"It's Truly Remarkable" - Dr. Huberman on How Wim Hof Affects Dopamine

The Benefits of Cold Water Exposure

In this section, the speaker discusses how cold water exposure can increase dopamine levels and improve neuromodulator systems.

Cold Water Exposure and Dopamine

• Cold exposure, such as taking cold showers or ice baths, can increase dopamine levels.

• The temperature of water that one can tolerate will depend on how cold water adapted they are.

• Dopamine levels rise slowly upon getting into cold water and continue to rise up to 2.5 times above baseline, which is comparable to the increase seen with cocaine use.

• Most people report feeling a heightened level of calm and focus after getting out of cold water.

Safety Parameters

• Getting into very cold water (30°F or lower) can put someone into a state of cold water shock and even lead to death.

• It's important to approach cold water exposure with caution and start with temperatures that are comfortable for you.

Study Findings

• A study found that upon getting into cold water, there were immediate increases in adrenaline and noradrenaline, followed by a sustained rise in dopamine that took up to three hours to come back down to baseline.

• Cold water exposure is a potent stimulus for shifting the entire milieu environment of our brain and body.