What is hydraulic pressure?

In discussing hydraulic pressure, David Anderson and Andrew Huberman use the term metaphorically to describe psychological and physiological states that build up pressure and require release, similar to how actual hydraulic systems work. This concept particularly relates to behaviors driven by basic needs, such as hunger or thirst, where pressure builds until the need is fulfilled.

They explain that hydraulic pressure towards a state can be thought of as a homeostatic behavior, where the body has a set point (like temperature regulation). For example, feeling hungry creates pressure to eat until satisfaction resets the state to equilibrium. This contrasts with behaviors like aggression, which may not follow the same pressure build-up model and can be influenced by external factors such as social interactions 1.