The Your Brain Uncovered Show with Aya Tarabeine: Recent Episodes
Aya
Welcome to Your Brain Uncovered, the podcast that brings you in-depth interviews with pioneering change-makers and innovators in the scientific field, alongside the latest neuroscience findings in the shape of everyday tools. If you are interested in the brain then this is the 'cast for you!
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Patrick Arnott, Ph.D., the Business Development Director at Metabolon, Inc. We delve into his remarkable career journey, emphasising the transformative influence of effective mentorship, embracing calculated risks, and remaining receptive to career transitions. Additionally, Dr. Arnott sheds light on the pivotal and groundbreaking work underway at Metabolon. This conversation promises to captivate a broad audience, as it unravels the intricate web of factors impacting our health – encompassing genetics, the microbiome, diseases, and lifestyle choices – all of which shape our well-being by modulating metabolite levels within the body and other biological systems. This ought to be of interest to all, as almost every factor that affects health – from genetics and the microbiome to disease and lifestyle – exerts its influence by altering metabolite levels in the body or other biological system.
- Discussed Articles:
1- https://www.nature.com/articles/nature20796
2- Rothschild et al, Nature, 2018 Mar 8;555(7695):210-215. DOI:10.1038/nature25973
- Link to Metabolon:
https://www.metabolon.com/
In this episode, my guest was Mazdak Ehteramyan, Ph.D., a senior scientist at GSK (GlaxoSmithKline). We discuss the major responsibilities inherent in the role of a senior scientist within the research and development (R&D) department. This episode covers a range of topics: a day in the life of a GSK scientist, academia vs. industry, drive vs. ambition, and the importance of cultivating people’s skills.
- The Sartorius Experts is a podcast produced by the ACA BPS team. Once a month, we bring you the stories behind the lives of daily BPS experts.
Speaker:In this episode we interview Philipp Conradi, a New Customer Acquisition Specialist (NCAS) delivering a clear, sharp, and precise storyline of how he landed this position. He speaks of navigating the BPS Landscape, and offers insights into the diverse approaches and perspectives he has employed to tackle challenges.
Mathematics is not just another language... it is a language plus logic. Mathematics is a tool for reasoning.” Richard Feynman
This episode is the first of this show’s career series. After listening to this you will come to a better understanding of our guest’s unique career path. Hopefully, our special guest will provide you with an overview and understanding of what his position entails, his why and how to follow his footsteps or pave your own unique path.
Dr Biniyam is one of the few, enthusiastic young neurologists whose future endeavours are improving dementia care in Ethiopia. Tune in to listen to how he aims to reduce the scale and impact of dementia, by designing and developing a pragmatic strategic plan relevant to dementia prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
- Dr Ayele's Profile:
https://www.gbhi.org/profiles/biniyam-ayele
The following is a conversation with Dr Ben Newland a lecturer at the University of Cardiff and a pioneer in the field of translational sciences. Dr Newland has made numerous contributions as a researcher in utilizing nano, micro and macroscale materials for use in the therapeutic avenue.
This episode will discuss drug repurposing for Glioblastoma, also known as Brain Cancer. It will also review current advances in modes of drug delivery.
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Keywords: Cryogel scaffolds, local drug delivery, cancer therapy.
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Dr Newland's:
- Academic Profile
https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/974329-newland-ben
- Website
https://www.newlandresearch.com/
Romantic love, obsessive love, passionate love, infatuation: Call it what you will, almost all of us have known its ecstasy and anguish. This episode will discuss the neuroscience of romantic relationships. We will focus on desire, love and attachment. We will also explain the science underlying romantic love and outline tools for those seeking to find a strong, healthy relationship, or for those wanting to strengthen an existing relationship.
- Academic Profile:
https://www.umsl.edu/psychology/psychology/faculty/langeslag.html
- Link to Lab:
http://www.umsl.edu/~langeslags/
Our guest on this episode is Dr Daniel Brown. Dr Brown is a senior lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of Portsmouth whose research centres on the psychology of human excellence and well-being (thriving). Specifically, he focuses on understanding and facilitating thriving in humans, athlete transitions and developmental experiences, and the development and assessment of interventions used in sports and performance psychology.
After listening to this you will come to a better understanding of the strategies required to thrive in both your academic and professional endeavours. Hopefully, our special guest will provide you with an overview and understanding of foundational information about well-being, mental health prevention skills. More specifically we will be looking at tools to optimize your bodily and mental functions.
- Twitter Account:
https://twitter.com/djbrown1509?lang=en
- Dr Brown’s Discussed publications:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1469029222001157?via%3Dihub
https://www.docdroid.net/nfiS2qN/article-on-human-thriving-2017-pdf#page=10
My guest is Dr Nick Fallon. Dr Fallon completed his PhD at the University of Liverpool. His research focuses on utilising MRI methodologies and electroencephalography to analyse brain function and structure in chronic pain patients.
This episode will interest those curious about the neuroscience of chronic pain, its purpose and what happens in cases of its complete absence. We discuss the neurobiology of pain and fibromyalgia. We also explore the various available treatments and the future therapeutic directions for MRI methodologies in particular.
Dr Nick Fallon's:
1- Academic Profile:
https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/population-health/staff/nicholas-fallon/
2- Twitter:
https://twitter.com/nick_fallon
Please enjoy my episode with Dr Christopher Madan. Author of the book “Academia and the World Beyond”.
