Controlling Your Dopamine For Motivation, Focus & Satisfaction
from Huberman Lab
by Scicomm Media
Published: Mon Sep 27 2021
Show Notes
This episode serves as a sort of “Dopamine Masterclass”. I discuss the immensely powerful chemical that we all make in our brain and body: dopamine. I describe what it does and the neural circuits involved. I explain dopamine peaks and baselines, and the cell biology of dopamine depletion. I include 14 tools for how to control your dopamine release for sake of motivation, focus, avoiding and combating addiction and depression, and I explain why dopamine stacking with chemicals and behaviors inevitably leads to states of underwhelm and poor performance. I explain how to achieve sustained increases in baseline dopamine, compounds that injure and protect dopamine neurons including caffeine from specific sources. I describe non-prescription supplements for increasing dopamine—both their benefits and risks—and synergy of pro-dopamine supplements with those that increase acetylcholine.
For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.
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Timestamps
(00:00:00)Introduction & Tool 1 to Induce Lasting Dopamine
()Sponsors: AG1, LMNT
()Upcoming (Zero-Cost) Neuroplasticity Seminar for Educators
()What Dopamine (Really) Does
()Two Main Neural Circuits for Dopamine
()How Dopamine Is Released: Locally and Broadly
()Fast and Slow Effects of Dopamine
()Dopamine Neurons Co-Release Glutamate
()Your Dopamine History Really Matters
()Parkinson’s & Drugs That Kill Dopamine Neurons. My Dopamine Experience
()Tool 3 Controlling Dopamine Peaks & Baselines
()Chocolate, Sex (Pursuit & Behavior), Nicotine, Cocaine, Amphetamine, Exercise
()Tool 4 Caffeine Increases Dopamine Receptors
()Pursuit, Excitement & Your “Dopamine Setpoint”
()Your Pleasure-Pain Balance & Defining “Pain”
()Addiction, Dopamine Depletion, & Replenishing Dopamine
()Tool 5 Ensure Your Best (Healthy) Dopamine Release
()Smart Phones: How They Alter Our Dopamine Circuits
()Stimulants & Spiking Dopamine: Counterproductive for Work, Exercise & Attention
()Caffeine Sources Matter: Yerba Mate & Dopamine Neuron Protection
()Caffeine & Neurotoxicity of MDMA
()Amphetamine, Cocaine & Detrimental Rewiring of Dopamine Circuits
()Ritalin, Adderall, (Ar)Modafinil: ADHD versus non-Prescription Uses
()Tool 6 Stimulating Long-Lasting Increases in Baseline Dopamine
()Tool 7 Tuning Your Dopamine for Ongoing Motivation
()Tool 8 Intermittent Fasting: Effects on Dopamine
()Validation of Your Pre-Existing Beliefs Increases Dopamine
()Tool 9 Quitting Sugar & Highly Palatable Foods: 48 Hours
()Pornography
()Wellbutrin & Depression & Anxiety
()Tool 10 Mucuna Pruriens, Prolactin, Sperm, Crash Warning
()Tool 11 L-Tyrosine: Dosages, Duration of Effects & Specificity
()Tool 12 Avoiding Melatonin Supplementation, & Avoiding Light 10pm-4am
()Tool 13 Phenylethylamine (with Alpha-GPC) For Dopamine Focus/Energy
()Tool 14 Huperzine A
()Social Connections, Oxytocin & Dopamine Release
()Direct & Indirect Effects: e.g., Maca; Synthesis & Application
()Zero-Cost & Other Ways To Support Podcast & Research
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac