Podcasts about Brainstem

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Best podcasts about Brainstem

Latest podcast episodes about Brainstem

Jack Westin MCAT Podcast
MCAT Brain Anatomy: Brainstem, Medulla & Vital Functions

Jack Westin MCAT Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 36:01


What the medulla oblongata actually does on the MCAT (besides sounding fancy)? In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast episode, Mike and Molly kick off a new MCAT brain anatomy series by starting with the structures that literally keep you alive: the brainstem and vital functions.Instead of drowning you in neuroanatomy, they connect what you see in MCAT passages to how the brain actually works in real life.You'll learn:

NeuroNoodle Neurofeedback and Neuropsychology

Join Jay Gunkelman, QEEGD (the man who has analyzed over 500,000 brain scans), Dr. Mari Swingle, Joshua Moore, John Mekrut, Anthony Ramos, and host Pete Jansons for a packed discussion on cutting-edge trauma approaches, avoiding neurofeedback pitfalls, and how to pick qualified practitioners.✅ Deep Brain Reorienting Explained: A new somatic approach pioneered by Dr. Frank Corrigan targets brainstem-level early childhood attachment trauma via visual orientation and superior colliculus, going deeper than EMDR or exposure therapy—exciting experts like Sebern Fisher for developmental trauma recovery.✅ Neuroinflammation Deep Dive: Inflammation causes brain ischemia and hypoxia; overtraining inflamed brains risks headaches, nausea, tics, or even cell death—clinicians stress gentle starts, short sessions, monitoring symptoms, and addressing diet/nutrition first.✅ Choosing Pros Insights: Beware cheap equipment and unqualified practitioners; seek BCIA-certified or licensed pros with medical-grade gear—experience, mentorship, and clear "what & why" explanations matter more than pretty images.✅ Additional Topics:

Choralosophy
Episode 271: Responding to the Challenge in Education with Clelyn Chapin

Choralosophy

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2025


“Education’s Race to the Bottom of the Brainstem,” episode 264 generated a lot of discussion. But, none more productive than this one. This week’s guest did it right. She listened, and let me know that more needs to be said on this. “Can I chime in?” Enter, Dr. Clelyn Chapin Dr. Chapin, a professor at … Continue reading "Episode 271: Responding to the Challenge in Education with Clelyn Chapin"

Recovery After Stroke
Double Vision After Stroke: What Jorden's Story Reveals About Brainstem Stroke Recovery

