In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I explore the sensations of pain and pleasure, explaining how they are sensed in the body and interpreted by the brain as well as methods to control their intensity.
I discuss both the hardwired mechanisms and subjective factors that shape an individual’s perception of pain and pleasure. I also explain why pain thres ... Show More
Aug 21
Essentials: Timing Light for Better Sleep, Energy & Mood | Dr. Samer Hattar
In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Dr. Samer Hattar, PhD, the Chief of the Section on Light and Circadian Rhythms at the National Institute of Mental Health. We discuss how light powerfully shapes mood, sleep, appetite, learning and overall mental health by alig ... Show More
35m 19s
Aug 18
Using Stem Cells to Cure Autism, Epilepsy & Schizophrenia | Dr. Sergiu Pașca
My guest is Dr. Sergiu Pașca, MD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University. We discuss the biology and genetics of autism, why autism diagnoses are increasing and recent progress in using stem cells to understand and treat profound autism and other b ... Show More
2h 23m
Aug 14
Essentials: Controlling Your Dopamine for Motivation, Focus & Satisfaction
In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I explain how dopamine regulates motivation and provide science-based tools to help improve focus, discipline and overall drive. I explore how particular activities affect dopamine levels and discuss how the highs, lows and baseline levels ... Show More
38m 37s
Apr 2025
#345 ‒ Chronic pain: pathways, treatment, and the path to physical and psychological recovery | Sean Mackey, M.D., Ph.D.
View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Sean Mackey is a professor of pain medicine at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Systems Neuroscience and Pain Lab, where his res ... Show More
2h 47m
Jun 2024
Top Pain Researcher | The 6 Keys to Relieving Pain
Stanford neuroscientist Sean Mackey, MD, PhD reveals pain is highly subjective, shaped by our beliefs and experiences - not just injury signals. He unpacks chronic pain's persistence, promising treatment strategies like brief behavioral therapies, and research toward personalizin ... Show More
1h 8m
Feb 2025
Understanding and treating chronic pain, with Rachel V. Aaron, PhD
Each year, more than 50 million U.S. adults experience chronic pain. Increasingly, researchers and patients are finding that behavioral treatments and therapies can be an important part of pain treatment. Pain psychologist Rachel Aaron, PhD, discusses what effective treatments ar ... Show More
35m 36s
Apr 2024
#477 Mental Pain as Urgent as Physical Pain
Mental Pain as Urgent as Physical Pain We're trained to recognize physical pain. A broken bone, a deep cut –these demand immediate attention. But what about the pain that isn't visible? The ache of depression, the sharp sting of anxiety, the relentless throb of unhealed trauma? W ... Show More
14m 27s