– The Huberman Lab Podcast featuring Dr. Robert Malenka discusses the brain’s reward circuits and their influence on decision-making and behavior.
– Dr. Malenka explains how rewarding experiences affect our brains and how these circuits shape our choices.
– The podcast delves into the importance of understanding reward circuits to improve mental health and combat addiction.
– Various techniques, such as optogenetics and chemogenetics, are explored as potential tools for studying and manipulating reward circuits.
– The discussion also touches on neurotransmitters, such as Dopamine, in the reward system.
Welcome to another intriguing episode of the Huberman Lab Podcast! This time, we deeply dive into the fascinating world of our brain’s reward circuits. Dr. Robert Malenka, an esteemed expert in the field, joins the conversation to shed light on how these circuits drive our choices and influence our behavior. So, buckle up and get ready for some mind-blowing insights!
Imagine a world where our decisions are solely driven by logic and devoid of emotions or cravings. Sounds a bit dull. Our brain’s reward circuits play a vital role in shaping our choices and making life a little more interesting. Dr. Malenka unravels the mystery behind these circuits, explaining how they work and impact our daily lives.
When we experience something rewarding, whether a delicious treat or a thrilling activity, our brain releases Dopamine. This feel-good chemical signals to our reward circuits that something good has happened. These circuits, strategically positioned in our brain, integrate this dopamine signal and modulate our behavior accordingly.
But why are reward circuits so important? They are responsible for generating the motivation required to seek out pleasurable experiences. Imagine feeling no pleasure or motivation to reward yourself for your hard work or to explore new horizons – life would lack motivation and joy. The intricate workings of our reward circuits make life exciting and full of possibilities.
During the podcast, Dr. Malenka delves into how these circuits are wired in our brains. He reveals that the reward circuitry is not limited to a single brain region but a complex network involving several interconnected regions such as the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the nucleus accumbens, and the prefrontal cortex. This intricate network ensures that our experiences and choices are multifaceted, involving various brain regions working harmoniously.
Understanding the reward circuits also holds great potential for advancing mental health treatments. By exploring the circuitry and neurotransmitter systems involved in reward, scientists hope to develop targeted interventions for conditions like depression and addiction. By manipulating these circuits, it may be possible to alleviate symptoms and restore balance to individuals who suffer from these disorders.
One fascinating aspect discussed in the podcast is the use of cutting-edge techniques like optogenetics and chemogenetics. These techniques allow researchers to selectively activate or inhibit specific groups of neurons within the reward circuits, providing valuable insights into how these circuits function. They provide a glimpse into the brain’s inner workings, helping scientists decipher the intricate web of connections and signals.
Optogenetics uses light to control neurons genetically modified to respond to light stimulation. Researchers can observe the resultant effects on the reward system by activating or deactivating specific neurons. Similarly, chemogenetics relies on genetically engineered receptors that can be manipulated through specific drugs. These techniques offer unprecedented access to studying reward circuits and their influence on decision-making.
The Huberman Lab Podcast also explores the role of neurotransmitters, particularly Dopamine, in the reward system. Dr. Malenka explains how dopamine release is not simply associated with pleasure but is intricately involved in learning and motivation. By understanding how Dopamine affects our reward circuits, scientists hope to develop treatments specifically targeting the malfunctioning reward systems seen in addiction or mental health disorders.
The discussion between Dr. Malenka and Huberman takes us on a journey into the inner workings of our brains. It opens our eyes to the complexity and intricacy of the reward circuits that drive our choices and behavior. From understanding the brain’s reward signals to exploring cutting-edge techniques and their potential applications, this podcast episode offers a truly captivating and informative experience.
So, whether you’re a dabbler in neuroscience or simply curious about the forces shaping our decision-making, the Dr. Robert Malenka episode of the Huberman Lab Podcast is a must-listen. Transport yourself into a world unlike any other, where the mind’s inner workings are illuminated, and the future of mental health treatment holds exciting possibilities. Discover how the brain’s reward circuits influence your choices, and gain valuable insights into the complexities of our human nature.
