My guest this episode is Dr. Charles Zuker, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics and Neuroscience at Columbia University and an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Zuker is the world’s leading expert in the biology of taste, thirst and craving. His laboratory explores the mechanisms of taste perception, focusing on how our conscious and unconscious processing of specific foods and nutrients guide our actions and behaviors. We discuss the neural circuits of taste, the “gut-brain axis,” the basis of food cravings and the key difference between wanting (craving) and liking (perceiving) sugar. We also explore how taste perception relates to specific food satiety, thirst, emotions and expectation. We consider how sugar-containing and highly processed foods can hijack the natural balance of the taste and digestive systems. Dr. Zuker provides a true masterclass in the biology of taste and perception that ought to be of interest to anyone curious about how the brain works, our motivated behaviors and the neural, chemical perceptual aspects of the mind. For an up-to-date list of our current sponsors, please visit our website: https://www.hubermanlab.com/sponsors. Previous sponsors mentioned in this podcast episode may no longer be affiliated with us. Social & Website Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Twitter - https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab Website - https://hubermanlab.com Newsletter - https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network Subscribe to the Huberman Lab Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3thCToZ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3PYzuFs Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3amI809 Other platforms: https://hubermanlab.com/follow Dr. Charles Zuker Columbia Zuckerman Institute: https://zuckermaninstitute.columbia.edu/charles-s-zuker-phd Lab website: https://www.zukerlab.com Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) profile: https://www.hhmi.org/scientists/charles-s-zuker Timestamps 00:00:00 Dr. Charles Zuker & Taste Perception 00:03:05 Momentous Supplements 00:04:35 Thesis, ROKA, Helix Sleep 00:08:35 Sensory Detection vs. Sensory Perception 00:11:48 Individual Variations within Perception, Color 00:16:20 Perceptions & Behaviors 00:20:19 The 5 Taste Modalities 00:26:18 Aversive Taste, Bitter Taste 00:28:00 Survival-Based & Evolutionary Reasons for Taste Modalities, Taste vs. Flavor 00:30:14 Additional Taste Modalities: Fat & Metallic Perception 00:34:02 Tongue “Taste Map,” Taste Buds & Taste Receptors 00:39:34 Burning Your Tongue & Perception 00:42:54 The “Meaning” of Taste Stimuli, Sweet vs. Bitter, Valence 00:51:55 Positive vs. Negative Neuronal Activation & Behavior 00:56:16 Acquired Tastes, Conditioned Taste Aversion 01:01:44 Olfaction (Smell) vs. Taste, Changing Tastes over One’s Lifetime 01:09:14 Integration of Odor & Taste, Influence on Behavior & Emotion 01:17:26 Sensitization to Taste, Internal State Modulation, Salt 01:24:05 Taste & Saliva: The Absence of Taste 01:28:10 Sugar & Reward Pleasure Centers; Gut-Brain Axis, Anticipatory Response 01:36:23 Vagus Nerve 01:43:09 Insatiable Sugar Appetite, Liking vs. Wanting, Gut-Brain Axis 01:52:03 Tool: Sugar vs. Artificial Sweeteners, Curbing Appetite 01:54:06 Cravings & Gut-Brain Axis 01:57:30 Nutrition, Gut-Brain Axis & Changes in Behavior 02:01:53 Fast vs. Slow Signaling & Reinforcement, Highly Processed Foods 02:10:38 Favorite Foods: Enjoyment, Sensation & Context 02:15:58 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Instagram, Twitter, Neural Network Newsletter 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