ASCEND Brain Bites

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Brain Bites is the bite-size neuroscience podcast of the ASCEND program (Advancing STEM Community Engagement through Neuroscience) where we explore the depths of your brain in a fun, digestible format. Brain Bites is written and produced by Melissa Borgen and Serena Sossi. Theme Music is “star lo…

Ascend Program


    • Mar 14, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 20m AVG DURATION
    • 12 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from ASCEND Brain Bites

    Why Crows are SUPER SMART!! w/ Dr. John Marzluff

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 19:58


    Dr. Nemeth and Sam McGovern chat with crow behavior expert, Dr. John Marzluff, about why and how our neighborhood crow friends are so gosh darn smart! We discuss the neuroscience behind crow behavior! 

    Neuroscience of Addiction with Dr. Judith Grisel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2022 16:54


    Parental Warning: This episode contains themes and discussions of drug use, addiction, and its concequences.  Dr. Dan and Dr. Lorena talk with NYT-bestselling author and world leading addiciton neuroscientist, Judith Grisel, about the neuroscience of addiction.  If you want to learn more about addiction, check out https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/parents-educators for more info!  Also if you or a loved one is strugglng with addiciton contact SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or a local addiction drug and rehab facility. 

    Neuroscience of Illusions with Dr. Stephen Macknik- Full Interview

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 42:25


    You may have gotten a taste of how your brain can trick you in our Illusions episode! Here is a full-feature release of the entire interview we had with Dr. Macknik! Hope you enjoy!

    neuroscience illusions stephen macknik
    Episode 9 - Music and Memory

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2021 13:04


    Our special guest, Mia Amato, tells Dan and Dr. Lorena Areal all about how our brains perceive music and how music is connected to our memory!! 

    Neuroscience of Illusions!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 19:29


    Danny and new co-host, Dr. Lorena Areal, dive into the wild world of illusions and how your brain processes sensory information! We interview a world expert neuroscientist specialized in visual illusions, Dr. Stephen Macknik!

    Episode 7 - Memory and ....Flies?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2020 20:49


    Melissa and Danny delve into how memory is formed and how neuroscientists can study memory formation. How did scientists find this out and how are flies involved?  

    Episode 6: Happy BRAINSgiving!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2019 15:50


    Melissa and Danny wish you a Happy Thanksgiving by deciphering the age old myth about Thanksgiving: Does the tryptophan in turkey really make you sleepy? We also talk about how gratitude and Black Friday shopping affect your brain!

    Episode 5: Fear, BRAINS! and Zombies!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2019 19:02


    Melissa and Danny discuss the neuroscience of Halloween! Such as how you get scared, if Zombies are plausible, and why eating human brains is bad!

    The Senses, Pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2019 27:58


    This time we talk about the senses of hearing, sight, and touch. Our hearing changes over our lives, as evidenced by the high-pitched sounds that adults can't hear. We also talk about how our eyes see color and why some people are color blind. Have you ever felt your phone vibrate, but when you check it, there's no message? Listen to hear about the recent theories behind the phantom vibration phenomenon! Join us to hear our interview with Brock Grill, PhD, from The Scripps Research Institute Florida! We talk about how the tiny worm, C. elegans, senses touch and what that tells us about the human nervous system!

    The Senses pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2019 25:49


    Join us as we explore the senses of taste and smell! How do our chemical senses work? Can our senses change or trick us? We interview Dr. Tricia Meredith from Florida Atlantic University about her research on the sense of smell of sharks! So, can a shark really smell a drop of blood a mile away?

    Brain Power

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2019 17:27


    Our brain cells, called neurons, communicate with other neurons and cells in the body by sending electrical signals. Today we talk about how that electrical communication works and how it differs from the electricity we use to power our homes. We also speak to Dr. Michael Yetman about his research about how the different types of neurons communicate in the cerebral cortex.

    Comparing Brain Sizes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2018 12:48


    When it comes to brains, is bigger always better? In this episode, we discuss the differences between brains across the animal kingdom. In general, bigger brains mean smarter animals. However, we talk about new research that shows that densely packed brains can also lend smarts to animals with small brains, like certain birds.  We also interview Chelsea Bennice about the unique brain of the octopus!

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