How to Control Your Sense of Pain & Pleasure | Huberman Lab Essentials
Andrew Huberman
Jun 19, 2025
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Recognize pain as brain interpretation, not tissue damage
The experience of pain is created by the brain and doesn't always correlate with actual tissue damage, as shown by a case where a man felt excruciating pain from a nail that only went through his boot.
Utilize electro-acupuncture strategically for inflammation control
Electro-acupuncture on the legs can be anti-inflammatory by activating a specific neural circuit, while abdominal stimulation can be pro-inflammatory.
Manage pain tolerance by timing activities throughout the day
Your ability to tolerate pain is highest during the day and lowest at night, particularly between 2 am and 5 am.
Optimize warning timing to reduce pain perception
To reduce anticipated pain, being warned 20-40 seconds beforehand is optimal, while warnings just before or minutes in advance can make it feel worse.
Leverage MC1R gene to understand redheads' pain tolerance
Redheads often have a higher pain threshold because a specific gene (MC1R) leads to the production of more endogenous pain-blocking opioids called beta-endorphins.
Distinguish dopamine's role in desire from serotonin's in satisfaction
In the context of pleasure, dopamine is primarily linked to the anticipation and motivation to pursue a reward, while serotonin is more related to the immediate feeling of well-being and satisfaction.
Understand pleasure-pain balance to avoid extreme lows
The brain maintains a balance by creating a corresponding amount of pain for every peak of pleasure, which is why chasing extreme highs can lead to a deeper subsequent low.
Dive quickly into cold water for easier adaptation
Getting into cold water quickly and up to your neck is neurobiologically easier than entering slowly because cold sensors respond to relative, not absolute, temperature changes.
Utilize low-dose naltrexone or acetyl-L-carnitine to alleviate whole-body pain
Low-dose naltrexone or acetyl-L-carnitine (1-4 grams/day) may help reduce whole-body pain like fibromyalgia by targeting specific glial cell receptors.
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