Huberman Lab
How Placebo Effects Work to Change Our Biology & Psychology
Mon Mar 04 2024Description
Placebo effects, nocebo effects, and belief effects are related to the brain's ability to change outcomes independent of physical properties of treatments. These effects can impact biological functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and neuromodulator release. Researchers suggest leveraging these effects as unique treatments for various diseases.
Insights
Placebo effects involve inert substances or treatments that improve symptoms, while no-cebo effects worsen symptoms.
Belief effects occur when specific knowledge changes expectations about outcomes related to stress, food consumption, or other actions.
The prefrontal cortex plays a key role in regulating behaviors by suppressing certain impulses and evaluating predictions.
The prefrontal cortex is involved in placebo, no-cebo, and belief effects by activating neural circuits that control primitive bodily functions.
Placebo effects are based on information and specific experiences leading to expectations that can change physiology.
A study showed placebo drugs causing increased dopamine release in Parkinson's patients' brains, despite not directly affecting dopamine levels.
Placebo effects may not be as robust as actual drugs in increasing dopamine levels due to varying individual expectations.
The mind-body connection can lead to changes in hormone levels, even without direct control over endocrine glands.
Placebo effects can be powerful, as seen in experiments where conditioned responses lead to hormone release.
Classical conditioning plays a significant role in how stimuli like smells or sounds can trigger hormonal responses.
Context plays a significant role in the placebo effect by influencing expectations.
Placebo effects are affected by factors like brand name, packaging, color of pills, and perceived invasiveness of treatment.
Real effects in cancer treatment include drugs, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy that are known to reduce tumor size and potentially eliminate cancerous tumors.
Behavioral practices like meditation, sleep, and social support can improve cancer outcomes through reductions in inflammation and stress, which are not considered placebo effects.
Placebo effects can reduce discomfort but may not completely eliminate symptoms like asthma or cancer.
Beliefs and expectations, such as those related to nicotine dosage, can influence cognitive performance.
Placebo effects are real and scale with the degree of expectation one has.
Belief effects incorporate more information than just beliefs and can lead to nuanced outcomes.
Belief effects can impact outcomes in physiology, as shown in studies on conditioned insulin response and exercise mindset.
The prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in setting expectations and beliefs that can affect physiological responses.
Specific regions in the prefrontal cortex connect to the dorsomedial hypothalamus, which is involved in stress response.
Activation of neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus can lead to changes in blood pressure and vasoconstriction during stress.
The COMT gene shows strong variation in individuals affecting their response to placebo conditions.
Genes encoding for dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine regulation correlate with placebo effects.
Chapters
- Biological Underpinnings of Placebo, Nocebo, and Belief Effects
- Prefrontal Cortex and Regulation of Behaviors
- Communication between Prefrontal Cortex and Basic Physiological Functions
- Specificity and Associations in Placebo Effects
- Mind-Body Connection and Classical Conditioning
- Context and Placebo Effect
- Placebo Effects in Cancer Treatment
- Placebo Effects and Cognitive Performance
- Belief Effects and Hormonal Responses
- Prefrontal Cortex and Physiological Responses
- Anatomical Pathways and Genetic Influence on Placebo Effects
- Biological Substrates and Real Effects of Placebo
Biological Underpinnings of Placebo, Nocebo, and Belief Effects
00:00 - 06:51
- Placebo effects, nocebo effects, and belief effects are related to the brain's ability to change outcomes independent of physical properties of treatments.
- These effects can impact biological functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and neuromodulator release.
- Researchers suggest leveraging these effects as unique treatments for various diseases.
Prefrontal Cortex and Regulation of Behaviors
06:28 - 13:25
- Maintaining stable blood glucose levels is crucial for focus, energy, and metabolic health.
- The prefrontal cortex plays a key role in regulating behaviors by suppressing certain impulses and evaluating predictions.
Communication between Prefrontal Cortex and Basic Physiological Functions
13:04 - 19:57
- The prefrontal cortex communicates with areas controlling basic physiological functions in the brain.
- Placebo effects are based on information and specific experiences leading to expectations that can change physiology.
Specificity and Associations in Placebo Effects
19:33 - 26:38
- The placebo effect is influenced by the expectation individuals have about a drug's effects, as shown by the impact on dopamine levels and hormone function.
- Placebo effects are highly specific, with beliefs about a treatment affecting outcomes even when the actual substance administered differs.
Mind-Body Connection and Classical Conditioning
26:23 - 33:36
- The mind-body connection can lead to changes in hormone levels, even without direct control over endocrine glands.
- Classical conditioning plays a significant role in how stimuli like smells or sounds can trigger hormonal responses.
Context and Placebo Effect
33:15 - 40:15
- Gut health is crucial for brain functioning, immune system, and neurotransmitter production.
- Context plays a significant role in the placebo effect by influencing expectations.
Placebo Effects in Cancer Treatment
39:48 - 47:14
- Placebos can help reduce certain symptoms in cancer treatment, such as pain and nausea, but they cannot reduce tumor size or eliminate tumors.
- Real effects in cancer treatment include drugs, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy that are known to reduce tumor size and potentially eliminate cancerous tumors.
Placebo Effects and Cognitive Performance
46:49 - 54:03
- Placebo effects can reduce discomfort but may not completely eliminate symptoms like asthma or cancer.
- Beliefs and expectations, such as those related to nicotine dosage, can influence cognitive performance.
Belief Effects and Hormonal Responses
53:33 - 1:00:31
- Placebo effects are real and scale with the degree of expectation one has.
- Belief effects incorporate more information than just beliefs and can lead to nuanced outcomes.
Prefrontal Cortex and Physiological Responses
1:00:15 - 1:07:16
- Belief effects can impact outcomes in physiology, as shown in studies on conditioned insulin response and exercise mindset.
- The prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in setting expectations and beliefs that can affect physiological responses.
Anatomical Pathways and Genetic Influence on Placebo Effects
1:06:58 - 1:13:40
- Specific regions in the prefrontal cortex connect to the dorsomedial hypothalamus, which is involved in stress response.
- The COMT gene shows strong variation in individuals affecting their response to placebo conditions.
Biological Substrates and Real Effects of Placebo
1:13:27 - 1:18:11
- The COMT gene shows strong variation in individuals affecting their response to placebo conditions.
- Genes encoding for dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine regulation correlate with placebo effects.