This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg

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Dr. Phil Stieg, Neurosurgeon-in-Chief of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and founder and Chairman of the Weill Cornell Medicine Brain and Spine Center, introduces his new podcast, which will explore different aspects of our most important and complex organ – the brain. In each epis…

Dr. Phil Stieg


    • Jan 10, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 17m AVG DURATION
    • 230 EPISODES

    4.6 from 131 ratings Listeners of This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg that love the show mention: menopause, dr, brain, treat, easy to understand, storytelling, fascinating, thought provoking, discussion, wow, next, looking forward, interesting, informative, highly, host, topics, guests, favorite, great podcast.


    Ivy Insights

    The This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg podcast offers an incredibly informative and engaging exploration into the world of neuroscience, human nature, and the intersection between the two. Hosted by Dr. Phil Stieg, a highly respected neurosurgeon, this podcast delves deep into fascinating topics related to the brain and offers expert insights from a wide range of guests. With its captivating content and Dr. Stieg's curious and empathetic interviewing style, it easily becomes one of the best podcasts in this genre.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the way in which it brings together experts from various fields to discuss complex topics in an accessible and relatable manner. Dr. Stieg's genuine curiosity shines through in every episode as he asks thoughtful questions and encourages his guests to share their knowledge and experiences. The experts themselves are articulate, compassionate, and purpose-driven, making for engaging and enlightening conversations that captivate listeners.

    Another highlight of this podcast is its focus on important yet often overlooked subjects such as menopause and brain health. By shedding light on these topics, which necessitate further research for a better understanding, it provides valuable information to both individuals going through those experiences and those interested in learning more about them. This dedication to exploring subjects that are not widely discussed sets this podcast apart from others.

    While it is difficult to find any significant negatives about The This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg podcast, one potential area for improvement could be expanding its coverage on certain topics or diving deeper into specific areas of interest. However, given the breadth of subject matter covered in each episode, it can be challenging to fully explore every aspect within a limited timeframe.

    In conclusion, The This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg podcast is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the workings of the brain, human nature, or their intriguing intersection. Driven by Dr. Stieg's intellectual rigor, genuine humanity, and passion for prevention, this podcast offers fascinating content that is both informative and entertaining. With its ability to present complex topics in a relatable manner, it has quickly become a favorite amongst listeners. Whether you're a neuroscience enthusiast or simply curious about how the brain influences our lives, this podcast provides valuable insights that will leave you wanting more.



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    Latest episodes from This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg

    Join Us For Season Six, Coming Spring 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 1:13


    For five seasons now, I've been delighted to explore the wonders of the brain with my guests as well as with you, my listeners. Podcasting is fun and enlightening, and I've heard from many of you that it's been helpful as well as informative. It's also time-consuming, especially given my busy practice and my administrative duties as department chair. That's why the podcast is going on hiatus before Season 6 begins to let me attend to some of my other work for a while. I hope you take this opportunity to catch up on episodes you may have missed over the past five seasons. There are more than 100 fascinating guests and topics to explore at your leisure. From anger to dance moves to stem cells, these episodes cover a fascinating range of topics, all centered on our most intricate and complicated organ, the brain. See you in season 6! ###  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org    

    How Love Helps Kids Learn

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024 22:58


    Humans are born with billions of neurons that need connecting – and how those synapses develop helps determine how our brains will work. There is ample evidence that a loving, nurturing environment in infancy and early childhood provides the most fertile ground for brain development. Isabelle Hau, executive director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, explains why a well-loved baby or child simply learns better than a neglected one, and how our contracting social circles endanger our kids. Plus… the mystery of why average IQs rose for decades, until recently. Are technology and isolation affecting our intelligence? For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com    For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org   

    Coming Next Friday - How Love Helps Kids Learn

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 1:22


    There is ample evidence that a loving, nurturing environment in infancy and early childhood provides the most fertile ground for brain development. Isabelle Hau, executive director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, explains why a well-loved baby or child learns better than a neglected one. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com    For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org   

    Will Loneliness Be the Death of Us?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 22:12