Recovery After Stroke

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 90:56


Double Vision After Stroke: What Jorden's Story Teaches Us About Brainstem Stroke Recovery Double vision after stroke is one of those symptoms no one imagines they'll ever face—until the day they wake up and the world has split in two. For many stroke survivors, it's confusing, frightening, and completely disorienting. And when it happens as part of a brainstem stroke, like it did for 45-year-old attorney Jorden Ryan, it can mark the beginning of a long and unpredictable recovery journey. In this article, we walk through Jorden's powerful story, how double vision after stroke showed up in his life, and what other survivors can learn from the way he navigated setback after setback. If you’re living with vision changes or recovering from a brainstem stroke, this piece is for you. The Morning Everything Changed Jorden went to bed preparing for a big day at work. By morning, nothing made sense. When he opened his eyes, the room looked doubled—two phones, two walls, two versions of everything. He felt drunk, dizzy, and disconnected from his own body. Double vision after stroke often appears suddenly, without warning. In Jorden's case, it was the first sign that a clot had formed near an aneurysm in his brainstem. As he tried to read his phone, he realised he couldn't. As he tried to stand, he collapsed. And as nausea took over, his vision became just one of many things slipping away. He didn't know it then, but this was the beginning of a brainstem stroke recovery journey that would test every part of who he was. When the Body Quits and the World Keeps Moving Even when paramedics arrived, the situation remained confusing. “You're too young for a stroke,” they told him. But the double vision, vomiting, and collapsing legs said otherwise. By the time he reached the hospital, he was drifting in and out of consciousness. Inside the MRI, everything changed again—his left side stopped working completely. He couldn't move. He couldn't speak. He couldn't swallow. His ability to control anything was gone. For many survivors, this is where the fear sets in—not only the fear of dying, but the fear of living this way forever. Understanding Double Vision After Stroke Double vision happens when the eyes no longer work together. After a stroke—especially a brainstem stroke—the nerves that control eye alignment can be affected. Survivors often describe it the way Jorden did: blurry, overlapping images difficulty reading nausea when focusing a sense of being “detached” from reality exhaustion from trying to make sense of their surroundings In Jorden's case, double vision wasn't the only issue, but it shaped everything that came after. It influenced his balance, his confidence, and even whether he felt safe leaving his home. Three Weeks Missing: The Silent Part of Recovery Jorden spent nearly three weeks in a coma-like state. Days blurred together. Friends visited. Family gathered. He remembers fragments, but not the whole chapter. When he finally became more aware, nothing worked the way it used to—not his speech, not his swallow, not his limbs, and certainly not his vision. This is something many survivors aren't prepared for: Stroke recovery often begins long before you're fully conscious. Starting Over: The Fight to Stand Again Inpatient rehab became Jorden's new world. It was full of firsts, none of them easy. The first time he tried to sit up. The first time he attempted to transfer out of bed. The first swallow test. The first attempt to speak. Everything required more energy than he had. And yet, small wins mattered: “When my affected hand moved for the first time, I felt human again.” Double vision made everything more complicated, especially balance and spatial awareness. Even brushing his teeth triggered trauma because of early choking experiences in hospital. Still, he kept going. Life Doesn't Pause for Stroke Recovery Just like so many survivors say, the world didn't stop for Jorden to recover. On the very day he left inpatient rehab, his close friend—who had also lived with paralysis—died by suicide. Not long after, his dog passed away too. It felt unfair. Cruel. Like everything was happening at once. But even in that darkness, Jorden found a way to keep moving. Not fast. Not perfectly. Just forward. Learning to Walk Again With Vision Working Against Him Double vision after stroke made walking terrifying. Every step felt unpredictable. Every movement demanded complete attention. He used a slackline as a walking rail. He held onto countertops, walls, chairs—anything that would keep him upright. He practised daily, even when the exhaustion was overwhelming. This is something survivors often underestimate: Vision problems drain energy faster than physical limitations. Your brain is constantly trying to make sense of visual chaos. Of course you get tired faster. Of course progress feels slow. But slow progress is still progress. Humour as a Survival Tool Many survivors rely on humour to keep themselves grounded. For Jorden, it showed up in moments like these: His leg falling off the footrest of a wheelchair and being dragged without him realising. Gym sessions where he pushed through fatigue—even after peeing his pants slightly. Laughing at situations that would've once embarrassed him. Humour didn't erase the trauma, but it gave him permission to keep going. “Now it's me versus me. Every step I take is a win, even if no one sees it.” What Jorden Wants Every Survivor to Know Recovery doesn't end after 12 months. Double vision after stroke can improve—even years later. Brainstem stroke recovery isn't linear. You're allowed to grieve what you lost and still fight for what's ahead. The simplest achievements matter. Hope is not naïve—it's a strategy. His story is proof that even when everything falls apart, life can still move forward. If You're Living With Double Vision After Stroke You are not alone. Your progress might feel invisible. Your days might feel slow and frustrating. But your brain is still rewiring, still adapting, still learning. And you don't have to navigate that alone either. Take the Next Step in Your Recovery If you want guidance, support, and practical tools for rebuilding life after stroke, you're invited to explore the resources below: Read Bill's Book: The Unexpected Way That a Stroke Became the Best Thing That Happened Join the Patreon: Recovery After Stroke This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your health or recovery plan. Jorden Ryan: Living With Double Vision After Stroke & Finding a Way Forward He woke up seeing double, and everything changed. Jorden's journey through double vision after stroke shows how recovery can begin in the darkest moments. Jorden’s Facebook Highlights: 00:00 Introduction to Double Vision After Stroke 03:15 The Day Everything Changed 10:26 When the Diagnosis Finally Made Sense 16:32 Surviving a Second Stroke 21:47 What Recovery Really Feels Like 32:16 The Emotional Toll No One Talks About 44:57 The First Swim After Stroke 54:08 Finding Light in the Darkest Moments 59:28 Living with PTSD After Stroke 01:15:01 Being Told “You'll Never…” by Doctors 01:26:40 Finding Meaning After Stroke Transcript: Introduction to Jorden Ryan’s Double Vision After Stroke Bill Gasiamis (00:01) Welcome again to the Recovery After Stroke podcast. I’m Bill Gasiamis. And if you’re listening right now, chances are stroke recovery feels confusing and isolating. I get that. I’ve been there. Leaving the hospital, feeling lost, desperate for clarity and unsure of what comes next. That’s why this podcast exists. Recovery After Stroke gives you real stories and expert insights that help guide your recovery so you can feel more confident, informed. and in control of your progress. And so you never have to feel alone or uncertain again. Today you’ll hear from Jordan Ryan, a 45 year old attorney who woke up one morning and nothing worked anymore. His story is raw, honest, and filled with moments that every stroke survivor will recognize. Fear, frustration, identity