Cerebrum

Yasmin Hurd, Ph.D., director of the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai Health Systems and a professor of psychiatry, neuroscience, and pharmaceutical sciences at the Ichan School of Medicine, discussed her Cerebrum magazine cover story, "A Perfect Storm: Covid + Addiction."

Gina Martin is the founder and director of The Bob and Diane Fund, which honors her parents, Bob and Diane Martin. The couple were high school sweethearts married for nearly 50 years. In 2006, at the age of 65, Diane was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, and she passed away five years later. Bob, her husband, loyal partner, and devoted caregiver, died just three months later. The fund gives an annual grant to a photographer whose work captures the essence of someone who has Alzheimer's disease or dementia. The work of the winner of the 2021 grant, Cheryle St. Onge, is featured in the winter 2022 edition of Cerebrum magazine.

The job of a magician is to exploit loopholes in the way you process reality. What are the psychological implications of deception? Hear from Daniel Roy, who received a B.S. degree in neurobiology from the University of Pennsylvania and is a professional magician who has performed at the Mirrors Magic Theater in Philadelphia, the Hollywood Magic Castle, and has appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us! on national television.

Lisa Feldman Barrett, Ph.D., co-director of the Interdisciplinary Affective Science Laboratory at Northeastern University and Massachusetts General Hospital, talks about the internal-sense system, largely below our consciousness, that keeps our bodies and brains going. podcast transcript: on.dana.org/cerebrum-transcript-barrett

Dilip V. Jeste, M.D, author and senior associate dean for healthy aging at the University of California, San Diego, talks about his Cerebrum magazine cover story, “Ageism: The Brain Strikes Back." podcast transcript: on.dana.org/cerebrum-transcript-jeste

Mark Shelhamer, former chief scientist for the NASA Human Research Program, examines what spaceflight can teach us about cognitive performance and mental abilities. Podcast Transcript http://on.dana.org/cerebrum-transcript-shelhamer

Peter Campochiaro, M.D., a clinician and professor of ophthalmology and neuroscience, talks about about strategies to treat macular degeneration, a condition that affects 200 million people worldwide. Podcast Transcript http://on.dana.org/cerebrum-transcript-campochiaro

Vince Calhoun, author of our Cerebrum story, “The Promise of Big Data Imaging for Mental Health,” discusses his pioneering research and the evolution of a growing field that has enormous potential to have an impact of both mental health and neurodegenerative treatment. Podcast Transcript: on.dana.org/cerebrum-transcript-calhoun

Catherine Woolley, author of our Cerebrum cover story, “His and Hers: Sex Differences in the Brain,” discusses what the research has told us so far and why more research is desperately needed. Podcast Transcript: on.dana.org/cerebrum-transcript-woolley

In this episode, we discuss adolescence, what maturity means to a neuroscientist, and what brain development looks like in the age of Covid-19 with Abigail Baird, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Vassar College and principal investigator of the Laboratory for Adolescent Science. Visit www.theteenspecies.com to follow Baird's research and the latest information on her forthcoming Audible project, all about the teenage brain!

Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D., author of our Cerebrum magazine story “Hear and Now,” discusses his research and policy making role regarding a link between hearing loss, dementia, and cognitive function. Podcast Transcript: http://on.dana.org/cerebrum-transcript-lin

Ilina Singh, Ph.D., author of our Cerebrum magazine cover story “Neuroscience for Global Mental Health,” discusses her experience on the Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health and the NeuroGenE global initiative in psychiatric ethics. Podcast Transcript: http://on.dana.org/cerebrum-transcript-singh

Gerard Karsenty, M.D., Ph.D., author of our Cerebrum story, “That Feeling in Your Bones,” discusses his groundbreaking research regarding osteocalcin, a hormone that triggers a “fight or flight response” and possibly much more. Podcast Transcript: https://on.dana.org/cerebrum-transcript-karsenty

Marc Brackett, Ph.D., founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and professor in the Child Study Center at the Yale School of Medicine, talks about his path to the field and how becoming a fifth degree black belt in Aikido and his own experience with therapy has informed his work. Podcast Transcript: https://on.dana.org/cerebrum-transcript-brackett