    It's no surprise that feeling lonely is associated with depression, but did you know that loneliness may also lead to chronic inflammation, changes in the brain, and even premature death? Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology at Brigham Young University and an expert on the physiological effects of social connections, explains how our current crisis of loneliness is as much a public health threat as smoking, alcohol use, and diabetes. Discover the behavioral, psychological, and biological factors affected by loneliness, which groups are most at risk, and what we can all do to reconnect. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com    For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Coming Friday - "Will Loneliness Be the Death of Us?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 0:58


    In our next episode,  Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology at Brigham Young University and an expert on the physiological effects of social connections, explains how our current crisis of loneliness is as much a public health threat as smoking, alcohol use, and diabetes. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com    For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Calm Yourself!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2024 22:08


    Pain and fear are inevitable, especially these days, but we can retrain our brains to reduce suffering. Dr. Sara Lazar, Assistant Professor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School, reveals how just eight weeks of mindful meditation can visibly change parts of the brain to be less reactive to pain. Plus... how meditation apps put the power of mindfulness right in your hand. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Coming Next Friday - "Calm Yourself"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 0:57


    Dr. Sara Lazar, Assistant Professor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School, reveals how just eight weeks of mindful meditation can visibly change parts of the brain to be less reactive to pain.   For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Demystifying Suicide

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 29:58


    Humans are so powerfully wired for survival that it can be hard to understand suicide - especially in adolescents. What happens in the brain that can override such a profound instinct for self-preservation? Dr. Sakina Rizvi, a researcher and psychotherapist in Toronto, Canada specializing in suicide prevention, reveals the social, biological, and psychological facets of suicidal ideation. Hear how childhood trauma, current life stressors, and brain impairment may all play a role in suicide, and learn how to recognize warning signs in a loved one. Plus… the do's and don'ts of talking to someone at risk. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Coming this Friday - "Demystifying Suicide"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 0:58


    Dr. Sakina Rizvi, a researcher and psychotherapist in Toronto, Canada specializing in suicide prevention, reveals the social, biological, and psychological facets of suicidal ideation. In our next episode, hear from her how childhood trauma, current life stressors, and brain impairment may all play a role in suicide, and learn how to recognize warning signs in a loved one.

    Obesity Is Not Your Fault

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 27:35


    The past 30 years have produced an epidemic of obesity -- mostly because evolution did not prepare us for so many calories and so little physical activity. Dr. Louis Aronne, a leading authority on obesity, explains how a period of caloric excess can damage the neural connections that manage your metabolism, throwing your weight regulation out of whack. More importantly, he talks about the new drug that tackles obesity at two different hormonal sites and promises to become an actual "weight loss pill." Plus... the real reason to skip the bread basket (it's in your brain) For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Coming Nest Friday - “Obesity Is Not Your Fault”

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 0:58


    Dr. Louis Aronne, a leading authority on obesity, explains how a period of caloric excess can damage the neural connections that manage your metabolism, throwing your weight regulation out of whack. More importantly, he talks about the new drug that promises to become an actual "weight loss pill."

    Immerse Yourself in Happiness

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 27:11


    What makes us happy? The warm feelings of closeness that we have with family and friends are rooted in the neurochemical oxytocin – the love hormone, if you will. Oxytocin facilitates social engagement, encourages bonding, and just makes us feel happier. My guest today, neuroscientist Paul Zak, has done decades of research into the role of oxytocin and discovered that this feel-good chemical motivates us to engage with others. Not only that, but immersing ourselves in social circles, among people who are nice to us, increases oxytocin and improves our mood. (High stress, on the other hand, inhibits oxytocin and makes us feel unhappy.)  Find out how to harness the power of oxytocin to live a happier, healthier, life.  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Coming Next Friday - "Immerse Yourself in Happiness"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 1:08


    Oxytocin facilitates social engagement, encourages bonding, and just makes us feel happier.  Neuroscientist Paul Zak, has done decades of research into the role of oxytocin and discovered that this feel-good chemical motivates us to engage with others. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Things Don't Have To Fall Apart

