Huberman Lab Scicomm Media

In this episode, I explain how to strengthen and build a stable, pain-free back and how to reduce or eliminate existing back pain. I explain the anatomy and physiology of the spinal cord and vertebrae, intervertebral disks and nerve pathways, and the abdominal and back muscles that together can be leveraged to stabilize the back. 
Then, I describe protocols: “McGill’s Big 3” exercises, a highly effective psoas stretch, abdominal stabilization, breathing techniques, and protocols to reinforce essential supports for the back, including the neck, pelvis, feet, and toes. 
I also explain how you can reduce and potentially eliminate back pain and sciatica using a specific type of bar hang, “cobra push-ups,” medial-glute strengthening exercises, and more. 
Back pain greatly impedes one’s ability to enjoy daily activities; this episode provides zero-cost, minimal time-investment protocols to improve your back strength and stability and allow you to move through life pain-free and with ease and mobility. 
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
AeroPress: https://aeropress.com/huberman
Joovv: https://joovv.com/huberman
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman
Plunge: https://plunge.com/huberman
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Back Health
(00:03:47) Sponsors: AeroPress, Joovv & Waking Up
(00:07:57) Back Anatomy: Spine, Vertebrae, Spinal Cord
(00:12:07) Spinal Cord & Nerves; Herniated Discs
(00:19:50) Build Strong Pain-Free Back; Bulging Discs
(00:24:26) Back Pain & Professional Evaluation; Tool: Spine Self-Assessment 
(00:34:58) Sponsor: AG1
(00:36:29) Tool: McGill Big 3 Exercises, Curl-Up
(00:44:40) Tool: McGill Big 3 Exercises, Side Plank
(00:53:13) Tool: McGill Big 3 Exercises, Bird Dog; Back Pain
(01:04:10) Sponsor: Plunge
(01:05:37) Tool: Back Pain & Oreo Analogy, Bar Hang
(01:10:34) Time & Back Pain; Tool: Reversing Disc Herniation, Cobra Push-Ups 
(01:21:28) Sciatica, Referred Pain, Herniated Disc
(01:24:21) Tool: Improve Spine Stability, Strengthen Neck
(01:29:23) Tools: Strengthen Feet, Toe Spreading
(01:34:35) Tools: Belly Breathing; Stagger Stance
(01:42:03) Tools: Relieve Low Back Pain, Medial Glute Activation; Rolled Towel
(01:50:59) Tool: Psoas Stretching
(01:57:00) Tool: Back Awareness; Strengthen & Pain-Proof Back
(02:05:49) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Disclaimer

This is episode 4 of a 6-part special series on sleep with Dr. Matthew Walker, Ph.D., a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of the best-selling book "Why We Sleep." In this episode, we discuss the relationship between sleep, learning and creativity. 
We explain why and how sleep before and after a learning bout can improve memory and performance for both cognitive tasks and physical skills. We also discuss how to use time learning and sleep, how to use naps, non-sleep deep rest states, and caffeine to optimize learning, and the mechanisms for sleep and memory consolidation. 
We also explain the critical role that sleep plays in creativity and one's ability to discover novel solutions to challenges and problems. 
This episode is filled with actionable information on using sleep to enhance skill learning and improve memory and creativity. 
The next episode in this guest series explains how sleep benefits emotional regulation and mental health. 
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman 
WHOOP: https://join.whoop.com/huberman 
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman 
InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/huberman 
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Sleep & Learning
(00:00:59) Sponsors: Helix Sleep, Whoop & Waking Up
(00:05:48) Learning, Memory & Sleep
(00:09:32) Memory & Sleep, “All-Nighters”, Hippocampus
(00:13:46) Naps & Learning Capacity
(00:16:59) Early School Start Times, Performance & Accidents
(00:26:38) Medical Residency & Sleep Deprivation
(00:29:35) Sponsor: AG1
(00:30:49) Tool: Sleep Before Learning; Cramming Effect
(00:35:09) Tools: Caffeine; Timing Peak Learning; “Second Wind”
(00:44:25) Memory Consolidation in Sleep
(00:55:07) Sleepwalking & Talking; REM-Sleep Behavioral Disorder
(01:00:16) REM Sleep Paralysis, Alcohol, Stress
(01:07:41) Sponsor: InsideTracker
(01:08:46) Skills, Motor Learning & Sleep
(01:17:03) Tool: Timing Sleep & Learning, Skill Enhancement
(01:20:00) Naps; Specificity & Memory Consolidation, Sleep Spindles
(01:27:21) Sleep, Motor Learning & Athletes; Automaticity
(01:34:10) Can Learning Improve Sleep?
(01:39:13) Tool: Exercise to Improve Sleep; Performance, Injury & Motivation
(01:44:38) Pillars of Health; Dieting & Sleep Deprivation
(01:49:35) Performance & Poor Sleep, Belief Effects, “Orthosomnia”
(01:57:03) “Overnight Alchemy”, Sleep & Novel Memory Linking
(02:05:58) Sleep & Creativity
(02:11:09) Tools: Waking & Technology; Naps; “Sleep on a Problem”
(02:20:51) Creative Insight & Sleep
(02:26:18) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Disclaimer

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD, FSAHM. She is a professor of pediatrics and adolescent medicine and a developmental psychologist at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Halpern-Felsher is a world expert in adolescent decision-making and risk-taking behaviors.
She explains the huge increase in vaping (e-cigarettes) by young people. She explains why vaping nicotine and cannabis is particularly dangerous to the developing brain. We discuss the rise in vaping addiction, the unique social pressures and social media influences faced by youth that make quitting challenging, and interventions to aid them in quitting or reducing use.
We also discuss the role of technology and social media. And, the use of alcohol, nicotine pouches, fentanyl, and other risky behaviors that adolescents face now.
This episode should interest parents, teachers, coaches, teens, and families. It covers the current youth substance use landscape and also covers resources and ways to quit these addictive behaviors. 
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman 
Mateina: https://drinkmateina.com/huberman 
LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman 
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher
(00:01:40) Sponsors: Eight Sleep, Mateina & LMNT 
(00:05:38) Adolescence
(00:09:19) Household Conflict, Parents; Smart Phones
(00:12:35) Smart Phones & Social Media
(00:18:25) Vaping, E-Cigarettes, Nicotine & Cannabis
(00:23:46) Adolescent Nicotine Use: Marketing, Flavors
(00:30:41) Sponsor: AG1
(00:32:13) Nicotine Initiation, Freebase vs. Salt-Based Nicotine, Concentration
(00:41:35) Addiction & Withdrawal; E-Cigarette Access
(00:48:48) Vaping Health Hazards, Aldehydes, Flavors
(00:56:32) Sponsor: Waking Up
(00:57:48) “Just Say No”, Adolescent Defiance
(01:04:21) Cannabis & Potency, Blunts, E-Cigarette Combinations
(01:10:30) Psychosis, THC & Adolescence
(01:14:11) Quitting Nicotine & Cannabis; Physical & Social Withdrawal Symptoms
(01:23:05) Social Pressures, Quitting Vaping, Environment Concerns
(01:30:08) Teen Activities, Social Media, Autonomy
(01:36:28) Risky Behaviors, Alcohol, Driving, Sexual Behavior
(01:43:27) International E-Cigarette Use, Regulation
(01:46:10) Nicotine Pouches, Health Risks; Tolerance
(01:53:25) Tools: Vaping Interventions, Decision Making, Harm Reduction
(02:02:37) Fentanyl, Drug Testing, Recreational Drug Use
(02:13:45) Tool: Organic Conversations & Risky Behavior
(02:17:20) Long-Term Goals & Teens; Vaping, Pornography & Teens
(02:24:08) Mental Health Crisis & Substance Use
(02:29:11) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Disclaimer

Recently I had the pleasure of hosting a live event in Sydney, Australia. This event was part of a lecture series called The Brain Body Contract. My favorite part of the evening was the question and answer period, where I had the opportunity to answer questions from the attendees of each event. Included here is the Q&A from our event at the Sydney Opera House.
Sign up to get notified about future events: https://www.hubermanlab.com/events
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:00:15) Live Event Recap: The Brain Body Contract
(00:00:36) Sponsor: AG1 & Eight Sleep
(00:02:50) The Power of Mindset on Stress
(00:05:23) David Goggins: A Case Study in Resilience
(00:09:59) Exploring Time Perception & Frame Rate
(00:18:20) Jet Lag Protocol: Adjusting to New Time Zones
(00:26:44) The Science of Neuroplasticity
(00:26:49) The Transformative Power of Psychedelics
(00:29:26) Exploring Psilocybin & MDMA: Personal Experiences & Insights
(00:36:12) The Science of Sleep: How Temperature Affects It
(00:39:38) Understanding Stress Response & Habituation
(00:41:20) Personal Anecdotes
(00:47:00) Finding Your Passion: Advice for the Youth
(00:51:20) Closing Thoughts & Gratitude
Disclaimer

This is episode 3 of a 6-part special series on sleep with Dr. Matthew Walker, Ph.D., a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and leading public educator about the role of sleep in health, disease and performance. 
We explain how our sleep architecture changes as we age. We also cover how childhood development and aging affect sleep biology and needs. We also discuss whether polyphasic sleep (multiple short sleep periods) is beneficial. 
Then, we discuss naps, including their positive benefits, individual variability, those who should not nap, and alternative rest states like non-sleep deep rest. Dr. Walker shares protocols to optimize nap duration, timing and effectiveness.
We also explore the effects of caffeine on sleep and other health aspects, as well as the optimal timing for caffeine intake.
This episode describes many actionable science-based tools for optimizing sleep, naps and caffeine use for better health and performance.
The next episode in this special series explores the relationship between sleep, memory, and creativity.
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman
LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman
Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Sleep Structure
(00:01:29) Sponsors: BetterHelp, LMNT & Waking Up
(00:05:42) Sleep Phases & Lifespan
(00:11:58) Sleep Stages & Lifespan, Sleep Paralysis & Animals
(00:20:19) Adults & Biphasic Sleep, Modern Society
(00:25:14) Chronotype, Circadian Rhythms & Biological Flexibility
(00:29:07) Genetics & Chronotype
(00:31:42) Sponsor: AG1
(00:32:55) Biphasic Sleep, Adults; Body Position & Sleepiness
(00:40:09) Naps, Positive Benefits, Nighttime Insomnia
(00:49:38) Tool: Optimal Nap: Duration & Timing; Grogginess
(00:58:15) Nap Capacity, “Liminal” States & NSDR
(01:07:37) NASA Nap Culture, Power Naps
(01:11:49) Sponsor: Eight Sleep
(01:12:50) Tools: Nap Timing, “Fragile” Nighttime Sleep; On-Off-On Protocol
(01:18:57) Avoiding Naps: Insomnia, Aging & Sleep Quality Decline
(01:28:20) Caffeine, “Nappuccino”; Hot Drinks
(01:38:28) Adenosine Clearance, Sleep 
(01:43:10) Tool: Delaying Caffeine, Afternoon Crash, Sleep Quality
(01:49:06) Caffeine, Health, Antioxidants; Caffeine Tolerance & Alcohol
(01:56:54) Tool: Nap “Enhancements”, Caffeine, Light & Face Washing
(02:04:33) Polyphasic Sleep, Adverse Effects
(02:12:43) Sleep Deprivation & Car Crashes; Polyphasic Sleep
(02:16:49) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Disclaimer

In this episode, my guest is Dr. David Yeager, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Texas, Austin, and the author of the forthcoming book "10 to 25." We discuss how people of any age can use growth mindset and stress-is-enhancing mindsets to improve motivation and performance.
We explain the best mindset for mentors and being mentored and how great leaders motivate others with high standards and support. We also discuss why a sense of purpose is essential to goal pursuit and achievement.
Whether you are a parent, teacher, boss, coach, student or someone wanting to improve a skill or overcome a particular challenge, this episode provides an essential framework for adopting performance-enhancing mindsets leading to success.
For show notes, including referenced articles, additional resources and people mentioned, please visit hubermanlab.com.
Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
AeroPress: https://aeropress.com/huberman
ROKA: https://roka.com/huberman
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Dr. David Yeager
(00:01:49) Sponsors: AeroPress & ROKA
(00:04:20) Growth Mindset; Performance, Self-Esteem
(00:10:31) “Wise” Intervention, Teaching Growth Mindset
(00:15:12) Stories & Writing Exercises
(00:19:42) Effort Beliefs, Physiologic Stress Response
(00:24:44) Stress-Is-Enhancing vs Stress-Is-Debilitating Mindsets
(00:29:28) Sponsor: AG1
(00:30:58) Language & Importance, Stressor vs. Stress Response
(00:37:54) Physiologic Cues, Threat vs Challenge Response
(00:44:35) Mentor Mindset & Leadership; Protector vs Enforcer Mindset
(00:53:58) Sponsor: Waking Up
(00:55:14) Strivings, Social Hierarchy & Adolescence, Testosterone
(01:06:28) Growth Mindset & Transferability, Defensiveness
(01:11:36) Challenge, Environment & Growth Mindset
(01:19:08) Goal Pursuit, Brain Development & Adaptation
(01:24:54) Emotions; Loss vs. Gain & Motivation
(01:32:28) Skill Building & Challenge, Purpose Motivation
(01:39:59) Contribution Value, Scientific Work & Scrutiny
(01:50:01) Self-Interest, Contribution Mindset
(01:58:05) Criticism, Negative Workplaces vs. Growth Culture
(02:06:51) Critique & Support; Motivation; Standardized Tests
(02:16:40) Mindset Research
(02:23:53) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Disclaimer