Chapter
The Brain's Reflexes on Hunger
52:31 - 58:59 (06:28)
Dr. Halpern explains that the brain's circuits associated with homeostatic processes and reward processes around food drive hunger and respond to the properties of food in a reflexive way, causing primitive reflexes to ingest more food as quickly as possible.
Clips
There are circuits in the brain to reward eating often, eating fast and cramming as much food into you as possible because from a purely evolutionary standpoint, food was scarce and seeking food was dangerous.
52:31 - 55:29 (02:57)
Summary
There are circuits in the brain to reward eating often, eating fast and cramming as much food into you as possible because from a purely evolutionary standpoint, food was scarce and seeking food was dangerous. These circuits drive hunger and anxiety and constrict senses, and start getting active when we see and think about food.
ChapterThe Brain's Reflexes on Hunger
EpisodeHealthy Eating & Eating Disorders - Anorexia, Bulimia, Binging
PodcastHuberman Lab
The homeostatic and reward processes associated with food consumption are disrupted in individuals with anorexia or bulimia, leading to a lack of decision-making and intervention.
55:29 - 58:59 (03:30)
Summary
The homeostatic and reward processes associated with food consumption are disrupted in individuals with anorexia or bulimia, leading to a lack of decision-making and intervention. It is only with clinical help that these processes can be restored to register the signals from the body and brain that indicate the need for food.