Tune in to the Huberman Lab Podcast and embark on a journey that will fill you with knowledge, curiosity, and a renewed appreciation for the intricate workings of your mind. Happy listening!
*****
Source Description
In this episode, my guest is Robert Malenka, MD, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine who has made numerous seminal discoveries of how the brain changes (neuroplasticity) in response to learning and rewarding and reinforcing experiences. We discuss the brain’s several reward systems involving Dopamine and serotonin and how these motivate us to seek out specific behaviors and substances. We discuss how these reward systems are modified based on context and our memories and how they can be hijacked toward maladaptive drug seeking in addiction. We also explore how reward systems influence social connections, oxytocin, and empathy and how that applies to our understanding of autism spectrum disorders. This episode should interest those interested in neuroplasticity, social bonding, addiction, autism, learning, and motivation.
#HubermanLab #Science #Neuroscience
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Dr. Robert Malenka
Stanford academic profile: https://profiles.stanford.edu/robert-malenka
Publications: https://profiles.stanford.edu/robert-malenka?tab=publications
Current clinical trial: https://clinicaltrials.stanford.edu/trials/e/NCT03841682.html
MapLight: https://maplightrx.com/team/robert-malenka
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-malenka-09b3a016b
Articles
Distinct neural mechanisms for the prosocial and rewarding properties of MDMA: https://bit.ly/3PNs2ze
The oxytocin receptor is not required for social attachment in prairie voles: https://bit.ly/3XLguOZ
Gating of social reward by oxytocin in the ventral tegmental area: https://bit.ly/3rigeee
Anterior cingulate inputs to the nucleus accumbens control the social transfer of pain and analgesia: https://bit.ly/44z3qP1
Social reward requires the coordinated activity of nucleus accumbens oxytocin and serotonin: https://go.nature.com/44iOQvl
Selective filtering of excitatory inputs to nucleus accumbens by Dopamine and serotonin: https://bit.ly/44UG8n1
Serotonin receptor regulation as a potential mechanism for sexually dimorphic oxytocin dysregulation in a model of Autism: https://bit.ly/44DS24e
5-HT modulation of a medial septal circuit tunes social memory stability: https://go.nature.com/3rjlXk7
Other Resources
MapLight: https://maplightrx.com
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS): https://maps.org
MindMed: https://mindmed.co
Timestamps
00:00:00 Dr. Robert Malenka
00:02:37 Sponsors: ROKA & Levels
00:05:21 Dopamine & Reward Circuitry
00:11:31 Reward, Arousal, Memory & Dopamine
00:17:34 Context, Cues & Dopamine Modification
00:25:38 Memory & Reward Scaling
00:30:50 Dopamine, “Addictive Liability” & Route of Administration
00:39:07 Sponsor: AG1
00:40:04 Drugs of Abuse & Brain Changes; Addiction & Individual Variability
00:50:51 Reinforcement vs. Reward, Wanting vs. Liking
00:57:50 Opioids, Psychostimulants & Dopamine
01:03:38 Sponsor: LMNT
01:04:51 Self-Doubt, Confidence & Career
01:12:40 Autism Spectrum Disorder
01:19:29 Pro-Social Interaction & Reward; Oxytocin, Serotonin & Dopamine
01:30:30 Nucleus Accumbens & Behavior Probability
01:38:28 Reward for Prosocial Behavior
01:43:13 Social Media & “Addictive Liability”; Gambling
01:52:17 Pain, Social Behavior & Empathy
02:02:19 Empathy Circuitry, Dopamine & Serotonin
02:10:07 Autism Spectrum Disorder & Social Interactions, Empathy
02:17:23 MDMA, Serotonin & Dopamine; Addiction & Pro-Social Effects
02:28:13 Autism Spectrum Disorder, Social Behavior, MDMA & Pharmacology
02:37:18 Serotonin, MDMA & Psychedelics
02:40:16 Psychedelics: Research & Therapeutic Potential
02:47:57 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac – https://www.blabacphoto.com
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