The Science of Emotions & Relationships

A pheromone effect observed in animal models where the introduction of a novel sexually competent male can trigger the onset of puberty in a pre-pubertal female.

An infamous pheromone effect where the introduction of a novel male to a pregnant female animal causes spontaneous miscarriage, (named after Hilda Bruce).

A scientific journal where a study on oxytocin modulating social distance between males and females was published.

A model of cooperation used in experiments to study how individuals make predictions about the behavior of others.

A form of non-sleep deep rest that typically contains intentions and specific language, from which the new NSDR script is distinct.

A collection of brain structures often linked to emotions but is only one component of emotional inputs, not the sole location of emotions.

A theory of brain evolution (primitive and involved brain) that is considered shaky in terms of its scientific grounding today.

Neurons that respond both when an action is performed and when someone observes the action, but whose role in empathy and emotion is highly controversial.

A major nerve connecting the brain to the gut, heart, lungs, and immune system, whose stimulation increases alertness and dopamine release, contrary to the myth that it solely promotes calmness.

A dissociative anesthetic used for PTSD treatment and recreationally, mentioned in the context of a marketed nasal spray combining it with oxytocin, which Huberman finds puzzling and potentially dangerous.

A psychedelic compound mentioned as clearly affecting emotionality and related axes, to be discussed in a future episode.

A recreational drug that Ketamine is similar to, and which seems quite dangerous.

A psychedelic compound mentioned as clearly affecting emotionality, calmness, alertness, valence, and interoceptive/exteroceptive positioning, to be discussed in a future episode.

Proposed the idea of universal expressions of emotions, which is an influential but debated concept.

Co-author of the Nature review article on the biology of adolescence and puberty.

Lead researcher from the University of Oregon whose lab published a paper in Current Biology showing vagus nerve stimulation induces widespread cortical and behavioral activation.

A researcher who has challenged the idea of specific brain circuits for individual emotions, arguing that emotions are contextual and have a social component.

Known for her work on the brain circuits involved in different types of love and long-term bonds.

Host of the Huberman Lab Podcast and a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine.

Researchers famous for their 'strange situation task' experiments on infant attachment styles.

A psychiatrist and colleague at Stanford who developed tools to adjust neuron activity and uses vagus nerve stimulation therapeutically for conditions like severe depression.

A researcher at UC Berkeley who replicated and expanded upon the 'strange situation task' experiments on attachment.

The lab where Keren Haroush conducted her research on neurons involved in predicting behavior in primate species.

A clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst at UCLA whose theory of emotional development emphasizes the seesawing between dopaminergic and serotonergic states in bond formation.

The scientist credited with discovering the Bruce effect, a pheromone effect leading to spontaneous miscarriage in pregnant animals.

First author of the Nature review article on the biology of adolescence and puberty, from the School of Public Health at University of California, Berkeley.

Co-author of the Nature review article on the biology of adolescence and puberty.

A well-known researcher and co-author of the Nature review article, recognized for her work on dispersal during adolescence and puberty.

A colleague of Huberman at Stanford who discovered neurons in primate species involved in predicting the behavior of other members of their species, related to the prisoner's dilemma.

A zero-sugar, grain-free, keto-friendly cereal available in various flavors, consumed by Huberman as a low-carbohydrate snack.

A publication that featured an article about Karl Deisseroth's work with vagus nerve stimulation in depressed patients.

The institution where Andrew Huberman is a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology.

A company that previously sponsored the podcast and provided the new NSDR script as a free YouTube video.

An excellent scientific journal where a paper on leptin's ability to accelerate puberty was published in the mid-1990s.

A premier scientific journal that published a review article on the biology of adolescence and puberty and the core needs for successful emotional maturation during that time.

Institution of David McCormick's lab, which published research on vagus nerve stimulation.

Platform where Huberman Lab episodes are captioned in multiple languages and where NSDR scripts are available.

A supplement company partnered with Huberman Lab due to their high stringency in purity and accuracy of supplement contents.

A personalized nutrition platform that analyzes blood and DNA data to inform health goals, recommended by Huberman for understanding metabolic factors and hormones.

A virtual private network (VPN) that keeps data safe, secure, and private by encrypting internet activity, used by Huberman due to a past banking hack.

A vitamin that is required for proper production of oxytocin and can, in some cases, increase oxytocin levels when supplemented.

A hormone often used as a sleep supplement, which in some cases can prime the system for slightly increased oxytocin release, though Huberman typically pushes back against its use for sleep due to side effects.

Mentioned as potentially increasing oxytocin release at low doses, but Huberman notes the evidence for this effect is not strong.

An app developed by researchers at Yale to add nuance to emotional language and help predict future emotional states.

A scientific journal where a study on intranasal oxytocin increasing positive communication and reducing cortisol during couple conflict was published.

A Cell Press journal that published a paper showing mandrills exhibit the Vandenbergh effect.