dr. Chris McCurdy, PhD, FAAPS, professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Florida and a world expert on the pharmacology of kratom and other plant-derived medicinal compounds. We discuss kratom’s wide-ranging effects, including its use for boosting energy, enhancing mood, managing pain and as a potential opioid substitute, while also explaining its critical safety concerns and addictive potential, especially for kratom-derived/isolate products. We also discuss plant-based compounds more generally for their potential benefits and risks. Dr. McCurdy offers a balanced perspective on kratom and other plant-based and naturally occurring medicinal compounds, highlighting and contrasting their promise for human health with potential serious risks. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman David Protein: https://davidprotein.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman ROKA: https://roka.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Chris McCurdy 00:02:51 Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), Origin, Effects, Low vs High Doses 00:07:19 Sponsors: David Protein & Eight Sleep 00:10:07 Kratom, Traditional Use vs Commercial Kratom Products, Absorption 00:17:00 Kratom Products, Serving Size, Kids; Semi-Synthetics; Tool: Understand Kratom Product Labels 00:23:16 Kratom Products & Various Desired Effects; Physical Dependence 00:32:53 Different Kratom Usage Patterns, Opioid Dependence 00:36:59 Alkaloid Compounds, Nitrogen, Nicotine; Animals & Self-Experimentation 00:47:47 Sponsors: AG1 & ROKA 00:51:05 Medicine Development, Disconnection from Nature, Product Concentrations 00:59:00 Alkaloids & Natural Products, Opium Poppy, Coca Leaf, Tool: Kratom Leaf vs Extracts (Kratom-Derived/Kratom Isolates) 01:09:06 Is It Safe for Kids to Consume Kratom Products? 01:12:19 Kratom, Energy, Mood & Pain Management, Dose; Caffeine 01:16:56 Respiratory Depression & Kratom Products 01:20:16 Sponsor: Function 01:22:04 Kratom Leaf vs Derivatives, FDA Regulations, Usage Guidelines 01:26:59 Kratom, Alcohol Consumption, Respiratory Failure? 01:29:09 Kratom Alkaloids, Mood & Stimulant Effects, Multiple Pathways for Pain Relief 01:38:17 Plant Alkaloids & Chemical Defense, Kratom & Antifungal Alkaloids; Geckos 01:44:35 White, Red & Brown Vein Kratom, Leaf Processing; Terpenes 01:51:08 Kratom as an Anti-Depressant?; Discontinuing Kratom Use, Opioid Use 01:58:03 Kratom, Drug Interactions & Seizure, Opioids 02:01:51 Cacao Beans, Chocolate 02:09:34 Coca-Cola, Coca Plant & Cocaine, History of Soft Drinks 02:19:49 Career Journey, Pharmacy, Chemistry & Education, Lobelia 02:28:44 Nicotine; Natural Products & Career Journey, Salvia divinorum, Kratom 02:40:22 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 both healthy eating and clinically recognized eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. I explain how brain circuits, hormones such as leptin and reward systems interact to regulate appetite, satiety and overall eating behaviors. I also discuss the serious health risks associated with anorexia, explain how disrupted eating habits contribute to its development and highlight evidence-based treatments for anorexia. Finally, I explore binge eating and bulimia, discussing the underlying causes and the pharmacological treatments commonly used to support recovery. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Eating Disorders 00:01:05 Fasting, Intermittent Fasting, Healthy Eating 00:06:10 Self-Diagnosis Caution 00:07:20 Sponsor: LMNT 00:08:52 Eating Disorders, Anorexia Nervosa 00:12:39 Hunger & Satiety; Appetite, Body Fat & Brain 00:17:20 Homeostasis & Reward Systems, Eating Disorders 00:21:12 Sponsor: AG1 00:22:49 Anorexia, Puberty, Hyperacuity & Food 00:25:55 Decision-Making vs Reflexes/Habits, Anorexia 00:29:29 Anorexia & Breaking Habits, Therapies & Family-Based Models 00:32:08 Distorted Self-Image & Anorexia 00:35:03 Sponsor: Function 00:36:43 Bulimia & Binge-Eating Disorder, Impulsivity & Prescription Treatments 00:40:28 Recap & Key Takeaways Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest is Dr. Marc Berman, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Chicago whose research explores how different physical environments—particularly nature