The Science of Emotions & Relationships

In this episode, I discuss the biology of emotions and moods in the context of relationships. I focus on the science of how early infant-caregiver attachment, combined with adolescence and puberty shape our adult patterns of attachment. I explain the three universal aspects of emotions, the reality of right-brain versus left-brain personalities, and how the roots of adult attachment are also grounded in specific aspects of puberty. I review what factors determine when puberty starts and ends, and the role of oxytocin and other chemicals in controlling how we perceive and remember others. As always, I refer to various practical tools including new tools for understanding and predicting our emotions before they occur, and neurochemicals that shape human connection. Read the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://www.wakingup.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction   00:00:32 Sponsors: AG1, LMNT & Waking Up   00:05:10 Announcing New Cost-Free Resources: Captions, NSDR Link   00:07:40 Emotions: Subjective Yet Tractable   00:10:53 To Understand Your Emotions: Look At Infancy & Puberty   00:15:21 Your First Feeling Was Anxiety   00:17:36 What Are “Healthy Emotions”?   00:19:03 Digital Tool For Predicting Your Emotions: Mood Meter App   00:21:08 The Architecture Of A Feeling: (At Least) 3 Key Questions To Ask Yourself   00:24:00 You Are An Infant: Bonds & Predictions   00:27:57 Attachment Style Hinges On How You Handle Disappointment   00:32:40 “Glue Points” Of Emotional Bonds: Gaze, Voice, Affect, Touch, (& Written)   00:36:34 “Emotional Health”: Awareness of the Interoceptive-Exteroceptive Dynamic   00:37:50 An Exercise: Controlling Interoceptive-Exteroceptive Bias   00:42:19 Getting Out Of Your Head: The Attentional Aperture   00:46:59 Puberty: Biology & Emotions On Deliberate Overdrive   00:47:58 Bodyfat & Puberty: The Leptin Connection   00:50:34 Pheromones: Mates, Timing Puberty, Spontaneous Miscarriage   00:54:37 Kisspeptin: Robust Trigger Of Puberty & Performance Enhancing Agent   00:58:26 Neuroplasticity Of Emotions: Becoming Specialists & Testing Emotional Bonds   01:00:25 Testing Driving Brain Circuits For Emotion: Dispersal   01:07:48 Science-Based Recommendations for Adolescents and Teens: The Autonomy Buffet   01:11:05 “Right-Brain Versus Left-Brain People”: Facts Versus Lies   01:14:18 Left Brain = Language, Right Brain = Spatial Awareness   01:16:15 How To Recognize “Right Brain Activity” In Speech: Prosody   01:18:32 Oxytocin: The Molecule of Synchronizing States   01:20:09 Mirror Neurons: Are Not For “Empathy”, Maybe For Predicting Behavior   01:23:00 Promoting Trust & Monogamy   01:27:00 Ways To Increase Oxytocin   01:28:34 Vasopressin: Aphrodisiac, Non-Monogamy and Anti-Bed-Wetting Qualities   01:30:43 Bonding Bodies, Not Just Minds: Vagus Nerve, Depression Relief Via the Body   01:35:18 A Powerful Tool For Enhancing Range & Depth of Emotional Experience   01:36:43 MDMA and Other Psychedelic Compounds: Building A Framework   01:38:54 Roundup, Various Forms of Support   Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices