Skip to content
Huberman LabHuberman Lab

Understanding & Controlling Aggression | Huberman Lab Essentials

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I explain the neural circuits that activate and control aggressive states and behaviors. I discuss how hormones, genes and environmental factors such as day length can shift our aggressive tendencies. I also share science-based tools for modulating aggression, including sunlight exposure, heat therapy and supplementation with ashwagandha or acetyl-L-carnitine. Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/0nF54O3 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 Timestamps 00:00:00 Aggression, Types of Aggression 00:01:43 Context, Aggression vs Sadness 00:03:11 Hydraulic Pressure Model of Aggression 00:06:40 Brain Areas for Aggression, Ventromedial Hypothalamus 00:13:53 Biting, Neural Circuits of Physical Aggression 00:16:19 Estrogen & Aggression, Testosterone & Competitiveness 00:19:47 Seasonality, Sunlight, Melatonin & Aggression 00:22:00 Cortisol, Serotonin & Aggression 00:23:45 Tool: Reduce Cortisol with Sunlight & Sauna; Ashwagandha 00:27:49 Irritability, Aggression & Genetics; Seasonality 00:30:39 Tool: ADHD, Acetyl-L Carnitine & Aggressive Behavior #hubermanlab Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Dr. Andrew Hubermanhost
May 14, 202633mWatch on YouTube ↗

Episode Details

EPISODE INFO

Released
May 14, 2026
Duration
33m
Channel
Huberman Lab
Watch on YouTube
▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I explain the neural circuits that activate and control aggressive states and behaviors. I discuss how hormones, genes and environmental factors such as day length can shift our aggressive tendencies. I also share science-based tools for modulating aggression, including sunlight exposure, heat therapy and supplementation with ashwagandha or acetyl-L-carnitine. Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/0nF54O3 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 Timestamps 00:00:00 Aggression, Types of Aggression 00:01:43 Context, Aggression vs Sadness 00:03:11 Hydraulic Pressure Model of Aggression 00:06:40 Brain Areas for Aggression, Ventromedial Hypothalamus 00:13:53 Biting, Neural Circuits of Physical Aggression 00:16:19 Estrogen & Aggression, Testosterone & Competitiveness 00:19:47 Seasonality, Sunlight, Melatonin & Aggression 00:22:00 Cortisol, Serotonin & Aggression 00:23:45 Tool: Reduce Cortisol with Sunlight & Sauna; Ashwagandha 00:27:49 Irritability, Aggression & Genetics; Seasonality 00:30:39 Tool: ADHD, Acetyl-L Carnitine & Aggressive Behavior #hubermanlab Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

SPEAKERS

  • Dr. 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. Andrew Huberman, Understanding & Controlling Aggression | Huberman Lab Essentials explores neural circuits, hormones, and tools to modulate aggression tendencies Aggression is not a single phenomenon but includes reactive, proactive, and indirect forms with partly distinct biological drivers and contexts where it can be adaptive or harmful.

RELATED EPISODES

Neuroscience of Emotions & Tools for Improving Emotion Regulation| Dr. Ralph Adolphs

Neuroscience of Emotions & Tools for Improving Emotion Regulation| Dr. Ralph Adolphs

Essentials: How to Optimize Female Hormone Health for Vitality & Longevity | Dr. Sara Gottfried

Essentials: How to Optimize Female Hormone Health for Vitality & Longevity | Dr. Sara Gottfried

Using AI to Increase Your Intelligence & Enrich Humanity | Dr. Fei-Fei Li

Using AI to Increase Your Intelligence & Enrich Humanity | Dr. Fei-Fei Li

Control Your Brain Chemistry for Focus, Motivation & Well-Being | Huberman Lab Essentials

Control Your Brain Chemistry for Focus, Motivation & Well-Being | Huberman Lab Essentials

How Your Immune System Works & How to Improve It | Dr. Max Krummel

How Your Immune System Works & How to Improve It | Dr. Max Krummel

Essentials: How to Become Resilient, Forge Your Identity & Lead Others | Jocko Willink

Essentials: How to Become Resilient, Forge Your Identity & Lead Others | Jocko Willink

Get more out of YouTube videos.

High quality summaries for YouTube videos. Accurate transcripts to search & find moments. Powered by ChatGPT & Claude AI.