How Food Choices Shape Memory, Cognition & Cravings | Dr. Scott Kanoski

Dr. Scott Kanoski, PhD, is a Professor of Human and Evolutionary Biology and Neurobiology at the University of Southern California. We discuss how different foods impact memory and cognitive function as well as cravings. We also discuss how GLP-1 drugs work to control hunger in the brain and body, the role of the gut microbiome, and the effects of artificial and low calorie sweeteners on hunger and satiety. This episode highlights how nutrition impacts much brain health and learning capacity and how our memory impacts food choices too. Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/jVES9ZV Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Our Place: https://fromourplace.com/huberman 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 Dr. Scott Kanoski Academic profile: https://dornsife.usc.edu/profile/scott-kanoski Lab: https://kanoskilab.com Publications: https://kanoskilab.com/publications LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-kanoski-a2983917 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hungrybrains Timestamps 00:00:00 Scott Kanoski 00:02:33 GLP-1, Natural GLP-1 Production; GLP-1 Drugs, Microdosing 00:07:06 GLP-1 Drugs & Benefits 00:10:36 Sponsor: Our Place & Helix Sleep 00:13:24 GLP-1 & Hunger Suppression, Vagus Nerve; Food Noise 00:18:39 Artificial Sweeteners & Appetite, Preclinical Studies 00:26:50 Memory & Meals; Stress; Eating & Individualization, Fasting 00:33:42 Memory Impairments, Western Diet, High Sugar, Processed Food 00:42:33 Sponsor: AG1 00:43:46 Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease & Western Diet; Exercise 00:49:40 Vagus Nerve, Hippocampus & Memory, Hormones 00:57:10 Sugar & Fat Consumption, Memory; Engineering Food for Quality 01:04:32 GLP-1s, Nutrient Deficiency, Weight Loss & Other Effects 01:11:33 Sponsor: LMNT 01:12:54 Vagus Nerve & Hippocampus, Eating & Acetylcholine 01:21:05 Hippocampus, Memory & Food; Interoceptive Awareness & Western Diet 01:27:21 Omega-3s; Microbiome & Processed Foods 01:34:00 Microbiome, Antibiotics, C. diff Infection 01:37:23 Sponsor: Function 01:39:01 Foods to Enhance Microbiome; Rising Obesity & Highly Processed Food 01:43:39 Dopamine & Food Choice, Change Food Cravings 01:49:50 Food Addiction, Highly Processed Foods; Political Lobbying 01:56:43 Oxytocin, Reduced Food Consumption, Social Eating 02:00:11 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Dr. Scott KanoskiguestAndrew Hubermanhost

Oct 12, 20262h 2mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: October 12, 2026
Duration: 2h 2m
Channel: Huberman Lab
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Dr. Scott Kanoski, PhD, is a Professor of Human and Evolutionary Biology and Neurobiology at the University of Southern California. We discuss how different foods impact memory and cognitive function as well as cravings. We also discuss how GLP-1 drugs work to control hunger in the brain and body, the role of the gut microbiome, and the effects of artificial and low calorie sweeteners on hunger and satiety. This episode highlights how nutrition impacts much brain health and learning capacity and how our memory impacts food choices too. Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/jVES9ZV Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Our Place: https://fromourplace.com/huberman 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 Dr. Scott Kanoski Academic profile: https://dornsife.usc.edu/profile/scott-kanoski Lab: https://kanoskilab.com Publications: https://kanoskilab.com/publications LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-kanoski-a2983917 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hungrybrains Timestamps 00:00:00 Scott Kanoski 00:02:33 GLP-1, Natural GLP-1 Production; GLP-1 Drugs, Microdosing 00:07:06 GLP-1 Drugs & Benefits 00:10:36 Sponsor: Our Place & Helix Sleep 00:13:24 GLP-1 & Hunger Suppression, Vagus Nerve; Food Noise 00:18:39 Artificial Sweeteners & Appetite, Preclinical Studies 00:26:50 Memory & Meals; Stress; Eating & Individualization, Fasting 00:33:42 Memory Impairments, Western Diet, High Sugar, Processed Food 00:42:33 Sponsor: AG1 00:43:46 Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease & Western Diet; Exercise 00:49:40 Vagus Nerve, Hippocampus & Memory, Hormones 00:57:10 Sugar & Fat Consumption, Memory; Engineering Food for Quality 01:04:32 GLP-1s, Nutrient Deficiency, Weight Loss & Other Effects 01:11:33 Sponsor: LMNT 01:12:54 Vagus Nerve & Hippocampus, Eating & Acetylcholine 01:21:05 Hippocampus, Memory & Food; Interoceptive Awareness & Western Diet 01:27:21 Omega-3s; Microbiome & Processed Foods 01:34:00 Microbiome, Antibiotics, C. diff Infection 01:37:23 Sponsor: Function 01:39:01 Foods to Enhance Microbiome; Rising Obesity & Highly Processed Food 01:43:39 Dopamine & Food Choice, Change Food Cravings 01:49:50 Food Addiction, Highly Processed Foods; Political Lobbying 01:56:43 Oxytocin, Reduced Food Consumption, Social Eating 02:00:11 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

SPEAKERS

Dr. Scott Kanoski
guest
Professor of Human and Evolutionary Biology and Neurobiology at the University of Southern California, researching neural and physiological controls of feeding, memory, and metabolism.
Andrew Huberman
host
Professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Huberman Lab, featuring Dr. Scott Kanoski and Andrew Huberman, How Food Choices Shape Memory, Cognition & Cravings | Dr. Scott Kanoski explores how GLP-1, diet, vagus nerve, and microbiome shape memory The episode explains what GLP-1 is in normal physiology (gut and brain sources) and how GLP-1 drugs produce potent appetite suppression and glucose benefits, while raising open questions about brain penetration and non-weight-loss effects.

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