and patterns found in nature—can positively impact our ability to focus, our cognitive performance and our mental and physical health. We discuss how our physical environment influences our attention, stress levels and brain and heart health. He explains how even brief periods in nature and exposure to natural images and sounds can restore and improve attentional capacity, reduce mental fatigue and help combat rumination and depression. Whether you live in a city, suburb or rural area, this episode offers simple science-backed strategies for incorporating nature and natural elements into your daily life to positively transform your cognitive ability and mental and physical health. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Our Place: https://fromourplace.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Marc Berman 00:02:14 Direct vs Involuntary Attention, Mental Fatigue, Attention Restoration Theory 00:06:59 Attention Fatigue, Focus & Vision, Tool: Restoring Attention in Nature 00:11:26 Sponsors: Helix Sleep & BetterHelp 00:13:50 Focused Work, Tool: Pre-Work Nature Breaks to Enhance Focus 00:15:54 Nature Walks & Cognitive Benefits, Comparing Nature vs Urban Environments 00:21:31 Nature, “Softly Fascinating Stimulation”, Fractals 00:27:12 Nature Images & Sounds, Cognitive Benefits 00:30:03 Urban vs Nature Images, Complexity & Image Compression; Semantics 00:40:44 Time Perception & Nature; Art Galleries 00:45:32 Tools: Resetting Attention & Nature Break; Features of a Restorative Nature Environments vs Focused Workspace; Length of Time in Nature 00:52:47 Sponsors: AG1 & Our Place 00:55:59 Nature, Time & Widening Attention; Fractals & Nature 01:02:21 Nature vs Urban Environments & Brain, Social Media & Attention 01:09:44 Depression & Rumination, Mental Well-Being, Attention & Nature 01:14:56 Sleep vs Wakefulness; Protecting Attention, Social Media 01:24:44 Sponsor: LMNT 01:26:19 Impulsivity, Texting & Attention, Meditation vs Nature Restoration 01:33:10 Passive Restorative vs Passive Depleting Activities, “Mental Obesity”, Shrinking Attention Span 01:37:31 Kids, Phones, Tool: Nature Free Play; Social Happy Hour, Tool: Solitary Nature Breaks 01:45:30 Physical Health Benefits of Nature, Trees & Indoor Greenery; Aquariums 01:53:26 Thoughts, Feelings & Physical Spaces, Biophilic Design, Bringing Nature Indoors 02:01:03 Nature Breaks, Incorporating Nature into Schools, Work, Home & Cities; Forest Bathing 02:09:18 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 my guest is Dr. Robert Sapolsky, PhD, a professor of biology, neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University.   We discuss different types of stress and how our perception of stress as harmful or beneficial largely depends on context. He also explains how testosterone amplifies pre-existing behaviors and tendencies, and he highlights the crucial role of estrogen in supporting brain and body health. We also discuss daily cognitive practices for stress mitigation and how modern life, influenced by social media and complex social hierarchies, shapes our responses to stress. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Robert Sapolsky 00:00:23 Positive & Negative Stress; Excitement, Amygdala 00:02:47 Testosterone & Brain, Aggression, Hierarchy 00:06:27 Sponsors: Function & LMNT 00:09:18 Testosterone, Motivation, Challenge & Confidence 00:13:52 Dopamine, Testosterone & Motivation 00:16:20 Estrogen, Brain & Health, Replacement Therapies 00:18:12 Stress Mitigation 00:22:09 Sponsors: AG1 & David 00:24:59 Cognitive Practices for Stress Mitigation, Individual Variability, Consistency 00:27:18 Stress, Perception & Individual Differences 00:29:39 Context, Stress & Brain 00:32:47 Social Media, Context, Multiple Hierarchies 00:35:57 Acknowledgments Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I explore major depression, including its underlying biology and discuss science-based approaches to alleviate symptoms and improve mood. I describe the wide-ranging symptoms of depression and explain how key neurotransmitters, hormones, stress, genetics and inflammation contribute to its development and persistence. I also cover treatment options, from traditional classes of antidepressant medications to emerging therapies such as ketamine and psilocybin. Finally, I highlight lifestyle-based tools, including exercise, supplementation and dietary strategies that can help manage depressive symptoms and promote mental well-being. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Our Place: https://fromourplace.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Major Depression 00:01:10 Depression Symptoms 00:06:14 Sponsor: BetterHelp 00:07:33 Pharmaceuticals for Depression, SSRIs; Norepinephrine, Dopamine & Serotonin 00:14:33 Thyroid Hormone, Cortisol, Stress & Depression, Menstrual Cycle, Genetics 00:17:43 Sponsor: AG1 00:19:20 Increase Norepinephrine, Tools: Deliberate Cold Exposure & Exercise 00:21:40 Chronic Inflammation & Depression, Tools: Omega-3s (EPA) & Exercise 00:26:49 Sponsor: Our Place 00:28:41 Tool: Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation & Improving Depression 00:30:20 Novel Depression Therapies, Ketamine, Psilocybin 00:35:29 Ketogenic Diet & Refractory Depression, GABA 00:37:57 Recap & Key Takeaways Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Harold McGee, PhD, is a renowned author on the topics of food chemistry and culinary science. He explains how cooking methods, types of cookware and temperature can be used to transform food and drink flavors and presents simple but powerful ways to improve nutrient availability. We also discuss how our individual biology, genetic and cultural backgrounds shape our taste preferences. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or someone who simply loves to eat, our conversation will change how you think about food and cooking, give you actionable tools to try and deepen your appreciation of the experience of eating and drinking. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Our Place: https://fromourplace.com/huberman Mateina: https://drinkmateina.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Harold McGee 00:02:21 Food Chemistry, Using Copper, Modern vs Traditional Techniques 00:09:59 Sponsors: Eight Sleep & Our Place 00:13:33 Cooking, Food & Heat, Taste & Smell 00:22:10 Umami, Savory Tastes, Braising & Meat 00:29:56 Chemistry of Cooking & Eating, Sugars & Conjugates; Slowly Enjoying Food 00:36:14 Savory Meal & Dessert; Food Course Order; Palate Cleansers 00:43:56 Salt, Baseline & Shifting Taste Preferences 00:47:18 Sponsors: AG1 & Mateina 00:50:07 Whole vs Processed Foods, Taste & Enjoyment 00:53:37 Brewing Coffee, Water Temperature, Grind Size 01:00:33 Tea & Tannins, Growing Tea Plants; Tea & Meals, Polyphenols 01:08:16 Food Combinations, Individual Tolerance; Is there an Optimal Diet? 01:11:34 Onions & Garlic, Histamines, Tool: Reduce Crying when Cutting Onions 01:13:55 Gut Sensitivities & Food, Capsaicin & Spicy Foods 01:17:21 Supertasters & Taste Buds, Bitter Taste, Chefs 01:21:57 Sponsor: Function 01:23:45 Salt & Bitter, Salting Fruit, Beer or Coffee, Warming Beer 01:26:11 Human History of Alcohol & Chocolate 01:29:25 Wine Expense vs Taste, Wine Knowledge 01:35:49 Cheese Making, Aged Cheese & Crystals, Tyrosine; Smoke Flavors, Distilling 01:44:30 Fermentation, “Stink Fish”, Caviar, Traditional & New Foods 01:50:42 Personal Journey, Astronomy, Poetry & Food 01:54:55 Beans & Gas, Tool: Soaking Beans 01:57:23 Gut Microbiome, Fermented Foods; Kids & Food Aversions 02:00:47 Cilantro & Divergent Tastes; Microwave Popcorn, Parmesan Cheese 02:04:46 John Keats Poetry, To Autumn; Acknowledgements 02:10:48 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, my guest is Dr. Anna Lembke, MD, Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic at Stanford University School of Medicine. We discuss how dopamine drives reward, motivation and addictive behaviors. Dr. Lembke explains the concept of the pleasure-pain balance of dopamine and how this cycle plays a key role in the development and persistence of addiction. We also discuss some of the challenges of addiction recovery, including withdrawal, relapses and the potential benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Wealthfront**: https://wealthfront.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.