Audit a URL →

Sign in Sign up free

Loading…

Weekly · Sunday Morning

Five longevity claims.
Worth your time.
Every Sunday.

Last Sunday

Rapamycin extends mouse lifespan 9–14%
NAD+ precursors reverse aging in humans
Blue-light glasses improve sleep quality
Walking 10 min after meals blunts glucose
Verdict change — caffeine half-life downgraded

5 audits·1 verdict change·0 affiliate links·Every Sunday

Joining 1,247 readers — founders, MDs, and longevity-obsessed people who fact-check their own health decisions.

Browse

Decisions Claims Content Creators

Product

Audit a URL Sunday roundup API (soon)Pricing

About

FAQ Methodology Editorial Standards Corrections Press & brand RSS feed

Legal

Terms of Service Privacy Policy DMCA

Finally, something serious in this space.
Because we actually read the papers.

© 2026 Whalespan. Independent, evidence-graded longevity.

The Science of Love, Desire and Attachment — Whalespan

Content›Video›The Science of Love, Desire …

The Science of Love, Desire and Attachment

Andrew Huberman2h 35m · 2022-02-14

Claims Made

218

Claims Supported

173

Support Rate

79%

Support rate

173 of 218 claims supported

173 supported45 partial / not

Claims from this content

112

✓Well SupportedAndrew Huberman drinks Athletic Greens twice a day, typically once in the morning and again in the afternoon or late afternoon, mixed with water and lemon or lime juice.✓Well SupportedInside Tracker's platform helps users understand blood test data and provides protocols to adjust numbers into ideal ranges.✓Well SupportedAG1 is recommended as the single supplement to take for supporting physical health, mental health, and cognitive and physical performance by covering foundational nutritional bases.✓Well SupportedThorne supplements are considered highly stringent regarding ingredient precision and quality.Well Supported

More from Andrew Huberman

Andrew Huberman on Creatine

Huberman X thread: creatine and aging

Andrew Huberman on Morning Sunlight

Discussion

Native comments, Twitter mentions, and Reddit threads about this content — surfaced together so the conversation isn't fragmented across platforms.

M

Share your read of this content…

Posting publicly as you · linked to your social profiles

Sort by:

AV

A. Volkovreader

4h

Bookmarking — the dossier-vs-overview split is the right call. Most of the time I want overview; sometimes I want receipts.

NP

N. Park

2d

Would love a "what would change this verdict" RSS feed. Sign me up if it exists.

✓

Athletic Greens supports the gut microbiome, which is vital for the immune system, endocrine system, and gut-brain axis, influencing mood and neurotransmitter production.

✓Well SupportedVitamin D3 is critical for metabolism, hormone function, and brain function, and most individuals do not get enough even with ample sunlight.

✓Well SupportedAndrew Huberman finds Thesis nootropics, particularly Clarity and Energy formulas, to be a 'total game changer'.

✓Well SupportedSupplements can be beneficial for easing sleep transition, improving sleep depth, and enhancing focus.

✓Well SupportedTongkat Ali increased libido and sexual function in a 2012 study.

✓Well SupportedChildhood attachment styles influence adult attachment styles due to the repurposing of neural circuits for infant-caregiver and adult romantic attachments.

✓Well SupportedThesis uses phosphatidylserine and alpha GPC in their nootropics to optimize brain and body states.

✓Well SupportedA physiological sigh, performed once or repeatedly over five minutes, is an effective method for reducing stress in real-time and around the clock.

✓Well SupportedRegular blood work and DNA tests are essential for understanding one's health status and informing decisions about immediate and long-term health.

✓Well SupportedOral contraception prevents the peak in perceived attractiveness associated with the pre-ovulatory phase.

✓Well SupportedMaca, Indonesian Tongkat Ali, and Tribulus can increase sexual desire, potentially by adjusting testosterone and estrogen systems.

✓Well SupportedBiological age determined by DNA tests is more important for health and longevity than chronological age.

✓Well SupportedMen respond more favorably to a woman's scent or facial appearance during the preovulatory phase of her cycle.

✓Well SupportedTribulus terrestris improved sexual desire and function in subjects with loss of libido.

◐Partially SupportedTongkat Ali may enhance libido and potentially override SSRI-induced reduction in libido.

◐Partially SupportedInteractions between child and caregiver in early life involve shifts in autonomic arousal, moving between states like alertness for play and soothing for sleep.

◐Partially SupportedMaca, at doses of 2-3 grams per day, has been shown to offset SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction.

◐Partially SupportedAwareness of one's attachment style can be a useful tool for improving adult romantic relationships.

✕Not SupportedIncreasing dopamine alone does not necessarily increase libido and sex drive.

✓Well SupportedThe dopamine system is associated with desire and functions as a general motivator.

◐Partially SupportedSimply increasing dopamine does not necessarily increase libido, as excessive dopamine can prevent physical arousal.

◐Partially SupportedDesire, love, and attachment emerge from the coordinated action of multiple brain areas.

◐Partially SupportedMaca supplementation positively affected libido in women at doses equivalent to those studied in men.

