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Tenacity and willpower are discussed in this podcast episode. Tenacity refers to the willingness to persist under pressure and resistance, while willpower involves both the motivation to do things and the motivation to resist certain things. The episode explores the psychology and neuroscience behind these concepts, highlighting a brain structure that plays a crucial role in building tenacity and willpower. The episode also emphasizes the importance of enhancing these qualities in various life circumstances.
The podcast delves into the controversy surrounding the theory of willpower as a limited resource. It discusses the research done by Balmeister and colleagues, which suggests that resisting certain behaviors can deplete willpower. The experiments involved tasks like resisting cookies or radishes and subsequently engaging in another challenging task. Another study by Dweck and colleagues challenges this theory by indicating that beliefs about willpower determine its impact on self-control. It highlights that glucose intake can enhance performance only for those who believe it is the limiting resource for willpower.
The podcast explains the relationship between glucose availability and willpower. Balmeister's research suggests that glucose is a limited resource that can be depleted by engaging in challenging tasks. However, Dweck's study contradicts this idea, demonstrating that believing in unlimited willpower can lead to consistent performance without glucose. The episode highlights the importance of considering the psychological factors that influence willpower, as well as the potential physiological effects of glucose on enhancing self-control.
The podcast explores the underlying neural mechanisms responsible for generating tenacity and willpower. It mentions the presence of a specific brain center that acts as a hub, integrating information from different neural circuits to support these qualities. The episode emphasizes the complexity of these circuits and how understanding the psychology and physiology of tenacity and willpower can help individuals enhance their levels of self-control in various contexts.
Research suggests that glucose plays a crucial role in maintaining willpower and tenacity when faced with multiple challenging tasks. Baumeister and colleagues found that subjects who had access to glucose through ingestion showed improved performance in maintaining willpower across multiple challenges. Additionally, beliefs about willpower and glucose availability also influenced one's ability to engage in tenacity and willpower. The anterior mid-singulate cortex is identified as a vital brain area responsible for generating tenacity and willpower. It receives inputs from various regions and is highly subject to plasticity, meaning that its size and activity can be increased through specific behaviors.
The anterior mid-singulate cortex, part of the singular cortex, is a brain area linked to tenacity and willpower. It activates when faced with challenges and is associated with resistance to engaging or resisting certain behaviors. It serves as a hub that allocates resources and energy to different brain areas based on motivational goals. The size and activity of the anterior mid-singulate cortex can be increased through cardiovascular exercise, which has been shown to maintain or even enhance brain volume in aging individuals.
The anterior mid-singulate cortex plays a vital role in allostatic function, allocating resources to different brain and body areas based on motivational goals and challenges. It receives inputs from autonomic centers, reward pathways, and context-setting regions of the brain. Studies show that engaging in behaviors that require resistance or effort, such as cardiovascular exercise, can activate and strengthen the functioning of the anterior mid-singulate cortex. This neuroplasticity allows for increased tenacity and willpower in various areas of life, even in the face of challenging circumstances.
Cardiovascular exercise has been shown to increase the size and activity of the anterior mid-singulate cortex, enhancing tenacity and willpower. Engaging in moderate to high-intensity cardio sessions for at least three hours per week can lead to remarkable effects. It is important to note that engaging in activities that are already easy or habitual will not significantly contribute to the activation and growth of the anterior mid-singulate cortex. The challenge and resistance posed by the exercise or activity are critical factors for building tenacity and willpower.
To increase tenacity and willpower, it is important to engage in challenging tasks that are physically or psychologically hard. This can involve activities like exercise, learning new skills, or resisting impulses. Engaging in something difficult helps activate the anterior mid-singulate cortex, a brain region associated with tenacity and willpower. Examples of challenging tasks include adding an extra set to your workout routine, doing a hundred jumping jacks after a run, or resisting the urge to check your phone during a workout. By consistently incorporating these challenging tasks into your routine, you can strengthen your tenacity and willpower.
In order to reinforce tenacity and willpower, it is beneficial to reward yourself after successfully engaging in challenging tasks. These rewards should be something you enjoy and should be occasional, not frequent. By linking a positive reward to the act of overcoming resistance or completing a challenging task, you strengthen the neural circuits associated with tenacity and willpower. However, it is crucial to maintain psychological and physical safety when engaging in these behaviors. Additionally, it is important to find a balance between building tenacity and willpower and avoiding unhealthy extremes or behaviors, such as those associated with eating disorders. By finding the right balance and incorporating challenging tasks into your daily life, you can strengthen your capacity for tenacity and willpower.
In this episode, I discuss neuroscience and psychology studies that address the basis of willpower and tenacity, how they differ from motivation and how we can all increase our levels of willpower and tenacity. I discuss whether willpower is a limited resource, the controversial “ego depletion” theory of willpower and the role that beliefs play in determining our tenacity and willpower. Then, I discuss the neural basis of willpower in the brain and body and how tenacity and willpower relate to sleep, stress, focus, and possibly lifespan. Then, I provide a series of science-supported tools and protocols to increase your level of tenacity and willpower.
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman
(00:00:00) Tenacity & Willpower
(00:01:36) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up
(00:03:49) Tenacity & Willpower vs. Habit Execution; Apathy, Depression & Motivation
(00:10:40) Ego Depletion & Willpower as a Limited Resource; Controversy
(00:19:14) Tool: Autonomic Function, Tenacity & Willpower; Sleep & Stress
(00:28:31) Sponsor: AG1
(00:28:58) Willpower as a Limited Resource (Theory)
(00:35:36) Willpower & Glucose, Brain Energetics
(00:42:44) Beliefs about Willpower & Glucose; Multiple Challenges
(00:54:01) Willpower Brain ‘Hub’; Anorexia Nervosa, Super-Agers
(01:07:15) Anterior Midcingulate Cortex & Brain/Body Communication
(01:14:54) Allostasis, Anterior Midcingulate Cortex Function
(01:25:19) Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex (aMCC), Difficult Tasks & Neuroplasticity
(01:29:30) Tool: Novel Physical Exercise & Brain; Cognitive Exercise
(01:43:43) Tool: “Micro-sucks”, Increase Tenacity/Willpower
(01:50:58) Impossible Tasks, Super-Agers & Learning, Will to Live
(01:57:23) Tool: Rewards & Improving Tenacity/Willpower
(02:01:07) Tenacity & Willpower Recap
(02:05:55) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
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