Lee Alan Dugatkin, coauthor of "How to Tame a Fox," discusses his Cerebrum article and other significant findings since the book was published. Podcast Transcript: https://on.dana.org/cerebrum-transcript-dugatkin

Gregory Berns, M.D., Ph.D., author of our Cerebrum magazine cover story, “Decoding the Canine Mind,” the Distinguished Professor of Neuroeconomics at Emory University and “How Dogs Love Us” (New Harvest, 2013), explains the challenges scanning the brain of a dog, what motivated him to specialize in canine cognition, and more. Podcast Transcript: https://on.dana.org/cerebrum-transcript-berns

Roger E. Beaty, Ph.D., author of “The Creative Brain” and director of the Cognitive Neuroscience of Creativity Lab at Pennsylvania State University, discusses how he uses brain imaging and behavioral experiments to examine how creativity works in different contexts and domains.

Jerold Chun, M.D., Ph.D., professor and senior vice president of Neuroscience Drug Discovery at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, discusses a genetic approach to solving Alzheimer’s disease, plus a promising therapeutic intervention.

Keely A. Muscatell, Ph.D., author of "Brains, Bodies, and Social Hierarchies" and director of the Social Neuroscience and Health laboratory at the University of North Carolina, discusses new research that ties income and other factors to stress and emotional responses.

Maheen Mausoof Adamson, Ph.D., a Stanford professor and senior scientific research director for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center in Palo Alto, CA, discusses the neuromodulation field, its potential, and what inspires her research.

Michael L. Lipton, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.R., a neuroradiologist and neuroscientist who is associate director of the Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center and director of Radiology Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine as well as Medical Director of MRI Services at its University Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, both in New York, discusses his Cerebrum article, his long career studying mild traumatic brain injury, and the ethical implications of kids playing contact sports.

Howard Hurtig, M.D., the Chair Emeritus of the Department of Neurology at Pennsylvania Hospital, discusses his Cerebrum article, what inspired him to research, and the challenges associated with solving a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people.

Susan Magsamen, founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab, a pioneering neuroaesthetics initiative from the Brain Science Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, discusses her Cerebrum article (dana.org/Cerebrum/2019/Your_Aesthetic_Brain_A_Growing_Case_for_the_Arts/) and research aimed at the intersection of brain sciences and the arts—and how our unique response to aesthetic experiences can amplify human potential.

UC Davis Neurorobotics Laboratory Director and Cerebrumauthor Karen Moxon discusses her Cerebrum article, the future of machine-brain interface, and the emerging technology’s privacy and other ethical concerns.

University of Maryland cardiologist and Cerebrum author Michael Miller, M.D., talks about the reasons the heart is often overlooked in brain research and the tie between the amygdala, hippocampus, and the heart in reducing stress and helping people live longer, healthy lives.

Stanford University Department of Psychology chair and professor Anthony D. Wagner, Ph.D., talks about his Cerebrum article, “Multicosts of Multitasking,” how the brain processes multitasking, and the importance of past and future research in this critical area.

Lee L. Rubin, Ph.D., a professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard University and director of therapeutic medicine at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, talks about his Cerebrum article, “Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Huge Steps,” and new drugs and clinical trials that have improved survival rates significantly.

Along with the rising number of people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (due to longer life spans) come two main concerns: finding remedies and helping them live comfortable and contented lives. Dorthe Berntsen, Ph.D., talks about her Cerebrum article, “Watering Memory Trees,” and the impact of reminiscence therapy and retro environments on quality of life and treatment.

Do toys and games improve thinking or IQ, or do they just make a child better at playing the games? Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D., talks about her Cerebrum article, “Brain Training for Kids: Adding a Human Touch,” the $7.5 billion market for apps and games, and the latest research on its effectiveness.

While the human brain is hardwired to feel pleasure for basic survival necessities, such as eating and sex, music—although obviously pleasurable—doesn’t offer the same evolutionary advantages.Robert J. Zatorre, Ph.D., talks about his Cerebrum article, “Why Do We Love Music,” (dana.org/Cerebrum/2018/Why_Do_We_Love_Music/) his pioneering research at McGill University’s Montreal Neurological Institute, and research that shows that music has the power to change an individual’s brain.