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 20:08


    Daniel Levitin says we can all age successfully if we take our choices more seriously now. The neuroscientist and author reveals the keys to reaching our senior years in the best possible shape, explains what happens to dopamine levels when we stop trying new things, and tells us the three things older adults are better at than younger ones. Plus... what primatologist Jane Goodall told him about the key to healthier aging. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Coming Next Friday - "Things Don't Have to Fall Apart"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 0:44


    Daniel Levitin says we can all age successfully if we take our choices more seriously now. He reveals the keys to reaching our senior years in the best possible shape - and tells us the three things older adults are better at than younger ones! For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com  For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Art Makes Us Human

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 29:27


    We are the only species that creates and experiences art – not just visual art but music, poetry, dance, theater, and even architecture. The impact that art has on us cannot be overstated, as it affects cognition, mental health, and physical wellbeing. My guests today are Susan Magsamen of the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Ivy Ross, vice president of design for the Hardware Product Area at Google and an artist and designer in her own right. Magsamen and Ross co-authored a book about the brain and the arts; the new field of neuroaesthetics is, as they say, "the closest thing to magic." Find out how we don't just create and enjoy art – we are actually shaped by it, improved by it, made healthier by it. Embracing art just once a month can extend your life up to a decade! Find out how easy it is get started, which arts have an impact on both sides of the brain, and why art makes us better people. Plus... Hear from one of my own patients about how adding art to her environment boosted her recovery from a devastating stroke.  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Coming next Friday - Neuroaesthetics; Your Brain on Art

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 0:58


    Did you know that people who create art actually live longer? And the good news is you don't have to be good at! Painting, singing a song - even random doodling during a meeting - strengthens the neural pathways in your brain and increases overall physical health.   In our next episode Dr. Stieg discusses the intriguing new field of Applied Neuroaesthetics with co-authors Susan Magsamen of the Pedersen Brain Science Institute and Ivy Ross, VP of hardware design at Google.  Their entertaining new book "Your Brain on Art" explores the healing power of making (even just enjoying!) a broad range of visual and performing arts.  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Transcendental Meditation

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 26:41


    Dr. Tony Nader, an academic, author, and the leader of the Transcendental Meditation movement, knows how you can find inner peace. TM is like a deep dive to the stillness at the bottom of the ocean, leaving the turbulent waves far above. Learn how the body and mind are inextricably bound, and how meditation can improve mental and physical health. Plus… what the Beatles taught us about meditation. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com  For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org For more about Dr. Nader visit -  https://www.drtonynader.com/  

    Coming this Friday - Transcendental Meditation

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 0:43


    Dr. Tony Nader, an academic, author, and the leader of the Transcendental Meditation movement, knows how you can find inner peace. https://www.drtonynader.com/  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Making Sense of Creativity

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 26:36


    Why are some people capable of creating music, art, books, or new technologies, seemingly out of thin air? Where do imagination and creativity live in the brain - and how can we tap them? Neuroscientist and author Anna Abraham reveals the three elements of creativity and explores the myths surrounding it, from its links to mental illness to the effects of psychiatric drugs on it. The good news? Creativity does not decline with age, so for some of us, the best may be yet to come. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Coming Next Friday - Making Sense of Creativity

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2024 1:04


    Where do imagination and creativity live in the brain - and how can we tap them? Neuroscientist and author Anna Abraham reveals the three elements of creativity and explores the myths surrounding it.  Full episode debuts Friday  August 23rd. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Talking With Dolphins

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024 22:11


    Dolphins have large, complex brains that are a lot like the human model -- what if we could get inside their heads and communicate with them? Meet cognitive psychologist and marine mammal scientist Diana Reiss, PhD, who has been doing just that. Turns out our underwater friends have a lot going on in their brains, if only we could learn to decode it. Plus... Hear from one of the musician/scientists who discovered that whales produce actual songs (and whose work inspired a beautiful and novel album by Judy Collins) For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Coming August 9th - Talking With Dolphins

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2024 0:56


    Just in time for summer vacation - Talking with dolphins!  Cognitive psychologist and marine mammal scientist Diana Reiss, PhD has been doing just that.   Dolphins have large, complex brains that are a lot like the human model.  What if we could get inside their heads and communicate with them?   Plus musician/scientist Katy Payne, one of the team who discovered whale songs...  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    The Mercurial Genius of Candace Pert

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 29:05


    Candace Pert discovered the opioid receptor, created a drug to stop AIDS in the brain, and identified stress as a cause of disease. She also inadvertently unleashed the overdose epidemic, got herself kicked out of the NIH, and was denied credit for much of her work. Pert was a trailblazing yet mercurial neuroscientist, a woman who made her male boss famous but has been largely forgotten herself. She was also a rebel, a workaholic... and a bit mad. In this episode, Pamela Ryckman, the author of a new biography of Pert, reveals some of the wilder tales about her and explains why she remains largely unknown even though her discoveries were truly life-changing. Plus... Other women in science who remain mostly hidden from history. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Coming Next Friday - The Mercurial Genius of Candace Pert

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 1:02


    Candace Pert discovered the opioid receptor, created a drug to stop AIDS in the brain, and identified stress as a cause of disease. She also inadvertently unleashed the overdose epidemic, got herself kicked out of the NIH, and was denied credit for much of her work. Pert was a trailblazing yet mercurial neuroscientist, a woman who made her male boss famous but has been largely forgotten herself. She was also a rebel, a workaholic... and a bit mad. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Whispers & Tingles – ASMR with Craig Richard

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 28:38


    ASMR, or the autonomous sensory meridian response, is a state of deep calm accompanied by a sense of “brain tingles.” Not everyone experiences it, but if you do, you know what triggers it: a whisper or other soft sounds, a gentle touch or movement, even watching a Bob Ross video. Physiologist Craig Richard explains the science behind ASMR, and why in some people induces a deeply relaxing response that can resolve insomnia, relaxation, and stress. Plus: Who are the top “artists” of ASMR?   For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Coming Next Friday - "Whispers & Tingles"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 1:04


    Physiologist Craig Richard explains the science behind ASMR, and why in some people induces a deeply relaxing response that can resolve insomnia, relaxation, and stress.  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    AI: Reverse Engineering the Brain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 28:48


    We will never create true artificial intelligence (if we really want that) until we know more about how the human brain works. Tech entrepreneur and author Max Bennett explains how AI learns, where it falls short, and how it stacks up against our own intelligence. As it turns out, what's easy for humans is hard for AI, but AI is better at doing some things that are quite hard for us. Mostly, what AI teaches us is just how remarkable the human brain is - it is much better at continued learning than AI is, and it requires less input to come to conclusions. But... Can we trust it?  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Coming Next Friday - AI: Reverse Engineering the Brain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 1:19


    Tech entrepreneur and author Max Bennett explains how AI learns, where it falls short, and how it stacks up against our own intelligence. As it turns out, what's easy for humans is hard for AI, but AI is better at doing some things that are quite hard for us.  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Decoding Brainwaves Into Language

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024 26:41


    Language originates as brain signals -- mysterious lines of squiggles -- that somehow turn into speech. Meet the neuroscientist who is turning those squiggles into conversations, using artificial intelligence to translate brain activity into words and sentences. Dr. Edward Chang of UCSF talks with Dr. Stieg about the painstaking "magic" of decoding that has allowed a paralyzed man to speak after 20 years of aphasia, essentially live streaming signals from his brain and transforming them into language. Plus - Why are A.I. voices always female? For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Coming Next Friday - Decoding Brainwaves Into Language

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 0:59


    Meet the neuroscientist who is using artificial intelligence to translate brain activity into words and sentences. Dr. Edward Chang of UCSF talks with Dr. Stieg about the painstaking "magic" of decoding that has allowed a paralyzed man to speak after 20 years of aphasia. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Outsmarting Anxiety

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024 31:14


    We are programmed by evolution to be anxious - fear was a lifesaver for early humans! So are why are some 21st-century humans crippled by it? Catherine Pittman, PhD, chair of psychology at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, is an expert on how different parts of the brain create and manage anxiety, and how to overcome it. Learn just how fast your amygdala responds to a threat (before we even perceive it), and how your cortex jumps in to process the information. Turns out your amygdala has been watching too much Cortex TV, and you can train your brain to change the channel. Plus... the rare cases of people who are completely "fearless". For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Coming Next Friday - Outsmarting Anxiety

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2024 0:55


    Catherine Pittman, PhD, chair of psychology at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, is an expert on how different parts of the brain create and manage anxiety, and how to overcome it. Learn just how fast your amygdala responds to a threat (before we even perceive it), and how your cortex jumps in to process the information. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org   

    Exploring The Magic Mushroom

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2024 25:19


    It's effective against depression, can help you stop smoking, even ease end-of-life distress. It's non-addictive, naturally occurring, and has been used for thousands of years -- but you can't have it. It's psilocybin, the compound that creates the "magic" in dozens of species of mushrooms. Johns Hopkins researcher Albert Garcia-Romeu, Ph.D. knows just how magical it is. He's conducting research on psilocybin's therapeutic value for everything from persistent Lyme disease to a range of mental health conditions. Find out what this psychedelic drug can do, and why it got such a bad reputation. Plus... revisiting Timothy Leary's rise and fall as he turned on, tuned out, and dropped out. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Coming Next Friday - Exploring The Magic Mushroom

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024 0:52


    It's effective against depression, can help you stop smoking, even ease end-of-life distress. It's non-addictive, naturally occurring, and has been used for thousands of years -- but you can't have it. It's psilocybin, the compound that creates the "magic" in dozens of species of mushrooms. Johns Hopkins researcher Albert Garcia-Romeu, Ph.D. knows just how magical it is.

    A Memory Workout

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2024 26:35


    Can't remember the fourth item on your grocery list? Nelson Dellis, a professional "memory athlete," can remember 100 things or more (though he still may forget the butter). Hear how Dellis learned to memorize lists so long that he became a five-time USA Memory Champion, and how you can use some of his strategies to improve your own memory. Dellis explains how he uses tricks like the "memory palace" and mnemonic devices to recall lengthy lists with perfect accuracy. In an era when cell phones are making memory superfluous, you can regain some of those lost skills by using his techniques. Plus... those rare folks who can never forget a day in their lives.  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Coming Next Friday - A Memory Workout

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 1:05


    Nelson Dellis, a "memory athlete," can remember 100 things or more (though he still may forget the butter). Hear how Dellis learned to memorize lists so long that he became a five-time USA Memory Champion, and how you can use some of his strategies to improve your own memory. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Do You Hear What I See?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2024 22:12


    Synesthesia is the mysterious mingling of the senses that creates the experience of "seeing" sounds or "hearing" colors. Neurologist Richard E. Cytowic, M.D. has spent his career exploring this remarkable phenomenon, and has some fascinating insight into how these sensations are formed in the brain -- and how we might use it to reunite our fractured society. Plus... meet the man whose extreme form of synesthesia mingled all five of his senses!  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Coming Next Friday - "Do You Hear What I See?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2024 0:49


    Synesthesia is the mysterious mingling of the senses that creates the experience of "seeing" sounds or "hearing" colors. Neurologist Richard E. Cytowic, M.D. has spent his career exploring this remarkable phenomenon. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    What Are Your Hands Saying?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2024 26:46


    Most of us talk with our hands, some more than others, but what are we really saying? Susan Goldin-Meadow, PhD, professor of psychology and comparative human development at the University of Chicago, is an expert on gestures – what they mean, why they don't always agree with what words we are using, and even how they develop in blind children who have never seen them. Plus... why you should never use the thumbs-up sign in Iran! For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Coming Next Friday - "What Are Your Hands Saying?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2024 1:06


    Susan Golden Meadow, PhD, professor of psychology and comparative human development at the University of Chicago, is an expert on gestures – what they mean, why they don't always agree with what words we are using. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    “The Change Is Gonna Come” - Menopause and the Brain

