Despite its notoriety as being a recreational “club drug,” ketamine has a long history of clinical usage for its effective anesthetic properties. In addition, ketamine is increasingly being examined as a viable therapy for treating major depression. Researchers at Yale recently published a study that demonstrated how ketamine actually “rewires” neurons at a cellular level.
Antidepressants and the Placebo Effect: Is the “Chemical Imbalance” Theory Flawed?
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
Alzheimer’s Disease and the Current State of Dementia Research
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
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
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Where Do We Stand on Lou Gehrig’s Disease Research?
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
Broken Body Clocks: The Consequences of Disrupting Our Circadian Rhythms
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
Why Fathers Matter: How Single-Parenthood Affects Animal Brain Development
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
What Brain Type Are You? The Science of Human Neurotypology
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,
The Neuroscience of Addiction: A Conversation with Dr. Nora Volkow
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
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.
Psychiatry and the Therapeutic State: A Conversation with Dr. Thomas Szasz
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
Cosmetic Neurology and the Ethics of Brain Enhancement
Advancements in neuroscience have enabled physicians to successfully restore the mental functioning of patients with severe cognitive, mood, and motor disorders. But many of these same therapies can also produce significant mental gains in normal, healthy individuals. This has created a rapidly growing demand for “smart drugs” that have the potential to greatly enhance the mental
Perception is indeed reality when it comes to what we see. And nowhere is this more apparent than during a magical act. But beneath all the showmanship and flair, these artists are actually triggering complex neuroscientific processes which help create the seemingly impossible on stage. In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Susana Martinez-Conde of the
Confidence scams have been around since time immemorial. And while we like to think of ourselves as intelligent and “street smart,” we’re still quite willing to place our complete trust in total strangers with regards to such cherished items as our time and our money. Why is that? In this podcast, we are delighted to
Very few areas areas of psychology generate such high levels of both excitement and skepticism as the study of anomalous perception, or “psi” phenomena. And given how hype and speculation of psi phenomena have often taken the place of serious scientific examination, the skeptics are certainly justified in their criticisms. Nevertheless, there are a few
Social Neuroscience: Measuring and Quantifying Human Empathy
One of the most exciting areas of neuroscience involves the exploration of the biological and physiological underpinnings of human social interaction. And as researchers discover more and more about the critical role that mirror neurons appear to play in our lives, the relatively new field of “social neuroscience” is rapidly becoming the central front from which
Sensory Specific Satiety: The Real Key to Successful Weight Loss?
Back in March of 2007, we interviewed Dr. Alan Hirsch of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, located here in Chicago. Dr. Hirsch is one of the world’s leading authorities on the science of smell and taste, and we had an opportunity to discuss the complex effects that these two senses exert over our everyday
Happiness and Psychological Wealth: What are the Keys to Subjective Well Being?
It seems as if everywhere you look there’s a new book being published or a new “expert” on the talk show circuit telling us how to find happiness in our lives. Indeed, the “feel good” industry is flourishing and sales of self-help books and CDs that promise a more fulfilling life have never been higher. However, few
Mirror Neurons: How Do We Connect with Others Through These “Smart Cells?”
To many in the neuroscience community, mirror neurons represent the biggest discovery of the past twenty years. These “smart cells,” which activate when we perform actions and when we see other people performing the same or complementary actions, seem to provide us with a common neurobiologic dynamic for our understanding of how we learn, empathize,
Personal credit card debt in the United States has doubled since 2004, and personal bankruptcies are at the highest rates ever. And despite unprecedented levels of economic growth and wealth creation, the median American family has less than $10,000 in assets. This begs the question, “Where has all the money gone?” The unvarnished truth is that many Americans spend
Virtual Worlds & False Identities: Social Media or Social Pathology?
As communications technologies such as Second Life become more and more sensory and interactive, human beings are increasingly being forced to navigate environments that consistently blur the lines between fantasy and reality. And while most industry analysts praise this next big wave of “social media” a growing number of neuroscientists are critically analyzing how these “false
Cold Water and Mood Enhancement: A New Potential Therapy for Depression?
