Joe Rogan Experience #2195 - Andrew Huberman

Joe Rogan and Andrew Huberman delve into the intricacies of dog genetics, discussing the influence of wolf and Mastiff genes on various breeds' morphology and temperament. They explore the remarkable genetic diversity in dogs, comparing it to human variability. The conversation shifts to the importance of physical and mental challenges for brain health, emphasizing the role of the anterior midcingulate cortex in resilience. They also touch on the impact of media manipulation, the benefits and controversies surrounding substances like cannabis and MDMA, and the significance of maintaining authenticity in creative and professional pursuits.

• All dogs originate from wolves, but selective breeding has significantly altered their genetics and morphology.
• Phenotype (physical appearance) and temperament are primary factors in dog selection.
• Dogs exhibit a vast range of body sizes within a species, influenced by genes controlling IGF-1 (growth hormone).

"Dogs are among... the greatest variation in body size within a given species."

• Mastiff breeds have more Mastiff genetics and less wolf genetics, affecting traits like snout length and pain receptors.

"The dogs that are more sight and scent... have more heavy dosing of the wolf genes still in them."

• Bulldogs have a short snout for holding onto things and fewer pain receptors in the face.

"The short snout gives them a good lever for holding on to things... and the Mastiff genes lead to... less presence of pain receptors in the front of the body."

• Dogs were bred for specific tasks, like herding, guarding, and companionship.
• Toy breeds were designed for companionship and some for hunting small vermin.

"When people essentially designed bred up and crossbred to get the English Bulldog... it was to rile up the bull for bullfighting."

• Dogs' abilities like scent tracking are a result of selective breeding for those traits.

"The terrier breeds will find vermin... they're really good ratters."

• Humans have a surprisingly strong sense of smell, comparable to dogs under certain conditions.
• Dogs' superior olfaction is due to frequent sniffing and specialized nasal structures.

"Dogs sniff much more... they have these vortices that are created by the structure of their nose and nostrils."

• Experiments show humans can track scents using only their olfactory senses.

"He had people hands mitted, eyes covered... they can follow a scent of chocolate buried seven inches below the ground."

• Significant portions of medical knowledge in textbooks may be outdated or incorrect.

"What percentage of things in medical textbooks... do you think are false based on your understanding of what we actually know now?... 50%."

• This outdated knowledge can have incalculable impacts on patient treatment.

"What is the extent of impact on treatment of patients modern day?... incalculable."

• Olfactory memories are long-lasting due to the direct connection between the olfactory bulb and brain structures like the amygdala.

"Memories that are associated with smell... those memories stick with us longer than anything."

• Olfactory neurons regenerate throughout life, unlike most other neurons.

"Olfactory neurons are among the very few neurons... that regenerate throughout the lifespan."

• Loss of smell can be due to viral infections, head injuries, or aging.
• Alpha-lipoic acid and smell training might help in regaining the sense of smell.

"Alpha-lipoic acid at 600 milligrams per day... might rescue some of that smell."

• Smell training involves repeatedly exposing oneself to strong scents to stimulate olfactory neurons.

"The behavioral tool of taking a lemon... and really trying to get whatever little whiff of lemon you can... has been shown to improve the survival and durability of olfactory neurons."

• Smelling salts trigger a rapid, reflexive response due to their strong odor, which can stimulate adrenaline release.

"Smelling salts... go through the accessory olfactory bulb straight to the amygdala... and then to a motor circuit... get away quick."

• People often unconsciously smell themselves and others to gather information about hormone status and health.

"We are constantly sensing our own odor plumes... people meet, they shake hands, and the next thing they do... they wipe the scent of the other person on their face."

• Stress and emotional states can be detected through subtle olfactory cues.

"I always say that I can smell bullshit... when someone's lying, I feel like there's a smell."

• Some people, known as high-conflict individuals, thrive on creating drama and conflict.
• It's crucial to recognize and avoid these individuals to prevent personal turmoil.