◐Partially SupportedWomen preferred more physically symmetrical men when rating their odors during the pre-ovulatory phase of their cycle.

◐Partially SupportedPhysical contact between infants and mothers synchronizes their brain activity during interaction.

✓Well SupportedDeliberate cold exposure and blood restriction cuffs can be used to teach oneself to be comfortable with the pulse of adrenaline.

◐Partially SupportedAutonomic arousal is a core element in forming, maintaining, and breaking loving attachments.

◐Partially SupportedDetermining whether to cycle supplements like Tongkat Ali and Maca requires blood work monitoring of liver enzymes and hormone levels.

◐Partially SupportedTribulus Terrestris at 750mg/day for 120 days did not increase libido in postmenopausal women, but did increase free and bio-available testosterone.

◐Partially SupportedDr. Fisher's research categorizes individuals into four neurochemical/hormonal groups based on dating site data, potentially mapping to attachment styles.

◐Partially SupportedSerotonin produced in the gut is not primarily responsible for feelings of love and attachment; brain-produced serotonin mediates these feelings.

◐Partially SupportedProtecting a secure attachment style is important because it is possible to become anxiously attached, even if one had a stable attachment framework in childhood.

◐Partially SupportedThe autonomic nervous system can be influenced and controlled.

◐Partially SupportedComplex psychological states like desire, love, and attachment emerge from the coordinated action of multiple brain regions.

◐Partially SupportedInteractions with significant others can shape autonomic arousal, perception of self, and thereby perception of other potential partners.

◐Partially SupportedDuring romantic interactions, individuals' autonomic nervous systems tend to synchronize at the level of heartbeats and breathing.

✓Well SupportedLow estrogen levels can severely impair libido in both males and females.

◐Partially SupportedAutonomic nervous system imbalance can result in states of anxiousness or lack of energy.

◐Partially SupportedAwareness of childhood attachment templates is a powerful mechanism for shifting them over time.

◐Partially SupportedThe arousal response is initiated by parasympathetic tone, shifting towards sympathetic nervous system activity as arousal progresses.

?Limited ResearchThe effectiveness of tribulus terrestris for increasing testosterone and fitness is unclear.

◐Partially SupportedCriticism, defensiveness, stonewalling, and contempt predict relationship breakup, with contempt being the most powerful.

◐Partially SupportedThe insula allows for interoception and exteroception.

◐Partially SupportedCategorizing individuals into dopamine, serotonin, testosterone, and estrogen groups relates to autonomic nervous system tendencies and partner selection.

◐Partially SupportedBoth men and women possess and utilize testosterone and estrogen, with typical average differences in levels between sexes.

◐Partially SupportedKissing, romantic speech, or arousal increases alpha wave activity in the neocortex of romantic couples.

◐Partially SupportedAutonomic empathy is a distinct category of empathy, separate from emotional and cognitive empathy, and is determinant of relationship dynamics.

◐Partially SupportedBrain and body vasopressin levels differentiate monogamous and non-monogamous behaviors in prairie voles.

◐Partially SupportedVasopressin in humans plays roles in controlling urine excretion, water retention, sexual desire, and mate seeking.

◐Partially SupportedResearch into neural circuits for sexual function aims to understand reproduction and repair sexual function after spinal cord injury.

◐Partially SupportedThe serotonin system collaborates with the estrogen system for physiological functions and behaviors.

◐Partially SupportedProviding more self-expansion type gestures or statements to a partner who benefits significantly from self-expansion may reduce their perception of others' attractiveness.

◐Partially SupportedTongkat Ali may increase libido and sexual function.

◐Partially SupportedUsing sympathetic nervous system activation techniques can serve as self-induced stress inoculation, improving tolerance to adrenaline.

◐Partially SupportedNeural circuits for quiescence and relaxation are most associated with love and attachment, mediated by serotonin and oxytocin.

◐Partially SupportedIncreased parasympathetic activation after orgasm and ejaculation may enhance pheromonal exchange and pair bonding in humans.

◐Partially SupportedAnxious-avoidant insecure attachment in infants is characterized by caregiver avoidance and minimal emotional expression.

◐Partially SupportedThe autonomic nervous systems of children tend to mimic those of their primary caregiver.

◐Partially SupportedOdor is a powerful cue in mate selection, acting as a deal breaker for some individuals.

◐Partially SupportedBiology, including hormones and pheromones, shapes our choices, interpretations, and actions with potential and existing romantic partners, operating below conscious awareness.

◐Partially SupportedDesire, love, and attachment are biologically driven by hormones, neurochemicals, neural circuits, and interacting body areas.

◐Partially SupportedDr. Fisher's research includes categories for high testosterone and high estrogen in both males and females.

◐Partially SupportedDopamine is associated with motivation and pursuit behaviors and operates closely with the testosterone system.

◐Partially SupportedThe lordosis response in female animals is regulated by odors, contact, estrogen, and testosterone.

◐Partially SupportedEmpathy involves matching the emotional or autonomic tone of another individual, where one person's autonomic state can drive the other's.

◐Partially SupportedThe orgasm and ejaculation response is driven by the sympathetic nervous system.

