Huberman Lab discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity, and brain states such as stress, focus, fear, and optimal performance. For

My guest this episode is Dr. Charles Zuker PhD Professor of Biochemistry Molecular Biophysics and Neuroscience at Columbia University and an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Zuker is the world’s leading expert in the biology of taste thirst and craving. His laboratory explores the mechanisms of taste perception focusing on how our conscious and unconscious processing of specific foods and nutrients guide our actions and behaviors. We discuss the neural circuits of taste the “gut-brain axis” the basis of food cravings and the key difference between wanting (craving) and liking (perceiving) sugar. We also explore how taste perception relates to specific food satiety thirst to our emotions and expectation. We also consider how sugar containing and highly-processed foods can hijack the natural balance of the taste and digestive systems. Dr. Zuker provides a true masterclass in the biology of taste and perception that ought to be of interest to anyone curious about how the brain works our motivated behaviors and the neural chemical perceptual aspects of the mind. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/huberman Maui Nui: https://mauinuivenison.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman For the full show notes visit hubermanlab.com Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Charles Zuker & Taste Perception (00:03:05) Momentous Supplements (00:04:35) AG1 (Athletic Greens) InsideTracker Thesis (00:08:35) Sensory Detection vs. Sensory Perception (00:11:48) Individual Variations within Perception Color (00:16:20) Perceptions & Behaviors (00:20:19) The 5 Taste Modalities (00:26:18) Aversive Taste Bitter Taste (00:28:00) Survival-Based & Evolutionary Reasons for Taste Modalities Taste vs. Flavor (00:30:14) Additional Taste Modalities: Fat & Metallic Perception (00:34:02) Tongue “Taste Map” Taste Buds & Taste Receptors  (00:39:34) Burning Your Tongue & Perception (00:42:54) The “Meaning” of Taste Stimuli Sweet vs. Bitter Valence (00:51:55) Positive vs. Negative Neuronal Activation & Behavior (00:56:16) Acquired Tastes Conditioned Taste Aversion  (01:01:44) Olfaction (Smell) vs. Taste Changing Tastes over One’s Lifetime (01:09:14) Integration of Odor & Taste Influence on Behavior & Emotion (01:17:26) Sensitization to Taste Internal State Modulation Salt (01:24:05) Taste & Saliva: The Absence of Taste (01:28:10) Sugar & Reward Pleasure Centers; Gut-Brain Axis Anticipatory Response (01:36:23) Vagus Nerve (01:43:09) Insatiable Sugar Appetite Liking vs. Wanting Gut-Brain Axis (01:52:03) Tool: Sugar vs. Artificial Sweeteners Curbing Appetite (01:54:06) Cravings & Gut-Brain Axis  (01:57:30) Nutrition Gut-Brain Axis & Changes in Behavior (02:01:53) Fast vs. Slow Signaling & Reinforcement Highly Processed Foods  (02:10:38) Favorite Foods: Enjoyment Sensation & Context (02:15:58) Zero-Cost Support YouTube Feedback Spotify & Apple Reviews Sponsors Momentous Supplements Instagram Twitter Neural Network Newsletter Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac Disclaimer

Dr. Charles Zuker: The Biology of Taste Perception & Sugar Craving | Episode 81

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