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How to Improve Motivation & Overcome Procrastination | Dr. Masud Husain
2 hour 20 minutes Posted Aug 24, 2026 at 8:00 am.
Dr. Masud Husain is a Professor of Neurology & Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Oxford and a leading expert on the science of motivation, apathy, and neurological diseases. We discuss how dopamine and specific brain circuits shape motivation, including how the brain weighs the trade-off between effort vs reward when deciding what goals to pursue. Dr. Husain also explains practical tools to increase motivation, reduce distractions, and make it easier to start and maintain goal pursuit. We also discuss dementia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, including new insights into cognitive resilience and factors that help protect against age-related cognitive decline. Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/masud-husain-295 Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps
Masud Husain
Apathy, Motivation
Rewards, Apathy & Motivation; Dopamine
Sponsors: David & BetterHelp
Types of Apathy; Goal Prioritization: Effort vs Rewards
Motivation, Apathy, Tool: Activation Energy & Overthinking
Tools to Increase Motivation: Incentives, Subdivide Tasks, Planning
Subjective Effort, Mental Framing; Learning & Motivation
Sponsors: AG1 & Eight Sleep
Perseverance, Failure; Finding Your Passion, Depression vs Apathy
Self-Concept, Ambition; Life Satisfaction
Psychedelics, Anhedonia & Changing Self
Personal & Social Identity, Tools: Curiosity, Purpose & Dementia Risk
Addiction, Dopamine; Social Media & Dopamine "Hits"?
Sponsor: Function
Dopamine, Parkinson's Disease; Other Roles of Dopamine
Life Purpose, Culture; Reflection, Weighing Decisions
Internal & External Attention
Internal Chatter, Distraction; Working Memory, Stimulants, Nicotine
ADHD, Diagnosis; Attention & Motivation
Goal Planning & Perseverance
Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, Apathy, Tools: Dementia Risk Factors
Neurodegenerative Disease & Emerging Treatments
Can You Train Attention?, Tool: Reduce Distraction
Enrichment, Art
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2:20:22
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Show notes
Dr. Masud Husain is a Professor of Neurology & Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Oxford and a leading expert on the science of motivation, apathy, and neurological diseases. We discuss how dopamine and specific brain circuits shape motivation, including how the brain weighs the trade-off between effort vs reward when deciding what goals to pursue. Dr. Husain also explains practical tools to increase motivation, reduce distractions, and make it easier to start and maintain goal pursuit. We also discuss dementia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, including new insights into cognitive resilience and factors that help protect against age-related cognitive decline. Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/masud-husain-295 Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Masud Husain (00:02:24) Apathy, Motivation (00:08:07) Rewards, Apathy & Motivation; Dopamine (00:13:20) Sponsors: David & BetterHelp (00:15:44) Types of Apathy; Goal Prioritization: Effort vs Rewards (00:23:26) Motivation, Apathy, Tool: Activation Energy & Overthinking (00:29:24) Tools to Increase Motivation: Incentives, Subdivide Tasks, Planning (00:35:13) Subjective Effort, Mental Framing; Learning & Motivation (00:42:24) Sponsors: AG1 & Eight Sleep (00:44:54) Perseverance, Failure; Finding Your Passion, Depression vs Apathy (00:50:58) Self-Concept, Ambition; Life Satisfaction (00:58:25) Psychedelics, Anhedonia & Changing Self (01:03:09) Personal & Social Identity, Tools: Curiosity, Purpose & Dementia Risk (01:11:58) Addiction, Dopamine; Social Media & Dopamine "Hits"? (01:18:36) Sponsor: Function (01:20:13) Dopamine, Parkinson's Disease; Other Roles of Dopamine (01:26:59) Life Purpose, Culture; Reflection, Weighing Decisions (01:34:21) Internal & External Attention (01:39:59) Internal Chatter, Distraction; Working Memory, Stimulants, Nicotine (01:48:54) ADHD, Diagnosis; Attention & Motivation (01:54:34) Goal Planning & Perseverance (01:59:44) Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, Apathy, Tools: Dementia Risk Factors (02:06:55) Neurodegenerative Disease & Emerging Treatments (02:10:59) Can You Train Attention?, Tool: Reduce Distraction (02:15:14) Enrichment, Art (02:17:45) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures🧬 DOWNLOAD THE PDF SUMMARY:Don't miss the specific dosages and timing protocols discussed today. Get the full visual guide and supplement breakdown here:👇https://goo.su/VOTEbVerified Science Resources.