loss, and the courage to begin again. But I won’t spoil the episode. I’ll let you hear it from him. Jordan Ryan, welcome to the podcast. Jorden Ryan (00:58) Thank you, Bill. Happy to be here. Bill Gasiamis (01:01) Great to have you here. So if I recall correctly, your stroke was in March, 2024. So not that long ago. What was life like before that? Jorden Ryan (01:10) Life, I would say, was pretty normal. I didn’t have any symptoms or anything and I was a attorney. I walked to work every day about two miles and everything was going well. So right up until the night that I went to sleep, I had no symptoms at all. Bill Gasiamis (01:26) What kind of person were you then? Your routine, for example, and your relationships, where were they at? What kind of life did you lead? Jorden Ryan (01:34) I was awesome, right? No, just kidding. Yeah, they were good. Like I had a lot of friends and work colleagues and they did a lot. Like I was mostly a social person and went out a lot. So not home that much. I mean, I made a lot of friends in my loft, like down the halls were a lot of friends, but I lived by myself. Bill Gasiamis (01:55) ⁓ Well, if you thought you were awesome, I’m going to go with that. I got no problem with you thinking you are awesome. What about your health? Did you have a sense of your health? You know, we often talk about how we felt and what we were like and how energetic we were. Did you have a sense of where your health was at now in hindsight? Jorden Ryan (02:17) No, I did not. Actually, ⁓ I had a deviated septum from somebody hitting me in the face a while back from me trying to stop a fight. And so it took three surgeries to finally get it correct. Like they had to take a piece of my rib and some of my ear to straighten out my nose. But anyways, I say all that because it made me gain a lot of weight and I guess have sleep apnea. I didn’t know that, but you know, the girl I was dating at the time told me. So anyways, I got it fixed. And I had just seen a person to help me lose weight, the doctor and everybody. so I thought my health was good. And I had probably maybe a year and a half ago, I got into a jet ski, just knocked on conscious when I hit the water. So they did a cat scan and I didn’t know, but I thought that when they did that, I was fine. I was healthy. I didn’t know it would take an MRI to know that stuff. So I felt. totally fine until the event. The Day Everything Changed Bill Gasiamis (03:17) So after the nose surgery, things started to improve with regards to your weight and your sleeping. Yeah. Jorden Ryan (03:22) I don’t know that, like, I tried to get a CPAP machine before my surgery and yes, I was starting to work out more but I was still a little bit tired I guess but I mean nothing like, un-normal like, really bad or anything like that. Bill Gasiamis (03:38) Yeah, I do hear that sleep apnea is kind of that strange kind of a thing that people don’t realize they have until somebody diagnoses it and says to them, this is why you feel so drained, so tired all the time. And then they get it resolved in one way or another and things improve, especially with a, sometimes with a CPAP machine. So, ⁓ but then you’ll fit an active and you were pretty well. So take us back to that moment of that first stroke or what? What was it like? What happened? Jorden Ryan (04:08) So when I had ZPAP like to get a diagnosis or whatever they sent something in the mail and you just put it on your finger it was not as comprehensive as an actual sleep study and they said well that will be fine anyway so I got the machine it was very hard for me to sleep with so it would keep me up it did the exact opposite of what it was supposed to do so anyways that night I went to bed I had a big day the next day work call international call and I was gonna be the only one on the call, only attorney on the call. And so I woke up, I could not sleep, which was kind of normal with the CPAP machine. So I watched a movie and then went to sleep maybe an hour before it was time to wake up. And I went to bed and my alarm went off and I got up and I felt like really strange. I saw double, basically like I felt like I’d been drinking all night or something. Then, ⁓ I called into work and said, I’m sorry I cannot help you. Like, I was looking at my cell phone, which I do all the time, and I couldn’t read it or anything like that. being, you know, kind of naive, I think I took a quick shower, like, rinse some cold water on me, thinking maybe that would fix it. No, that’s ridiculous, but I thought it would, and when it got worse, that’s when I called on my one. Bill Gasiamis (05:35) Yeah, how long did they take to arrive? Do you feel Jorden Ryan (05:38) Mmm, I felt like forever, but I think it was pretty short. I lived in the city So the ambulance was right down the street. So I think like maybe 15 minutes or something like that Bill Gasiamis (05:49) Were you able to let them in? Jorden Ryan (05:52) I was, I, you know, the dispatch 911 person said to make sure I unlocked the door first. I thought I was having a stroke, but I fell down on my knees and laid against my bed and it was very difficult to go open the door to let them in. So yes, I was able to unlock the door and I did that. And I just started throwing up like more than I’ve ever vomited before in my life. Like something was really wrong. my leg went out. I didn’t know that it like couldn’t move at all. I just fell backwards and it was kidney due to throwing up. So then they came and I was still able to stand and talk and I felt, I mean, other than throwing up and double vision, I felt fine. So they told me that I was probably too young to have a stroke and that maybe it was just ready to go. So I was thinking that, okay, well I’ll just go to the hospital and you know, get checked out and I’ll come home early. But it seemed to get worse as things were going. I pulled myself up onto the gurney the EMTs had and I remember thinking like I’ve got to go to the hospital now and they were like being nice and getting my stuff and my phone and whatever else and if I threw up they were getting the trash can and I remember thinking I didn’t care if all of my stuff was stolen. I need to go to the hospital now. So we definitely got up there. When I was kind of in and out of consciousness by that time and I got to the hospital and they checked me out like an actual MRI. And when I was inside of it is when my left side of my body completely quit working. So I didn’t know what was going on. I mean, I had no clue. So I pulled myself out of the MRI. And some people get claustrophobic or whatever, but this was a square machine and because I felt sick already and half my body quit working while I was in there, it really put fear in me to get out. Bill Gasiamis (07:59) ⁓ So you had the right to the hospital, they saw you rather rapidly before they got you into the MRI? Jorden Ryan (08:10) The EMTs did see me pretty quick. They did not think I had a stroke, so it wasn’t as maybe punctual as possible. they were still… I mean, the fire department, I think, was maybe a quarter of a mile from my house. So they got there pretty fast. Bill Gasiamis (08:27) Yeah, okay. So when you got to hospital, what was that like? What happened then? Jorden Ryan (08:33) Yeah, by the time I got to the hospital, I was barely able to be coherent at all. Like someone would say, hey, Jordan, I would bring me to for a second, like, what is your phone number? And I could answer, but then I would be out again. when they were taking me to the MRI, they kind of with me. And this was the first time that I was frightened for my life. I think that one of the nurses was like, I can’t believe they’re going to waste the time to do MRI on this person. He’s gonna die anyway. There are people that need them. Machine. Bill Gasiamis (09:04) Wow, they didn’t say that, did they? Jorden Ryan (09:07) Well, I was like, couldn’t talk, couldn’t move. I don’t know if they said it for real, but I think so. I believe that’s what they said. then I was like, this is not how I die. I’ve done