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2024 18:30


    Menopause can wreak havoc on mood and body temperature as it signals the end of fertility, but some of the biggest changes it causes are in the brain. Emily Jacobs, assistant professor in the department of psychological and brain sciences at UC Santa Barbara, explains how the precipitous decline in estrogen during the "change of life" disrupts the endocrine system and makes a woman's brain more like... a man's! Plus: Hear from real women describing the wide range of effects they experienced. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com  For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org  

    Coming next Friday - "The Change Is Gonna Come"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2024 1:01


    Emily Jacobs, assistant professor in the department of psychological and brain sciences  at UC Santa Barbara, explains how the precipitous decline in estrogen during the "change of life" disrupts the endocrine system and makes a woman's brain more like... a man's!  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org  

    The Incredible Shrinking Attention Span

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2024 26:57


    Is the deluge of digital media killing our ability to focus? Psychologist Gloria Mark, a professor in the Department of Informatics at University of California, Irvine, explains how we are shaped by what we pay attention to – and why today's short snippets of everything are reinforcing short attention spans. Learn how playing a few minutes of Solitaire on your phone can help relieve stress, and why it can be so hard to stop. And in case you need to ask, you'll find out why it's such a bad idea to give an iPad to a baby. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit  https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit  https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

    Coming Soon - The Incredible Shrinking Attention Span

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 1:02


    Is the deluge of digital media killing our ability to focus? Psychologist Gloria Mark explains how we are shaped by what we pay attention to – and why today's short snippets of everything are reinforcing short attention spans. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   

    Near Death Experiences (reprise)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2024 24:24


    Near-death experiences may seem like the stuff of supermarket tabloids, but there are real patterns to what people report after coming close to departing this life.   Dr. Bruce Greyson has been studying near-death experiences  for decades and has stories to tell about out-of-body phenomena, that light at the end of the tunnel, and a near-universal finding of new meaning in life after coming close to death. Plus... a glimpse of what happens to your brain after death. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Coming Next Friday - Near Death Experiences

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2024 0:59


    Dr. Bruce Greyson has been studying near-death experiences for decades and has stories to tell about out-of-body phenomena, that light at the end of the tunnel, and a near-universal finding of new meaning in life after coming close to death.

    Game Changer - A Concussion Revolution (reprise)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 28:36


    The impact of mild traumatic brain injury extends far beyond the gridiron – concussions can happen anywhere, including playing fields, bike paths, and war zones. Kenneth Kutner, PhD, who specializes in head injuries and has been the team neuropsychologist for the New York Giants for 30 seasons, joins us to talk about what the latest research has revealed about concussion and how it affects physical health and cognitive function. From the military to the NFL, and even in the corporate boardroom, this invisible injury is finally emerging from the shadows. Plus… why don't woodpeckers get concussions?

    Coming Next Friday - Game Changer - A Concussion Revolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2024 0:59


    Following the Super Bowl Weekend, we revisit our episode with Dr. Kenneth Kutner, who specializes in head injuries and has been the team neuropsychologist for the New York Giants for 30 seasons.  He joins us to talk about what the latest research has revealed about concussion and how it affects physical health and cognitive function. 

    Do Our Dogs Really Love Us ?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2024 33:11


    Dogs and the humans who cherish them have a unique bond unlike any other. We wonder all too often, do our dogs love us as much as we love them? What are they really thinking? Are we projecting our own feelings onto t​hese treasured family members in trying to understand them? In this  "classic" episode first released in 2020, Emory University neuroscientist Dr. Gregory Berns, discusses some of his extraordinary findings.   After spending years using MRI imaging technology to study the human brain, he then used this same approach to study dogs' brains. It turns out that our furry friends are much smarter than we thought! For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

    Coming Next Friday - Do Our Dogs Really Love Us ?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2024 0:56


    Dogs and the humans who cherish them have a unique bond unlike any other. We wonder all too often, do our dogs love us as much as we love them? What are they really thinking? Are we projecting our own feelings onto these treasured family members in trying to understand them?

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