He has been a previous guest on our show where he helped us understand the Power of Emotional Memory. On this episode, we will be talking to him about his newly published book “Academia and the World Beyond”. This book is a collection of informational interviews with 22 people that have completed their PhD and then continued in either an academic position or another career path. In either case, they have been successful and have a multitude of insights to share with those who are currently finishing their PhD.
From finding your Passion and staying authentic to choosing the right mentors. So many nuggets of wisdom to be found in this book!
- Grab your own copy of the book via the link below:
https://lnkd.in/dt7JpzBw
- Link to the Recovering Academic:
https://recoveringacademic.net/
Please enjoy my interview with Dr Mehdi Keramati (mehdi.keramati@city.ac.uk). In this episode, we highlighted the important relationship between AI and neuroscience. We heavily emphasized how AI can benefit from neuroscience, and vice-versa.
Dr Keramati has a Computational Neuroscience (PhD). He has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, and the Max Planck Center for Computational Psychiatry at the University College of London. Currently, he actively researches artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Techniques at the Department of Psychology at the City, University of London.
- Takeaway Notes:
- Both AI and Neuroscience, share the same goal of understanding the secrets of human cognition.
- The relationship between these disciplines is a two-way street.
- AI researchers can use ideas from neuroscience to build new technology, and neuroscientists learn from the behaviour of artificial agents to better interpret biological brains.
- Learning how the brain works, which, in turn, can inspire the design and development of artificial neural networks while reaffirming the validity of previously developed algorithms.
- Link to Dr Keramati's Academic Profile:
https://www.city.ac.uk/about/people/academics/mehdi-keramati#publications-link
Today on The Your Brain Uncovered Podcast, we have Dr Tom Beesley, psychologist, and senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Lancaster University. Here, we talked about the role of attention, intention and conscious awareness in learning. Alongside, the tools are being used to understand them in the field, and how to leverage our attentional system for goal-directed behaviour. We have so much we can learn from Dr Tom Beesley, and he is on a mission to share his knowledge to help as many people as he can in his lifetime. We hope you enjoy today's Special Episode.
- Don't forget to check out his academic Profile:
https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/about-us/people/tom-beesley#publications
On this special episode, my guest is Rebecca Powell. Rebecca is a final year PhD student at the School of Pharmacy, working as a part of the Phillips lab. Her research focuses on the development of a tissue-engineered neural construct to improve the efficiency of peripheral nerve regeneration.
Hopefully, after this episode, you will come to discover the fascinating work being done in the world of peripheral nerve engineering. In addition, you will receive tips on navigating your way through a PhD, if that is on the charts for you.
- Rebecca's Academic Profile:
https://iris.ucl.ac.uk/iris/browse/profile?upi=RPOWE68
Have you ever wondered why is that you remember the name of your childhood best friend, but you struggle to recall the name of the person you just met- even if they told you it just five minutes ago? They’re both names after all. Despite this outward similarity, however, it’s clear some memories stick stronger than others. But what are the reasons behind this?
In this episode, we are joined by Dr Christopher Madan. Dr Christopher R. Madan is an Assistant Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Nottingham. He is joining us today to help us better understand the factors that make some experiences more memorable than others-including emotion, motivation, and pre-existing semantic knowledge-and how these influences can manifest in future decisions.
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Academic Profile:
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https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/christopher.madanv
- Dr Madan's Upcoming Book:
- https://link.springer.com/book/9783030826079
-Keywords:
Emotion, Limbic System, Chemical synapse, Happiness, Emotional Memory.
It's thought that between 200,000 and 300,000 people in the UK have Tourette's to one degree or another. Tourette’s is a neurological condition characterised by motor and vocal “tics”; involuntary actions such as coughs, twitches, and fully articulated phrases. Now although there's no cure for Tourette syndrome, treatments are available!
In today's episode, we are joined by none other than Dr Katherine Dyke. Dr Katherine Dyke is an assistant professor in the faculty of science at the University of Nottingham. She focuses on using a range of techniques to understand the neurobiology of Tourette's Syndrome and to develop novel therapies based on this understanding. Here she will be giving us more insight into the large-scale work she is carrying out using movement-related brain oscillations to suppress tics in Tourette Syndrome.
- Dr Dyke's Academic Profile:
- https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychology/people/katherine.dyke
- Link to Charity:
- https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/
- Discussed Publication:
https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/S0960-9822(20)30558-3.pdf
We live in a world of overwhelming choice. We are called upon to make decisions, large and small, many times a day. We could better navigate the world around us by understanding the mechanisms that underlie the elements of decision-making. In today’s episode, we are looking at the Neuroscience of Decision Making. Our guest is the cognitive neuroscientist Dr Janina Hoffman. Dr Hoffman is a lecturer at the University of Bath, and her research focuses on memory-based decision-making.
- In this episode we discuss:
. The brain mechanisms that underlie simple forms of decisions.
. The brain areas involved in decision making
. The relationship between memory and decision making
. The effects of Cognitive Load
. How to make better-informed decisions
- Dr Hoffman’s Academic Profile:
https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/persons/janina-hoffmann
- Dr Hoffman’s Research Blog:
https://memorybaseddecisions.blog/research/
- Keywords: Psychology decision making, Modelling, Judgment, Memory, Learning.
In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about a pioneering brain wave test that could dramatically increase the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's. This new EEG technique is known as Fast Periodic Visual Stimulation and joining us on today’s episode to better understand it is none other than Dr George Stothart. He is a senior lecturer at the University of Bath and one of the creators of this two-minute test that can measure people's brain waves in response to a series of flashing images.
From setting mobile phone towers on fire to refusing critical vaccinations, we know the proliferation of misinformation online can have massive, real-world consequences. Joining me in today’s episode is Mr Edward White. Mr White is completing his PhD at Kingston University, and his research focuses on understanding the misinformation paradigm and the critical factors that influence people and their willingness to engage in misinformation.
Here we will describe the cognitive, social and affective factors that lead people to form or endorse misinformed views, and we will attempt to better understand the psychological barriers to knowledge revision after misinformation has been corrected.
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Keywords: Misinformation, Cognitive decision making, Forensic psychology, Offending behaviour.
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Academic Profile:
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https://www.kingston.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/research-degree-students/profile/edward-white-563/
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Further Reading & Resources:
1- Basol, M., Roozenbeek, J., & van der Linden, S. (2020). Good news about Bad News: Gamified inoculation boosts confidence and cognitive immunity against fake news. Journal of Cognition, 3(1), 1-9.
2- Roozenbeek, J., van der Linden, S., & Nygren, T. (2020). Prebunking interventions based on inoculation theory can reduce susceptibility to misinformation across cultures. The Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review 1(2).
My guest on today’s episode is Dr Giulia Galli. She is a cognitive neuroscientist at Kingston University who is renowned for her research on the neural correlates of political decisions, which she investigates using neuroscience tools such as functional imaging and neural network models. By the end of this episode, I promise you're going to understand a lot more about how you have come to hold your political stance. There's going to be a little bit of story. There's going to be a lot of discussion about the people who made these discoveries. There'll be a little bit of technical language. Since there's no way to avoid that!
- Keywords: political neuroscience; necropolitics; political psychology; biopolitics; political cognition; emotion; political ideology; neuroimaging; political decision making.
- Dr Giulia Galli Academic Profile:
https://www.kingston.ac.uk/staff/profile/dr-giulia-galli-586/
- Link to the discussed piece:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-96193-y
Our guest on today's episode is Dr Nancy Padilla-Coreano. Dr Padilla-Coreano is a Professor at the University of Florida. There she runs her own lab and mainly investigates the neural mechanisms that drive social behaviours and dominance in animal models. She was selected as one of the L’Oreal For Women in Science 2020 Fellows and received the inaugural Henry Grass MD Rising Stars in Neuroscience Award back in 2021. She is joining us today to help us break down how our brains allow us to navigate social spaces.
- You can find Dr Padilla-Coreano on Twitter @DrNancyPadilla
- Academic Profile:
https://directory.ufhealth.org/padilla-coreano-nancy
- Discussed Publications:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04507-5
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2020.0444
- Keywords:
Social Behavior, Science Advocacy, Animal Model, Imposter Syndrome, Electrophysiology
In this episode, my guest is Dr Stone Hsieh. Dr Hsieh is a researcher at Kingston University. His ongoing work offers tremendous insight into how exercise interventions modulate brain, cognition, and mental health in individuals with typical and atypical neurocognitive development. Here Dr Hsieh particularly shares the cognitive-enhancing effects of physical exercise on cognition in children. He also touches on the various ways we can leverage physical exercise to enhance our overall academic and work performance.
- You can reach Dr Hsieh on Twitter: @sshsieh75
- Academic Publications:
https://www.kingston.ac.uk/staff/profile/dr-stone-hsieh-1300/
- Discussed Publications:
. On Child Obesity: https://eprints.kingston.ac.uk/id/eprint/50572/
. On Cases of ADHD: https://eprints.kingston.ac.uk/id/eprint/50518/
Depression is among the most prevalent of all psychiatric disorders and is the single most burdensome disease worldwide. In this episode, I am joined by Dr Aaron Heller to better understand the neural mechanisms that give rise to depression. Dr Heller is an affective neuroscientist and Assistant professor at the University of Miami. His work integrates neuroimaging and real-time mobile health (mHealth) methods to track emotion and behaviour in humans to better understand the bio-behavioural mechanisms that give rise to the development of depression and anxiety.
- Academic Profile:
https://people.miami.edu/profile/axh825@miami.edu#panelResearch
- Dr Heller's Twitter:
@helleryeahz
Around one in five residents of the UK will develop an alcohol use disorder, such as dependence, during their lifetime. While some people will seek treatment for problem drinking, more than half of patients who go through inpatient withdrawal treatment, or detox, relapse within two weeks of discharge. Luckily, in this episode, we are joined by Dr Kyriaki Nikolaou to learn more about the positive results of cognitive brain training for people going through detox. Dr Nikolaou is a psychology lecturer at the University of Sussex. There, she happens to also investigate the neurocognitive underpinnings of cognitive biases to alcohol-related stimuli in heavy drinkers.
- Academic Profile:
- https://profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p247247-kyriaki-nikolaou/about
- Discussed Publications:
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https://www.nature.com/articles/npp201334.pdf
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https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs40429-015-0053-z
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https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs11065-018-9386-4
Most importantly, we would like to kindly credit Professor Victoria Manning and her team for developing the app "SWIPE". - Link to the application:
https://www.swipebraintraining.com.au/
The Truth and Nothing But? Lying and deception are common human behaviours. Until relatively recently, there has been little actual research into just how often people lie and why. In this special episode, I am joined by Dr Mircea Zloteanu a prominent lecturer in Criminal Psychology at Kingston University. His research investigates the facial, emotional and behavioural cues linked to being deceitful or truthful. Here he debunks the myths around lie detection and offers a fresh new outlook on detecting deception.
