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 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.

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