Understanding the Dynamics of Short-Term vs. Long-Term Stress

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Dr. Robert Sapolsky: Science of Stress, Testosterone & Free Will

Huberman Lab

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CHAPTER

Understanding the Dynamics of Short-Term vs. Long-Term Stress

This chapter explores the differences between short-term and long-term stress, highlighting their respective benefits and drawbacks. It emphasizes how short-term stress can improve mental clarity, while chronic stress poses risks, and discusses the positive aspects of stress in certain stimulating situations.

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Episode notes

In this episode, I interview Dr. Robert Sapolsky, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, Neurology & Neurosurgery at Stanford University. We discuss stress, what defines short-term versus long-term stress, and how stress can be beneficial or detrimental, depending on the context. We also discuss stress mitigation and how our sense of control over stress mitigation techniques, including exercise, determine health outcomes. Dr. Sapolsky explains some of the key effects of the hormone testosterone — how it can amplify pre-existing tendencies for aggression or sexual behavior, but that it does not produce those behaviors per se. He also explains how testosterone impacts our social hierarchies, sense of confidence, and willingness to embrace challenges of different kinds. He also explains how our behaviors and perceptions shape testosterone levels. And we discuss estrogen and the powerful role it plays in brain development, health and longevity. Finally, we discuss free will, what it means to have free will, and if we have any free will, including how knowledge alone might allow us to make better decisions for ourselves and society.

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