How to Increase Your Willpower & Tenacity | Huberman Lab Podcast

About this video

Huberman distinguishes tenacity and willpower from motivation, defining tenacity as willingness to persist under pressure and resistance and willpower as both the drive to do things and to resist things. He centers the episode on a brain structure he says most neuroscientists are not even aware of, the anterior mid cingulate cortex, which he argues integrates information from inside and outside the body to support tenacity and willpower. Huberman reviews several kinds of human evidence he says implicate this area, including recordings of neuronal activity, cases of injury, changes in the area’s size with training, and its inputs from the autonomic nervous system and from reward systems involving dopamine and serotonin. He presents research-supported tools for enhancing tenacity and willpower and argues that building that capacity can enrich enjoyment of life and engage the will to live.

Key takeaways

• Huberman defines tenacity as persisting under pressure and willpower as both acting and resisting.
• Huberman argues the anterior mid cingulate cortex is a vital hub for tenacity and willpower.
• Huberman cites human evidence from recordings, injuries, and changes in brain-area size with training.
• Huberman explains the anterior mid cingulate cortex receives input from autonomic and reward systems.
• Huberman argues building tenacity and willpower can enrich life and engage the will to live.

Episode details: published October 9, 2023 · 928.9K views · 2:07:59 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. The science and protocols described are Andrew Huberman’s, presented for education — not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before changing your own health practices.

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