Millions of people suffer from serious mental illness, but very few receive consistent coordinated care. Thomas R. Insel, M.D., talks about his Cerebrum article, “Building the Thermometer for Mental Health,” (www.dana.org/Cerebrum/2018/Buil…for_Mental_Health/) his transition from directing the National Institute of Mental Health to co-founding and serving as president of Mindstrong Health, and his efforts to transform the future of mental health care.

Trying to kick drug addiction without medicines is said to be like relying on willpower to overcome diabetes or asthma. Mark Gold, M.D., an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University, talks about his Cerebrum article, “Naltrexone: A History and Future Directions,” his long career studying addiction and the brain, and an opioid crisis that kills more Americans each day than gun violence or car accidents.

Albert La Spada, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurology, neurobiology, and cell biology at the Duke University School of Medicine, and author of our Cerebrum article, “A Novel Therapy for Huntington’s Disease,” discusses a new strategy that could have an impact on treating Huntington’s and other degenerative diseases.

Helene Benveniste, Ph.D., a professor of anesthesiology at Yale and author of our Cerebrum article, “The Brain’s Waste-Removal System,” tells us about her role in the discovery in the glymphatic system and its potential to help treat Alzheimer’s and any number of other degenerative diseases.

The fascinating tale of how people learn and retain information. Henry L. “Roddy” Roediger, Ph.D., a professor at Washington University, talks about co-authoring our Cerebrum article, “Remembering What We Learn,” strategies to retain information gleaned from more than 50 years of research, and what motivated him to enter the field.

For patients with glioblastoma, the most common primary brain tumor in adults, immunotherapy is still struggling to overcome this lethal malignancy, says Michael Lim, director of the Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program and coauthor of “Fire in the Smoke: Battling Brain Tumors.” Lim, M.D., talks about his career path, different types of tumors, and various approaches to defeating brain cancer.

We may not have the largest brains amongst mammals, but our neocortex is one of the factors that sets us apart in a variety of ways, says Jon H. Kaas, Ph.D., Distinguished, Centennial Professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt University and author of our Cerebrum article, “The Skinny on Brains: Size Matters.” Kaas covers such topics as nutrition’s impact on brain development, left brain vs. right brain, and whether the human brain has reached its full potential.

Ketamine may be the most significant breakthrough for treating depression in half a century, says Ronald S. Duman, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and neurobiology and director of the Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities at Yale University. He talks about his Cerebrum article, “The Dazzling Promise of Ketamine,” and the drug’s potential and pitfalls.

The fascinating tale of how a prominent neuroscientist and his research team discovered a gene that may change the way we treat pain. Stephen G. Waxman , M.D., Ph.D., founding director of Yale University’s Neuroscience & Regeneration Research Center, talks about his Cerebrum article, “Alabama to Beijing… and Back: The Search for a Pain Gene,” his path to pain research, and his forthcoming book, Chasing Men on Fire: The Story of the Search for a Pain Gene.

The study of subjective experience represents a significant and increasingly important challenge to cognitive scientists. Joseph LeDoux, Ph.D., founding director of The Emotional Brain Institute at New York University, talks about his Cerebrum article, “Know Thyself: Well-Being and Subjective Experience,” his work as founding director of The Emotional Brain Institute at New York University, and his role as a founding member of the popular band, The Amygdaloids.

Helen S. Mayberg, M.D., a behavioral neurologist with an international reputation for her pioneering research to map the brain circuits implicated in depression, talks about coauthoring our Cerebrum article, “Neuroimaging Advances for Depression” and her recent move from Emory’s School of Medicine to become the founding director of The Center for Advanced Circuit Therapeutics at Mt. Sinai.

New knowledge about microglia is so fresh that it’s not even in the textbooks yet. Two leading microglia researchers talk about their recent Cerebrum article, “Microglia: The Brain’s First Responders.” They also about reflect on their personal journey to microglia research and where they stand on careers in neuroscience for women.

In our Cerebrum article, “The Illusion of the Perfect Brain Enhancer,” Alvaro Pascual-Leone writes about the potential and pitfalls of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive form of neurostimulation in which constant, low current is delivered directly to areas of the brain using small electrodes. In our related podcast with Pascual-Leone, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and director of the Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, he discusses this emerging brain technology and some of the neuroethics issues associated with it.

