This episode I describe the neural mechanisms that activate and control aggressive states and behaviors and the role of hormones—estrogen and testosterone—in mediating violent and/or competitive aggression. I also describe tools that can be used to modulate the factors that have been shown to ‘prime’ an individual for aggression, including sunlight, estrogen sensitivity, competition within social settings, and overall stress levels, and the hormone cortisol. I discuss how substances such as caffeine and alcohol can impact impulsive behaviors and how nutrition and supplementation can be used to regulate mood and aggression. #HubermanLab Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman ROKA - https://www.roka.com -- code: huberman Helix Sleep - https://www.helixsleep.com/huberman See Andrew Huberman Live: The Brain Body Contract https://hubermanlab.com/tour Our Patreon page https://www.patreon.com/andrewhuberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Social & Website Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Twitter - https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab Website - https://hubermanlab.com Newsletter - https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network Subscribe to the Huberman Lab Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3DbFdlv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/34Xod5H Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3wo01EJ Other platforms: https://hubermanlab.com/follow Article Links Photoperiod reverses the effects of estrogens on male aggression via genomic and nongenomic pathways: https://bit.ly/3sl6ehZ Testosterone and occupational choice: actors, ministers, and other men: https://bit.ly/3KV2IkS Age, Testosterone, and Behavior Among Female Prison Inmates: https://bit.ly/3N48xOt Testosterone Rapidly Increases Neural Reactivity to Threat in Healthy Men: A Novel Two-Step Pharmacological Challenge Paradigm: https://bit.ly/3MVP4iQ Caffeinated and non-caffeinated alcohol use and indirect aggression: The impact of self-regulation: https://bit.ly/39F09X3 Efficacy of carnitine in the treatment of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: https://bit.ly/3FtpSh9 Functional identification of an aggression locus in the mouse hypothalamus (See "Supplementary information" for movies): https://go.nature.com/3yltYGB Book Links An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology 5th Edition: https://amzn.to/396bHm9 The Nature of the Beast: How Emotions Guide Us: https://amzn.to/3wd6NM3 Other Links Mouse switching from mating behavior to aggressive behaviors upon stimulation of VMH: https://youtu.be/AIlp69kfqjw?t=882 VMH stimulation causes mouse to display aggressive behaviors toward an inanimate object (e.g., glove): https://youtu.be/AIlp69kfqjw?t=689 Timestamps 00:00:00 Aggression, Types of Aggression 00:03:33 AG1 (Athletic Greens), ROKA, Helix Sleep 00:08:29 Neural Circuits for Aggression, “Hydraulic Pressure Model” 00:15:50 Brain Regions Controlling Aggression, Ventromedial Hypothalamus (VMH) 00:22:14 Psychiatric Disorders & Aggression 00:23:36 Stimulation of the VMH, Estrogen Receptors & Aggression 00:31:57 Neural Circuits Mediating Physical Acts of Aggression, Biting 00:35:56 Testosterone & Competitiveness/Estrogen & Aggression 00:43:00 Sunlight, Melatonin & Aggression 00:45:46 Cortisol, Serotonin & Aggressive Behaviors 00:51:56 Tool: Omega-3 Supplementation & Mood 00:54:18 Tool: Sunlight, Sauna & Cortisol Reduction 00:55:54 Tool: Ashwagandha & Cortisol Reduction 00:57:06 Tool: Seasonality/Sunlight, Genetic Variation in Estrogen Sensitivity 01:00:37 Testosterone & Aggression, Competitive Work Environments 01:05:07 Testosterone, Amygdala, Challenge & Effort 01:09:27 Caffeine, Alcohol & Impulsivity 01:13:15 Tool: Caffeinated Alcohol Beverages, Impulsivity & Aggression 01:17:18 Tool: ADHD, Acetyl-L Carnitine & Aggressive Behavior 01:24:10 Factors Affecting the “Hydraulic Pressure Model” of Aggression 01:25:44 Book by Dr. David Anderson, Aggression & Social Relationships 01:27:35 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Patreon, Momentous Supplements, Neural Network Newsletter, Instagram, Twitter The Huberman Lab Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com