Dr. David Anderson on Huberman Lab: Why rage neighbors fear

Optogenetic VMH studies show fear and aggression circuits overlap; aromatization of testosterone into estrogen, not testosterone alone, gates offensive attack.

Andrew HubermanhostDr. David Andersonguest

Apr 9, 202634mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: April 9, 2026
Duration: 34m
Channel: Huberman Lab
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Dr. David Anderson, PhD, a professor of biology at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). We discuss the brain circuits that underlie how emotions emerge and shape behaviors, including the neural control of fear, aggression and pain. We also explore how hormones and neuromodulators influence these emotional states, and why understanding these hidden internal processes is essential for improving future mental health treatments. Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/blBjp0e Watch more Huberman Lab Essentials: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPNW_gerXa4OGNy1yE-W9IX-tPu-tJa7S&si=a1_sA7rUT-fE0OM5 Huberman Lab Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hubermanlab X: https://x.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://www.hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://www.hubermanlab.com/newsletter Dr. David Anderson Caltech academic profile: https://davidandersonlab.caltech.edu/people/professor-david-j-anderson The Nature of the Beast (book): https://amzn.to/3qsrdOH Lab website: https://davidandersonlab.caltech.edu Publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=C88XVPQAAAAJ Timestamps 00:00:00 David Anderson 00:00:20 Emotions vs States 00:01:53 Emotion Qualities: Persistence & Generalization 00:04:04 Aggression 00:06:39 Evolution of Fear & Aggression, Offensive vs Defensive Aggression 00:08:55 Homeostatic Behaviors & Hydraulic Pressure 00:11:56 Testosterone, Estrogen & Aggression 00:13:49 Female vs Male Aggression 00:15:46 Mating Behavior & Aggression; Sexual Violence 00:19:21 Periaqueductal Gray, Pain Control & Fighting 00:23:36 Tachykinin, Pain, Social Isolation & Aggression 00:28:08 Emotions & Somatic Feeling; Vagus Nerve 00:32:48 Acknowledgements & Future Direction Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

SPEAKERS

Andrew Huberman
host
Professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast.
Dr. David Anderson
guest
Neuroscientist and lab head known for research on the neural circuits underlying innate behaviors such as aggression and mating.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Huberman Lab, featuring Andrew Huberman and Dr. David Anderson, Dr. David Anderson on Huberman Lab: Why rage neighbors fear explores neural circuits and hormones shaping aggression, mating, pain, and emotion Emotions are best viewed as internal brain states that control behavior, with subjective feelings representing only the “tip of the iceberg.”

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