Doing hard things grows the brain's tenacity hub
Huberman returns repeatedly to the anterior midcingulate cortex, which appears to grow when people do things they don't want to do and is linked to willpower and resilience. It turns 'embrace the suck' into a concrete, trainable habit.
Which brain region does Huberman call a hub for tenacity and willpower? Show answer
The anterior mid-cingulate cortex, or aMCC, part of the cingulate cortex in the frontal lobes.
What makes a challenge count for growing the aMCC, according to Huberman? Show answer
It has to be something you would prefer not to do, and it has to be safe. Hard things you enjoy don't count.
How does Huberman separate willpower from habit? Show answer
Habits run on existing circuits with little effort. Willpower means overriding your own default habits or thought patterns, which costs effort and neural energy.
What did patients report when Josef Parvizi's team stimulated the aMCC? Show answer
They felt that something challenging was coming and that they would push through it. Sham stimulation and stimulating neighbouring areas did not produce this.
What happened in the 2006 aerobic exercise study of older adults? Show answer
Previously sedentary adults aged 60 to 79 who did aerobic exercise for six months held or grew aMCC volume, while a stretching and calisthenics group showed no comparable change.
What are super-agers, and what is notable about their aMCC? Show answer
They are people over 60 with the thinking of much younger adults. They keep a significantly larger aMCC, though Huberman notes this is correlation.
Why won't Huberman's Sunday long run grow his aMCC? Show answer
Because he enjoys it the whole way through. Adding a couple of hard hill sprints at the end that feel rough would.
What is a micro-suck? Show answer
Huberman's joking name for a small, safe thing you don't want to do, done on purpose, such as one extra set or 100 jumping jacks after a hard run.
How often does Huberman suggest doing something difficult? Show answer
At least one thing every week, and perhaps a little every day, even just five minutes.
What does anorexia nervosa show about the limits of tenacity? Show answer
People with anorexia show heightened aMCC activity, so the drive to resist can go too far. Huberman says turning it off matters as much as turning it on.
What does Huberman say willpower rests on? Show answer
The autonomic nervous system. Sleep deprivation, pain, illness, hunger or distraction all lower it, so sleep and stress management come first.
What is allostasis in Lisa Feldman Barrett's sense? Show answer
Directing the body's resources to particular functions depending on goals. The aMCC seems to act as a dial for how much fuel each part of the brain and body gets.