This Huberman Lab Essentials episode explores the neuroscience of emotions, focusing on their development from infancy through puberty. The podcast explains emotions using three axes: autonomic arousal (alertness vs. calmness), valence (good vs. bad), and interoception/exteroception (internal vs. external focus). It details the importance of early attachment styles and hormonal changes during puberty in shaping emotional responses, highlighting the roles of oxytocin and vasopressin in bonding. The speaker also discusses the vagus nerve's influence on emotional states and introduces the "Mood Meter" app as a tool for emotional self-assessment. Listeners gain a framework for understanding their own emotional experiences and those of others, potentially improving emotional regulation.
