Addiction Explained, Rises & Falls in Dopamine | Dr. Andrew Huberman

Dr. Andrew Huberman discusses the science of addiction, focusing on the role of dopamine to understand why quick rewards make addiction so hard to combat.

Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast.

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The Huberman Lab podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

[icycreme]

I think these short videos are great. They are pretty short and convenient to watch, while still giving good education

[fitfighting]

Thank you very much Professor Huberman for this video. The truth is that the healthy management of dopamines in our body is a compendium of enormous relevance for life. Best regards from Chile!

[zachbaker]

Im studying neuronscience in my letures at university and this video came up at the perfect time! Thank you.

[mikemiller]

My cocaine use tale, in 81 I spent my entire paycheck one evening..having to borrow 20 dollars to buy gas just to make it home.The next day I experienced the Huge Drop the Dr. described I totally experienced the logic in suicide feeling the worst I remember ever feeling. The insanity of trying to re-experience that first rush...but Never achieving it. I havent done any since.

[harryv]

My best dopamine hits are when I finish a project, get in a good workout (whether cycling or strength training, even on bad days where I don't feel like it or don't feel like I have the energy to). My worst dopamine hits are reaching for a beer or a glass of wine when I finish a project or chore at home or reaching for a cigarette (I know, need to just quit) after a hard workout or ride. But am learning (again) to do better and be better. Much thanks.

[ericdaugherty]

I think it would be very beneficial if you did an episode deep diving on the science behind ibogaine. It's incredible what it's done for people with severe addictions and ptsd. And the potential for safer microdoses of it is also very interesting although the science so far as been limited.

[ericdaugherty]

Would love to learn more about iboga/ibogaine’s effects on the dopamine system in relation to addiction and ptsd. An interview with Dr. Deborah Mash about ibogaine and the brain would be sick!

[ren]

The real question is how we can heal the brain from years of heavy artificial dopamine hits. I've been away from addiction for 3 months and still have symptoms

[damoclezz]

Obviously, TikTok, Facebook, etc., are using dopamine peaks, but I don't feel a craving for it. Maybe some do, but in my case, I simply stumble upon it and get hooked. Does it disrupt this natural system if there is no comparison between craving and experience? Does the drop below baseline get bigger or smaller? I'd really like to know what Dr Huberman is thinking about this.

[FreshGrey-pmvw]

excellent presentation - I will share with my counseling colleagues;-)

[household]

Excellent... and so i guess this is what makes sugar addictive.
I remember Layne Norton scoffing at people that were saying it was addictive but given this... like so so so so so many other addictive things... the substance itself might not be addictive in itself.. BUT the dopamine hit people get become addictive....
So when someone says sugar is not addictive.. well neither is phone scrolling or social media or cocaine.
Guess we have to be pragmatic and say.. yes - sugar is addictive like social media and cocaine and phone scrolling.

[Hatchet-Jack]

Does caffeine help or hinder the recovery process? I'm currently in recovery, experiencing anhedonia. No pleasure from anything which sucks. A cup of black coffee gives me a little boost and helps me get some work done and get through the day. However, I don't want to disrupt/extend the recovery process. Any advice from those of you that have been through this would be appreciated.

[questioneverything]

Would using the addiction of choice prior to engaging in a behavior that promotes limbic friction, prime those neural pathways to receive the adjacent prolactin increase, and therefore the significant dopamine increase that follows?
Staving off additional cravings for the addicted behavior?

[kebub]

Nobody explained me that before that good.

[jopo]

Addictions are bad. Especially commenting on every Huberman video for dopamine hits.
Oooops.

[moesid]

We have to learn how to enhance dopamine in a healthy wayv

[beeeesn]

That video triggers extremely, if u had an coca adic.
Im imagine some addict who has memories of his pipe (and/or) hits. And than that talk about the high intense dopamine rush. That could give the memories that feeling back which maybe was forgotten or ignored.
I am appreciate A Hubermans explanation and his podcas generally, but his description of cocain dopamine causes, are very imaginable and may leading back into those memories, because u want to remember "just" the effect (in a scientific way) but with bad luck this purely scientific curiosity comes with more feelings, more memory and leaves the Science pathway.
But you can come back
I just wanted to mention that.

[austinmartin]

Probably a silly question, but where can I find the citations? Specifically for the first stat you mentioned pertaining to alcohol use disorder.

[Faded_Fragger]

What drops after a peak is the DOPAMINE level baseline OR the DOPAMINE RECEPTORS? Or both? I'm kinda confused with this.

For example, if there's like a dopamine generating activity, and you constantly keep doing it. Does the ammount of dopamine that your body produces start to decrease, or the number of dopamine receptors start to decrease? Or both?

[wendellhoward]

How does the dopamine high from illegal drugs compare to comfort foods (eg sugar)?
Just in general terms. For instance 10 times more powerful (or more).
I’m trying to have an illustration to help non-addicts to understand the addictive properties that drugs hold, building empathy.