HoldsUp

Andrew Huberman

Andrew Huberman is a neuroscientist and podcast host. His published research primarily focuses on the visual system, including retinal ganglion cell injury and regeneration, visual circuits, and therapies for optic neuropathy. Additionally, his work investigates central nervous system regeneration, visually evoked threat responses, and the effects of structured respiration practices on mood and physiology.

120 claims checked on air: 17 context 7 contradicted 16 overstated 66 supported 14 unverified

What they said on air - contradicted

1 citing their own research

0:01:30contradictedhighThe Mental Frame & Specific Daily Actions to Succeed | Andy

The frequency of suicide is increasing significantly across all communities.

"The frequency of suicide is increasing significantly in all communities." (said at 0:01:30)

The claim that suicide rates are increasing significantly across all communities is contradicted by comprehensive global and regional epidemiological surveillance. Data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studies and the World Health Organization show that globally, age-standardized rates of self-harm and suicide mortality have steadily decreased over the past several decades across most sociodemographic index (SDI) levels and European subregions, as well as in high-burden countries like India. While specific demographic subgroups or countries (such as the United States or certain younger cohorts) have experienced local increases, trends vary widely and are not uniformly or significantly rising across all communities.

1:12:50contradictedmoderateThe Mental Frame & Specific Daily Actions to Succeed | Andy

Supplementing with nattokinase naturally helps reduce LDL cholesterol levels.

"I decided to start supplementing with nattokinase, which can naturally help reduce LDL cholesterol, and it did." (said at 1:12:50)

Clinical trial evidence and meta-analyses show that nattokinase supplementation alone does not reliably lower LDL cholesterol levels. A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that nattokinase had no significant LDL-lowering effect at higher dosages and was associated with slightly higher LDL-C compared to controls at lower dosages. Reductions in LDL cholesterol reported in some supplement studies occur when nattokinase is combined with red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus, which naturally contains lovastatin), whereas nattokinase monotherapy fails to demonstrate significant lipid-lowering benefits compared to placebo.

1:09:00contradictedmoderateHow to Overcome Social Anxiety | Dr. Nick Epley

Supplementation with nattokinase can naturally help reduce LDL cholesterol levels.

"As a result, I decided to start supplementing with nattokinase, which can naturally help reduce LDL cholesterol. And it did." (said at 1:09:00)

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) found that isolated nattokinase supplementation does not reduce LDL cholesterol; lower doses were associated with a slight increase in LDL-C compared to placebo, while higher doses showed no significant difference. When lipid-lowering effects are observed in clinical studies, they are typically driven by combination formulas containing red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus, which contains naturally occurring statins) rather than nattokinase alone.

0:25:00contradictedmoderateBest Ways to Build Better Habits & Break Bad Ones | James Cl

The critical period for robust passive developmental neuroplasticity (such as learning multiple languages without an accent) typically closes around age 25.

"and uh it's very robust up until they always say till age 25, but about that is when the window closes for like multi-language learning without accents, you know, becomes much much more difficult after 15, 20, 25 than it does say at 40, 45 or 60." (said at 0:25:00)

The claim misidentifies the timing of the critical/sensitive period for language acquisition and accent-free speech. In developmental neuroscience and psycholinguistics, the critical or sensitive period for acquiring a language natively without an accent and with native-like grammar closes much earlier—typically around early childhood to puberty (roughly ages 5 to 12)—not at age 25. While general prefrontal cortical maturation continues into the mid-20s, the capacity for effortless, passive phonological and grammatical language acquisition declines significantly around puberty.

1:12:11contradictedhighMaster the Creative Process | Twyla Tharp

Fish possess lateral lines that allow them to sense the electrical fields of other fish and nearby objects.

"Believe it or not, fish have lateral lines. They sense the electrical fields of other fish and other things near them." (said at 1:12:11)

The host conflates the mechanosensory lateral line system with electroreceptive sensory systems. In fish, the lateral line system consists of mechanoreceptors (neuromasts) that detect water movement, pressure gradients, and hydrodynamic disturbances. Electroreception is a distinct sensory modality mediated by specialized electrosensory organs (such as the ampullae of Lorenzini in cartilaginous fishes or ampullary/tuberous organs in weakly electric teleosts), which are absent in the vast majority of fish species.

1:12:24contradictedhighMaster the Creative Process | Twyla Tharp

The platypus uses its bill to emit electrical fields and detect objects in its environment.

"like the platypus with its uh electric— people call it an electric sensing bill, but it sends out these electrical fields that then it can detect things in its environment because its vision is very poor." (said at 1:12:24)

The platypus does not emit electrical fields. Instead, it possesses passive electroreceptors in its bill that detect weak electrical fields naturally produced by the muscular contractions and nerve activity of its prey (such as crustaceans and small invertebrates), as well as mechanoreceptors that detect mechanical pressure waves.

1:35:43contradictedmoderateHow to Speak Clearly & With Confidence | Matt Abrahams

Beta-blockers reduce oxygenated blood supply to the brain.

"Which makes sense, because you're not getting as much oxygenated blood to your brain." (said at 1:35:43)

Human clinical trials and hemodynamic studies demonstrate that beta-blockers (such as labetalol and carvedilol) generally preserve cerebral blood flow (CBF) and brain perfusion, even when reducing systemic arterial blood pressure, due to intact cerebral autoregulation. In healthy volunteers assessed by phase-contrast MRI, acute blood pressure reduction with intravenous labetalol did not reduce cerebral blood flow (772 ml/min at baseline vs 769 ml/min post-treatment, P = 0.68). Similarly, in clinical populations such as preeclampsia patients and hypertensive patients, beta-blocker therapy preserved cerebral blood flow.

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