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