The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast

296. Neuroscience Meets Psychology | Dr. Andrew Huberman

Oct 13, 2022

Neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman discusses neurology, human and animal reactions to stimuli, and utilizing this knowledge for personal growth. Topics include anxiety, the role of the prefrontal cortex, dopamine's impact on anticipation and motivation, the experience of mania, neuroticism and self-consciousness in social situations, and the role of dopamine in addiction and overindulgence.

01:40:34

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Andrew Huberman

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Quick takeaways

The insula and prefrontal cortex play crucial roles in the communication between the autonomic nervous system and the brain, with the insula acting as a hub for somatic signals and the prefrontal cortex regulating the autonomic response.

Anxiety and exploration are complex responses involving various brain areas, such as the insula, prefrontal cortex, and other regions, which interpret and modulate the autonomic arousal associated with these responses.

Dopamine, a key neurotransmitter in the reward system, is released during anticipation of a reward and decreases transiently upon receiving the actual reward, leading to reinforcement of neural connections associated with behavior.

The prefrontal cortex, derived from the frontal cortex and motor cortex, plays a crucial role in generating abstract patterns of action, evaluating potential future scenarios, and facilitating behavioral flexibility through the generation of alternative selves and identity transformations.

Deep dives

The Autonomic Nervous System and Conscious Control

The autonomic nervous system controls automatic bodily functions, such as heart rate, digestion, and breathing. It sends mechanical and chemical signals to the brain which interpret and integrate this information. The insula and prefrontal cortex play crucial roles in this communication, with the insula acting as a hub for somatic signals and the prefrontal cortex regulating and adjusting the autonomic response. The prefrontal cortex can generate potential abstract patterns of action, anticipate different outcomes, and calms the body through the vagus nerve.

How “manifesting” and “affirmations” may work, biologically

02:37

Learning to Specify and Address Problems in Life

01:45

The Role of the Insula in Anxiety

01:25

Small Actions Lead to Big Change

01:44

Introduction

2min

The Autonomic Nervous System and its Role in Anxiety

13min

Prefrontal Cortex, Rule Switching, and Calming Signals in Brain-Body Connection

5min

The Role of the Prefrontal Cortex in Responding to Signals from the Body

22min

The Role of Dopamine in Anticipation and Motivation

19min

The Experience of Mania and the Role of Dopamine in Positive Emotions

2min

The Relationship Between Neuroticism and Self-Consciousness in Social Situations

19min

Motivation, Dopamine, and Rewards

18min

Rats and addiction, overindulged children, and future podcast plans

2min

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson and Andrew Huberman discuss neurology, the way humans and animals react to specific stimuli, and how this knowledge can be utilized for personal growth.

Dr. Andrew Huberman is a neuroscientist, and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He runs the Huberman Lab, which has made significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function and neural plasticity. Dr. Huberman’s most recent work revolves around the influence of vision and respiration on human performance and brain states such as fear and courage. In 2017, he was chosen to receive the Cogan award, which is awarded to the scientist making the most significant discoveries in the study of vision. Work from the Huberman Laboratory has been published in top journals including Nature, Science, and Cell and has been featured in TIME, BBC, Scientific American, Discover, and other top media outlets. In 2021, Dr. Huberman launched the Huberman Lab Podcast, and has since grown to over 1.5 million subscribers.

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For Andrew Huberman

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab/?hl=en

Twitter https://twitter.com/hubermanlab?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Website https://hubermanlab.com/

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2D2CMWXMOVWx7giW1n3LIg

— Chapters —

(0:00) Coming Up

(0:57) Intro

(3:18) Where anxiety stems from

(11:57) Flipping the autonomic response