Understanding Attention: Its Mechanisms and Challenges

My guest is Dr. Michael Platt, Ph.D., a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. We discuss how factors such as hormonal or social status influence what we value, how we make decisions, and even our perceptions across a range of areas, from who and what we find attractive to our political affiliations. We also discuss how humans evaluate and shift power in relationships and form hierarchies in groups. Dr. Platt also shares new science-based tools for improving focus, creativity, and attention.

Read the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com.

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Timestamps

00:00:00 Dr. Michael Platt

00:02:12 Humans, Old World Primates & Decision-Making; Swiss Army Knife Analogy

00:07:52 Sponsors: Our Place & Wealthfront

00:11:01 Attention Allocation, Resource Foraging

00:16:40 Social Media; Marginal Value Theorem, Distraction

00:22:22 Tool: Remove Phone from Room; Attention & Urgency

00:25:23 Tool: Self Conversation; Visual Input, Attention as a Skill

00:29:29 Warming-Up Focus, Tool: Visual Aperture & Attention

00:38:57 Sponsor: AG1

00:40:13 Control of Attention, Tool: Changing Environment

00:44:07 Attention Continuum, Professions, Measuring Business Skill with Neuroscience

00:53:06 Theory of Mind, Covert Attention, Attentional Spotlights

01:00:05 Primates, Hormone Status, Brain Size, Monogamy

01:09:31 Monkeys, Neuronal Multiplexing & Context; Equitable Relationships

01:20:05 Sponsor: BetterHelp

01:21:11 Relationships, Power Dynamics, Neuroethology

01:29:34 Humans, Females & Hormone Status; Monkeys, Social Images, Hormones

01:38:03 Humans, Attractiveness, Value-Based Decision Making

01:44:32 Altruism, Group Selection & Cooperation, Selflessness

01:49:08 Males, Testosterone, Behavior Changes

01:55:46 Sponsor: Function

01:57:34 Oxytocin, Pro-Social Behaviors, Behavioral Synchrony

02:08:13 MDMA, Oxytocin, Anxiety; Social Touch, Despair & Isolation

02:17:12 Isolation, Social Connections & Strangers, Tool: Deep Conversation Questions

02:21:17 Bridging the Divide, Tribes & Superficial Biases

02:26:58 Testosterone, Risk-Taking Behavior

02:30:52 Decision-Making, Tool: Accurate or Fast?

02:38:31 Decision-Making, Impact of Time & Fatigue

02:45:23 Advertising, Status, Celebrity, Monkeys

02:52:19 Hierarchy; Abundance & Scarcity, Money & Happiness, Loss Aversion

03:02:47 Meme Coins, Celebrity Endorsement, Social Sensitivity

03:12:22 Decisions & Urgency; Bounded & Ecological Rationality

03:18:09 Longevity Movement; Mortality & Motivation

03:24:48 Retirement?, Serial Pursuits & Pivoting

03:30:17 Apple or Samsung?, Brand Loyalty, Empathy

03:38:15 Political Affiliation, Empathy

03:46:22 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

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