✕Not SupportedRelationships between two high sensation-seeking individuals may lack stability, and relationships between two high serotonin individuals may lack dynamic tension.

◐Partially SupportedHormones such as testosterone and estrogen, and even birth control, can influence an individual's ratings of attractiveness towards others.

◐Partially SupportedAttachment regulates the autonomic nervous system.

◐Partially SupportedFeeling psychologically filled up by a self-expansion narrative can make attractive faces appear less attractive.

◐Partially SupportedMaca supplementation influences libido through brain pathways like the hypothalamus, independent of changes in circulating testosterone and estrogen levels.

◐Partially SupportedInteractions with parents tune the autonomic nervous system, influencing an individual's tendency towards alertness, anxiety, or calmness.

◐Partially SupportedElevated dopamine levels increase energy, motivation, and novelty seeking, but also have deleterious effects.

◐Partially SupportedMaca can be a stimulant and should be consumed early in the day to avoid interfering with sleep.

◐Partially SupportedSocial touch, particularly in the context of attachment, strongly activates somatosensory areas and the insular cortex.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals using amphetamines, cocaine, certain recreational drugs, or antidepressants that excessively increase dopamine can experience hyperarousal but be unable to perform sexually.

✕Not SupportedExcessively stimulating the dopamine system can lead to a chronic pursuit of sexual activity without the ability to perform.

◐Partially SupportedThe insular cortex integrates internal bodily feelings with external perceptions to assign value or interpretation.

✕Not SupportedBoth testosterone and estrogen are required in appropriate ratios for healthy libido and mating behavior in both sexes.

◐Partially SupportedAnxious-ambivalent/resistant-insecure attachment in infants involves distress before separation, clinginess, difficulty being comforted, and expressions of resentment or helplessness.

◐Partially SupportedCaregiver-child interactions tune the child's autonomic nervous system.

◐Partially SupportedDosage of dopamine-affecting substances must be carefully managed with a physician to enhance mood and well-being without locking the arousal arc in sympathetic drive, preventing sexual arousal.

◐Partially SupportedCold exposure and deliberate hyperventilation can increase sympathetic nervous system activity for alertness.

◐Partially SupportedChildren's physiological stress responses during WWII bombing mirrored their mothers' stress levels, persisting for decades.

◐Partially SupportedAttachment styles identified through the 'strange situation task' are a robust area of psychological study.

◐Partially SupportedLove languages can positively influence autonomic nervous system and neurochemical systems.

◐Partially SupportedA 2005 study identified neural circuits associated with romantic love.

◐Partially SupportedParents managing stressful situations playfully without expressing stress can prevent significant stress in their children.

◐Partially SupportedHigh testosterone individuals tend to pair with high estrogen individuals, establishing a balance in decision-making dynamics.

◐Partially SupportedExcited caregiver-child interactions can lead to reciprocal excitement and dopamine release.

◐Partially SupportedHelen Fisher identified brain areas and neural circuits associated with attachment, love, and desire.

◐Partially SupportedAttachment styles are plastic and can change across the lifespan through psychological and biological adjustments.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals can be categorized into four groups based on self-reported preferences for behaviors and interactions, labeled as high dopamine (sensation-seeking, novelty-seeking, spontaneous), high serotonin (stability-seeking, rule-following, traditional), high testosterone (directive, assertive), and high estrogen (nurturing, agreeable to decisions).

◐Partially SupportedAdjusting one's autonomic nervous system can lead to greater cognitive empathy and better relationship navigation.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals high on the dopamine scale are typically high sensation seekers, novel seekers, adventurous, and spontaneous.

◐Partially SupportedUnderstanding personality and attachment styles can improve self-awareness for relationships.

◐Partially SupportedSensory inputs like smell and taste can be powerful drivers of attraction and chemistry.

◐Partially SupportedA secure attachment style enables stable autonomic equilibrium, characterized by calmness and clarity during challenges.

◐Partially SupportedSexual behavior and mating involve synchronization of autonomic nervous systems between individuals.

◐Partially SupportedThe insula helps split attention between self-sensations and another person's sensations during social interaction.

◐Partially SupportedWhile not strictly required for stable attachments, love, and desire, primitive biological mechanisms related to attraction and chemistry exist in all animals and influence human behavior.

◐Partially SupportedMany adults have autonomic nervous systems tilted to one side due to childhood templates and early life interactions.

◐Partially SupportedThere are tools and substances with strong data to increase libido in men and women.

◐Partially SupportedTestosterone and estrogen are key hormones influencing desire, love, and attachment.

◐Partially SupportedContempt is referred to as the 'sulfuric acid of relationships' due to its strong predictive power for divorce and breakups.

◐Partially SupportedFeelings experienced after a romantic breakup can be similar to clinical depression.

✕Not SupportedIncreasing testosterone, dopamine, and general autonomic arousal is not the correct approach to increase libido, as the system requires a seesawing back and forth, the arc of arousal.

◐Partially SupportedPeople do not always pair up with individuals who are similar to them; this occurs sometimes but not always.