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. Kay Tye: The Biology of Social Interactions and Emotions
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Kay Tye, PhD, Professor of Systems Neurobiology at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator. We discuss the neural circuit basis of social interactions and loneliness. We also discuss how animals and people establish themselves in a group hierarchy by rank and how the brain responds to dominance and subordination.
Much of our discussion relates to how social media impacts our sense of social connectedness or lack thereof. The topics covered in this episode are directly relevant to anyone interested in the neuroscience of mental health, work-life balance, abundance versus scarcity mindset, and interpersonal dynamics.
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
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Timestamps
(00:00:00) Dr. Kay Tye
(00:02:39) Sponsors: Eight Sleep, Levels & LMNT
(00:06:40) Amygdala; “Valence”
(00:12:43) Novelty; Reward & Punishment Response
(00:20:06) Amygdala & Hunger; Social Interaction
(00:26:21) Social Media & Social Connection; Tool: Email & Time Management
(00:35:03) Sponsor: AG1
(00:36:30) Social Media; Friction & Feedback, Leadership
(00:43:44) Social Isolation, Harlow Experiments, “Loneliness Neurons”
(00:51:47) Social Homeostasis, COVID-19 Pandemic & Loneliness
(01:01:29) Quality of Social Contact, Social Homeostasis, Social Media
(01:08:40) Sponsor: InsideTracker
(01:09:42) Social Media, Relationships; Social Isolation & Exclusion
(01:18:26) Empathy: Friend vs. Foe
(01:28:40) Background & Empathy, Diversity, Emotional Regulation
(01:34:34) Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset
(01:37:22) Social Rank & Hierarchy, Sibling Order, Development
(01:45:54) Dynamic Hierarchy; Dominants vs. Subordinates; Mentors
(01:55:32) Psychedelics: Research & Mechanisms; Psilocybin
(02:06:28) Work-Life Balance, Fitness & Extracurriculars
(02:11:56) Personal Life, Diversity, Happiness; Typical Day
(02:15:42) Science & Academia; Future Directions
(02:23:48) Research & Science Outreach
(02:28:48) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter