Let's Talk About Women

Let's Talk WITH Young Researchers: our podcast sideline in which we give the word to young researchers in the field of women's mental health!In this episode, meet Zoé Bürger, PhD researcher in the Women's Mental Health and Brain Function lab in Tübingen, where she has been working with Prof. Birgit Derntl.We talk about Zoé's research on hormonal contraception, specifically the hormonal IUD, and stress. Besides, Zoé shares her PhD journey over the past years, how she faced challenges, and found her "village". In the end of the podcast, Zoé answers our famous quick "3 Burning Questions":Who is your science crush? What did you not know/expect before starting a PhD? What do you enjoy most about your work as a PhD researcher? Do you want to get in touch with Zoé? Reach out to: Zoe.Buerger@med.uni-tuebingen.de... or find her on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoebuerger/Sound recording: Franziska WeinmarEditing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month - so Let's Talk About Endometriosis!In this conversation, Elle Murata, PhD researcher in the Cognitive Neuroendocrinology Lab at the University of California, is sharing insights into neuroscience research on endometriosis.What is endometriosis? Why is it important to consider endometriosis in neuroscience research? How are Elle and her research group exploring the topic? Elle is here to answer all these questions! In addition, she talks about the challenges of this research, her experiences as a young researcher and what she envisions for the future field. Visit the Cognitive Neuroendocrinology Jacob's Lab website here: https://jacobs.psych.ucsb.edu/If you would like to get in touch with Elle, you can find her here: https://jacobs.psych.ucsb.edu/people/elle-murata... or reach her at: elle.murata@psych.ucsb.eduTimestamps:00:26 Introduction of our guest Elle Murata and her field of research01:48 What is endometriosis?08:17 Why is it important to investigate endometriosis from a neuroscientific point of view?14:15 Elle's neuroscience research project on endometriosis24:39 Aims & hypotheses of the project26:29 Possible implications32:35 Challenges of this research topic35:58 Summary38:55 Closing remarks & future directions in research39:50 Elle's experience as a young researcherOutline & questions: Franziska WeinmarSound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle or when using oral contraceptives ("the pill") affect cognitive functions? In this episode, Franziska speaks with Prof. DDr. MMMag. Belinda Pletzer (Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg), a leading expert in cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology, especially when it comes to hormone-brain interactions. With a diverse background spanning biology, psychology, philosophy, and mathematics, Belinda's research focuses particularly on the effects of sex hormones and gender-related aspects of neuroscience, such as the effects of hormonal contraceptives on the female brain.Together we explore if and how cognitive performance and brain activity are affected by the menstrual cycle, premenstural syndrome (PMS), and oral contraceptives. Belinda also shares her hypothesis on hormonal sensitivity across the female lifespan and whether more or actually less sensitivity could be a risk factor for mental health. As always, we conclude with an outlook on how our guest envisions the future development of the research field. Join us for a deep dive into this enlightening conversation - and find out if the myth that all women are affected by the menstrual cycle holds true...Visit the website of Belinda's research group: https://ccns.plus.ac.at/labs/sexandgender/... and Belinda's profile: https://ccns.plus.ac.at/labs/sexandgender/members/belinda_pletzer/If you would like to get in touch with Belinda, you can reach her at: Belinda.Pletzer@plus.ac.atTimestamps:00:27 Introduction of Belinda Pletzer and her field of research02:20 The menstrual cycle and its phases05:18 Oral contraceptives and their influence on the menstrual cycle08:20 How do we define cognitive functions?10:24 Investigating cognitive functions - Belinda's research12:58 Does the menstrual cycle affect cognitive performance?22:28 Belinda's research on PMS, mood and cognitive performance33:08 Do oral contraceptives affect cognitive performance?41:11 Hot Topic: Hormonal sensitivity - Belinda's hypothesis46:30 Summary49:54 Closing remarks and future directions in research Outline & questions: Franziska WeinmarSound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) approximately affects 2-5% of women around the world. In this episode we have Dr. Liza Kaltsouni, postdoc at Uppsala University, Department of Women's and Children's Health, as an expert in our podcast. During her PhD, Liza Kaltsouni conducted research on PMDD and collected various data, including brain data in the MRI scanner. This has influenced her holistic perspective on PMDD and the multimodal network approach needed to understand this multimodal disorder. In addition to pursuing such a multimodal approach for future research on PMDD, Liza emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary work and the inclusion of the people for whom the research is intended. Following the motto “nothing good is easy”, Liza calls on us to listen more. And you can start today - by listening to this enlightening conversation!Timestamps:00:27 Introduction of our guest Dr. Liza Kaltsouni & her field of research01:46 What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and how is it differed to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) ?05:57 What do we know about underlying causes of PMDD?12:13 Hormonal sensitivity hypothesis18:22 What do we know about PMDD & brain structure + function?27:57 Multimodal study project & findings of Liza Kaltsouni37:55 Implications of Liza's research41:10 Current available treatment for PMDD44:59 Outlook: Upcoming treatment possibilities for PMDD?48:50 Summary52:27 Closing remarks & future directions in research Want to get in touch with Liza?elisavet.kaltsouni@uu.sehttps://www.uu.se/en/contact-and-organisation/staff?query=N19-2428Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar at Recording Studio Blasenhus, Uppsala University Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's Talk WITH Young Researchers: our podcast sideline in which we give the word to young researchers in the field of women's mental health!In this episode, meet Hanna Wierenga, PhD Candidate in the IRTG2804, who is working with Prof. Pia Schober (Tübingen) and Prof. Alkistis Skalkidou (Uppsala) on gender identity and ideologies and mental health, specifically during and after pregnancy.We talk about Hanna's PhD projects and journey so far, how she deals with setbacks and that a PhD is like detective work. In the end of the podcast, Hanna answers our quick "3 Burning Questions":Who is your science crush? What did you not know/expect before starting a PhD? What do you enjoy most about your work as a PhD researcher? Do you want to get in touch with Hanna Wierenga? Reach out to: hanna.wierenga@uu.se Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar at Recording Studio Blasenhus, Uppsala University Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite being one of the major hormonal transition phases in the female lifespan, menopause is still underrepresented in medicine and research. Fortunately, this is changing - among others due to our guest, Dr. Claudia Barth, senior researcher at Diakonhjemmet Hospital and the Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research in Oslo, who is an expert on female hormonal transitions and their effect on the brain and mental illness. In this episode Franziska sits down with Claudia to demystify menopause, asking about symptoms, mental health, and what we know about changes in the brain during the menopause transition. Also, they dive into why menopause has remained a blind spot in neuroscience so far and why this matters. With a glimpse into Claudia's ERC grant on “Mapping Perimenopause", this episode offers a hopeful vision for future research on women's health, where menopause is finally getting the attention it deserves. Website to the ENIGMA consortium: https://enigma.ini.usc.edu/Website to the ENIGMA Neuroendocrinology workgroup: https://enigma.ini.usc.edu/ongoing/enigma-neuroendocrinology/Website to the ENIGMA Early Onset Psychosis workgroup: https://enigma.ini.usc.edu/ongoing/enigma-eop-working-group/If you would like to get in touch with Claudia, you can reach her at: claudia.barth@medisin.uio.no... or find her work at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Claudia-BarthTimestamps:00:27: Introducing Dr. Claudia Barth and her field of research02:17: How do we define menopause?05:38: What happens during menopause?11:40: Menopause and the brain17:35: Vulnerabilities and associated diseases21:32: Why do we know so little? Menopause and research31:55: Menopause and mental health43:22: Outlook: Claudia's ERC Project on "Mapping Perimenopause"50:56: Summary54:06: Closing remarks and future directions in research Outline & questions: Franziska WeinmarSound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After our summer break we're back to talk about women! In this episode we dive into the period of adolescence with Dr. Jolien Trekels, who is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of North Carolina. Jolien unpacks how the adolescent brain and body develop during this critical period and explains the complex effects of social media on well-being, from the negative to the positive. Through a bio-psycho-social lens, Jolien and Franziska discuss state-of-the-art insights into mental health and gender differences on how today's youths interact with social media. We end this episode as always with a look ahead and Jolien's thoughts on the future directions in this research field. Timestamps:00:27 Introduction of Dr. Jolien Trekels02:12 About adolescence: How is this period characterized? 