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.
The Science of Making & Breaking Habits | Episode 53
In this episode, I review the science of habit formation and habit elimination and how the process of neuroplasticity (brain rewiring) underlies these processes.
I describe two new systems for habit formation. The first system is grounded in the neuroscience of brain states and our ability to perform (and to avoid) certain tasks at different phases of the 24-hour day. The second system focuses on 21-day habit formation and consolidation.
I also discuss "task bracketing" as an approach to enhancing habit formation and eliminating unwanted habits and the neural circuits that underlie task bracketing in the basal ganglia (a brain region for generating and stopping behaviors). I also review the science of dopamine rewards and how to apply that knowledge to shaping habits.
The science and tools in this episode ought to be helpful for anyone looking to build better habits and eliminate unwanted habits for school, work, fitness, relationships, creative endeavors, and more—indeed for any person or situation where behavioral changes are needed.
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- Athletic Greens - http://www.athleticgreens.com/huberman
- InsideTracker - http://www.insidetracker.com/huberman
- Helix Sleep - http://www.helixsleep.com/huberman
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Links:
- Excellent review on science of habits - https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-psych-122414-033417
- Meta-analysis on habits - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1539449219876877
Timestamps:
- 00:00:00 Introducing Habits; New Programs
- 00:02:30 Athletic Greens, InsideTracker, Helix Sleep
- 00:06:52 Habits versus Reflexes, Learning, Neuroplasticity
- 00:08:51 Goal-Based Habits vs. Identity-Based Habits
- 00:11:40 How Long It (Really) Takes to Form a Habit; Limbic-Friction
- 00:16:07 Linchpin Habits
- 00:18:55 Mapping Your Habits; Habit Strength, Context-Dependence
- 00:22:55 Automaticity
- 00:24:03 Tool 1: Applying Procedural Memory Visualizations
- 00:27:48 Hebbian Learning, NMDA receptors
- 00:31:00 Tool 2: Task Bracketing; Dorsolateral Striatum
- 00:37:08 States of Mind, Not Scheduling Time Predicts Habit Strength
- 00:38:16 Tool 3: Phase-Based Habit Plan: Phase 1
- 00:46:29 Tool 3: Phase-Based Habit Plan: Phase 2
- 00:55:24 Tool 3: Phase-Based Habit Plan: Phase 3
- 01:01:34 Habit Flexibility
- 01:04:57 Should We Reward Ourselves? How? When? When NOT to.
- 01:10:30 Tool 4: “Dopamine Spotlighting” & Task Bracketing
- 01:18:22 Tool 5: The 21-Day Habit Installation & Testing System
- 01:28:26 Breaking Habits: Long-Term (Synaptic) Depression
- 01:35:49 Notifications Don’t Work
- 01:37:50 Tool 6: Break Bad Habits with Post-Bad-Habit “Positive Cargo”
- 01:44:26 Addictions as Habits: https://hubermanlab.com/dr-anna-lembke-understanding-and-treating-addiction/
- 01:45:28 Conclusion & Synthesis
- 01:48:27 Zero-Cost Support, Sponsors, Patreon, Supplements, Instagram, Twitter
Please note that The Huberman Lab Podcast is distinct from Dr. Huberman's teaching and research roles at Stanford University School of Medicine. The information provided in this show is not medical advice, nor should it be taken or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The Huberman Lab Podcast, its employees, guests and affiliates assume no liability for the application of the information discussed.
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
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