Huberman Lab · 2026-08-17 · Andrew Huberman (host), Ralph Adolphs

Neuroscience of Emotions & Tools for Improving Emotion Regulation| Dr. Ralph Adolphs

42 research-tied claims examined: 4 contradicted 2 overstated 4 context 31 supported 1 unverified

4 Contradicted by research
0:59:30Ralph Adolphscontradictedhigh

Inhaling carbon dioxide triggers a panic attack in approximately 50 percent of the general population.

"where we put a mask on them and had them inhale carbon dioxide. If you do that, you get a panic attack in about half the population because it makes you feel like you're suffocating." (said at 0:59:30)

The speaker confuses the panic attack induction rate seen in patients with panic disorder with that of the general population. Inhalation of carbon dioxide (such as a 35% CO2 challenge) reliably triggers full panic attacks in approximately 50% to 70% of individuals with panic disorder, but only in a small minority (typically 0% to 15%) of healthy controls from the general population. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 33 studies (PMID: 31487375) confirmed that panic disorder patients are more than 11 to 14 times more likely to experience a panic attack following CO2 inhalation than healthy controls.

0:57:54Ralph Adolphscontradictedmoderate

Great apes have facial musculature and control similar to humans, whereas monkeys and dogs lack the musculature to produce those types of facial expressions.

"I mean, the human face has way more muscles and control than other animals do. Great apes have similar sets of muscles, but monkeys or your dog can't make those kinds of faces." (said at 0:57:54)

Comparative anatomical studies show that humans do not possess a significantly greater number of facial muscles compared to other anthropoid primates. Dissections demonstrate that monkeys (such as rhesus macaques) and apes share virtually the entire human facial muscle plan (approximately 24 muscles, with only minor exceptions such as the risorius muscle), allowing for intricate and graded facial expressions. Furthermore, dogs have also evolved specific mimetic musculature (such as the levator anguli oculi medialis) that facilitates human-like facial expressions (e.g., inner eyebrow raising).

1:13:45Andrew Huberman (host)contradictedmoderate

Supplementation with nattokinase can reduce LDL cholesterol levels.

"As a result, I decided to start supplementing with nattokinase, which can naturally help reduce LDL cholesterol, and it did. In a follow-up test, I could confirm that this strategy worked." (said at 1:13:45)

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (PMID: 39076715) found that nattokinase supplementation does not reduce LDL cholesterol. At lower dosages, it was associated with an increase in LDL cholesterol compared to controls, while higher dosages showed no significant difference. In clinical trials evaluating lipid effects (e.g., PMID: 19786378), nattokinase alone did not significantly lower LDL cholesterol compared to placebo; significant LDL reductions occurred only when nattokinase was combined with red yeast rice (which contains naturally occurring lovastatin/monacolin K).

1:15:14Ralph Adolphscontradictedmoderate

A PET neuroimaging study by Anne Blood and Robert Zatorre showed that listening to music that induces goosebumps or shivers activates the insula and amygdala.

"One of the earliest studies on emotion actually was done by Anne Blood and Robert Zatorre in the mid-'90s or something, I believe, using—I'm pretty sure using positron emission tomography, PET, rather than fMRI at the time. And what they did was they played music to people, and I think they set it up so that you and I could hear the same piece of music... And from the imaging, they showed that the insula, the structure we were just talking about, the amygdala, several of these emotion-related structures are indeed activated when you have shivers, chills down your spine listening to music." (said at 1:15:14)

The referenced study by Anne J. Blood and Robert J. Zatorre (PNAS 2001, PMID: 11573015) used H2[15]O PET neuroimaging in 10 participants to examine brain activity during music-induced 'chills' (shivers down the spine). While the study demonstrated significant cerebral blood flow increases (activation) in the insula, ventral striatum, and midbrain, it demonstrated significant cerebral blood flow decreases (deactivation) in the amygdala, hippocampus, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex as chills intensity increased. Because the speaker stated that the amygdala is activated during musical chills, this directional relationship is contradicted by the study findings.

Unverified means no publication matching the claim was located; it does not prove the claim false. Spotted an error? See the corrections policy - disputes from the people quoted are prioritized.