In our Cerebrum article, “Olfaction: Smell of Change in the Air,” Richard L. Doty writes that scientists studying smell have not only provided compelling evidence that it’s more sophisticated than previously thought, but believe that the sense of smell impacts our mood and behavior and has the potential to detect and treat some neurological disorders. In our related podcast with Doty, Ph.D., the director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Smell and Taste Center and the inventor of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, the olfaction researcher talks about the role that sense of smell plays in various facets of our lives.

In our Cerebrum article, “The Brain’s Emotional Development,” Nim Tottenham, Ph.D. writes about why emotional brain development lags behind thinking, mobility, and communication skills. In our related podcast with Tottenham, an associate professor of psychology at Columbia University and director of the Developmental Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, the researcher talks about the role that gender, puberty, and species plays in emotional development and how research advances could impact policy-makers and parents.

In our Cerebrum article, “The Sleeping Brain,” sleep researchers Chiara Cirelli and Giulio Tononi write about what happens inside our brains when we sleep. In our related podcast with Cirelli, M.D., Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin, the sleep researcher talks about the difference between sleep and rest, the impact of sleep on memory, different sleeping habits, and the ties between nutrition and sleep. She also tells us what we’ve learned from sleep research and what we still need to know.

In our Cerebrum article, “Gut Feelings on Parkinson’s and Depression,” microbiome pioneers Ted Dinan and John Cryan write that “in the next few years, new research will hopefully affirm the validity of modulating the gut microbiota as a viable therapeutic strategy for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders.” In this podcast, Dinan, M.D., Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and in the APC Microbiome Institute at University College Cork in Ireland, discusses the recent research breakthrough that links microbiota to Parkinson’s disease and depression, some of the gut-axis research occurring in their 45-member lab, and other issues surrounding what many label “the second genome.”

In our Cerebrum article, “The Four Pillars of Alzheimer’s Prevention,” co-author Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., president/medical director of the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation and the author of Brain Longevity, writes that “while a pharmaceutical approach to preventing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has proved elusive, practical lifestyle choices to reduce AD are based on good science and good sense.” In this podcast, Khalsa explains the reasons that diet, exercise, medication, and psychological well-being offer the best chance for aging AD-free and nourishing a sharp mind. He also explains why drug development has proved so elusive and how advances in imaging are changing the research landscape.

In this podcast, you’ll hear why telemedicine lends itself to psychological counseling, stroke, Parkinson’s, and a host of other neurological disorders. You’ll hear about how it is being adapted in other countries and the proliferation of venture capitalist money in companies that aim to manage home health care, as well as the many obstacles still in its path. This month we feature E. Ray Dorsey, M.D., M.B.A., director of the Center for Human Experimental Therapeutics and Levy Professor of Neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. In our most recent Cerebrum article, “Next Generation House Call,” he and two colleagues write that “for different reasons, psychiatry and neurology have been early adopters of telehealth” and “as the burden of neuropsychiatric conditions rises along with the demand for convenient, patient-centered care, telehealth is poised to deliver care where it has always been needed most—at home.”

In our Cerebrum article, “Examining the Causes of Autism,” David G. Amaral, Ph.D., founding research director of the MIND Institute at UC Davis and Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, writes that autism has both a genetic and environmental component, and that it’s very likely that someone who is autistic is born that way. In this podcast, Amaral explains his reasoning behind those conclusions and explores a whole range of other issues: the challenges of autism research, what inspired him to focus on the disorder, his thoughts on gene modification, environmental factors pregnant mothers may wish to avoid, why it is important for autistic adults to find their place in communities, and more.

In our Cerebrum article, “Finding the Hurt in Pain,” Irene Tracey, head of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford, writes that pain is unique to every person, and difficult to quantify and treat. Whether it is delivered as a jolt or a persistent, dull ache, pain is guaranteed to affect one’s quality of life. Our podcast examines how brain imaging is opening our eyes to the richness and complexity of the pain experience, giving us extraordinary insight into the neurochemistry, network activity, wiring, and structures relevant to producing and modulating painful experiences in all their various guises. Tracey also discusses how imaging pain is having an increasing impact in the judiciary and in resolving end-of-life issues.