How Placebo Effects Work to Change Our Biology & Psychology

What if you could think yourself to better health and a happier life—using the power of your brain and your body, not by asking the universe to do it for you? Science writer David Robson argues in The Expectation Effect that your brain’s predictions about your body, your health, your intellect, and your emotions are so powerful that they create your reality. By changing what your brain predicts, you can change the reality your brain creates for you and the limits it sets for you.

Drawing on extensive scientific research, the book explores the expectation effects that shape your health, determine how well you age and how long you live, and influence how you respond to stress. Throughout the guide, we’ll look at the strategies Robson recommends for stopping the negative outcomes of expectation effects and creating positive outcomes, and we’ll connect his ideas to what other experts say about how you can use these effects to improve your health and happiness.

With the "Huberman Lab" podcast, delve into the intricacies of scientific research papers with Dr. Andrew Huberman and Dr. Peter Attia. This in-depth conversation sheds light on decoding and interpreting scientific studies (even one about neural activity in a dead salmon!), emphasizing the necessity of exhaustive examination far beyond mere abstracts. This episode skillfully breaks down the extensive complexity of research methodologies, covering everything from initial query to overall implications.

The conversation isn’t contained to academia though; join these experts as they plunge into the medical world, debating the longevity-potential of medications such as Metformin and the impact of belief systems on physical health. Listen carefully to their explorations of non-pharmaceutical interventions for extending life, from lifestyle modifications to the psychological influence of dosage perception. The nuanced discourse balances raw data with tangible lifestyle implications, providing a fresh perspective on scientific exploration.

What if you could think yourself to better health and a happier life—using the power of your brain and your body, not by asking the universe to do it for you? Science writer David Robson argues in The Expectation Effect that your brain’s predictions about your body, your health, your intellect, and your emotions are so powerful that they create your reality. By changing what your brain predicts, you can change the reality your brain creates for you and the limits it sets for you.

Drawing on extensive scientific research, the book explores the expectation effects that shape your health, determine how well you age and how long you live, and influence how you respond to stress. Throughout the guide, we’ll look at the strategies Robson recommends for stopping the negative outcomes of expectation effects and creating positive outcomes, and we’ll connect his ideas to what other experts say about how you can use these effects to improve your health and happiness.

You may have learned that a chemical imbalance in the brain causes depression, but that’s only part of the story. Biology lays the foundation, but trusted sources like the World Health Organization agree that your life experiences and the society you live in are the biggest causes of depression.

In Lost Connections, journalist Johann Hari investigates the psychological and social factors that contribute to mental illness (which he calls “disconnections”), as well as innovative social and environmental treatments for depression (or “reconnections”). Learn the questionable history of antidepressants, why Amish people hardely ever get depressed, and how mushrooms might be the antidepressants of the future.

If you want to heal your body, you have to cultivate a healthy mind. In Mind Over Medicine, Lissa Rankin explores the mind-body connection and reveals our innate ability to promote self-healing. By proliferating positive beliefs and designing a fulfilling lifestyle, she says you can create conditions for healing relaxation and whole-body health.

Rankin is a physician, author, and speaker. Using her own chronic illnesses as a catalyst, she expanded her modern, Western healing repertoire to include holistic medicine after researching mindset and lifestyle factors on spontaneous remissions. She now teaches that optimal health involves more than just prescription medicine and physical treatments—it also depends on the quality of our beliefs, our relationships, and our jobs.

In this guide, we examine Rankin’s principles for healing and compare them to similar books like When the Body Says No and The Upside of Stress.

Imagine a world where our lifespans aren’t limited by illness or aging, where people could live for as long as they wanted to. This sounds like something out of a science fiction novel, but according to Tony Robbins, Peter Diamandis, and Robert Hariri, such a scenario may be more fact than fiction. In Life Force, the authors explain how ongoing development of new technologies and information in the medical field may extend our lifespans beyond what we ever thought possible. Robbins is a bestselling author and speaker, Diamandis is a bestselling author and scientist, and Hariri is a neurosurgeon and scientist.

In our guide, we’ll explore the lifestyle changes you can make now to increase your lifespan and overall health. We’ll also look at new technologies that are rapidly improving our healthcare and upcoming technologies that have the potential to bring us even closer to the ideal of immortality. We’ll supplement this with elaboration on some of the authors’ more complex ideas, and we’ll contextualize the guide’s information in the fields of science, technology, and sociology.

In today’s fast-paced world, our lives increasingly revolve around productivity, efficiency, and work. It’s now normal for many people to answer emails during dinner and pack their days with as many tasks as possible. Yet in Do Nothing, radio journalist Celeste Headlee argues that by trying to do too much, people are working less efficiently because the human brain isn’t designed to multitask or work without rest. In addition, the culture of overworking has led to worse health outcomes and increased social isolation.

So if all this work isn’t serving us, how can we end an addiction to productivity? And if not work, what should we be doing? Headlee’s solution is to embrace true leisure—doing things just for the fun of it. In this guide, we’ll explain the historical origins of the modern work addiction, how it impacts society, and what you can do to live a healthier life. We’ll also supplement Headlee’s ideas with more context on global labor trends and tips from other wellness and productivity experts.

Dive into the fascinating connections between the brain, body, and personal well-being with Dr. Andrew Huberman in the latest episode of "Huberman Lab." As he enthralls a live Toronto audience with "The Brain Body Contract," Dr. Huberman traverses an array of essential topics—from the empowerment of mental health tools and the enigma of the subconscious mind to the brain mechanics of creativity.

Dr. Huberman's dynamic discourse ranges from practical advice for remote workers to intriguing developments in psychotherapy, such as the therapeutic prospects of psychedelics for PTSD. Alongside sharing his own 'space time bridging' morning routine to counteract life’s stresses, he also examines the scientific underpinnings of emotional resilience and the role community plays in fostering a rich environment for scientific knowledge. Whether unpacking the complexities of neuroplasticity or advising on physical health for life's unpredictable twists, Dr. Huberman offers invaluable insights for a science-empowered life.

In this 1902 self-help classic, James Allen explores the power of thought, which says that your thoughts shape your character, your character shapes your actions, and your actions shape your circumstances. Put simply, you are what you think. Allen discusses the ways that thoughts manifest in reality and how to direct your thoughts in order to create the life you want.

In this summary, you’ll discover how your thoughts create your circumstances and your health, why it’s essential to have a purpose in life, and how to take control of your mind and your life.

Do you feel like you’re getting the most out of your brain? Or do you struggle to tap into its immense power? In The Source, neurologist and professional adviser Tara Swart explains that to achieve your desires, you must tap into the full power of your brain. This means understanding how the brain changes itself in response to your experiences, the different modes of thinking, and the major principles of the Law of Attraction.

In our guide, we’ll explain Swart’s ideas about how to get the most out of your brain’s functioning to build the life you want. We’ll explore the concept of neuroplasticity and the modes of thinking that you need to tap into to maximize your brain’s potential. We’ll then explain the principles underlying the Law of Attraction. Finally, we’ll describe Swart’s four-step process for putting these ideas into action. We’ll add ideas from other writers on how to use your brain, as well as scientific context for Swart’s ideas and additional tips for applying them.

In The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale says there is no problem or obstacle you can’t overcome with faith and a positive mindset. This self-help classic outlines the practical techniques of applied Christianity to help you take control of the events in your life rather than be directed by them.

Norman Vincent Peale was a Reformed minister who served as the pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in New York City from 1932-1984. He was also an influential author and public speaker, largely because of The Power of Positive Thinking's success.

In this guide, we’ll organize Peale’s lessons into three categories: Faith (underlying beliefs), Positive Thinking (mindset), and Practices (good habits and practical techniques). We'll also compare and contrast Peale’s Christianity-based ideas with those found in other schools of thought, both religious and secular. Additionally, we’ll examine ways to put Peale’s suggestions into practice, regardless of your personal faith (or lack of it).

Food plays a profound role in our lives: It nourishes our bodies, satisfies our cravings, provides comfort, and serves as a focal point for celebrations. However, the relentless pressure to be thin, combined with conflicting advice on what and how much to eat, can turn eating into a struggle for many people. For them, the pleasures associated with food are overshadowed by guilt, shame, and a fear of making dietary mistakes.

In Intuitive Eating, dietician Evelyn Tribole and nutritionist Elyse Resch suggest a way to overcome this internal struggle and cultivate a healthy relationship with food: Fulfill your body’s needs by tuning out what others say you should eat and tuning in to what your body wants to eat.

This guide explores how succumbing to the pressure of dieting damages your relationship with food, and it presents advice for tuning in to your body and fostering a more positive connection to it. Additionally, we’ll expand on the authors’ ideas with research and advice from other health experts.

If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you’re probably aware of all the conflicting advice about what you should eat. Should you go on a low-carb diet, a low-fat one, or a liquid one? Eat one large portion in the morning, smaller portions throughout the day, or practice fasting?

In How Not to Diet, Michael Greger, physician and best-selling author of How Not to Die, adds a much-needed voice of clarity to the world of weight loss. He draws on extensive scientific research to explore the healthiest and most efficient way to lose weight and keep it off.

This guide explores Greger’s advice, covering:

• How eating processed foods and animal products leads to weight gain
• Why eating plant-based foods and legumes reduces the calories your body stores as fat
• What dietary changes will help you shed excess pounds and keep them off

Additionally, we’ll expand on each of Greger’s ideas with research, advice, and actionable ideas from other health practitioners and weight-loss specialists.