The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity, and brain states such as stress, focus, fear, and optimal performance. For more than 20 years, Dr. Huberman has consistently published original research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, and Current Biology. He is a regular member of several National Institutes of Health review panels and a Fellow of the McKnight Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Dr. Huberman regularly consults for technology development companies, professional athletic organizations, and various units of U.S. and Canadian Special Operations.
Dr. Nolan Williams: Psychedelics & Neurostimulation for Brain Rewiring | Episode 93
In this episode, my guest is Nolan Williams, M.D., a triple board-certified psychiatrist, neurologist and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. He is also the Director of the Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab. We discuss clinical applications for brain stimulation, behavioral protocols and novel drug treatments to halt and reverse mental health disorders, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We first discuss the neural circuits for self-identity and mood and stress control. We discuss Dr. Williams’ work using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to depression, trauma, PTSD, and other mood disorders. We then dive deep into the history, biology, modern use, and safety margins of the various psychedelics, including MDMA, LSD, ketamine, ibogaine, ayahuasca, and psilocybin, as well as cannabis and the use of SSRIs in both adults and children. Finally, we discuss behavioral treatments for mental health disorders, including sleep and sleep deprivation, light exposure, exercise, and training to control the brain-heart-rate pathways. Regardless of age, all those interested in mental health should benefit from the incredible breadth and depth of Dr. Williams’ knowledge and the clarity with which he conveys that information.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman
InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/huberman
Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/huberman
ROKA: https://www.roka.com/huberman
Supplements from Momentous
https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman
Huberman Lab Premium
https://hubermanlab.com/premium
For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Dr. Nolan Williams, Brain Stimulation & Depression Treatment
(00:03:31) Huberman Lab Premium
(00:04:42) InsideTracker, Eight Sleep, ROKA
(00:08:37) Momentous Supplements
(00:09:16) Depression, Risk Factors, Emergency Psychiatric Treatments
(00:15:11) The Brain-Heart Connection, Vagus Nerve, Prefrontal Cortex
(00:17:51) Right vs. Left Brain Hemispheres & Mood Balance, Connectome
(00:22:34) Heart Rate & Depression, Behavioral Interventions, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
(00:33:02) Prefrontal Cortex & Cognitive Control, TMS
(00:37:46) AG1 (Athletic Greens)
(00:39:00) Belief/Identity “Rules”, Re-scripting, TMS & Talk Therapy
(00:45:49) Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex, TMS & Depression Treatment
(00:48:36) Cingulate Cortex & Emotion, Dissociation & Catatonia
(00:54:27) Ketamine, the Opioid System & Depression; Psychedelic Experience or Biology?
(01:03:42) SSRIs, Serotonin & Depression; Childhood, Chemical Imbalance or Circuit?
(01:13:58) Memories & “Rule” Creation; Psilocybin & “Rule” Resolution
(01:21:00) MDMA & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment, Psilocybin & Depression Treatment
(01:24:12) Is MDMA Neurotoxic?, Drug Purity, Dopamine Surges, Post-MDMA Prolactin
(01:30:38) Psilocybin, Brain Connectivity & Depression Treatment
(01:34:53) Exposure Response Prevention: “Letting Go” & Depression Treatment
(01:41:23) Normal Spectrums for Mental Health Disorders
(01:45:35) Ibogaine & “Life Review”; PTSD, Depression & Clinical Trials
(01:57:16) Clinical Use of Psychedelics
(02:01:59) Ayahuasca, Brazilian Prisoner Study
(02:06:55) Cannabis: THC, CBD & Psychosis, Clinical Uses
(02:14:52) Personal Relative Drug Risk & Alcohol
(02:20:42) Circadian Reset for Depression, Sleep Deprivation, Light
(02:28:43) Stanford Neuromodulation Therapy (SNT) Study
(02:34:25) Space Learning Theory & TMS Stimulation
(02:45:35) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Huberman Lab Premium, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac