In this episode, I explain the biological roles of the four major neuromodulators—dopamine, epinephrine (aka adrenaline), serotonin, and acetylcholine—and describe how these neuromodulators impact a wide variety of mental states and behaviors, including focus, creativity, motivation, drive, learning, alertness, mood, relationships, and feelings of well-being. Then, with that foundational understanding in mind, I describe a potent toolkit of science-supported behavioral, nutrition, and supplementation tools that can be used to increase baseline levels of individual neuromodulators and that can be modified for specific goals. This episode summarizes low-or-no-cost, actionable, science-based tools that can benefit anyone in order to enhance their levels of brain chemicals and improve mental health, physical health, and performance.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

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Timestamps

(00:00:00) Optimizing Neurochemicals to Improve Health

(00:05:30) Sleep & Maintaining Healthy Metabolism

(00:09:52) Tools: How to Wake Up Earlier, Night Owls

(00:18:58) Sponsors: AG1, LMNT

(00:22:05) Nervous System Overview

(00:31:32) How Neuromodulators Work

(00:34:24) Baseline Neuromodulator Levels, 3 Daily Phases

(00:42:15) Hormones Modulate Neuromodulators

(00:52:12) The 4 Major Types of Neuromodulators

(01:01:45) Tool Kit 1: Increase Baseline Dopamine & Focus

(01:08:52) Tyrosine-rich Foods & Dopamine

(01:10:59) Dopamine Supplementation: Mucuna Pruriens, L-tyrosine & Phenylethylamine

(01:16:00) Deliberate Cold Exposure & Dopamine

(01:21:12) Tool Kit 2: Additional Tips to Increase Dopamine

(01:26:10) Tool Kit 3: Increase Epinephrine (Adrenaline) & Alertness

(01:34:34) Tool Kit 4: Increase Acetylcholine & Attention/Learning; Choline-rich Foods

(01:37:29) Acetylcholine Supplements: Nicotine, Alpha GPC, Huperzine

(01:44:47) Tool Kit 5: Behavior to Increase Focus & Acetylcholine

(01:46:56) Tool Kit 6: Behavior to Increase Serotonin & Feelings of Well-being

(01:50:51) Tools: Tryptophan-Rich Foods & Serotonin

(01:53:31) Tools: Serotonin Supplements: Cissus Quadrangularis, 5-HTP, Myo-inositol

(02:02:14) Use the Neurochemical Toolkit to Meet Individual Goals

(02:06:44) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Instagram, Twitter, Neural Network Newsletter

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