"There are about 10% of people out there... they are high-conflict people... they like drama, they like conflict, they like creating it."

• Healthy relationships should provide peace and stability, not constant excitement and conflict.

"Your relationship should be a sanctuary... that should be where peace is."

• Tattoos can reflect internal feelings and are becoming more socially accepted.
• Facial tattoos, once seen as extreme, are now more common among certain groups.

"Tattoos are largely an expression of what you feel on the inside put to the outside."

• The podcast covers a wide range of topics, from dog genetics to human olfaction, medical knowledge, social dynamics, and personal relationships.
• Key takeaways include the importance of understanding dog breeds' origins, the surprising capabilities of human olfaction, the potential for outdated medical knowledge, and the dynamics of healthy versus manipulative relationships.

• The brain simplifies motor responses into three categories: forward, pause, or retreat.
• These responses are triggered by different stimuli: attraction, uncertainty, or aversion.

"The brain as complex as it is needs to divide things into one of three different motor responses forward, pause, or retreat."

• This quote explains the brain's method of simplifying complex stimuli into basic motor responses.

• Adrenaline (epinephrine) is released in response to aversive stimuli.
• This response involves both the body (adrenals) and the brain (locus ceruleus).
• The olfactory system can trigger an adrenaline response through the amygdala.

"Adrenaline is released from the adrenals in the body and it's released from an area in the brain called the locus ceruleus."

• This quote explains the dual release points of adrenaline in the body and brain.

• Adrenaline acts as a painkiller during physical combat.
• Liver shots in fights are particularly debilitating due to their delayed but intense pain.

"One of the best painkillers is adrenaline. When you get hit hard, it’s amazing how little it hurts when it happens and how much it hurts later."

• This quote highlights the immediate pain-masking effect of adrenaline.

• The "question mark kick" is a deceptive martial arts move that changes direction mid-kick.
• Flexibility and technique are crucial for executing this kick effectively.

"You're lifting the knee up as if you're kicking to the body in a straight line and then you whip it over and go like that and turn into a roundhouse kick."

• This quote describes the mechanics of the question mark kick.

• Fighters use pattern recognition to anticipate and counter opponents' moves.
• The first round of a fight is often used to gather data on the opponent’s behavior.

"Really good fighters don’t just charge out in the first round. The first round is like a feeling out process."

• This quote explains the strategic use of the first round in fights for data gathering.

• Drills and constant sparring help fighters develop instinctive responses.
• Floyd Mayweather’s training involved extensive drills and sparring, influenced by his family of fighters.

"In sparring, you’re downloading data points for a real fight and doing drills where a guy will throw a hand at you and you’ll slip and counter."

• This quote emphasizes the importance of drills and sparring in training fighters.

• High performers often operate on an unconscious level due to extensive practice.
• Pattern recognition becomes second nature through repeated exposure and training.

"You know how you do it, but you’ve also done it so many times in the gym and in fights that it’s second nature."

• This quote explains how repeated practice leads to unconscious competence.

• Adrenaline and dopamine work together to enhance alertness and motivation.
• Smelling salts may trigger a dopaminergic response, contributing to their stimulating effect.

"Dopamine is not about the pleasure of reward; it’s about the pleasure of pursuit."

• This quote by Robert Sapolsky explains dopamine's role in motivation rather than just reward.

• Cold exposure triggers adrenaline release and increases core body temperature.
• Movement in cold water breaks the thermal layer, increasing the effectiveness of cold exposure.

"Nobody escapes the adrenaline from cold water at least upon getting in as long as it’s cold enough."

• This quote emphasizes the unavoidable adrenaline response to cold exposure.

• The anterior mid-cingulate cortex grows in response to challenging activities.
• This brain area is larger in "superagers," who maintain cognitive abilities longer by embracing challenges.

"People that embrace a new form of exercise that they don’t want to do, this area gets bigger."

• This quote explains the growth of the anterior mid-cingulate cortex in response to challenging activities.

• Engaging in activities that are challenging and not enjoyable can enhance brain health.
• This includes both physical challenges and cognitive tasks.

"If you really don’t want to do something and you do it, this area gets bigger and it translates to an ability to do harder things elsewhere."

• This quote highlights the broader benefits of engaging in challenging activities.

• People have a preference for stimuli that evoke anger and frustration.
• Social media platforms like Twitter capitalize on this by fostering engagement through conflict.

"People like to be angry, which is why Twitter is so popular."

• This quote explains the link between anger and social media engagement.

• Media outlets may deceptively edit content to fit a narrative, regardless of the truth.
• This practice can lead to widespread misinformation and surface-level understanding.

"MSNBC took a clip of me talking about Tulsi Gabbard and made it look like I was saying great things about Kamala Harris."

• This quote illustrates an example of deceptive media editing.

• Discipline is a key factor in the success of high performers like Floyd Mayweather.
• Consistent training and healthy habits contribute to prolonged success and minimal decline.

"He would leave the nightclub at 2 a.m., have his bodyguards drive the car, and he would run in front of the car for hours."

• This quote highlights Mayweather's discipline and commitment to training.

• Ambition can lead to data fraud in scientific research.
• Ensuring accuracy and integrity in data is crucial for scientific progress.

"If somebody puts ambition ahead of accuracy, it can lead to outright data fraud."

• This quote warns against the dangers of prioritizing ambition over accuracy in scientific research.

• Discusses an example of scientific fraud where a researcher reused random noise plots across different papers.
• Highlights the difficulty and complexity of scientific research.
• Emphasizes that most scientists aim to find the correct answers in good faith.

"So lazy that he didn't even bother to use new random noise plots from one paper to the next so somebody said wait random random should be random why is it the same in these two papers boom and then the whole thing unraveled."

• Explanation: This quote illustrates an instance of scientific fraud where a researcher reused the same data, which should have been random, across different papers, leading to the exposure of the fraud.

• Discusses the phenomenon of media and individuals creating false narratives using out-of-context quotes.
• Highlights the role of figures like Ping Trip who create fictional narratives by splicing together real quotes.
• Stresses the importance of truth and the dangers of media manipulation.

"People deliberately grabbing from the pallet of paints that is the words that are spoken by anybody on the internet... and then literally cutting and pasting things together to create a story which is fiction."

• Explanation: This quote underscores the issue of media manipulation where real quotes are taken out of context to create false narratives.

"It's a real offense it's not a small thing it's a real lie and it's a lie that changes other people's opinions."

• Explanation: This quote emphasizes the seriousness of media manipulation and its impact on public opinion.

• Discusses how different generations consume and believe media differently.
• Highlights that older generations, particularly Boomers, tend to trust traditional media more than younger generations.
• Mentions the difficulty in changing the media consumption habits of older generations.

"The issue right now with Boomers right old liberals in particular all they do is watch the news and read the newspaper and whatever is printed they believe."

• Explanation: This quote highlights the tendency of older generations to trust traditional media without questioning its authenticity.

• Shares personal anecdotes about how media has misrepresented interviews and stories.
• Discusses the impact of media manipulation on personal relationships and public perception.

"They talked to my dad okay and I would not put my dad into the uh political camp that um you described or any Camp really but he's a first generation immigrant... he was like I'm shocked I didn't say that that was completely flipped and twisted."

• Explanation: This quote illustrates a personal experience where a media outlet misrepresented an interview, leading to a change in perception about the trustworthiness of media.

• Discusses the complexities and controversies surrounding the pharmaceutical industry.
• Highlights the importance of traditional science in understanding dosage and safety.
• Talks about the obesity crisis and the role of medications like Ozempic and Monjaro.

"The main cause of the Obesity crisis is people eat too many calories on average about 3,500 calories per day and they don't move enough they don't exercise enough."

• Explanation: This quote highlights the primary cause of the obesity crisis, emphasizing the role of diet and exercise.

• Discusses personal preferences and beliefs about diet, including the avoidance of seed oils and the consumption of high-quality meats and vegetables.
• Mentions the lack of conclusive studies on the negative effects of seed oils but emphasizes personal experience.

"I feel better when I'm not eating them so I choose personally not to eat them and frankly there may be something to it."

• Explanation: This quote emphasizes the speaker's personal experience and preference in avoiding seed oils despite the lack of conclusive scientific evidence.

• Highlights the significant benefits of exercise on mental health.
• Compares the effectiveness of resistance training to certain antidepressants.

"The data on resistance training two or three times a week and mental health is striking I mean you compare that to what people get from certain SSRIs and you're like for goodness sake 45 60 Minutes a week lift some heavy objects."

• Explanation: This quote underscores the powerful impact of regular resistance training on mental health, comparing it favorably to the effects of antidepressants.

• Discusses the potential benefits and challenges of using MDMA for treating PTSD.
• Mentions the regulatory hurdles and concerns about the safety and efficacy of such treatments.

"I think it's unfortunate given the really strong data that support the use of MDMA for the treatment of PTSD I mean more than 60% you know successful in air quotes plus some people just go into total remission."

• Explanation: This quote highlights the promising results of MDMA in treating PTSD and the challenges in getting regulatory approval.

• Discusses the differing opinions on the effects of cannabis, particularly the differences between sativa and indica strains.
• Highlights the issues with high-potency cannabis and the risks associated with edibles.

"When people take it by edible right there are cases where people get to genuine freak out in psychotic episodes because they're taking in far too much too quickly."

• Explanation: This quote highlights the risks associated with consuming high-potency cannabis edibles, which can lead to psychotic episodes.

• Emphasizes the value of having balanced discussions and considering multiple perspectives.
• Highlights the importance of long-form conversations in understanding complex issues.

"Talk about both sides talk to vegans talk to carnivores talk to omnivores talk to people who are pro cannabis anti and worried about psychosis and not talk to people that are really Pro MDMA for the treatment of PTSD talk to people who are very reluctant."

• Explanation: This quote underscores the importance of considering multiple perspectives to gain a comprehensive understanding of complex issues.

• Discusses the correlation between physical fitness and intellectual capability.
• Highlights historical examples of intellectuals who maintained physical fitness.

"Movement movement movement is the way to stay mentally strong and to continue to have the capacity to learn."

• Explanation: This quote emphasizes the importance of physical movement in maintaining mental strength and the capacity for learning.

• Explains how neuromodulators like dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine facilitate neuroplasticity.
• Discusses the role of substances like nicotine in enhancing focus and neuroplasticity.

"These neuromodulators like adrenaline or dopamine or serotonin they need to be spiked and nicotine what you're now taking in another one is we know comes in does many things in the brain and body."

• Explanation: This quote explains the role of neuromodulators in creating an environment conducive to neuroplasticity and the specific effects of nicotine on focus and brain function.

• Discusses the necessity of honesty and truth in media and personal interactions.
• Highlights the negative impact of biased and dishonest reporting.

"As soon as you write something that I know is biased and twisted and you've distorted things and taking things out of context well I know that you're not in the truth game so your your opinion is nonsense."

• Explanation: This quote emphasizes the importance of truth and honesty in media, arguing that biased and distorted reporting undermines credibility.

• Emphasizes the importance of open and honest communication in personal and professional relationships.
• Discusses the negative impact of ego and the need to detach from the desire to win arguments.

"The best advice I can give people on this is don't be attached to your ideas they're just ideas examine why you believe them."

• Explanation: This quote advises people to detach from their ideas and examine the reasons behind their beliefs to facilitate open and honest communication.

• The brain categorizes experiences and symbols, particularly during adolescence.
• Hormones significantly influence behaviors related to reproduction and aggression.
• The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) plays a crucial role in mating and aggression behaviors.

"There’s a brain area... David Anderson's laboratory at Caltech has studied this... you stimulate this little region, the ventromedial hypothalamus... the animals will mate... you stimulate other neurons in that exact same area... they go into a rage."