- Relevant Links :
1 - Academic Profile:
https://www.kingston.ac.uk/staff/profile/dr-mircea-zloteanu-1133/
2 - LinkedIn Profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirceaz
With everyone holidaying for summer, travel sickness is going to be an issue for many. Now, what seems to cause this? These feelings could be an evolution-based glitch in the brain, resulting from activation of the vestibular system. Joining us on this episode is Dr Laura Smith. She is a Lecturer in Cognitive Psychology at the Uni of Kent who is here to offer us illuminating insight into the links between our vestibular and visual systems.
- Relevant Links:
1) Dr Laura Smith's Publications: https://www.kent.ac.uk/psychology/people/3608/smith-laura
2) Organisation you can donate to:
Ménière’s Society: The national charity for people with dizziness… | Ménière’s Society (menieres.org.uk)
Home - VeDA (vestibular.org)
From the decision to paint a baby’s room pink or blue onward, many people have been taking young children’s sex as a guiding principle for minor and major socialization decisions regardless of their children’s individual characteristics and behaviours. In this episode, I am joined by Dr Erik Gustafsson in an incredible conversation exploring how parents and society influence children’s socialization to gender roles.
My guest in this episode is Mr Piotr Grzegorczy, the aspiring CEO of Covid Genomics, and one of the youngest entrepreneurs to be contributing to the development of RNA vaccines. Here, we discuss the ambition behind his biotechnological start-up and the ways his team is working alongside laboratories and pharmaceutical companies to help Predict future virus mutations and save lives.
- Mr Piotr Grzegorczy's Links:
1- Covid Genomics Main Website:
https://covidgenomics.com/
2- LinkedIn Profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/p-grzegorczyk/
People on the autistic spectrum have many different presentations and strengths to be admired. In this episode we explore the history of autism spectrum disorder in honor of celebrating the Neuro-diverse.
Implicated in everything from traumatic brain injury to learning ability, boredom has become extremely interesting to scientists. In this episode, I am joined by the fantastic experimental social psychologist Dr Wijnand Van Tilburg. His research mainly looks at the study of emotions in the context of decision making and has a very keen interest in the science of Boredom. Tune in to gain a deep understanding of what boredom is, how it manifests in the brain and how it relates to factors such as self-control and creativity. Dr Wijnand's Most Recent Publication: O'Dea, M., Igou, E., Van Tilburg, W. and Kinsella, E., (2022). Self-compassion predicts less boredom: The role of meaning in life.. Personality and Individual Differences. 186 (B), 111360-111360
Neuroscientists have become used to a number of “facts” about the human brain, but how many of them are actually? In this episode, we debunk myths about our remarkable yet not so extraordinary brain. Here, we sneak peek at insight into the many similarities our primate brain shares with other mammalian brains.
So we all have our little set of belief systems that is always with us, shaping our opinions and attitudes about ourselves and the world around us. Sometimes we fall into self-defeating beliefs that negatively impact our lives. Fortunately, In this episode, the amazing social psychologist Dr Rael Dawtry explains the science behind self-defeating behaviour and provides us with ways to overcome negative thinking and mistaken beliefs. Taking us through the avenues of his research, he elaborates on the just-world theory; immanent justice reasoning, as well as judgment and decision making. - Dr Dawtry's Publications: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=IMVHK90AAAAJ&hl=en
- Professional Profile: https://www.essex.ac.uk/people/dawtr30502/rael-dawtry
I am inspired and excited to interview Dr Michael C Ashby. He is a senior lecturer at the School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience at the University of Bristol. In this episode, he joins me in an incredible conversation exploring neuroplasticity, the science of changing your brain, and how internal and external factors affect the brain throughout the lifespan.
- Highly interesting publications from Dr Ashby's lab:
1- Lazic, S. E., Mellor, J. R., Ashby, M. C. & Munafo, M. R., 11 Feb 2020, In: Scientific Reports. 10, 10 p., 2366 (2020).
2- Ashby, MC., Daw, MI. & Isaac, JT., 2008, The Glutamate Receptors. Gereau, RW. & Swanson, GT. (eds.). Humana Press, p. 1 - 44 44 p.
3- Perestenko, PV., Ashby, MC. & Henley, JM., 2003, In: Biochemical Society Transactions. 31, p. 880 - 884.
Pain is constructed entirely in the brain. This doesn't mean your pain is any less real – it's just that your brain literally creates what your body feels, and in cases of chronic pain, your brain helps perpetuate it. In this episode, I dive into the sensation of pain and why each individual experiences pain differently.
I am honoured to welcome the award-winning science journalist David Robson to today's episode of Your Brain Uncovered. Here we discuss his latest book "The Expectancy Effect". Diving deep into the placebo effect, the connection between the way we describe food and how much we eat, as well as how to take the sting out of exercise, tricky mental problems, and ageing.
In this episode, I am delighted to be joined by Dr Anthony Mangiacotti who is a Post-doctoral Researcher at the MCClab at Middlesex University. Being the co-director of the MusiCare Project, he generously gives us insight into their most remarkable work being done to Protect the Cognitive Functions and Well-being of the ageing population and infants. Tune in to learn more about their use of Music Therapy and Innovative Technology. We would like to give a special thanks to the Dunhill Medical Trust who in collaboration with MHA care homes is sponsoring the Musicare Project.
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You can find them on Twitter @DunhillMedical & @yourMHA. Also, feel free to reach Dr Mangiacotti @Dr_AnthM.
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Kindly find links to the discussed studies below:
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Evaluating a continuing professional development course on cognitive functions for Music Therapists working in care homes https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2021.101800
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Music Training Improves Depressed Mood Symptoms in Elderly People: A Randomized Controlled Trial https://doi.org/10.1177/0091415019893988–
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Assessing a cognitive music training for older participants: a randomised controlled trialhttps://doi.org/10.1002/gps.4721
Based on rodent studies, heating debates have suggested that sugar is as addictive as cocaine. What do you think? In new research, it has been indicated that various everyday activities, from the food we eat to the sleep we get, seems to alter our mood, possibly through its ability to induce reward and pleasure. In this episode, we are diving deep into the false fixes we have been resorting to which seem to be doing us more harm than good.
If there is a topic on which the humanities might make a distinctive claim, it is that of consciousness. Philosophers, psychologists, and musicologists have argued that music has the capacity to make its own claims in relation to consciousness. In this mind-boggling episode, I am joined by Professor Jorg Fachner, the co-director of the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research. Tune in to our deep dive into the neural correlates of consciousness as seen in studies of music perception. - Kindly find some useful links, below: 1- Professor Fachner’s journal article “The Space between the Notes”. 2- The Ted Talk of Dr Jill Taylor “A Stroke of Insight” Do not forget to let me know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you find my podcast. Thank you for your interest in science.
The sweet temptation of mid-night snacks or the daily pack of crips after lunch never seems to leave us feeling better, yet why do we seem to repeat this pattern of behaviour? Join me on this episode to explore the neural underpinnings of over-eating. You will come to understand the reason we compulsively overeat and leverage breakthrough tools for breaking these behavioural patterns and building a healthier relationship with food.
Memory makes us human. No other animal carries in its brain so many memories of such complexity nor so regularly revisits those memories for happiness, safety, and the accomplishment of complex tasks. However, what happens when someone experiences trauma, and their memory begins to bite back? Join me on this episode, to dig deep into the blessings and curses of human memory.
In this episode, we are fortunately joined by Dr Riccardo Manco, a neuroscientist and tenured research fellow at Brunel University London, to discuss the growing literature on psychosis and delusion in Alzheimer’s disease. There is a lot to be gleaned out of his work. Instead of thinking of psychotic features as this taboo, icky subject, hopefully, today’s discussion will help clarify that it's a normal manifestation of these illnesses. Do not forget to let me know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you find my podcast. Thank you for your interest in science. - Useful links, are below: - Dr Manco’s discussed work: Capogna, E., Manca, R., De Marco, M., Hall, A., Soininen, H. and Venneri, A. (2019) 'Understanding the effect of cognitive/brain reserve and depression on regional atrophy in early Alzheimer's disease". Postgrad Med, 131 (7). pp. 533 - 538. ISSN: 1941-9260 You can also find him on Twitter @NeuroRik
We have been missing the mark on happiness. In fact, we're aiming for the completely wrong target. So what gives? Psychology and neuroscience can provide the answer. Join me on this episode, where I will be explaining how to overcome your brain's biases for happiness that lasts. - Link to the Happiness Lab: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/id1474245040
The central questions of narcissism are still a matter of debate. Fortunately, neuroscience could help to understand the paradoxical patterns of experience and behaviour associated with a Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Join me on this episode learn more.
Is laughter the best medicine? What are the different kinds of laughter and are we humans capable of telling the difference? So many questions and this episode is here to answer. Join me in my dive into the neurobiological underpinnings of laughter.
Looking at a burgeoning body of theoretical and empirical work, in this episode, I propose that the only constant thing about us is our ever-changing sense of self.
Have you ever wondered whether you can change the very structure of your brain over time through rigorous training? This episode gives you insight into how your ever-changing malleable brain can work to serve you instead of control you.
Our human brains use sophisticated electrochemical processes whenever we laugh, cry, learn, fight or love. This episode is my attempt at proving that your brain is more than a bag of chemicals. Especially in the case of mental illnesses, hoping this can provide an open space for a new mode of treatment.
The hustle culture is so ingrained in us, that we feel guilty for taking the time that our brain needs to recharge and reset. This episode is my attempt at convincing you to slow down because rushing is a false economy.
In this episode, we will be diving deep into the work of American anthropologist Helen Fisher, PhD, in an attempt to explain what happens in the brain when we experience attraction, how that changes in long-term relationships, and why anti-depressants can make you fall out of love sometimes. Here is my attempt to take on a neuroscientific approach to the ugly truth.
Here in this episode, I provide you with a little guided tour of human consciousness that will take you from individual self-awareness to becoming the co-creator of your own reality.
In this episode, I am joined by the Neuropsychologist Dr Catherine Loveday who has an immense knowledge bank on human memory and also happens to specialize in music. Right here, we dive into the astounding impact of music on learning. Particularly looking at the effects music has on academic achievement and motivation to learn for students. - Kindly find below the link to Dr Catherine Loveday's very own published book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31368315-the-secret-world-of-the-brain
This episode will investigate how does the brain actually change when someone is depressed and what happens when they come out of it. We will also be looking at the different types of effective therapy and medication work available!
- Some platforms I have found very useful:
1- https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support
2- https://www.headspace.com/articles/habits-could-make-depression-better
3- Some apps include BetterHelp, Talkspace, and Therapeer
In this episode, we will explore whether CBD can be potentially used for mitigating opioid dependence. Many labs worldwide are racing to work out CBD’s full mechanism of action, but here we will simply focus on its promise for mitigating opioid dependence.