so much crazy stuff. can’t be just cause I was going to work early in the morning. ⁓ Bill Gasiamis (09:22) Wow. So you have a sense that that’s what they said while you’re being, while you’re on the bed being moved to the MRI. Jorden Ryan (09:32) Well, I was in going to like a holding area, like a waiting area to do MRI. Yeah. And so they left me and I couldn’t move. And so it was pretty scary. Yeah. And then after the MRI, the nurse did say, you know, we need to call your family. And so I did unlock my iPhone and I remember her calling, but it’s kind of hazy in and out of that. And I think They said, need to call the family so they can say their goodbyes. I think I overheard that. And I was like, what is going on? This can’t be this serious, right? So I really do believe I did hear that though. Bill Gasiamis (10:12) Seems like they may have very quickly upgraded your condition from vertigo, which they originally said when they arrived and seems like they kind of knew that something else dramatic was happening. Jorden Ryan (10:19) Yeah When the Diagnosis Finally Made Sense That’s correct. I wish it would have been just ready to go. Right. But it was all of a sudden went from, you know, pretty good news or decent, extremely dire consequences or like something bad was going to happen. Yes. Bill Gasiamis (10:42) Yeah. How old were you in 2024? Jorden Ryan (10:46) I was 45. Bill Gasiamis (10:49) Yeah. And do you have a sense now? Do you understand what it was that caused the stroke? We’ll jump back into Jordan’s story in just a moment. But first, I wanted to pause and acknowledge something. If you’re listening to this and stroke recovery feels confusing and isolating, I want you to know you’re not imagining it. I know exactly what that feels like. That’s why I created Recovery After Stroke to bring you real stories and insights that guide your recovery and help you feel more confident, informed and in control. And if you’d like to go deeper, remember to check out my book, The Unexpected Way The Stroke Became, The Best Thing That Happened, and support the show on Patreon at patreon.com slash recovery after stroke. Jorden Ryan (11:34) Yes, I do have ⁓ an aneurysm in my, ⁓ in the brainstem. can’t, it affected the pontine area and the salabella. Like I cannot remember the nerves. Unfortunately, I’m sorry. The veins that it’s in, but it is really big and the blood being kind of, ⁓ kind of mixed around. mean, like because my vein is so wide, the clots can form just. Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (12:03) Okay, so with an aneurysm, you’re at risk of it bursting, but then because of the different shape, the high pressure and the low pressure systems that occur in the aneurysm create a different blood flow. It causes the blood to turn into a clot and then perhaps get stuck there. And then when it gets big enough, it can break off or move and then it causes the clot. Jorden Ryan (12:31) Yeah, I don’t know if it breaks off and or just makes a clot and get stuck in there, but same concept, I think. Right. And so, yeah. Bill Gasiamis (12:40) Okay, so then you know that now after they did the MRI, what happened then? Did you have to ⁓ go through some kind of a procedure to sort out the clot and to remove the blockage and to fix the aneurysm? What was the situation? Jorden Ryan (12:59) Yeah, unfortunately they cannot fix aneurysm. They are just throwing as much medicine as they can, like all the tools that they have at the disposal at this time. But after they found out I had a clot, they’re just kind of like, let’s see what happens now. So that is when I went kind of again unconscious in probably about three weeks. I do not remember very much at all. Bill Gasiamis (13:26) Okay. Was that because they were, were in an induced coma to help you with it, with the healing? Jorden Ryan (13:32) I don’t think it was induced. think it was just my body went into a coma. mean, at the time I thought probably I was just very tired because I’d only slept an hour, but I mean, three weeks is a long nap. So a lot of my friends come in to visit me in the hospital, but I was like, I felt like just tired, but I didn’t feel bad. Like I was going to die or something. But so it was very strange because I felt very coherent. Like every day is just a different day. but my body like wouldn’t move like I could tell my left hand to move and it would not. So, but other than that, like, ⁓ I felt normal so to speak. Bill Gasiamis (14:13) I can see those three weeks. Did you have a sense that you had a stroke? Did that actually sort of say you’ve had a stroke? Did you understand that for the first time? Jorden Ryan (14:25) Yeah, I understood that I had a stroke, but I just didn’t understand what that meant. Like, for example, to sit up, which I would do in my whole life, I was not able to do that anymore. So during that three weeks, they would have a hoist system to move me to a couch. So I wouldn’t get bed sores, I think, you know, just precaution, but that was like a really scary, like I did not like that at all. was, which would normally be super easy. ⁓ Yes, they said I had a stroke, but I had no idea how bad it was. Bill Gasiamis (14:58) Yeah. family and friends. You had people rally around to do people have to fly. Excuse me. Do people have to fly in or come from out of town or were they all nearby? How, how did you go and see that? Jorden Ryan (15:13) I think that my sister put something on Facebook, on my Facebook. And so I had people close by and I did have people fly from a couple of different areas because at that time I think I was in ICU. So, you know, that may be the last chance I had to talk to me. So they did come say goodbye, but the hospital for so long, I mean, people got me flowers and I would think that would be as long as possible, but then those flowers would die. and people would bring plants and when those died, I mean, wow, that’s really a long time to be in the hospital, you know? And the plants died because I couldn’t water them because I’m paralyzed, so, at that time. Bill Gasiamis (15:54) Yeah, how long were you in hospital in total? Jorden Ryan (15:58) The first stroke I was probably, I got out May 17th, but that’s out of the inside rehab that what do you call inpatient rehabs? think that I was in hospital for maybe three weeks, maybe a month. Like, you know, they downgraded me from ICU for a week and then sent me to the internal rehab. Bill Gasiamis (16:23) Yeah, so the stroke was March 22 and then you got out of hospital in May. Jorden Ryan (16:29) That’s great. In mid-May, yeah. Surviving a Second Stroke Bill Gasiamis (16:32) Yeah. And you said that that was the first stroke. So was there another stroke? Jorden Ryan (16:37) Yeah, it’s crazy. So I had my first stroke and then I really tried hard like no sugar, no pop, no alcohol. I did everything I thought is best I could and even in rehab they had me bake cookies and I didn’t eat them because they had sugar in them. And then I had another stroke when I woke up to go to rehab. So that was October 7th. So it was, it started out with just my hand wouldn’t move like it should like I was regaining everything back pretty well from the first stroke. And I thought I was Superman basically. I was healing pretty fast and I was like, I beat it. This is great. And then right back to being in a bad stroke and being a wheelchair and all of that. Bill Gasiamis (17:25) So the same issue in the cerebellum near the pons again caused another clot or was it just something else that happened? Jorden Ryan (17:34) No, you’re right. It was the same thing, basically affected the same areas of my brain. So they say that your brain with spasticity can do like a detour. So now I have a detour of a detour, basically. So my brain had just rewired and was working pretty decently and then that area got damaged as well. Bill Gasiamis (17:57) Okay. And were you on blood thinners or something to help thin the blood to kind of minimize the risk of another blood clot or? Jorden Ryan (18:06) Yes, I was on the Eloquist, so I thought that that would be enough, but it was not. So now I am also on aspirin, but it’s just a small pill every day. I think that, like I said, they don’t really have a whole lot they can do. So they’re just telling me to take this medicine out for the best and maybe it will happen again and maybe it won’t, but they can’t operate on it because the risks outweigh the reward. Like there is a Good chance of death. Bill Gasiamis (18:37) Yeah, understood. How long did you spend in hospital for the second incident? Jorden Ryan (18:42) I was out, ⁓ towards the end of November. think mid and like either the second or third week in November. Bill Gasiamis (18:52) And then when you left hospital that time, you left with the deficits, which had kind of eased up or you didn’t really have before the, after the first one, is that right? Jorden Ryan (19:04) Yes, that’s right. I will, will wheeled out in wheelchair and had no use of my leg or my arm and my face was not really healed from the first stroke, but a little bit and I still had that too. I could not talk. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t drink. Like, I mean, I could, guess, but not how, yeah. So like holding glass to my face would come all over down my face and stuff. so This area right here always felt wet. Like it felt like I was in a pool, even though I wasn’t. So I couldn’t tell if I had food all over me or what have you that I would have to rely on people to tell me. I could chewing a salad is, I mean, it was really, really hard. That was kind of the, as I advanced, that was something I could do. My first stroke, I could not, you know, a steady is it. I don’t know if you know what that is for using the restroom. It’s like a basically a dolly. put you on and I had a really hard time even trying to use that. I went through a lot of swallow tests. I could not swallow my own saliva. So that was very difficult for me. ⁓ They brushed my teeth and I felt like I was gonna die. I could not breathe. Like probably for that went on for like five minutes. Like, I mean, I could breathe, sorta, but it was very difficult. Bill Gasiamis (20:29) They brushing your teeth for you and it, and it, and triggered some kind of a reaction or. Jorden Ryan (20:34) Like the yeah, the saliva that you have in your mouth that is I mean was enough for me to drown in basically I guess Yeah Bill Gasiamis (20:45) So it wasn’t the actual tooth brushing. It was the saliva that was being generated that you couldn’t. Jorden Ryan (20:50) I so. didn’t know for sure what it was, right? Like, but I’m pretty sure was alive. It was something I couldn’t manage. That’s for sure. And it just tasted like toothpaste probably because I just had done brushing my teeth. But they did give me a peg tube so I could get food and nutrition and water in me. However, the way that they installed it the first time was ⁓ caused ulcers in my… I think in my colon, so I had to go back to the ICU. Bill Gasiamis (21:24) Yeah. Such a dramatic time, right? A lot of stuff going wrong. What’s going through your head at the time? Because you went, like we said, like it was a year earlier, everything was going fine. Everything was all okay. And now you’re dealing with all this stuff. How do you, you know, what are you saying to yourself? How do you feel about what’s happening to you? What Recovery Really Feels Like Jorden Ryan (21:47) I wish that I could give you like a really good answer, but to be honest it was more like, why is this happening to me? I can’t believe this is happening. I’m too young. Like I have to take decent care of myself. I cannot believe this. I mean, when I was in the hospital, I was watching like my 600 pound life and like, I’m just saying that I was, I thought, you know, at least that healthy, but at that time I was really devastated by what was going on. Bill Gasiamis (22:16) Yeah, you would be, it makes complete sense, right? How do you go from being quote unquote normal? Everything’s just going along as it always has. And now all these hurdles that come your way that are really challenging to overcome. you probably don’t have the skillset to deal with them in such a dramatic short amount of time. Jorden Ryan (22:17) Yeah. Yeah, I think that’s right. And I think probably if it would have just been on me, maybe I could have, but I was like, I’m going to be such a huge burden to my family in my way life is going to be so bad. Like, I was just like, how is this happening? You know, I don’t smoke and like, I don’t do heavy drugs or any of that stuff. So what is going on? And then they said, well, you must drink a lot of energy drinks. And I was like, no, I don’t drink any energy drinks. So they’re like, we don’t know what’s going on then. So just that was. So for me, I really didn’t know what was going on. Bill Gasiamis (23:15) Yeah. And in hindsight, it was just random. It’s just one of those things with the aneurysm and how can you possibly, how can you possibly deal with it when you don’t know that it’s happening to you? Similar to me, like I had a brain hemorrhage three times because of a blood vessel that I was born with. I wasn’t having the best lifestyle, but I also wasn’t causing it. I also didn’t. I wasn’t able to solve it. Everything was kind of handed over to other people. It’s not, it was nothing. It was not up to me. And I had to just kind of go through it. Jorden Ryan (23:51) Very similar. was, you know, couldn’t be in charge or control anything basically, like even really simple things. I mean, I had a diaper on, I couldn’t even go to the restroom by myself. So it was just very hard. It was a lot of stuff all at once, right? Like, it wasn’t just like I a cold or something. It was very difficult. And at first, when I was there, I couldn’t talk. So people would come and visit me but and to me what’s very strange is that my voice sounded exactly the same before the stroke which it didn’t in real life I was probably like I have no idea what I sounded like but people couldn’t understand me so I would say something to them and they’re like sorry I can’t understand you but in my head I said it perfectly it sounded like me I can hear ⁓ like my slur now but I could not at first Bill Gasiamis (24:47) Yeah. Yeah. It was there somebody that you met who helped support you and guide you through those really sort of tough bits early on, like was there kind of a mentor or somebody that came out of nowhere and just helped you navigate this? Jorden Ryan (25:06) ⁓ I don’t know really like who navigated like how it happened, you know, I had a chaplain that came in there maybe a doctor would help I Didn’t have my phone or anything at the time But when I was able to do that I saw your channels and stuff and so I listened to it and probably the totality of a lot of things there wasn’t like a one person or one thing that helped me really a lot so I remember being kind of upset at you because you said it was the best thing that ever happened to you and that was it was too new for me. I was like, what do you mean? That’s not possible. And a nurse came and said, well, you have the beautiful blue eyes and that my eyes are green. So I was like, well, maybe my hair will grow back and I’ll have blue eyes. Maybe it’ll be the best thing that ever happened. But yeah, I mean, I wasn’t really mad at you. I just said the time I could not accept those that verbiage. Bill Gasiamis (26:02) that is perfectly understandable. And it’s exactly why I chose the title, not to piss people off or make people upset while they’re recovering. In fact, I never expected that people would find it so early on in their journey. I just thought it was a story I was gonna tell and it was gonna go out there. But of course, the very first time I spoke about my book a few years ago on YouTube, the very first comment was a negative comment along the lines of, Similar to what you said. It was a bit more rude. It wasn’t so polite ⁓ And I and I was like, ⁓ no, no, no, you guys have got it wrong I don’t think I think you missed the boat. No, sorry. You missed the point the point being that It was really terrible when I was going through it for three years But when I came out the other side, there was a lot of personal growth. There was a lot of ⁓ Things that I had appreciated that I’d done that I’d learned that I’d overcome etc that became the reason why I was able to say it was the best thing that happened to me because I started a podcast, I wrote a book, I’ve spoken publicly about it, I have this platform, I’ve created a community, all these things, right? So the things that I didn’t know that I was lacking in life before the stroke, I thought my life was complete, waking up in the morning, going to work, coming home to the family, cooking dinner, paying the bills. paying the mortgage, the car lease. I thought it was all cool, all complete, but I was kind of unhappy. There was a lot that I was lacking in my life. And only because of the stroke journey, the end result of the podcast, the book and all that stuff, did I realize, ⁓ actually the… Aftermath, the things that I have grown and discovered were the best things that happened to me. And it was because of the stroke. It’s such a weird and dumb thing to say. Like I can’t even wrap my head around it, that I had to go through something so dramatic to accomplish some amazing things. I wish I would have just done it before the dramatic events. I wish there didn’t have to be one. And that being said though, I’m 13 years. post stroke, the first one, and I still live with the deficits. I still have problems sleeping on my left side because it’s numb and it’s burning and it tingles and all that kind of stuff. When I get tired, I still have balance issues when, ⁓ you know, sometimes my memory is a bit flaky because of it, but you know, a little bit, I still have deficits in my muscles and spasticity and all that kind of stuff and it hurts. I’ve accepted that part of it. how it feels in my body, but I’ve also ⁓ gone after the growth. Like I’ve really, ⁓ seriously, dramatically gone after the post-traumatic growth that comes from a serious episode. And what I hope- Jorden Ryan (29:10) explaining that in other episodes. was just my friend that I had heard and I was still like too bitter to hear that. Right. And now I kind of make sense. Like there are a of things that I didn’t appreciate as much as I should have. All the cliches, know, kind of true. Like I wake up and like that is a good day then because most of my stroke, both of my strokes came from when I was sleeping when I woke up. So kind of like Bill Gasiamis (29:21) Yeah. Jorden Ryan (29:38) Even being in the hospital, I saw more sunsets than I did in my regular life or post stroke, whatever you want to call it. I definitely get it and I can appreciate what you’re saying now, but after that time, was just more difficult. Bill Gasiamis (29:45) Yeah. I definitely come across people regularly, even though ⁓ I’ve been speaking about it for a little while, who come across the first podcast episode that I’ve done, that they’ve found in the 370 odd. And then they hear me say that again. And then there’s also, there’s sometimes a repeat of that incident where I know exactly where they’re at. Like I know exactly what’s happening. I know they don’t know that. And then what I hope that happens is say in three or four years, they can, when they go, there was that crazy guy who said stroke was the best thing that I wonder what that was about. I’m going to go get that book now and I’m going to read it. And I’m going to see if I can, you know, shift my mindset from perhaps something that’s been bugging me to something that we can grow from. And the book has got 10 steps to recovery and personal transformation. It not 10 steps to getting your perfect walk again, or making your hand work perfect again, or you know, getting rid of your deficits. It’s not that kind of book. It’s an inspiring book. We’re trying to give people some tools that they can use that doesn’t cost them any extra that will improve the quality of their health and their life. And it doesn’t matter how injured you are because of a stroke. That’s what the book helps people to do. I love challenging people. I’m not, of course, you know, I’m not intending to make people think that I promote. stroke is something that they must experience as ⁓ you know. Jorden Ryan (31:23) the ⁓ Bill Gasiamis (31:26) Yeah. ⁓ It’s not on audible. I am going to remedy that at some stage. I’m going to remedy that and I’m going to get people the ability to listen to it because ⁓ Jorden Ryan (31:46) Well, I will be your first customer, hopefully. Bill Gasiamis (31:49) Yeah, a he-man. Jorden Ryan (31:51) cannot read because my eyes are cro- like not crossed but I have double vision so they are off I cannot read so but yeah Bill Gasiamis (32:01) ⁓ After your three weeks in ICU the first time, I think you began inpatient rehab. What were those days like going through that first few motions of trying to get yourself up and about? The Emotional Toll No One Talks About Jorden Ryan (32:16) Yeah, it was very emotional, right? because you want right away, I thought just to get back to where I was. And I mean, I read some other things and I had friends of friends send me stuff and that chapter of my life is over. I mean, it was a good one, but it’s time to rewrite another one, right? Like I have to move forward. So the whole journey was really difficult. Probably took me longer than most people, but, ⁓ I was very lucky in the fact that I had a friend that had told me like, hey, you have done hard things before you were, you know, in Muay Thai, you were a attorney, you can do it again. And then in my mind, I was like, you’re not a brain doctor. What are you talking about? Leave me alone. So even though the expression was being really nice internally, that’s what I was thinking. Then I saw something like, um, it was, you know, I think it was a PT, a physical therapist who said, think that you’re gonna heal yourself in three hours a week or a day or whatever, that’s not it. Then I had another friend who told me that his sister had a stroke and she wished she would have done more during recovery. So I eventually got to the point thinking like, well, all these doctors are saying it depends, which is a fair answer, right? And I tell clients that and they hate it. But I thought that’s better than absolute no. They’re not saying and so they’ve made it to me like, well, maybe I won’t get better, but it’s not going to be from me not trying. I think another one of the people on your episodes ⁓ saying like they were always very positive and I was like, that’s not me. That’s I’m not 100 % going to be better. That just wasn’t my attitude during it. I mean, it’s good. wish I would have been, but unfortunately I wasn’t. But it kind of. Over time it’s gotten better, but at first it was very difficult for me. Bill Gasiamis (34:17) Yeah, that’s completely understandable. ⁓ You had, did you have some small wins in rehab that kind of made you shift a little bit slowly and kind of realize you’re making ground or things are, you’re overcoming things. Jorden Ryan (34:35) Yes, I did. I was very lucky in the fact that, I mean, I would just notice my therapist face like when my affected arm started to work or I did something, they didn’t say like, that’s unbelievable. But it was kind of like I was making progress faster than a lot of people. And I’m not saying I’m better. I was very lucky and I would never come to other people, but they were like, wow, that’s really amazing that you’re able to do that. So it was, it felt good. Being able, like, even just to move my finger, like, in my defective hand for the first time was huge, and then I was able to use my thumb to… I feel human again. I mean, to be honest with you, when I couldn’t talk and I couldn’t move and everything, it just felt weird, like it wasn’t me. Bill Gasiamis (35:22) Yeah, absolutely. So were there some setbacks during that time as well? Jorden Ryan (35:27) There were some setbacks. I, again, I watched one of your episodes and a gentleman told me, like I said, he had the fatigue set in later on in his journey. And so one of the things I was like, well, I’m so lucky that I don’t have that because I go to the gym pretty often. And that would be devastating to have fatigue. And then I also had fatigue. I mean, to the point where I didn’t want to move around at all. didn’t want to get out of bed hardly so there’s setbacks in the fact that like my my sister and brother-in-law luckily took me in I mean they were like ⁓ angels so to speak but they live in a big one bedroom app like one one floor house I meant to like a ranch style and just going to the bathroom was a setback because it would take forever to walk down the hall or whatever I mean it was my gate it was a walking style was Pretty hilarious there, you saw me. Bill Gasiamis (36:27) And then fatigue doing that walk also then ties you out. Jorden Ryan (36:34) Yeah, just walking to the bathroom did tire me out. So, like, to brush my teeth, I’m already scared of, like, not feeling well. Plus, walking all the way there and brushing my teeth and walking all the way back, it would be… I would really have to get my strength together to do that. Bill Gasiamis (36:53) A journey, a proper journey. Jorden Ryan (36:55) I had to do it because I didn’t want to wet myself or soil myself, but it was very difficult. mean, looking back, it’s like, wow, that stuff was so easy now. But at that time, it was not easy. was very difficult. Bill Gasiamis (37:11) Yeah. I remember being in a similar situation and I don’t have that far to go to the toilet from my couch where the lounge room is and the TV is. But I remember going to the toilet and getting back to the couch and then being completely wiped out. that’s it. I was done for hours, done for hours, just sitting there resting and then hoping to get enough energy to get back up off the couch and be okay. Um, that was very early on. That was probably a few, maybe about four five months after the second bleed, it was still very dramatic. And I couldn’t really appreciate how ⁓ I took for granted that trip before that. Like it was just, it never crosses your mind. Jorden Ryan (37:55) You wouldn’t even think about it, right? Like getting out of a car to walk to the house was very difficult for me. Or when I came back, I would just fall on my bed because I was worn out. But before that, before my stroke, I would not ever think about that kind of stuff. Yeah. In a wheelchair at first, but I walked around the house with a walker and like two laps inside the house would wear me out. That’s maybe one. Bill Gasiamis (38:11) Yeah, hell no. Jorden Ryan (38:24) Like, one hundredth of a mile is not much, or not even close to a kilometer, and that would wipe me out completely. Bill Gasiamis (38:32) Yeah. You find yourself thinking about the steps that you’re taking. Are you putting a lot of brain energy into the actual task? How your leg is moving? What was the process like for you? Jorden Ryan (38:44) Yes, my- so all the things that your body does without you thinking about were affected in me. Like blinking, I have to think about it. To move my arms at the same time, I have to think about it. So to walk was- I had to really be like, okay, which foot goes first? Left foot. Okay, now what foot goes next, right? It sounds ridiculous, but that’s really what I was like. My mind was, I had to think every time like learning to walk. I was like, what hand goes in front? with what foot? Like it was, I mean, very, very basic, like to the beginning, right? Like before elementary school, like it was, so everything I did was taxing mentally because I just had to think about stuff that you don’t normally think about, right? Like Okay, I should breathe. It wasn’t quite as bad as that, but that’s pretty close. Bill Gasiamis (39:37) Wow, So in the notes that we shared between us, you mentioned something about the first time you were taken out of hospital ⁓ to go and eat, I think. Tell me a little bit about that story. What happened then? Jorden Ryan (39:53) Sure, so I noticed, to start a little bit further back, I lost my hearing. It wasn’t when I first had my stroke, but when I was in rehab, they were actually changing my diaper. And so I would lay on each side and I noticed when I laid on the side, I could not hear them. They were telling me to roll over or something. And so I had lost my hearing completely. Then, um… When I got out of the hospital, my friends and family and whatever got together and took me out to eat and the noises were so loud that my senses were too heightened. It was confusing to me. I had a lifetime of going out to eat with friends and going to drinking or whatever. This was just a lunch and I couldn’t really handle it. It was almost too much for me. The car ride from maybe a three hour car ride, had to close my eyes because I would feel sick if they were open. it was, I realized just how different my life is gonna be, right? Bill Gasiamis (40:59) Yeah, did that make you want to avoid those types of events? Jorden Ryan (41:02) Yes, I have to push myself to do that kind of stuff because I don’t know, I think it’s easy to become depressed, right? Like, it’s easy to just be like, I will just sit here on the couch, watch TV. I don’t really watch TV, but… And even that is hard with my eyes doubled, but I mean, like, I push myself to hang out with friends or go to eat or something. But it’s very difficult. I would rather just stay home. If you just ask me, like… I mean, I’m always excited to go out with people, that’s not what I mean, but it just is easier to stay home. Bill Gasiamis (41:37) Yeah, I understand that easier to stay home. It’s a trap as well, isn’t it? It’s a, if I stay home, I don’t have to deal with all those difficulties, all those challenges. I don’t have to overcome anything. I can just have the easy way out. But then that you pay a price for that as well. That’s not, it doesn’t work like that. You have to pay the price of, well, then you don’t go out and then you’re alone again. And then you’re in your thoughts again. Then you don’t interact with people again. And It’s not the easy way out. seems that way, it’s potentially leading you down a path that you don’t want to go down. Jorden Ryan (42:11) You’re exactly right. I tell people that because I’m so lazy, I try so hard now because I don’t want to have that life like that forever, you know? So I try very hard now so I can be lazy if that makes sense. Bill Gasiamis (42:26) That makes complete sense. love it because it’s kind of like you’re lazy. Jorden Ryan (42:31) Right, exactly right. You know, because going to the bathroom, if that’s hard forever, that’s gonna be terrible. I gotta get up and walk and have to go out with people. then life is not as hard, hopefully, because you’re doing the things, right? So. Bill Gasiamis (42:47) Yeah, yeah, and you’re getting all the genuine awesome things that come from interacting with people, going out, being ⁓ in public. ⁓ I know what you’re saying about the kind of the earning our lazy kind of thing, right? Because I would say to myself, ⁓ Saturday, I’m gonna go hard. Now, hard for me might’ve been just to literally go to an event and stay an hour longer than I normally would have stayed, whether it was a family event, a party or whatever. And then I’m gonna be really exhausted tomorrow. I know that tomorrow I’m gonna be really, and I’ve got nothing booked in. I’m gonna do absolutely nothing for the entire day so that I can go out and go hard tonight, whatever tonight looked like, whatever that was gonna be like. And that was where I earned my recovery, my lazy. I’m sitting on the couch and I’m watching TV or I’m reading a book or I’m not doing anything. That’s exactly how I kind of used to talk to myself about doing nothing on the following day. Jorden Ryan (43:54) That is a good way to put it, earn your laziness. Like that is exactly what I did. I did something hard or out of my comfort zone and then when I was lazy I felt better about it. If I just wanted to stay home and watch TV, I mean I would have won the lottery basically, you know, like that would be my life. But