03:32 Changes in the brain and the body08:50 What is (social) media?11:09 Negative effects of social media on well-being15:09 The "Swiss cheese model"17:09 Positive effects and negative effects of social media in adolescence29:07 Sex/gender differences in social media use patterns and mental health37:38 Influence of hormones on adolescent girls regarding their social media use39:45 Summary42:30 Closing remarks & future directions in researchOutline & questions: Edita Karavidaj & Franziska WeinmarSound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's Talk WITH Young Researchers: our new podcast sideline in which we give the word to young researchers in the field of women's mental health! We kick-off with our very own Gloria Matte Bon, PhD Candidate in the IRTG2804, who is working with Prof. Tobias Kaufmann, applying computational models to investigate sex differences in brain structure, with particular focus on hormonal transition periods and women's mental health.We end this podcast by introducing a new closing category and Gloria is the first one to answer our "3 Burning Questions":Who is your science crush? What did you not know/expect before starting a PhD? What do you enjoy most about your work as a PhD researcher? Gloria's hot-off-the-press-paper: Modeling brain sex in the limbic system as phenotype for female-prevalent mental disorders (Matte Bon, Kraft, Comasco, Derntl, & Kaufmann, 2024). https://bsd.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13293-024-00615-1Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Computational methods and machine learning are currently THE hot-topics and they are also applied in neuroscience research, showing us where the field is heading in the future. If you have ever wondered how these methods work, what their advantages - but also limitations - are and how they are implemented in research on women's mental health: We got you!In this episode Franziska is hosting Tobias Kaufmann, professor of neurotechnology and computational psychiatry at the University of Tübingen, who is also part of the IRTG2804. Tobias explains the basics of computational methods and gives us concrete examples of his own work, providing a first glimpse into the computational world. Also, we hear about his new ERC project: "HealthyMom: Modeling and maintaining maternal mental health".Timestamps:00:25 Introduction01:18 Computational psychiatry: Advantages & limitations10:15 Tobias' computational methods & examples: Prediction & classification models21:14 Computational methods in women's (mental) health: Focus on adolescence30:11 HealthyMom Project: Brain plasticity during pregnancy loss40:26 Recruitment information for Healthy Mom Study41:30 Summary43:40 Next steps in computational psychiatry and women's mental healthWebsite to Kaufmann Lab: https://www.kaufmannlab.org/About the HealthyMom Project: https://www.kaufmannlab.org/post/20230202-erc-consolidator-grant/References:Population-based neuroimaging reveals traces of childbirth in the maternal brain (de Lange, Kaufmann et al., 2019). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910666116Menarche, pubertal timing and the brain: female-specific patterns of brain maturation beyond age-related development (Gottschwesky, Kraft, & Kaufmann, 2024). https://bsd.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13293-024-00604-4Domain adapted brain network fusion captures variance related to pubertal brain development and mental health (Kraft, Alnaes, & Kaufmann, 2023). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41839-wModeling brain sex in the limbic system as phenotype for female-prevalent mental disorders (Matte Bon, Kraft, Comasco, Derntl, & Kaufmann, 2024). https://bsd.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13293-024-00615-1Outline & questions: Franziska Weinmar & Gloria Matte BonSound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celebrate with us the first anniversary episode of Let's Talk About Women!! - This time as PhD Candidate Franziska is hosting Dr. Nicole Petersen, Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, California. Directing the Translational Neuroimaging Lab, Nicole's research focuses on neuromodulation and neuroendocrinology. Amongst others, she has investigated the effects of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives on brain and behavior.In this episode, Nicole explains what "SHAPERs" are and what we know about their effects on the brain - but also what gaps there are still today. As one of the founding chairs of the ENIGMA Consortium for Neuroendocrinology, Nicole introduces the idea of ENIGMA and the working group and explains how this can contribute to rigorous studies, which will allow us to address exactly these knowledge gaps. Timestamps:02:00 - Introduction of our guest Dr. Nicole Petersen and her field of research02:30 - Explaining underlying concepts: What are hormones?04:22 - Do sex hormones have functions beyond reproduction?05:44 - The acronym SHAPERs & how it emphasizes on the dual role of sex hormones08:38 - How are sex hormones associated with specific psychological aspects?10:29 - Example: The influence of sensitivity to sex hormones on emotions12:26 - Mysteries in neuroscience: How exactly are psychological conditions related to sex hormones?14:18 - Why are some women more sensitive to hormones & mental health disorders? 17:20 - What does research say about the effects of SHAPERs on the brain?23:20 - Is it especially important to investigate SHAPERs in women?26:44 - The ENIGMA Neuroendocrinology consortium: aims & how to join!34:26 - Summary36:20 – Future directions in research & next steps for investigating women's mental health41:09 – Closing remarksWebsite to the ENIGMA consortium: https://enigma.ini.usc.edu/Website to the ENIGMA Neuroendocrinology workgroup: https://enigma.ini.usc.edu/ongoing/enigma-neuroendocrinology/If you would like to get in touch with Nicole, you can reach her at: npetersen@ucla.edu... or find her research group here: https://www.translational-neuroimaging.com/homeSound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this episode with Vibe Froekjaer, Professor in Neuropsychiatry at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Copenhagen University, Denmark. Join us as Vibe and Franziska delve into the question of why some women are more vulnerable to mental health problems during hormonal transitions, unraveling state of the art research on the hypothesis of “hormonal sensitivity”. From discussing the latest findings on genetic and neural mechanisms to the potential of psychoeducation, this episode promises an insightful conversation and valuable takeaways. Discover how understanding hormonal sensitivity can empower women to navigate their mental health journeys more effectively and hear Vibe sharing her vision on the final question: “What is the next question to solve regarding hormonal sensitivity across the female lifespan – and how could we do so?”Timestamps:00:02:10 - The "3 P's" across the female lifespan: puberty, pregnancy & perimenopause00:08:02 - Incidence of mental health problems across the female lifespan: windows of vulnerability?00:09:14 - Why are some women more prone to suffer from hormone-related mental health problems?00:16:57 - Hormonal-related depressive symptoms and the role of serotonin00:19:26 - Hormone variability and gene expression00:26:12 - Large-scale changes in the brain in response to induced hormone variability00:29:02 - Hormonal manipulation effects on reward responses00:33:41 - Is hormonal sensitivity a phenomenon that translates across the lifespan?00:42:03 - What epidemiological data from Denmark tell us about risks for depressive symptoms across transition years00:44:00 - Can we identify women who are hormone sensitive?00:47:41 - What could be preventive and treatment approaches for women identified as hormone-sensitive before hormonal transition phases?00:52:56 - How the concept of hormonal sensitivity can reduce stigma involved in depressive symptoms and empower women00:56:03 - Summary00:58:41 - What is the next question to solve regarding hormonal sensitivity across the female lifespan – and how could we do so?01:03:50 - Closing remarksSound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, PhD candidate Franziska Weinmar interviews Dr. Adriene Beltz, visiting Tübingen from the University of Michigan. The topic of today's episode are hormonal intrauterine devices, short IUD. From contraceptives beyond the “pill” and hormonal contraceptive trends worldwide, they discuss how the IUD works, why it is important to look at potential effects of IUDs separately from oral contraceptives and what research there is on the IUD and mental health as well as the brain. Further, they discuss how a specific method of research, “intense longitudinal data”, can help understand individual variability within people to do better science and go towards individualized medicine. Timestamps:01:30 Hormonal contraceptives beyond the “pill”05:00 Trends in contraception worldwide / by age06:45: How does the hormonal IUD work?08:15: Hormonal levels in IUDs10:30 Systemic IUD effects?12:30 Combining OC and IUD in research?15:00 IUDs in neuroscience research and types of progestins23:10 IUD & the brain25:50 Why is it so important to investigate hormonal contraceptives and IUDs specifically?29:30: Summary34:00 Outlook with focus on methods37:30 Intense longitudinal data – what is it and why is it important40:00 Paths to individualized medicine?42:00 Diversity in research via intensive longitiudinal data45:00 Summary and teaser for future episodes on stress & the IUDMany thanks to Zoé Bürger for contributing to this episode!Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a special episode, coming to you live and on-site from the Lorentz Center in Leiden, the Netherlands!The Lorentz Center serves as a dynamic workshop hub, hosting international scientific meetings which bring together brilliant minds and foster an open and interactive atmosphere. In this episode, PhD Candidate Franziska Weinmar is taking you directly to the Lorentz workshop on "Hormonal fluctuations across the female lifespan". With 40 participants including researchers and clinicians from approximately 6 countries, this five-day intensive gathering in February 2024 promises lively exchanges, discussions, and reflections.Join Franziska as she takes you through a series of 9 conversations, capturing the very fresh impressions and thoughts from different participants. Get ready to hear the pulse of the workshop, where ideas converge and minds collide – all in pursuit to move the field of research and clinical practice forward. And stay tuned for the announced outcomes! Speakers, in order of appearance:00:01:38: Ellen de Bruijn, Professor, Leiden University00:10:19: Birit Broekman, Medical Specialist, Amsterdam UMC00:15:33: Anne Marieke Doornweerd, PhD Candidate, Utrecht University00:27:25: Klara Sifalakis-Spalek, Postdoctoral Researcher, Amsterdam UMC00:34:36: Alkistis Skalkidou, Professor, Uppsala University00:40:12: Lotte Gerritsen, Associate Professor, Utrecht University00:46:4: Hanna Wierenga, PhD Candidate, IRTG 2804, University of Tübingen00:52:50: Claudia Barth, PhD, Diakonhjemmet Hospital Oslo01:03:09: Birgit Derntl, Professor, IRTG 2804, University of Tübingen01:12:10 Closing RemarksMany thanks to the Lorentz Center for providing the space and opportunity for this workshop!Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarFollow the FLAME (Female Lifespan Association for Mental Health and Neuroendocrinology) for future updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/female-lifespan-research-initiative?trk=public_post-textDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tune in to this episode for an enlightening conversation on the profound transformations of the brain in transition to mother- and parenthood: PhD candidate Franziska is interviewing Dr. Magdalena Martínez-García, researcher in the “Neuromaternal” group in Madrid. Using longitudinal neuroimaging studies, she and her team investigate structural and functional neuroplasticity across different stages of pregnancy and beyond. Don't miss out and join us when we dive into how (and why) both the maternal and paternal/parental brains are shaped by pregnancy, experience as well as time shared with the offspring.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction 01:44 What happens during pregnancy within the mother's body?04:00 What is neuroplasticity?06:05 Neuroplasticity during pregnancy18:18 Do pregnancy-related changes in the brain reverse?23:35 Why does the brain of mothers-to-be change?27:20 Why we should NOT be scared of pregnancy-related neuroplasticity and brain volume shrinkage!32:02 What are neural plasticity mechanisms during pregnancy in human mothers?37:01 Research on brains of fathers and parents42:03 Time spent with the child matters: experience-induced plasticity43:46 What is the importance of research on the parental brain?47:20 Summary 50:25 The next step in research on neuroplasticity of peripartum and parenthoodMany thanks to Julia Siódmiak for contributing to this episode!Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With our first episode in 2024, we are back and ready to talk about stress and stress regulation! In this episode PhD candidate Franziska Weinmar hosts Dr. Lydia Kogler, a clinical psychologist by training, expert on the neuroscience of stress and associate of the IRTG2804. Together they dive into the complex world of stress and stress regulation - especially if and how women and men differ in this regard. To this end, this episode leaves us with more insights, a suggestion on how to improve our resilience to stress, and curiosity for future talks on this topic!Stress is part of our everyday life. But what does stress mean and how does the body react to stress? In this episode Lydia explains:01:21: What is stress? (01:21)05:30: How does the stress response leads to behavioural and endocrine adaptations?08:28: The role of cortisol11:49: How do we induce stress in the lab?14:22: What neurological changes come with stress?15:34: How chronic stress affects the body...18:58: ... and mental healthNext, Lydia talks about sex/gender differences:22:58: Sex differences in the stress response...26:25: ... its neural basis....27:17: ... and psychological effects28:00 Sex differences in stress related disorders30:18: Reasons behind sex differences33:50: Consequences of sex differences in stress response35:15: Why is it important to look into sex differences?39:24: Mechanisms of stress regulation44:49: How self-esteem influences the stress response49:00: Sex differences on a neuronal level...50:03: ... and a hormonal level50:18: Implications of coping mechanisms52:00: Summary54:57: What is the next question to ask about sex/gender differences in stress response or regulation, especially considering female-specific processes? Many thanks to Anna Denninger for contributing to this episode!Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're hosting cognitive neuroscientist Prof. Sara Mednick who is visiting Tübingen all the way from the University of California, Irvine. Being an expert in biorhythms, she explains the importance of natural up- and downstates such as related to sleep, the menstrual cycle and the transition to menopause. What are biorythms and how can we use especially downstates to improve our wellbeing? How can we use the knowledge on hormonal changes to balance our mood and cognition? Sara is here to give us a new perspective on our natural rhythms!Timestamps: 01:30 What are biorythms?03:31: What is the power of downstates?06:42: How can we use biorythms & downstates for our wellbeing & cognition?08:00: Sleep as restorative downstate12:40: What is the menstrual cycle?14:32: How does the menstrual cycle affect other biorythms?15:50: Sleep as mood buffer during the menstural cylce21:40: A change in prespective on the menstrual cylce30:40: Changes in sleep in the transition to menopause34:22: Subjective vs. objective measures of sleep & cognition39:45: Wellbeing during (the transition) to menopause42:53: Summary44:40: A future vision for women's mental health: awareness, reseach & empowerement.Sara's popular-scientific books: https://www.saramednick.com/books"The Power of the Downstate: Recharge Your Life Using Your Body's Own Restorative Systems" (2022)"Take a Nap! Change Your Life. The Scientific Plan to Make You Smarter, Healthier, More Productive" (2006)Thanks to Nina Röhm for supporting & exchanging ideas in preparation of this episode!Sound recording: Nina Röhm with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk about one of the major transition periods many women will undergo throughout their life: pregnancy. How does the field of psych-neuro-immunology help us to understand pregnancy and related mental health problems? From Uppsala in Sweden, PhD Candidate Franziska Weinmar is interviewing Dr. Emma Fransson, a child psychologist and associate professor at Uppsala University and at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Emma's research focuses on mental and reproductive health, specifically in identifying biomarkers for pregnancy-related complications. These include mental health problems such as postpartum depression, which is affecting up to one in five women after giving birth. Dive with us into the interactions of the immune system, the brain, and psychological wellbeing, as we outline what is happening during pregnancy, what makes some women vulnerable for depression associated to pregnancy, and how we can use this information in the future. Timestamps:01:30 What happens during pregnancy? 05:10 What is “psycho-neuro-immunology”?07:35 Pregnancy as a psycho-neuro-immunological transition phase 09:05 What factors contribute to postpartum depression? 11:55 Major depression and postpartum depression: Differences and subtypes? 14:50 Inflammatory markers during pregnancy: Risk for postpartum depression?18:15 Predictive markers for postpartum depression? 20:40 Screening and prediction of depressive symptoms across the postpartum period 25:45 Preventive approaches of postpartum depression: Using psycho-neuro-immunology.29:18 What do we know about the pregnant brain? 33:24 How does postpartum depression affect the child? 