Consciousness is one of the last outposts of pure mystery in our understanding of the brain. In this episode, we will dive deep into it where "we" exist in our bodies, and question how did our sense of self come to evolve. Here is my attempt at understanding the riddle of our subjective experiences.
What are the chances that soon enough one will be cautious enough not to have certain thoughts in fear of breaking the laws? Sooner than you might think.. Join me in this episode where I share findings from Duke University proving the rise of mind-reading technology.
Why have we evolved to have this energy-demanding spider-web in our heads? The answer lies in this episode.. Quick Hint: Our brilliant brains are mostly designed for movement.
Evidence has been mounting on the startling connections between air pollution and decreased cognition and well-being. I don't think this is an issue that is getting the visibility it deserves, so I hope this episode serves it a little justice. We will be looking at the changes we can make on both individual and collective levels to tame these environmental insults before it goes out of hand.
I am joined here by the amazing expert at Flow, Dr Jasmine Tan. She is currently immersed in her studies at Oxford, but in this episode, she provides us with insights into the findings of her own PhD project with Professor Joydeep Bhattacharya in the domain of Flow.
This episode pays tribute to the founder of the field himself Dr Csikszentmihalyi who has recently passed away. May his soul rest in peace.
- Kindly find the link to Jasmine's original published paper titled “What Does it Take to Flow? Investigating Links Between Grit, Growth Mindset, and Flow in Musicians” attached below:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2059204321989529
This napkin thin sheet has always been key to the evolution of our humanity. Not only does it cover our walnut-shaped brains, but it is also constantly taking quantitative leaps in its own development. So how far will it take us? Join me on this episode to find out...
Your brain and belly have been on an endless chat since the day you were born. Thorough scientific research has been offered proving that obesity is a disease that does not have much to do with self-control as people assume. In this episode, I will introduce a molecule discovered in both the brain and gut that helps control appetite, offering relief for those living with obesity.
A bias is a preference for or against an individual or a group of people. Implicit biases specifically are sneaky and hard to spot. The bright side is that these unconscious assumptions and attitudes can be dealt with, as doing the right internal work will undoubtedly enable us to spark change for the better.
In his book, "Hallucinations" Oliver Sacks cites a host of vivid examples from 100 Varieties of Hallucinatory Experience: From Dancing Patterns to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Yes, you guessed it, just like the ones in Alice in Wonderland. Here is your bite-size review!
This episode is a super-soul edition. Here, I dive into a mixture of philosophy and neuroscience in an attempt to answer the puzzling question of " What constitutes our sense of self? Here is a liberating concept for you to adopt, as Buddha said " Well-makers lead the water, fletchers bend the arrow, carpenters bend a log of wood, wise people fashion themselves."
This week I am joined by the brilliant Hamzah Selim, the CEO of the app “Mindsteps”. Hamzah is an imperial alumni, and UCL medical student who is playing a major role in increasing accessibility to neurological care for dementia patients. Today he is here to share with us the driving ambition behind his app and how he is hoaxing in on preventive medicine to improve the overall life quality of dementia patients as well as the healthcare system hand in hand with the NHS.
- You can download Mindsteps via the links provided below:
. IOS Users: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1530813748
. Other Users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.capsuleplus.MindStep&hl=en_GB&gl=US
- You can follow Mindsteps on Instagram @meetmindsteps
From neuroplasticity to distraction and technology. This episode gives you an in-depth look at the price we pay for having our ancient brains overstimulated by technology. So the question is, How can we help our brains become better equipped to deal with this paradox?
This book is a must-read! This is one of those rare books that can help you make positive changes in your life and at the same time see the world in a new way. It has definitely cleared my lenses of perception. Feel free to reach out to me for a copy of this book x
Here is my book summary of The Tell-Tale Brain by V.S. Ramachandran. If you were to take away one thing from this book that would be that it is impossible to understand the human brain without understanding how it first evolved!
Attention isn’t just about what we focus on — it’s also about what our brains filter out! Here I discuss the work of a computational neuroscientist who is using computers to help us get rid of distractors around our monkey brains. Listen to this episode to know more about this exciting science.
What an essential read! Now, many of us crave music on a daily basis – myself included. But is that the same thing? Are we musico-philics?
This book right here focuses on both music-related phenomena and neurological patients, giving us insight into a neural signature that might underlie the symptoms of musicophilia.
- You can kindly find an extract from the audiobook provided below, do not hesitate to give it a listen:
https://www.penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/book/159607/musicophilia/?ref=PRH28100532E1
I happened to cross paths with THE LATEST buzzing study revealing how researchers have found a region of the brain stem called the periaqueductal gray which may mediate religiosity and spirituality in humans...
You can find the link to the original article right down below!
- Original Research: Closed access.
“A Neural Circuit for Spirituality and Religiosity Derived From Patients With Brain Lesions” by Michael Ferguson et al. Biological Psychiatry
What are our screens and devices doing to us? Numerous psychologists have investigated how much time screens steal from us and how they're getting away with it. In this episode I share with you how staring at your smartphone, tablet or computer might be making you miserable - and what you can do about it!
Wars and prejudice dominate the news. Can we discover a way to help people better understand each other and live with their differences? What if we all learnt to be more ‘emotionally intelligent’?