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 00:00:00 Anna Lembke 00:00:15 Dopamine, Reward & Movement 00:01:54 Baseline Dopamine; Genetics, Temperament & Addiction 00:05:24 Addiction, Modern Life & Boredom 00:07:18 Sponsor: AG1 00:08:55 Pleasure-Pain Balance, Dopamine, Addiction 00:14:17 Resetting Dopamine, Substance or Behavior Recovery, Tool: 30-Day Abstinence 00:16:04 Relapse, Addiction, Reflexive Behavior, Empathy 00:20:17 Triggers, Relapse, Dopamine 00:23:15 Sponsor: Wealthfront & BetterHelp 00:26:04 Shame, Truth Telling & Recovery 00:28:26 Addiction, Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, Psilocybin, MDMA 00:33:29 Social Media & Addiction, Tool: Intentionality Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I explain how your vagus nerve—an extensive neural pathway linking your brain and body in both directions—powerfully regulates your mood, digestion, alertness and even certain food cravings, and I explain how you can activate certain vagus nerve pathways to improve your heart rate variability (HRV), a key marker of health and longevity. I also explain how to control vagal pathways to enhance your focus and alertness to improve learning and neuroplasticity. And I explain how your vagus nerve controls levels of serotonin in both your gut and brain, impacting your mood and emotional resilience and how to keep that pathway robust. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Joovv: https://joovv.com/huberman ROKA: https://roka.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Vagus Nerve 00:02:43 Sponsors: LMNT & Joovv 00:05:41 Cranial Nerves, Inputs (Afferents) & Outputs (Efferents), Sensory & Motor 00:12:40 Vagus Nerve & Sensory Pathways, Body & Brain 00:18:30 Sensory Information, Chemical & Mechanical Information 00:23:49 Sympathetic & Parasympathetic Nervous Systems, Vagus Nerve, Tool: Calming & Auricular (Ear) Sensation 00:30:19 Sponsors: AG1 & ROKA 00:33:38 Vagus Nerve Motor Outputs 00:36:00 Autoregulation, Improving Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Tools: HR Deceleration 00:49:46 Aging, Declining HRV, Health, Activity, Tool 00:52:31 Tool: Exercise, Increase Alertness for Cognitive & Physical Activity, Motivation 01:04:26 Sponsor: Function 01:06:14 Adult Neuroplasticity & Learning, Acetylcholine, Alpha GPC Nicotine 01:11:48 Tools: High-Intensity Exercise, Increase Alertness, Focus & Learning; Sleep 01:18:14 Serotonin, Gut, Brain & Mood, Depression & SSRIs 01:21:34 Serotonin, Improve Mood & Gut Health, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Tools: Low-Sugar Fermented Foods, Tryptophan 01:28:49 Mood, Depression, Gut Health & Vagal Signaling, Probiotics 01:32:12 Calming Down via Vagus Nerve, Tool: Neck Peri-Arterial Vagus Stretch 01:42:00 Tools: Calming Down, Humming, Extended Exhales 01:46:38 Recap 01:48:46 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

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I explore the sensations of pain and pleasure, explaining how they are sensed in the body and interpreted by the brain as well as methods to control their intensity. I discuss both the hardwired mechanisms and subjective factors that shape an individual’s perception of pain and pleasure. I also explain why pain thresholds vary from person to person and discuss various treatments for pain management such as acupuncture and supplements. Finally, I explain the role of key neurochemicals like dopamine and serotonin in mediating our experience of pain and pleasure. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Pain & Pleasure 00:00:39 Skin, Appetitive vs Aversive Behaviors 00:02:10 Skin, Neurons & Brain 00:04:46 Brain Interpretation, Homunculus, Two-Point Discrimination Test 00:07:43 Pain & Pleasure, Subjective Interpretation 00:09:53 Sponsor: AG1 00:11:30 Tool: Pain & Expectation 00:13:08 Pain Threshold 00:14:46 Heat & Cold, Tool: Moving into Cold or Hot Environments 00:16:37 Subjective Pain, Psychosomatic, Fibromyalgia, Whole Body Pain, Acetyl-L-carnitine 00:20:54 Acupuncture, Electroacupuncture, Pain Management 00:23:44 Sponsors: LMNT & Eight Sleep 00:26:36 Red Heads & Pain Threshold, Endorphins 00:28:32 Improving Pain Threshold, Dopamine 00:30:00 Pleasure, Dopamine, Serotonin; Depression, Anti-depressants 00:34:12 Pleasure & Pain Balance, Dopamine, Addiction 00:36:08 Recap & Key Takeaways Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices