Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode of Huberman Lab Essentials, my guest is Dr. Karl Deisseroth, M.D., Ph.D., a clinical psychiatrist and professor of bioengineering and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University.
We discuss his experiences as a clinician treating complex psychiatric conditions and his lab’s pioneering work in developing transformative therapies for mental illness. He explains the complexities of mental illness and how emerging technologies—such as optogenetics and brain-machine interfaces—could revolutionize care. We also explore promising new therapies, including psychedelics and MDMA, for conditions like depression and PTSD.
Episode show notes: go.hubermanlab.com/0M1gSQ0
Huberman Lab Essentials are short episodes focused on essential science and protocol takeaways from past full-length Huberman Lab episodes. Watch the full-length episode: youtu.be/w9MXqXBZy9U
Watch more Huberman Lab Essentials episodes: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPNW_gerXa4OGNy1yE-W9IX-tPu-tJa7S
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Threads: threads.net/@hubermanlab
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*Dr. Karl Deisseroth*
Stanford academic profile: https://profiles.stanford.edu/karl-deisseroth
Website: deisseroth.com
Lab website: https://dlab.stanford.edu
Projections: A Story of Human Emotions (book): amzlink.to/az0jxcLUA11Dj
X: https://x.com/KarlDeisseroth
*Timestamps*
00:00:00 Karl Deisseroth; Neurology vs Psychiatry
00:01:36 Speech; Blood Test?; Seeking Help
00:04:20 Feelings, Jargon; Psychiatric Treatment
00:09:40 Future Treatment; Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Depression, Optogenetics
00:18:24 Brain-Machine Interfaces
00:19:37 ADHD Symptoms, Lifestyle, Technology
00:26:10 Psychedelics, Depression Treatment, Risks
00:32:19 MDMA (Ecstasy), Trauma & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment
00:35:21 Projections: A Story of Human Emotions Book, Optimism
Disclaimer & Disclosures: hubermanlab.com/disclaimer
In this episode of Huberman Lab Essentials, my guest is Dr. Karl Deisseroth, M.D., Ph.D., a clinical psychiatrist and professor of bioengineering and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University.
We discuss his experiences as a clinician treating complex psychiatric conditions and his lab’s pioneering work in developing transformative therapies for mental illness. He explains the complexities of mental illness and how emerging technologies—such as optogenetics and brain-machine interfaces—could revolutionize care. We also explore promising new therapies, including psychedelics and MDMA, for conditions like depression and PTSD.
Episode show notes: go.hubermanlab.com/0M1gSQ0
Huberman Lab Essentials are short episodes focused on essential science and protocol takeaways from past full-length Huberman Lab episodes. Watch the full-length episode: youtu.be/w9MXqXBZy9U
Watch more Huberman Lab Essentials episodes: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPNW_gerXa4OGNy1yE-W9IX-tPu-tJa7S
*Follow Huberman Lab*
Instagram: instagram.com/hubermanlab
Threads: threads.net/@hubermanlab
X: twitter.com/hubermanlab
Facebook: facebook.com/hubermanlab
TikTok: tiktok.com/@hubermanlab
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman
Website: hubermanlab.com
Newsletter: hubermanlab.com/newsletter
*Dr. Karl Deisseroth*
Stanford academic profile: https://profiles.stanford.edu/karl-deisseroth
Website: deisseroth.com
Lab website: https://dlab.stanford.edu
Projections: A Story of Human Emotions (book): amzlink.to/az0jxcLUA11Dj
X: https://x.com/KarlDeisseroth
*Timestamps*
00:00:00 Karl Deisseroth; Neurology vs Psychiatry
00:01:36 Speech; Blood Test?; Seeking Help
00:04:20 Feelings, Jargon; Psychiatric Treatment
00:09:40 Future Treatment; Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Depression, Optogenetics
00:18:24 Brain-Machine Interfaces
00:19:37 ADHD Symptoms, Lifestyle, Technology
00:26:10 Psychedelics, Depression Treatment, Risks
00:32:19 MDMA (Ecstasy), Trauma & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment
00:35:21 Projections: A Story of Human Emotions Book, Optimism
Disclaimer & Disclosures: hubermanlab.com/disclaimer
