AMA #1: Leveraging Ultradian Cycles, How to Protect Your Brain, Seed Oils Examined and More

This first Ask Me Anything episode is part of the Huberman Lab premium subscriber content. The opening explains that the premium channel exists to support the free standard podcast, which still comes out every Monday, and to fund human research at universities such as Stanford, research meant to lead to protocols for mental health, physical health and performance. Subscriptions cost $10 a month or $100 a year, and there is also a lifetime option. Non-subscribers can hear roughly the first 15 minutes of the episode.

The host says he aims to be clear, succinct and thorough while fitting in as many questions as possible, and notes that questions skipped this time may be answered in the next AMA. The section covered here deals with one question, from Jackson Lipfert, which had many upvotes. It asks how ultradian rhythms can be used for daily focused work.

Ultradian rhythms are defined as any rhythms shorter than 24 hours. In everyday discussion the term usually means 90-minute rhythms. The host says he uses them for focused bouts of mental work once, twice or sometimes three times a day. He presents his approach as grounded in research on ultradian rhythms in learning and memory, and says the practical method is not obvious from the label "90-minute rhythm" alone. The stated goal is to capture neuroplasticity, defined as the brain's ability to change in response to experience. This applies both to cognitive material such as languages, mathematics and history and to physical skill learning.