36:36 Summary38:33 What is the next big step for research in psychoneuroimmunology during pregnancy, especially when considering pregnancy-related mental health? Thanks to Hanna Wierenga for exchanging ideas in preparation of this episode!Sound recording: Recording Studio Blasenhus, Uppsala University Editing: Franziska Weinmar with support from Andreas Forsberg (Recording Studio Blasenhus, Uppsala University) Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After our summer break, we're back - so: Let's Talk About Women!In this episode, we're hosting the one and only Dr. Liisa Galea (Center of Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada). PhD candidate Franziska Weinmar asks Liisa all about translational research from animal models to human health: What we have learned and achieved so far, and what is yet to be uncovered - especially regarding female-specific mechanisms? With the aim to improve (mental) health for all, we ask: Who gets a disorder and when?Timestamps:01:41 - What can research in animal models reveal about humans?06.11 - What are current achievements for us humans today that would not have been possible without research in animal models?15.10 - What are achievements of research in animal models for *women*?24.10 - Research on female-specific mechanisms using animal models33.00 - Lack of research in female samples: reasons & consequences41.08 - What are current limits of research in animal models?46.00 - Summary48.08 - What is the next big step in research on women's mental health and how can research in animal models help us getting there?Thanks to Gloria Matte Bon & Anna Denninger for exchanging ideas in preparation of this episode!Sound recording & editing: Center for Media Competence, University of Tübingen. Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Let's Talk About Women! In this episode, PhD Student Franziska Weinmar is talking to Dr. Christian Benedict about something that we all love: sleep. But how do women sleep? Christian and Franziska are diving deeper into the jungle of sleep science - recognizing that even after an hour of a highly captivating discussion, they are only just scratching the surface...Timestamps:01:10: Why do we need sleep?11:05: How do women sleep?16:30: Is there a role of sex hormones in women's sleep?37:40: What happens to sleep during the transition to menopause?47:30: What are consequences of poor sleep during menopause?55:50: Does sleep improve after menopause?58:30: Summary1:03:30: What is the next question regarding sleep and women's mental health?A huge thanks to Lieve van Egmond for exchanging ideas in preparation of this episode!Sound recording & editing: Center for Media Competence, University of Tübingen. Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804Christian's popular-scientific books(German): "Schlaf ist die beste Medizin" (https://www.edenbooks.de/book/schlaf-ist-die-beste-medizin-klappenbroschur-97839591238/)(Swedish): "Sömn, sömn, sömn" (https://www.bonnierfakta.se/bocker/223532/somn-somn-somn/)References:Sleep and immunity: Spiegel, K., Rey, A. E., Cheylus, A., Ayling, K., Benedict, C., et al. (2023). A meta-analysis of the associations between insufficient sleep duration and antibody response to vaccination. Current Biology, 33(5), 998-1005. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.017REM sleep and fear extinction: Wassing, R., et al. (2019). Restless REM sleep impedes overnight amygdala adaptation. Current Biology, 29(14), 2351-2358. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.06.034Sleep and menstrual cycle (Review): Gupta, P. D. (2022). Menstrual cycle effects on sleep. Clinical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 5(2), 042-043.DOI: 10.29328/journal.cjog.1001105Sleep-disordered breathing and menopause: Siguroardottir, E. S., et al. (2022). Female sex hormones and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea in European women of a population-based cohort. Plos one, 17(6), e0269569. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269569Sleep loss and the socio-emotional brain: Vallat, R., et al. (2020). Sleep Loss and the Socio-Emotional Brain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 24(6), 435-450. DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2020.02.003 Sleep, brain health and Alzheimer's disease: Cedernaes, J., Osorio, R. S., Varga, A. W., Kam, K., Schiöth, H. B., & Benedict, C. (2017). Candidate mechanisms underlying the association between sleep-wake disruptions and Alzheimer's disease. Sleep medicine reviews, 31, 102-111. DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2016.02.002 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this Let's Talk About Women special!Over three parts, PhD Student Franziska Weinmar is taking you on site to the Fe/Male Brain Symposium held Tübingen, April 2023. In interviews, three speakers of the symposium, all of which are pioneers in the field of sex and gender research in neuroscience, share their insights on the most recent developments in this field as well as future implication of their research for women and men.In this episode Franziska is talking to Prof. Daphna Joel from the Tel Aviv University in Israel. Among others, she is known for her research on the theory of the mosaic brain about which she has also written a book (English: "Gender Mosaic - Beyond the Myth of the Male and Female Brain"; German: "Das Gehirn hat kein Geschlecht")A huge thanks goes to Prof Daphna Joel, Dr. Claudia Barth & Prof Markus Hausmann for taking their time for these interviews!Also, props to Gloria Matte Bon for being the doorkeeper, ensuring that the recordings on site at the symposium were not disturbed.Sound recording & editing: Center for Media Competence, University of Tübingen. Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.com or instagram: @irtg2804Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this Let's Talk About Women special!Over three parts, PhD Student Franziska Weinmar is taking you on site to the Fe/Male Brain Symposium held Tübingen, April 2023. In interviews, three speakers of the symposium, all of which are pioneers in the field of sex and gender research in neuroscience, share their insights on the most recent developments in this field as well as future implication of their research for women and men.In this episode Franziska is talking to Prof. Markus Hausmann from Durham University in the UK and his research on a bio-psycho-social approach to cognitive sex/gender differences.A huge thanks goes to Prof Daphna Joel, Dr. Claudia Barth & Prof Markus Hausmann for taking their time for these interviews!Also, props to Gloria Matte Bon for being the doorkeeper, ensuring that the recordings on site at the symposium were not disturbed.Sound recording & editing: Center for Media Competence, University of Tübingen. Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this Let's Talk About Women special!Over three parts, PhD Student Franziska Weinmar is taking you on site to the Fe/Male Brain Symposium held Tübingen, April 2023. In interviews, three speakers of the symposium, all of which are pioneers in the field of sex and gender research in neuroscience, share their insights on the most recent developments in this field as well as future implication of their research for women and men.In this episode Franziska is talking to Dr. Claudia Barth, senior researcher at the Diakonhjemmet Hospital in Oslo, Norway, whose research is focusing on relations of hormonal transition phases, brain dynamics, and disease.A huge thanks goes to Prof Daphna Joel, Dr. Claudia Barth & Prof Markus Hausmann for taking their time for these interviews!Also, props to Gloria Matte Bon for being the doorkeeper, ensuring that the recordings on site at the symposium were not disturbed.Sound recording & editing: Center for Media Competence, University of Tübingen. Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Let's Talk About Women! In this episode, PhD Student Franziska Weinmar is talking to Dr. Ann-Christin Kimmig about a hot topic: oral contraceptives. We cover the effects on hormone levels, the brain, mood, libido, and socio-emotional functions and what happens if you stop using the pill. Based on state-of-the-art research Ann-Christin and Franziska are trying to navigate and disentangle the importance of oral contraceptives, what has been disregarded in the past, what is known today – and what not. Also, we shed light on “the next big question” for research on oral contraceptives. Timestamps:00:00: Introduction01:16: History & importance of oral contraceptives03:55: (Neuro)biological mechanisms of oral contraceptives12:45: Effects of oral contraceptives on mood & socio-emotional functions25:13: Effects of stopping oral contraceptives32:02: Oral contraceptives & mental health38:20: Ann-Christin's "next big question" for future research42:38: Ann-Christin's wish & advice for women & health practitioners regarding oral contraceptivesSound recording & editing: Center for Media Competence, University of Tübingen. Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to "Let's Talk About Women" - a science communication podcast of the International Research Training Group (IRTG) 2804 about "Women's Mental Health Across the Reproductive Lifespan".In this pilot episode PhD Student Franziska Weinmar is talking to Prof. Inger Sundström Poromaa (Uppsala University) and Prof. Birgit Derntl (University of Tübingen) who collaborated and initiated the IRTG 2804, which is dedicated to research on women's mental health across the reproductive years.Listen to our kick-off, in which Inger and Birgit highlight the need for research on women's hormonal transition phases and what can be gained from this in the future.Sound recording & editing: Center for Media Competence, University of Tübingen. Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.