THE SUDDEN JOLT of a sugar fix followed by brain fog is all it takes, for many of us, to recognize that a connection exists between our food choices and cognitive function. Do we really need an entire book to extrapolate on this concept? Of course, we do!
Behavioural scientists have proven numerous times that traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories -- and maybe, a way forward!
Do religious experiences come from God, or are they merely the random firing of neurons in the brain? Drawing on his own research with Carmelite nuns, neuroscientist Mario Beauregard shows that genuine, life-changing spiritual events can be documented. He offers compelling evidence that religious experiences have a nonmaterial origin, making a convincing case for what many in scientific fields are loath to consider...
As an easy-to-read and engaging book or as a scientifically accurate and detailed popular psychology book, David Eagleman’s The Brain: The Story of You is an ideal book for people seeking to teach themselves an introduction to cognitive neuroscience and psychology!
How can humans be so compassionate and altruistic -- and also so brutal and violent? To understand why we do what we do give this episode a listen!
Scientists in fields ranging from anthropology to neuroscience have been asking this same question for decades. It turns out the science behind love is both simpler and more complex than we might think. Join me on this episode for a glimpse into the emotional matrix of love.
This book takes us to the frontlines of research many from Dr David Sinclair’s own lab at Harvard—that demonstrate how we can slow down, or even reverse, ageing. The key is activating newly discovered vitality genes, the descendants of an ancient genetic survival circuit that is both the cause of ageing and the key to reversing it.
I am glad to see another piece of literature that delineates how intricately the mind and body are woven together. However, I found that as I was reading, I was asking several questions such as: how many people do NOT have some sort of attachment dysfunction or trauma or mini traumas that impact them growing up? Are we too easily lumping people into types who have the disease because the pool is quite vast? Here is my bitsesize review of the book..
Can we break bad habits by being more curious about them? Researchers have studied the relationship between mindfulness and addiction -- from smoking to overeating to all those other things we do even though we know they're bad for us. Learn more about the mechanism of habit development and discover a simple but profound tactic that might help you beat your next urge to smoke, snack or check a text while driving.
David Eagleman offers startling lessons in neuroscience. His new book, Incognito, asks us to cast off our lazy, commonplace assumptions. In one, he delineates, with remorseless logic and clarity, he reveals the tricks our brain plays on us.
We are all slaves to self-consciousness, impostor syndrome, pessimism, anxiety over issues beyond our control, stultifying routines, domineering characters in our lives, and even our social media personas. None but ourselves can free our minds. How so? Join me on this episode to discover just exactly how you can do that.
How does the brain give rise to complex emotional states like depression, anxiety or loneliness? Learn how new discoveries could change the way you think about your mind -- and possibly uncover effective treatments for mental disorders.
Have you ever had a gut feeling or butterflies in your stomach?
These sensations emanating from your belly suggest that your brain and gut are connected.
What’s more, recent studies show that your brain affects your gut health and your gut may even affect your brain health.
The communication system between your gut and brain is called the gut-brain axis.
This episode explores the gut-brain axis and ways to improve your own.
"Death comes for all of us. For us, for our patients: it is our fate as living, breathing, metabolizing organisms."
Woah!
Though 'When Breath Becomes Air' had been on my reading list for a while now, I've been going back and forth, unable to decide whether I should read this, as I was somewhat fearful of the impact this memoir might have on me.
Philosophical, beautiful, moving, difficult, heartbreaking. I highly, HIGHLY recommend it.
What is the neurology of a Tic? In this episode, I am joined by the wonderful speech therapist Liz Hajj Nicholas to explain the fundamental neural underpinning of Tourettes Syndrome. This is a multi-faceted neurological disorder that requires understanding the individual symptoms and integrating the co-morbidities. She emphasizes how the recognition of the complexity of the underlying mechanisms and targeting treatment for the most troubling symptom, such as speech and voice problems, should substantially improve the individual's quality of life with TS. - Feel free to reach out to Miss Liz Hajj Nicholas on her LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-hajj-nicolas-21a419193 In addition, she provides outstanding work within her speech therapy sessions @Neuropediadubai
In this episode, I explain the limits of interpreting neuroscientific data, and why we should all be aware of them. Why so? Because brains are ubiquitous in modern marketing, so let me help you spot the neuro-bunks out there!
Even before the beginning of human history, people recognized that parents transmit something — call it “likeness” — to their children, and the children to their children, and so on down the generations. But how?
Enlighted you will be! Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle is a master of exploring difficult spiritual and philosophical topics like the ego, presence, and consciousness. In this enlightening and uplighting guide, he explores how we can all loosen the toxic grip of the ego and enter a fulfilling state of full presence. Pair this with the Power of Now to go deep on the subject…
This academic masterpiece reads like a novel and is at the same time a genuine moral achievement! Listen to this bitesize review to learn more..
Here is a snappy episode summarizing The Brain That Changes Itself, which was written by Norman Doidge. It explores the groundbreaking research in neuroplasticity and shares fascinating stories of people who can use the brain’s ability to adapt and be cured of ailments previously incurable!
In this episode, I share with you the latest science investigating the disease -- and some promising research on what each of us can do to build an Alzheimer's-resistant brain. Alzheimer's doesn't have to be your brain's destiny, so let me tell you how to prevent it before it strikes!
In his book, Martin Seligman was dead right when he said that, wherever we want to go, people's values will be the main force that determines the outcome. Listen to this book review to know more!
At this very moment, as you read this, you’re experiencing a form of controlled hallucination called “ reality”. This talk will leave you questioning the very nature of your existence, as we dive into how your brain generates conscious experience.
