Dr. Charles Zuker: The Biology of Taste Perception & Sugar Craving | Huberman Lab Podcast #81

My guest this episode is Dr. Charles Zuker, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics and Neuroscience at Columbia University and an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Zuker is the world’s leading expert in the biology of taste, thirst and craving. His laboratory explores the mechanisms of taste perception, focusing on how our conscious and unconscious processing of specific foods and nutrients guide our actions and behaviors. We discuss the neural circuits of taste, the “gut-brain axis,” the basis of food cravings and the key difference between wanting (craving) and liking (perceiving) sugar. We also explore how taste perception relates to specific food satiety, thirst, to our emotions, and expectation. We also consider how sugar containing and highly-processed foods can hijack the natural balance of the taste and digestive systems. Dr. Zuker provides a true masterclass in the biology of taste and perception that ought to be of interest to anyone curious about how the brain works, our motivated behaviors and the neural, chemical perceptual aspects of the mind.

#HubermanLab #Sugar #Taste

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Dr. Charles Zuker

Timestamps
00:00:00 Dr. Charles Zuker & Taste Perception
00:03:05 Momentous Supplements
00:04:35 Thesis, ROKA, Helix Sleep
00:08:35 Sensory Detection vs. Sensory Perception
00:11:48 Individual Variations within Perception, Color
00:16:20 Perceptions & Behaviors
00:20:19 The 5 Taste Modalities
00:26:18 Aversive Taste, Bitter Taste
00:28:00 Survival-Based & Evolutionary Reasons for Taste Modalities, Taste vs. Flavor
00:30:14 Additional Taste Modalities: Fat & Metallic Perception
00:34:02 Tongue “Taste Map,” Taste Buds & Taste Receptors
00:39:34 Burning Your Tongue & Perception
00:42:54 The “Meaning” of Taste Stimuli, Sweet vs. Bitter, Valence
00:51:55 Positive vs. Negative Neuronal Activation & Behavior
00:56:16 Acquired Tastes, Conditioned Taste Aversion
01:01:44 Olfaction (Smell) vs. Taste, Changing Tastes over One’s Lifetime
01:09:14 Integration of Odor & Taste, Influence on Behavior & Emotion
01:17:26 Sensitization to Taste, Internal State Modulation, Salt
01:24:05 Taste & Saliva: The Absence of Taste
01:28:10 Sugar & Reward Pleasure Centers; Gut-Brain Axis, Anticipatory Response
01:36:23 Vagus Nerve
01:43:09 Insatiable Sugar Appetite, Liking vs. Wanting, Gut-Brain Axis
01:52:03 Tool: Sugar vs. Artificial Sweeteners, Curbing Appetite
01:54:06 Cravings & Gut-Brain Axis
01:57:30 Nutrition, Gut-Brain Axis & Changes in Behavior
02:01:53 Fast vs. Slow Signaling & Reinforcement, Highly Processed Foods
02:10:38 Favorite Foods: Enjoyment, Sensation & Context
02:15:58 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Instagram, Twitter, Neural Network Newsletter

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[good_call]

Another free university-level lecture delivered in an entertaining and engaging way; The best use of modern technology.

[Alezandr]

As a German, I love that someone with his name talks about Sugar

[HorstDeBepp]

Dude I love you. Your topics are captivating and relevant, your communication is crisp and clear, your guests are endlevel, your questions are precise and perfectly timed, its addicting to listen to your podacats over and over, goddammit.

[anmi]

One of the best episodes, I couldn't stop listening in one go. Absolutely amazing job Dr. Huberman, thank you so very much for everything we've learned from you, all the myths that are falling apart, all the bullshit we have been taught and all the life changing info we get from you. A very big THANK YOU!

[barnerix]

Zuker or as written in German "Zucker" means "sugar". 😎 Sounds like he made his name a program for life. 😉 I'm glad he shares his valuable discoveries with the public.

[NicoleCoreyRealtor]

Found your podcast when googling how to sleep better and decided to start listening in chronological order, whenever possible, via Spotify. The knowledge, experience and tools that you share are having a profound, immediate and positive impact on my life. I am deeply grateful that you chose to share this information with all of us.

[cesarhurtado]

Dr Huberman, I'm a 22 year old truck driver and your content has helped me optimize my shifts. And i really appreciate your efforts and professionalism to keep things practical. So I can't thank you enough.

Quick questions for future content:

How can one get rid of addiction? Specifically adult content addiction.

Surely there's a lot of men out there wondering the science behind post ejaculation clarity. Wouldn't mind learning about that.
Thank you again for everything you do.

[chikacherrycola]

There is an Elegance in that there is no part of ‘The Brain’ that is Specifically Isolated for ‘Consciousness or The Soul’….Love Love Love your Podcast ‘Dr. Huberman’🌸

[dimap]

"Zuker" is quite a last name for a nutrition specialist:))

[andSpry]

I had radiation to the tongue due to cancer 8 years ago. I lost my sense of taste for two years. It was hard and depressing. It came back but not the same. I do look forward to food which is what I wanted. I believe my brain retrained itself. I am writing this as I start the Podcast. I will reply after the podcast. I have been waiting for this conversation for 8 years.

[Masclessss]

Prof Andrew, really appreciate all your effort here. The interaction is elegant and humble.
Thanks

[melie]

Dr. Zucker perfectly described the reason why I like eating French fries and sometimes cookies too. With fries it’s not about the taste more so than it is the *mechanosensory experience* I get from eating it. How it dissolves, the heat when u eat them fresh, they’re just so satisfying to eat. Same with warm cookies, they’re not the same as store bought ones.

I wish there could be more public discussion about that mechanosensory experience of foods and how we can deal with that when it comes to not eating too healthily. I was only able to find like 2 articles when I googled it, but it’s too science-y to understand lol

[fysiotube]

I am absolutly addicted when it is about your free tributes about science, but this one is more then that, it seems like you both are like in a tennis game, fantastic, watching it for third time, such a joy

[shahabmohan]

Hubermann, you should be given the Nobel prize for the awareness that you are delivering to the common people.

[monique]

I want to say this is my favorite but then I realize I've felt this way a number of times already! 🤣 I could listen to Charles Zuker talk for hours! What a jam-packed interview.

[mustavogaia]

Incredible: some guests, albeit amazing, reveal how impressive is Huberman's capacity to comunicate science.

[gidi]

Finally someone is pointing out you should be guided in development or research first by intentions, and use them to constraint your understanding. I just feel the intentions part is almost never mentioned.
And any project must first have an intention tree.

20:22 - 3 minutes of wisdom - Amazing - Thanks!

[cindysieracki]

I hugely appreciate this podcast, Andrew Huberman. In my opinion, it’s the best health topic podcast available. A topic that could be enormously helpful to many is sexual dysfunction as it relates to the nervous and endocrine systems. I’m thinking about issues like anorgasmia, post coital headache, erectile problems, poor or partial functioning of related neurons, and so forth. Are there actionable strategies that could improve these problems? These are undoubtedly complex issues, but it seems as though you might be the person, and your podcast the forum, to provide help!

[brightflower]

Thank you very much for this podcast, Dr Zuker has the ability to share his immense knowledge and experience in simple concepts and words that we can all understand. Thank you for inviting him to your podcast, I have learned lots and enjoyed even more.

[penmaenmawrdefiant]

What's the word for a craving of knowledge : Hubermania 😊