Controlling Your Dopamine For Motivation, Focus & Satisfaction

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. #HubermanLab #Dopamine #Motivation Thank you to our sponsors: ROKA - InsideTracker - Headspace - Logitech Event - Rethink Education: The Biology of Learning Support Research in Huberman Lab at Stanford: Supplements from Thorne: Social: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook - Website - Newsletter - Links: Review on Dopamine: Cold Exposure & Dopamine: Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction & Tool 1 to Induce Lasting Dopamine 00:04:48 Sponsors: Roka, InsideTracker, Headspace 00:09:10 Upcoming (Zero-Cost) Neuroplasticity Seminar for Educators 00:09:58 What Dopamine (Really) Does 00:15:30 Two Main Neural Circuits for Dopamine 00:18:14 How Dopamine Is Released: Locally and Broadly 00:22:03 Fast and Slow Effects of Dopamine 00:25:03 Dopamine Neurons Co-Release Glutamate 00:28:00 Your Dopamine History Really Matters 00:30:30 Parkinson’s & Drugs That Kill Dopamine Neurons. My Dopamine Experience 00:36:58 Tool 3 Controlling Dopamine Peaks & Baselines 00:40:06 Chocolate, Sex (Pursuit & Behavior), Nicotine, Cocaine, Amphetamine, Exercise 00:46:46 Tool 4 Caffeine Increases Dopamine Receptors 00:49:54 Pursuit, Excitement & Your “Dopamine Setpoint” 00:56:46 Your Pleasure-Pain Balance & Defining “Pain” 01:00:00 Addiction, Dopamine Depletion, & Replenishing Dopamine 01:07:50 Tool 5 Ensure Your Best (Healthy) Dopamine Release 01:15:28 Smart Phones: How They Alter Our Dopamine Circuits 01:19:45 Stimulants & Spiking Dopamine: Counterproductive for Work, Exercise & Attention 01:22:20 Caffeine Sources Matter: Yerba Mate & Dopamine Neuron Protection 01:24:20 Caffeine & Neurotoxicity of MDMA 01:26:15 Amphetamine, Cocaine & Detrimental Rewiring of Dopamine Circuits 01:27:57 Ritalin, Adderall, (Ar)Modafinil: ADHD versus non-Prescription Uses 01:28:45 Tool 6 Stimulating Long-Lasting Increases in Baseline Dopamine 01:37:55 Tool 7 Tuning Your Dopamine for Ongoing Motivation 01:47:40 Tool 8 Intermittent Fasting: Effects on Dopamine 01:53:09 Validation of Your Pre-Existing Beliefs Increases Dopamine 01:53:50 Tool 9 Quitting Sugar & Highly Palatable Foods: 48 Hours 01:55:36 Pornography 01:56:50 Wellbutrin & Depression & Anxiety 01:58:30 Tool 10 Mucuna Pruriens, Prolactin, Sperm, Crash Warning 02:01:45 Tool 11 L-Tyrosine: Dosages, Duration of Effects & Specificity 02:05:20 Tool 12 Avoiding Melatonin Supplementation, & Avoiding Light 10pm-4am 02:07:00 Tool 13 Phenylethylamine (with Alpha-GPC) For Dopamine Focus/Energy 02:08:20 Tool 14 Huperzine A 02:10:02 Social Connections, Oxytocin & Dopamine Release 02:12:20 Direct & Indirect Effects: e.g., Maca; Synthesis & Application 02:14:22 Zero-Cost & Other Ways To Support Podcast & Research The Huberman Lab Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac -