In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I explore the sensations of pain and pleasure, explaining how they are sensed in the body and interpreted by the brain as well as methods to control their intensity.
I discuss both the hardwired mechanisms and subjective factors that shape an individual’s perception of pain and pleasure. I also explain why pain thresholds vary from person to person and discuss various treatments for pain management such as acupuncture and supplements. Finally, I explain the role of key neurochemicals like dopamine and serotonin in mediating our experience of pain and pleasure.
Episode show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/NiHdOrb
Huberman Lab Essentials are short episodes focused on essential science and protocol takeaways from past full-length Huberman Lab episodes. Watch the full-length episode: https://youtu.be/xmhsWAqP_0Y?si=uqKQb1YZDs4jb56I
Watch more Huberman Lab Essentials episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPNW_gerXa4OGNy1yE-W9IX-tPu-tJa7S
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*Timestamps*
00:00:00 Pain & Pleasure
00:00:39 Skin, Appetitive vs Aversive Behaviors
00:02:10 Skin, Neurons & Brain
00:04:46 Brain Interpretation, Homunculus, Two-Point Discrimination Test
00:07:43 Pain & Pleasure, Subjective Interpretation
00:09:53 Tool: Pain & Expectation
00:11:31 Pain Threshold
00:13:09 Heat & Cold, Tool: Moving into Cold or Hot Environments
00:15:00 Subjective Pain, Psychosomatic, Fibromyalgia, Whole Body Pain, Acetyl-L-carnitine
00:19:17 Acupuncture, Electroacupuncture, Pain Management
00:22:07 Red Heads & Pain Threshold, Endorphins
00:24:02 Improving Pain Threshold, Dopamine
00:25:30 Pleasure, Dopamine, Serotonin; Depression, Anti-depressants
00:29:41 Pleasure & Pain Balance, Dopamine, Addiction
00:31:37 Recap & Key Takeaways
Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer
