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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

I'm Andrew Huberman, a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine, and today we're going to talk about chemical sensing, specifically our sense of smell and taste, and how they influence our health and emotions.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Pheromones are chemicals that humans release, which can modulate our biology and emotions, although the existence of true human pheromonal effects is still controversial.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

When we smell something, like a rose or cake, we inhale particles of those chemicals, which are detected by our brain, illustrating how our sense of smell works.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

The act of smelling, particularly through nasal breathing, significantly impacts brain function, alertness, and learning capabilities.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Research shows that inhaling increases alertness in the brain, making it easier to focus and learn, while exhaling can lead to a dip in arousal and learning ability.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Using smelling salts, which contain ammonia, can trigger an innate response that wakes up the brain and body, although it's not recommended for regular use.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Practicing nasal breathing and enhancing your sense of smell can improve your brain health and cognitive abilities, as olfactory neurons are unique in that they are replenished throughout life.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Olfactory dysfunction is common in traumatic brain injury, and evaluating your sense of smell can indicate whether you're regaining sensory performance, which can be an indicator of recovery from concussion.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Olfactory dysfunction is common after traumatic brain injury and can significantly impact quality of life.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Enhancing your sense of smell through olfactory training can help create new neurons after a head injury.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Focusing on inhaling specific odors can wake up the brain and enhance your sense of smell.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

The smell of peppermint can increase attention and arousal, similar to the effects of ammonia salts, but without the risks.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

The olfactory system triggers alertness through specific neurons that communicate with brain centers responsible for arousal.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Taste receptors on the tongue detect five primary tastes: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami, with potential for a sixth receptor for fat.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Sweet receptors signal the presence of energy from sugars, while salty receptors detect electrolytes essential for bodily functions.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Bitter receptors protect against poison by triggering the gag reflex when detecting bitter substances.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Sour receptors help detect spoiled or fermented food, which can be harmful.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Pheromonal effects in animals, such as the Coolidge effect, show that chemical signals can influence mating behavior.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Humans may have vestigial pheromonal effects, as evidenced by chemical signaling that can influence social and reproductive behaviors.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

Chemical signaling between individuals can impact biological responses, such as menstrual cycle synchronization among women.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

We constantly evaluate the chemicals emitted by others, influencing our social interactions and relationships.

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Andrew Huberman

05/01/25

@ Andrew Huberman

People shape each other's biology through chemical exchanges via air and skin contact.

How Smell, Taste & Pheromones Shape Behavior | Huberman Lab Essentials

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