Here is a five-minute snippet of me enjoying Michael Gazzaniga’s exploration of the biological basis of consciousness.
Joining me on this episode is the wonderful French Speech and Language Therapist Hélène Malik! Here we are unravelling the gifts alongside the nuts and bolts of a dyslexic mind.. What is so amusing is that dyslexics, when they are fully empowered and recognize that innate intelligence, represent 35% of all entrepreneurs. They represent 40% of all self-made millionaires, and you know those rocket scientists down at NASA? One out of two of them is dyslexic. - You can reach Helene here : helene.malik@camaliclinic.com
Exercise, new habits, even dipping your face into an icy plunge pool are among the steps you can take for a mellower day, but these arent the approaches I discuss here... Stress can be reset with actions that release the bubbly and social hormone of Oxytocin. How So? Find out with me on this episode!
What does everyone in the modern world need to know? This episode will provide you with a summary of how the renowned psychologist Jordan B. Peterson's answers the most difficult of questions! All by uniquely combininging the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.
Do not miss this! This is a highly anticipated episode with the one and only Dr Sneha John! As a clinical psychologist she has an abundance of experience working in the NHS, and the biggest heart to provide us with tremendously valuable tools and tactics to help soothe our anxiety in a proactive way.
- Feel free to reach out to her via her Instagram platform for any queries @snehajohn.posychologist
This book is an eye opener ! Here is some insight into our dreams, the theater of the unconscious.
Here is a story of what is beneath the skin. After this, you will never take your mind-body connection for granted!
Here is a quick overview of what the book on the Biology of Humans at Their Best and Worst entail. Lengthy 800 page book coming to you in a snippet!
Your Brain Will Not Be The Same After Listening to This! For Better or for worse the choice is in your hands..
Based on a review of research papers, these tips give an insight into measures that can help reduce the risk of conditions such as Alzheimer’s! - cosmeticsdatabase.com - Anti-AgingGames.com.
For all you book lovers this is a must! This masterpiece by Daniel Kahneman is one of the greatest and most engaging collection of insights into the human mind that I have read.
Here are simple lifestyle changes you can make to support lifelong brain health, when approaching menopause!
Here I explore scientific results that show the influence of your subjective mindset on your body. This is going to give you shocking insight to implications that stretch far beyond the realm of medicine!
Here is a scoop into how the language you speak shapes your world in infinite ways... “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart."- Nelson Mandela
You have questions about mindfulness and meditation. Being Mindful as you listen to this episode will give you the answers. Buddha said,“ The mind is everything. What you think, you become.”
Join me on this episode to learn of the current line of thinking on what causes addiction. What do you think is the best way to combat it ?
Why are some people so quick to recover from setbacks? Why are some so attuned to others that they seem psychic? Why are some people always up and others always down? Let’s find out ..
We live in a society where people are obsessed with early achievement, but most of us don’t explode out of the gates right away. How can we harness the power of our subconscious mind to shake off any self doubt?
This episode will help you come to grasp how there is no fixed physical reality, no single perception of the world, just numerous ways of interpreting world views as dictated by one’s nervous system and the specific environment of our planetary existence !
This is your little virtual fountain of youth. The fable "Blue Zones," are communities whose elders live with vim and vigour to record-setting age. Join me on this episode to find the path to long life and health.
Nutritional detection is as fascinating as it sounds, join me to understand how your delicious cup of coffee comes into being experienced !
This episode provides a scoop into the developing neuroscientific understanding of our emotions and minds!
In love, we fall. We're struck, we're crushed, we swoon. Our hearts ache, and then they break! This episode will give you a scoop into the three brain systems responsible for this since the birth of time..
Here is a “stroke” of insight into issues of consciousness, representation of self, and what separates you from other human being. All through the lens of a neuroanatomist who experienced a stroke herself!
Vincent van Gogh suggested that creativity and madness go hand in hand. Quite thrilling? This episode is bringing you an abundance of evidence for the long-suspected physiological link between inventiveness and madness! Disclaimer: This is not a green card for you to go mad bullocks..
Do you like jazz? Listen to what researchers have to say on what happens inside a jazz musician’s brain as they improvise euphonious melodies!
This episode is all about the bittersweet symphony... We will dive into the potential music and psychedelics have on defining our experience of being. Quick Hint: this may occur by short-circuiting a key brain region called the claustrum, which is the potential seat of consciousness in the brain.
Dancing through neuronal circuits! Episode six will give you insight into your connectome & how mapping the brain could unlock an abundance of secrets on human individuality.
What goes on in our brain when we are in love? A thrilling havoc lights up, simple as that ? This episode will dive into the argument that romantic passion has been hardwired into our brains, as backed by millions of years of evolution!
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but there is more to this captivating concept. This episode will look at the nitty and gritty of how your brain interprets beauty!
Want to build a stoic human? In “The Art of Resilience”,Ross uses his swim experience and other amazing endurance feats, where he managed to overcome seemingly insurmountable pain, hardship and adversity, to give a scope to the power of resilience. Today we explore the innate quality of resilience by providing 11 strategies from stoic sports science and the Great British swim.
Nutritional detection is as fascinating as it sounds, join me to understand how your delicious cup of coffee comes into being experienced !
With this episode, I come to you with tips and tricks on how you can befriend your brain as key to ultimate happiness. As the Dalai Lama famously said, “From the very core of our being, we desire contentment, we all want to be happy & avoid suffering.” 🤍