Nicotine’s Effects on the Brain & Body & How to Quit Smoking or Vaping
In this episode, I explain how nicotine impacts the brain and body, including its potent ability to enhance attention, focus, and alertness, increase blood pressure and metabolism and reduce appetite. I discuss nicotine’s ability to increase the action of neurochemicals, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine and activate sympathetic (alertness-promoting) neural circuits. I also discuss common nicotine delivery methods, such as cigarettes, vaping, dip, and snuff, and how they each create their own unique experience and how they, but not nicotine itself, cause cancer and other adverse health effects. I also explain science-based tools to permanently quit smoking cigarettes or vaping, including peer-reviewed clinical hypnosis tools, antidepressants, and alternative nicotine replacement (patches, lozenges, gums etc.). As nicotine is one of the most widely used substances with billions of users — most of whom report wanting to quit — this episode ought to be of interest to former/current nicotine users, those who want to quit smoking or vaping and/or those interested in learning the biology behind how nicotine impacts the brain and body.
#HubermanLab #Science #Health
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Articles
Predictors of smoking abstinence following a single-session restructuring intervention with self-hypnosis: https://bit.ly/3LoU0gA
Effect of hypnotic suggestion on cognition and craving in smokers: https://bit.ly/3xtUwEn
Pharmacological Approach to Smoking Cessation: An Updated Review for Daily Clinical Practice: https://bit.ly/3eTkfiV
Resources
Reveri: https://www.reveri.com
Timestamps
00:00:00 Nicotine
00:02:47 Momentous Supplements
00:03:41 Tool: Brief Daily Meditation & Focus
00:05:59 The Arrow Model of Focus, Alpha GPC & Garlic Supplements
00:10:43 Thesis, InsideTracker, ROKA
00:14:35 Nicotine Effects vs. Methods of Delivery, Acetylcholine
00:19:55 Where is Nicotine Found? Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors
00:25:12 Nicotine & Effects on the Brain: Appetite, Dopamine & GABA
00:30:58 AG1 (Athletic Greens)
00:32:11 Nicotine, Acetylcholine & Attentional “Spotlighting”
00:37:29 Nicotine, Norepinephrine & Alertness/Energy
00:41:10 Nicotine & Effects on Appetite & Metabolism
00:46:47 Nicotine & Effects on Body: Sympathetic Tone
00:51:29 Nicotine & Cognitive Work vs. Physical Performance
00:55:08 Nicotine Delivery Methods & Side Effects, Young People & Dependency
00:58:35 Smoking, Vaping, Dipping & Snuffing: Carcinogens & Endothelial Cells
01:02:34 Smoking, Vaping, Dipping & Snuffing: Negative Impacts on Lifespan & Health
01:09:23 How to Quit Smoking, Nicotine Cravings & Withdrawal
01:13:56 Vaping & Nicotine, Rates of Effect Onset, Dopamine, Addiction & Depression
01:25:06 Tool: Quitting Smoking & Clinical Hypnosis, Reveri
01:30:16 Bupropion (Wellbutrin) & Quitting Smoking
01:36:24 Tool: A Nicotine Replacement Schedule to Quit Smoking, Nicotine Patch/Gum
01:41:52 Tool: Biological Homeostasis & Nicotine Withdrawal, The “First Week” Strategy
01:51:39 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Neural Network Newsletter, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
The Huberman Lab Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com
📊 Video Statistics
🎧 About This Track
This 1 hour and 53 minutes audio journey has been thoughtfully composed to provide an authentic experience featuring rain sounds that have been carefully recorded and mastered for optimal relaxation. Every element has been balanced to ensure a consistent experience throughout, without jarring transitions or sudden changes that might disrupt your relaxation. The audio quality maintains professional standards, making it suitable for high-quality speakers, headphones, or sleep systems.
Designed specifically for meditation practice, this audio features frequencies and patterns that support altered states of consciousness. The tempo encourages natural breathing rhythms, while ambient elements provide gentle points of focus. Extended passages of consistency allow for deep meditative states.
Listening to this audio can provide numerous benefits for both mental and physical well-being. The carefully designed soundscape promotes parasympathetic nervous system activation, helping the body shift from 'fight or flight' mode into 'rest and digest' mode. Regular listening can help establish healthy relaxation habits and improve overall stress management. Students have found that this background audio improves concentration and information retention during study sessions.
Meditation-oriented audio often incorporates specific frequencies associated with brainwave states. Alpha waves (8-12 Hz) correlate with relaxed awareness, while theta waves (4-8 Hz) appear during deep meditation. Some tracks include binaural beats - slight frequency differences between ears that the brain perceives as pulsing tones. Research suggests these audio techniques can help entrain brainwaves toward desired states, though individual responses vary. The consistency of meditation tracks supports the 'anchoring' effect where the brain learns to associate specific sounds with specific mental states.
The community response to this audio has been genuinely appreciative, with 36,093 likes reflecting the genuine impact it has had on listeners worldwide. In the comments section, listeners share personal stories of how this audio has helped them through difficult times, aided their sleep, or provided a reliable source of calm during stressful periods. Common emotional responses include feeling happy, demonstrating the profound effect well-crafted audio can have on our mental state. Many listeners return to this track regularly, considering it an essential part of their self-care routine. The consistent quality and reliable results have built a dedicated community of listeners who trust this audio for their relaxation needs.
To get the most from this audio experience, consider your listening environment and equipment. For study or work, maintain the volume at a level where it provides gentle background presence without demanding attention. Position speakers or headphones to create an immersive but not overwhelming soundscape. Take breaks every 45-60 minutes to maintain effectiveness. Consistency in your listening routine can amplify benefits over time, as your mind learns to associate these sounds with relaxation.
This audio is particularly effective during: Study sessions and homework time; Work from home focus periods; Creative project sessions; Morning meditation practice. The versatility of this track means it adapts well to various situations and times of day. Listen when you feel the need for calm, or make it part of your regular routine for cumulative benefits.
Published by Andrew Huberman, this audio has been mastered for optimal streaming quality across all devices. At 1:53:37, this track works excellently with the built-in loop feature for extended listening sessions. The consistent audio levels throughout ensure no sudden volume changes that might disrupt your experience.
✨ Highlights
- ⭐ Reached 1 million+ views milestone
- 🧘 Perfect for meditation practice
- 🎧 High-quality nature recordings
🎯 Best For
💡 Listening Tips
- 🔁 Use the loop feature for extended sessions
- ⏰ Set a sleep timer to conserve battery
- 🎛️ Try the Ambient Sound Mixer to customize your experience
- 📱 Works great through phone speakers or Bluetooth
💬 What Listeners Say
""Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times." ― Mark Twain"
— @erkkidreiak6533 👍 4,006
"9 months sober off fentanyl, 3 weeks sober off the vape. more work to be done."
— @issaSeeK 👍 382
"I quit smoking cold turkey on 11 December 2022. Have not smoked since. I listen to this podcast from time to time for reinforcement. Good luck to everyone, you can do it!"
— @whitesheep20 👍 546
📖 How to Get the Most Out of This Audio
To fully enjoy "Nicotine’s Effects on the Brain & Body & How to Quit Smoking or Vaping", we recommend the following approach:
- Set the Scene: Find a comfortable position, dim the lights if possible, and minimize distractions.
- Use Quality Audio: Headphones or quality speakers will enhance the experience significantly.
- Adjust Volume: Keep the volume at a comfortable background level - loud enough to hear, quiet enough to relax.
- Enable Loop: Click the Loop button above for continuous play during your session.
- Try the Mixer: Use our Ambient Sound Mixer below to customize the audio with additional sound layers.
This 1:53:37 track is ideal for overnight sleep sessions. With 1.8M views, it has become a trusted choice for thousands of listeners worldwide.