In this episode, I discuss placebo and belief and mindset effects — all of which exert a powerful and real influence on our biology and psychology. I discuss how your beliefs and expectation that a certain outcome will occur after taking a substance (or any intervention cause genuine changes in brain and bodily function. I discuss how placebos can change neurotransmitter and hormone release, pain levels, whether the stress response is beneficial or detrimental and more. I also explain how placebo effects can work with traditional drug or behavioral treatments to help improve health outcomes and why some people are more susceptible to placebo effects. By the end of the episode, listeners will understand the placebo effect, how it works, and how beliefs and mindsets can be leveraged toward mental health, physical health, and performance goals.

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Journal Articles
Expectation and Dopamine Release: Mechanism of the Placebo Effect in Parkinson's Disease: https://bit.ly/3IrhjWc
Conscious Expectation and Unconscious Conditioning in Analgesic, Motor, and Hormonal Placebo/Nocebo Responses: https://bit.ly/49TSlKY
Impact of brand or generic labeling on medication effectiveness and side effects: https://bit.ly/3IkUWSn
DEMONSTRATION TO MEDICAL STUDENTS OF PLACEBO RESPONSES AND NON-DRUG FACTORS: https://bit.ly/3IofHws
Effect of capsule colour and order of administration of hypnotic treatments: https://bit.ly/3TiZG1k
Effect of colour of drugs: systematic review of perceived effect of drugs and of their effectiveness: https://bit.ly/3P4vF2G
Do medical devices have enhanced placebo effects?: https://bit.ly/3P4vJPY
Placebo Effects in Oncology: https://bit.ly/3TkNOMc
Active Albuterol or Placebo, Sham Acupuncture, or No Intervention in Asthma: https://bit.ly/3T4Kfsf
Nicotine-related beliefs induce dose-dependent responses in the human brain: https://go.nature.com/3V15yNM
Mind over milkshakes: Mindsets, not just nutrients, determine ghrelin response: https://bit.ly/42ZKnhe
Mind-Set Matters: Exercise and the Placebo Effect: https://bit.ly/3IkV7Nx
A central master driver of psychosocial stress responses in the rat: https://bit.ly/3uJSBgU

Huberman Lab Episodes Mentioned
Nicotine's Effects on the Brain & Body & How to Quit Smoking or Vaping: https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/nicotines-effects-on-the-brain-and-body-and-how-to-quit-smoking-or-vaping
Dr. Alia Crum: Science of Mindsets for Health & Performance: https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-alia-crum-science-of-mindsets-for-health-performance

People Mentioned
Ivan Pavlov: physiologist, developed the conditioned reflex concept: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1904/pavlov/biographical
Ted Kaptchuk: Harvard, professor of medicine, studies placebo effects: https://ghsm.hms.harvard.edu/faculty-staff/ted-jack-kaptchuk
Alia Crum: Stanford, professor of psychology, studies mindset and belief effects: https://profiles.stanford.edu/alia-crum

Timestamps
00:00:00 Placebo Effects
00:02:40 Sponsors: Eight Sleep, AeroPress & Levels
00:07:24 Placebo, Nocebo vs. Belief Effect, Prefrontal Cortex
00:14:03 Dopamine, Placebo & Parkinson’s Disease; Placebo Controls
00:21:36 Hormone Release & Placebo Effect, Paired Associations
00:28:52 Conditioning Effect & Insulin; Pavlovian Response
00:32:50 Sponsor: AG1
00:34:17 Context & Expectations; Placebo Effect & Brain
00:40:51 Cancer, Mind-Body Practices; Placebo Effects & Limits
00:44:54 Asthma, Specificity & Placebo Effects
00:48:01 Sponsor: InsideTracker
00:49:03 Nicotine & Dose-Dependent Placebo Effects
00:55:31 Placebo Effects vs. Belief Effects, Food & Mindset
01:01:02 Exercise & Belief Effects
01:04:08 Placebo Effect, Brain & Stress Response
01:11:18 Individual Variation, Genetics & Placebo Effect
01:16:11 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

#HubermanLab #Science #Placebo

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com

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