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In this episode, I discuss neuroscience and psychology studies that address the basis of willpower and tenacity, how they differ from motivation and how we can all increase our levels of willpower and tenacity. I discuss whether willpower is a limited resource, the controversial “ego depletion” theory of willpower and the role that beliefs play in determining our tenacity and willpower. Then I discuss the neural basis of willpower in the brain and body and how tenacity and willpower relate to sleep, stress, focus and possibly to lifespan. Then, I provide a series of science-supported tools and protocols to increase your level of tenacity and willpower.
Articles
- Ego depletion: Is the active self a limited resource? (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology)
- Self-control relies on glucose as a limited energy source: Willpower is more than a metaphor (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology)
- Beliefs about willpower determine the impact of glucose on self-control (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
- The tenacious brain: How the anterior mid-cingulate contributes to achieving goals (Cortex)
- The Will to Persevere Induced by Electrical Stimulation of the Human Cingulate Gyrus (Neuron)
- Aerobic Exercise Training Increases Brain Volume in Aging Humans (The Journals of Gerontology)
- Stress relief as a natural resilience mechanism against depression-like behaviors (Neuron)
- The Good, the Bad, and the Irrelevant: Neural Mechanisms of Learning Real and Hypothetical Rewards and Effort (The Journal of Neuroscience)
Other Resources
- Dr. Roy Baumeister
- Dr. Carol Dweck
- Dr. Lisa Feldman Barret
- Sleep Toolkit: Tools for Optimizing Sleep & Sleep-Wake Timing (Huberman Lab episode)
- Toolkit for Sleep (Huberman Lab Neural Network newsletter)
- Dr. Matthew Walker: The Science & Practice of Perfecting Your Sleep (Huberman Lab episode)
- Healthy Eating & Eating Disorders - Anorexia, Bulimia, Binging (Huberman Lab episode)
- Dr. Robert Sapolsky: Science of Stress, Testosterone & Free Will (Huberman Lab episode)
- Fitness Toolkit: Protocol & Tools to Optimize Physical Health (Huberman Lab episode)
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