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NeuroScene
Antidepressants and the Placebo Effect: Is the “Chemical Imbalance” Theory Flawed?
Jul 9th
For many years, the medical and scientific communities have largely accepted as factual the widely-held theory that clinical depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain – especially with regards to the neurotransmitter serotonin. However, repeated meta-analyses of the FDA-submitted clinical trial data do not seem to support this belief. Conversely, there is significant evidence that the patient benefits of antidepressants are largely – if not completely – due to a placebo effect.
In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Irving Kirsch, professor of psychology at the University of Hull in the United Kingdom and the author of The Emperor’s New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth. Be sure to join us as we discuss the real story behind the effectiveness of antidepressants and why they may not be the “wonder drugs” we think they are.
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Alzheimer’s Disease and the Current State of Dementia Research
Jun 4th
Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, and it affects 1 out of every 4 people over age 75. In the United States alone, the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to increase from 4.5 million today to 14 million by 2050.
But these figures represent only a fraction of the total human impact caused by this disease. In addition to robbing patients of their memory, cognition, and personality, Alzheimer’s disease is equally catastrophic to the families and caregivers of those afflicted with this progressive – and ultimately fatal – condition.
In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Howard Fillit, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation and an internationally recognized expert in Alzheimer’s disease and geriatric medicine. Be sure to join us in this timely and informative discussion of Alzheimer’s disease and the current state of research and development in this critical area.
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The Neuroscience of Culture
May 7th
For many years, social scientists have attempted to explain human cultural differences by studying behavioral or attitudinal traits. But recent advances in neuroimaging techniques are now allowing researchers to look directly into the brain and to identify these differences at a cellular level.
In this podcast, we are delighted to feature Dr. Nalini Ambady of Tufts University, one of the leading scientists in the emerging field of cultural neuroscience. Be sure to join us in this fascinating podcast as we discuss what exactly defines culture from a neuroscience perspective, and what areas of the brain might be responsible for our respective cultural norms and identities.
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Where Do We Stand on Lou Gehrig’s Disease Research?
Feb 22nd
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, otherwise known in the United States as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a devastating disorder that affects the control of muscle movement by damaging motor neurons. And while scientists have identified a small percentage of cases that are linked to a specific genetic mutation, the majority of ALS cases occur in people with no family history of the disorder.
In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Mahmoud Kiaei of the Department of Neurology and Neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Kiaei is spearheading a number of research initiatives which will hopefully lead to better treatments for ALS. Be sure to listen in to this in-depth discussion of ALS where we cover virtually every aspect of the disease and highlight some of the new therapies that might eventually lead to a cure. (Originally broadcast 22-February-2010)
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Broken Body Clocks: The Consequences of Disrupting Our Circadian Rhythms
Jan 2nd
We’ve all heard about our “sleep clocks.” But were you aware that we have numerous such clocks all over our bodies – and that disruption of these clocks can have serious health and emotional consequences?
In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Ilia Karatsoreos of Rockefeller University who recently conducted a study on how the disruption of circadian rhythms can adversely affect our metabolism as well as our higher level cognitive functioning. Be sure to listen in as we discuss the science of body clocks and how important is to keep them “in sync.” (Originally broadcast 2-January-2010)
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Why Fathers Matter: How Single-Parenthood Affects Animal Brain Development
Dec 15th
Recent research seems to indicate that animals raised without fathers exhibit significant reductions in neuronal growth during the immediate post-natal period. And this reduced brain development translates into adverse behavioral issues later on in life – especially among male offspring. Is it possible that human children might experience similar brain effects by being raised in a fatherless environment?
In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Anna Katharina Braun, director of the Institute of Biology at Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg, Germany, who conducted this study. Dr. Braun recently presented her findings at the Society for Neuroscience meeting here in Chicago.
Be sure to join us for a fascinating look at the critical role of the father in the brain development of post-natal children. (Originally broadcast 15-December-2009)
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What Brain Type Are You? The Science of Human Neurotypology
Nov 4th
When it comes to individual genetics, certain skills or abilities may actually be hardwired into the brain at birth. And there is compelling evidence to suggest that key hormonal balances during gestation are instrumental in creating specific brain types which strongly influence us throughout our lives.
In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Judith Lauter, professor in the Doctoral Program in School Psychology at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches TX, where she also directs the Human Neuroscience Laboratory. Dr. Lauter is the author of the book, How is Your Brain Like a Zebra? which details the science of neurotypology and illustrates the three brain types that appear to be present within the human species. (Originally broadcast 4-November-2009)
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The Neuroscience of Addiction: A Conversation with Dr. Nora Volkow
Sep 30th
For many years, drug addictions were deemed to be largely behavioral disorders once the abuser went through a period of detoxification. But advanced imaging technologies have now indicated that addiction is a physical process that occurs in addition to physical dependency. Indeed, there is more and more evidence that drugs of abuse disrupt several areas of the brain beyond just the dopamine system – which would explain why addictions are so hard to break.
In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Nora Volkow*, the director at the National Institute on Drug Abuse and one of the leading scientists in the area of addiction research. Be sure to listen in as we talk about the key brain systems involved with the addiction process and how this translates to larger public health issues such as substances abuse, obesity, and even managing the human aging process. (Originally broadcast 30-September-2009)
* Dr. Volkow will be presenting a special lecture on “Addiction and Self-Control” at this year’s Neuroscience 2009 event here in Chicago.
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Swearing and the Human Pain Response
Aug 6th
Even the most pious among us will often resort to using profanity whenever we stub our toe or hammer our thumb in lieu of the nail. And we tend to do this for very scientific reasons. Researchers are just beginning to uncover the link between emotionally charged words – or swearing – and our perception of pain.
In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Richard Stephens of the Keele University School of Psychology. Dr. Stephens has been examining the connection between swearing and pain for a number of years, and his team recently published the results of a study indicating that so-called “curse words” might be instrumental in helping us alleviate physical pain.
Be sure to join in as we talk about the role of emotionally-charged language in our pain response and how emotions such as anger, aggression, and the human fight-or-flight response might be involved. (Originally broadcast 6-August-2009)
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Psychiatry and the Therapeutic State: A Conversation with Dr. Thomas Szasz
May 31st
When he published The Myth of Mental Illness in 1961, Thomas Szasz launched the first salvo in what would become a lifelong criticism of psychiatry and what he has referred to as the “therapeutic state.” And with the recent publication of his new book, Psychiatry: The Science of Lies, Dr. Szasz demonstrates that he has not wavered a bit from his views that human behaviors are miscategorized as “mental diseases” and that psychiatry “medicalizes” human conditions and practices coercion under the guise of treatment.
In this podcast, we get a chance to hear from Dr. Szasz himself on a variety of topics including the nature of mental illness, the history of medicalizing nondiseases, and the emerging political and social forces that are currently shaping our healthcare system. Join us in this fascinating discussion where Dr. Szasz reflects upon the impact he has made on the field of psychiatry and on the legacy he hopes to have established. (Originally broadcast 31-May-2009)
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