• This quote highlights the dual role of the VMH in controlling both mating and aggressive behaviors, emphasizing the complexity of brain circuits.

• Skills and abilities developed during childhood often result in superior performance in adulthood.
• Examples include Floyd Mayweather in boxing and Tiger Woods in golf, where early training shaped their nervous systems.

"When Floyd sees those punches coming, he knows all he has to do is this... his body evolved, it literally developed in those patterns."

• This quote underscores the importance of early skill acquisition and how it shapes the nervous system for specific activities.

• Genetic predispositions combined with environmental influences contribute to the development of specific talents.
• Drawing skills, for instance, can be influenced by genetic biases and nurtured through constant practice.

"Your daughter fortunately got very good at drawing... probably is handed off through some slight genetic bias... but what we do feeds back on that circuit."

• The quote illustrates the interplay between genetics and environment in shaping abilities.

• Online learning platforms and increased exposure to various skills have broadened opportunities for young people.
• Examples include skateboarding, where early exposure and practice lead to exceptional skills.

"Now the little kids... there's just way more people feeding the pool of potential professional skateboarders."

• This quote highlights how modern tools and resources contribute to the early development of skills.

• Early specialization in sports leads to highly developed nervous systems tailored to specific activities.
• Athletes like Cole Hawker in running and Tawanchai in Muay Thai demonstrate the benefits of early and focused training.

"The earlier you get them, the more the nervous system can be shaped."

• This quote emphasizes the critical role of early training in developing specialized skills.

• Combat sports require not only physical toughness but also early and consistent training to develop specific skills.
• Mental aspects, such as ego and self-perception, can affect performance and training outcomes.

"If you have an incredible drive and incredible discipline but you didn’t start striking until you’re 26... you don’t have that ability and you probably are never going to get there."

• The quote highlights the importance of starting early in combat sports to achieve high levels of skill.

• Peak performance in any field often results from early and continuous training, leading to specialized nervous systems.
• Differences in performance can be attributed to the distinct development of nervous systems tailored to specific activities.

"When we’re at the discussion around true peak performance... you’re talking about two different nervous systems."

• This quote explains that early specialization leads to unique nervous system adaptations, resulting in superior performance.

• Authenticity is crucial for creativity and success in various fields, including music, art, and podcasting.
• Rick Rubin's philosophy emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself to harness creativity effectively.

"The key to being really great at something is to just be you."

• Rick Rubin's quote reinforces the idea that authenticity is essential for achieving greatness and creativity.

• Engaging in voluntary physical and mental adversity helps manage stress and maintain a balanced perspective.
• Activities like intense cardio workouts and maintaining a still body with an active mind can enhance creativity and emotional regulation.

"The more difficult things that I do, the easier this weird state that I find myself in is."

• This quote illustrates how challenging oneself physically and mentally can lead to personal growth and resilience.

• Emerging treatments like BPC 157 and other peptides show promise in promoting tissue repair and regeneration.
• There is a need for more research and regulatory support to explore these treatments' potential benefits.

"BPC 157 can be made by virtually any laboratory and it’s probably going to cut back on orthopedic surgeries."

• The quote highlights the potential of peptides like BPC 157 in reducing the need for invasive medical procedures.

• Self-care practices, including physical exercise and mental health strategies, are crucial for overall well-being.
• A holistic approach to health, incorporating various treatments and behavioral tools, can effectively manage conditions like back pain.

"There is no replacement for self-care... our nervous system was evolved for these behaviors."

• This quote emphasizes the irreplaceable role of self-care in maintaining health and managing pain.

• The conversation underscores the importance of early specialization, authenticity, and self-care in achieving peak performance and personal growth.
• The exchange of ideas and experiences provides valuable insights into the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

"It’s always a fascinating conversation with you... I really appreciate you."

• The closing quote reflects the mutual appreciation and value of sharing knowledge and experiences in a meaningful dialogue.