The Neuroscience of Comedy: Tom Segura on Creativity, Performance, and Human Nature

Tom Segura, renowned comedian, writer and director, joins Andrew Huberman to explore the neuroscience and psychology behind comedy and the creative process more broadly. They discuss:

The Creative Process in Comedy

• Tom's approach to capturing and developing ideas into comedic narratives
• The interplay between daily life observations and larger cultural dynamics when developing routines
• How comedians become masters at reading and shifting the energy of crowds
• The importance of being willing to "bomb" and try new material to evolve as a comedian
• How comedians need to be able to "cut ties with their previous self" and constantly create new material

The Neurobiology of Humor

• What brain lesion studies have revealed about why we find certain ideas novel or funny
• How humor relates to the activation of reward circuits in the brain
• The seemingly automatic and involuntary nature of finding something funny or not
• How emotional contagion works in comedy performances

Performance and Stage Presence

• The differences between being funny offstage vs performing stand-up comedy
• How vulnerability and openness on stage leads to better performances
• The importance of reading the crowd's energy and adapting in real-time
• Tom's pre-show rituals and mindset for getting into a "silly" headspace

The Psychology of Comedians

• How many comedians use comedy to work through childhood issues or insecurities
• The prevalence of mental health issues and substance abuse in comedy
• Why some of the darkest comedians on stage are often the kindest people offstage
• How cynicism impacts comedy and why hope is important

The Evolution of Comedy

• How standards of what's considered funny change over time
• The differences between comedy pre-Lenny Bruce vs modern stand-up
• Why older comedy bits often don't land the same way with modern audiences
• How technology and social media have changed comedy

Insights on Human Nature

• Why humans find certain things universally funny or not
• How comedy reveals truths about human psychology and social dynamics
• The catharsis of laughing at dark or taboo subjects
• Why vulnerability and authenticity resonate with audiences

Tom also discusses his new series "Bad Thoughts" and upcoming projects, reflecting on how fulfilling it's been to expand beyond stand-up into writing and directing. The conversation provides fascinating insights into the craft of comedy, human psychology, and the creative process from one of today's top comedians.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTJ8lDtJOg4