Hydrotherapy, or the medicinal use of water, has long been utilized by both traditional and alternative medicine to treat a variety of physical ailments. However, recent scientific studies have suggested that cold water therapies might be effective in the treatment of mood disorders such as depression – and that there might actually be an evolutionary
Convection Enhanced Delivery: Brain Drug Therapy Through Direct Tissue Infusion
In our previous podcast on the blood brain barrier, we explored the issues and challenges involved with delivering therapeutic compounds into the brain. And while both big pharma and academic neuroscience continue to disregard the limiting factors of the blood brain barrier, a few pioneering companies are tackling this issue head on. In this segment, we speak
When two neuroscientists at Newcastle University in Great Britainpublished the results of their study in the August 21, 2007 edition of the journal Current Biology, they were quite surprised at the strong reaction and scrutiny from the media and the general public. And what exactly was it that courted such controversy? Specifically, Dr. Anya Hurlbert and Dr. Yazhu Ling reported research findings
Virtual Reality and Rehabilitation: Brain-Computer Interfaces as Therapeutic Tools
Whenever the topic of virtual reality comes up, we tend to automatically think of video games or science fiction movies. But separate from all this hype and fantasy are dedicated scientists who are using virtual reality applications to enhance the lives of people suffering from a wide array of neurological ailments. And the key factor driving this interest
When you listen to one of these shows, you’re really only hearing a very small part of a much greater effort. By the time a show is officially “ready for prime time,” I’ve typically spent several weeks – or even months in some cases – communicating back and forth with each guest. And as much as I
Blood-Brain Barrier Drug Delivery: Neglecting the Obvious?
It’s no secret that researchers in both the commercial pharma and academic neuroscience communities are intent on designing new medicines to treat the growing populations of patients afflicted with central nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and brain tumors. And it’s also no secret that the biggest obstacle to the successful delivery
Nerve Zero: The Key to Subliminal Sexual Attraction?
Is it possible that we humans have a “sixth sense” with regards to sexual attraction and mate selection? This notion may not be as far fetched as it might seem. While it is well known that chemicals known as pheromones influence the sexual arousal and breeding behaviors in animals such as insects and rodents, this connection has never
What makes one person trust another person? Why do we get a “gut feeling” – either good or bad – about another person whom we’ve just met? And how does trust at a micro level in areas such as business transactions and legal agreements affect the overall economy and market efficiency of a society? In this program,
“Dementia of Football”: The Next Major Public Health Issue?
On September 24, 2002, Pro Football Hall of Fame center Michael Lewis Webster died in Allegheny General Hospital’s coronary care unit at age 50. Known as “Iron Mike” during his playing years, Webster’s discipline and overachieving nature helped propel the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl championships. But soon after retiring in 1990, Webster’s life became plagued by
Neuroscience and National Defense: Science Fiction or Science Fact?
In the decades following World War II, a “military-academic complex” has emerged and has been quite active in exploring the potential uses of advanced neuroscience applications for our national defense. But the underlying motives have been fairly consistent – namely, how can we as a nation harness the power of the human nervous system in
Is the “Stone Age” Lifestyle the Answer to Eliminating Depression?
Why is it that, despite unprecedented levels of affluence and advancement in both medicine and technology, we still see skyrocketing rates of clinical depression within the developed world? Could it be that we have altered our environment so radically over the past 60 years – and that our “hunter-gatherer” genetics just simply have not caught
Ketamine: The Next Major Breakthrough for Treating Depression?
Ketamine has a long history of clinical usage and is known for its effective anesthetic properties. However, ketamine has gained a fair amount of notoriety in recent years as a recreational “club drug” due to its dissociative side effects. But in the midst of this controversy, ketamine is quietly emerging as the forerunner of what
Why is it that certain odors or scents can bring up such vivid memories of our past? And why is it that specific smells can significantly alter our moods and perceptions – sometimes without us even being aware that this is taking place? We are very excited to feature an exclusive interview with Dr. Alan
Ketamine and Chronic Pain: Is There Finally a Cure for CRPS?
Our guest on this segment is Dr. Robert Schwartzman, professor and chair of the Department of Neurology at the Drexel University College of Medicine. Over the past couple of years, Dr. Schwartzman and his colleagues in Germany have used ketamine to successfully treat patients suffering from the chronic pain disorder known as complex regional pain syndrome (CPRS).
It’s Valentine’s Day, and we couldn’t imagine a more appropriate show! We are very excited to feature an exclusive interview with Dr. Raj Persaud, a worldwide authority on the topic, and the author of the psychological bestseller “Simply Irresistible – The Psychology of Seduction – How to Catch and Keep Your Perfect Partner.” Dr. Persaud
The market for video and PC games has accelerated so rapidly within the past few years that this industry has now eclipsed Hollywood in both size and revenue. And with the increasing popularity of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) like Second Life, these entertainment mediums are attracting audiences of all age groups and demographics. In
All the “big guns” in neuroscience will be getting together within the next few weeks at the Cleveland Clinic Medical Innovation Summit. Get the inside scoop on the hottest areas of neuroscience research and commercial development from Chris Coburn, the Executive Director of CCF Innovations, the commercialization arm of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. (Originally broadcast 24-October-2006)
The phrase “junk food junkie” might be closer to the truth than you realize. Scientists are just beginning to uncover some of the neural mechanisms which underlie food cravings and overeating. Learn more about the neuroscience of obesity in this fascinating podcast interview with Dr. Ann E. Kelley of the University of Wisconsin. (Originally broadcast 31-March-2006)