because that is not what I want to do, doing hard things and then being lazy is a good way to look at it. It would make me feel better about myself. people and everything just kinda makes it harder to be depressed. Bill Gasiamis (44:32) Yeah, agreed, 100%. I would encourage people to get out as much as they can. ⁓ Now, I’m very interested in your thoughts about this. Your first swim, I wanna know what that was like, cause I had a first swim as well. I remember my first swim after waking up from surgery, not being able to use my left side and needing to rehabilitate it. ⁓ What was it like for you to experience that? The First Swim After Stroke Jorden Ryan (44:57) Yeah, so I’ve been swimming before I can remember when I was a kid. So like being by a pool was very scary for me because I thought if I fell in, I could not like get out. And I got in the pool with a life jacket to try to walk and doing I don’t know what this stroke is called where move both arms like that. But only one would work at a time. But I’ve been doing it forever. So it was so strange to be in the pool and not both my arms work together. It was almost like I didn’t expect that that late in my recovery It was not that long but still it was strange to me probably maybe a month after I got out of the hospital so luckily my mom took me to the pool quite a bit and Pushed a wheelchair even though it’s really heavy and she is older so Bill Gasiamis (45:50) Yeah, I went to the pool for the first time during rehab. They asked me if I had anything particular I wanted to work with or a particular exercise I wanted to do. And for me going into the pool, I felt safe that I couldn’t fall over. So we kind of did aqua aerobics and my left side wasn’t working well, but in the pool you couldn’t tell that it wasn’t working well. then put on a, it just felt normal. It felt normal. It kind of. ⁓ appeared like it was working normally, but it felt strange because the water pressure on my affected side, that was different. Feeling the water pressure on my affected side for the first time was really strange. What was cool about it is they gave me a life vest, so there was no chance of falling over, drowning, dying, or anything like that in the water. And it was really a real relief because my body felt really free for the first time. And then as I got better and we started to get out and about, One particular summer we went to a ⁓ waterfall here near where I live. And in the pond at the bottom of the waterfall went for a swing. But the difference is ⁓ fresh water ⁓ is different from salt water. And I had never swum in ⁓ fresh water. Jorden Ryan (47:11) Yeah, there’s a big difference here, right? Bill Gasiamis (47:14) Wow, you’re heavier, you sink quicker. And I went for this very short distance swim and I was completely out of breath and fatigued like really rapidly and needed somebody that was with us to help me get out because I hadn’t realized how much more taxing it would be to do the swimming motions or do all those things and stay afloat. ⁓ And it was really scary because it was the first time I learned that. Jorden Ryan (47:17) Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (47:42) I am not as capable as I used to be ⁓ in the water. Jorden Ryan (47:47) Yeah, I think that brings up a good point for me is that people that try to help me tell me like, be careful. There’s a table there or something like very obvious, right? But they don’t know what I’ve been through and what I can see what I can’t. have to be ⁓ appreciative of them saying that stuff instead of annoyed. Like I usually am so yeah. I did a triathlon in the ocean and it was so much easier. I was pretty happy. I was the other way around. I’m used to swimming in fresh water and then in salmon and salt water and that was all post stroke. But I can know what you mean. There’s a huge difference. Bill Gasiamis (48:27) What’s your Yeah, you’ve done a triathlon post stroke. Jorden Ryan (48:33) No, I’m so sorry. I meant before stroke. ⁓ Yeah, I did one back when I was healthier, but it is hard for me to even raise my arm. I can kind of do it now, but so I just did water aerobics actually today. And I mean, I am the youngest person there probably by seems like 30 years, but in the worst one there, like you can definitely tell I have a stroke. Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (48:59) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. What’s cool about, what’s cool is that now there’s competitions where people can go and compete ⁓ after they’ve been, like the Paralympics is a classic example, right? And all the events leading up to the Paralympics where people can go and compete, get physical, even though they have deficits. That wasn’t something that was possible decades and decades ago. It’s a fairly new thing. I love that even though people are injured and they’ve had difficult times, perhaps their limbs aren’t working correctly. Some people still decide, I know I’m gonna be a competitor still, I’m gonna be with one arm, with one leg, with whatever my, whatever I have left, I’m gonna do the most I can and compete as much as I can to be the best in my particular sport. I love that about the things that people can access today about participation in sport, even though they’re injured. Jorden Ryan (50:02) Yeah, for me, it is much different. Like I used to be a very competitive person and now it’s me against me, right? The me against the stroke or whatever. Like I don’t care that somebody can run really fast. Like, I mean, that’s good for them, but for me getting outside and even getting to the event was difficult. Now to, you know, sit in a tricycle or whatever it happens to be is just, it’s more like a golf or something like that where it’s just you against you, you know, so. It is good that they have that kind of stuff, I think. Like, I’m looking at bikes for mountain biking with three wheels and stuff, so. Bill Gasiamis (50:39) Yeah, I love what you just said you against you. It’s like you against your mindset. Jorden Ryan (50:45) I think it’s just… I don’t want to say me against the world but everything is so… ⁓ difficult I guess? Like everything is a win so if I get in a car to go to the event if I get a bike that I can ride even a tricycle like that’s win if I can finish the event well that’s a win before it was like what place that I get now that’s not important to me I mean sure I guess is this not as important as it was before. Bill Gasiamis (51:15) Yeah, your priorities have shifted. Jorden Ryan (51:18) Yeah, very much so. Like, I think that I have a lot more empathy for people that are disabled. It just clearly opened my eyes. And even though I work in the law, I am used to disability act or whatever. And I was like, these people, now I totally get it. You know, so I understand like why they should have these laws in place. So here in the States, I mean, Bill Gasiamis (51:44) Yeah. Yeah, same with us in Australia. mean, there’s lots of laws to try and protect people who have a disability of some kind, injury, whatever you want to call it, so that there’s less discrimination, so that there’s more services, so there’s more access. ⁓ It’s one of the best conversations that people have because they kind of say, well, we know that this particular service that is going to be provided is going to be provided for all the population and 93 % of the population, for example, it’s not a real number, will be able to access it beautifully. What about the other 7 % who are not gonna be able to access it? We need to think about them. We need to think about how they’re going to go about ⁓ traveling on this service or accessing this service or getting in and out of this particular office or building and all that stuff. is taken into consideration in the design and planning phase now. So you can move around Melbourne, my hometown, in a electric wheelchair or a regular push wheelchair. And you will not have to worry about getting on a train, getting on the public transport, a bus, the tram, ⁓ going down a curb, all the curbs are ⁓ angled down. So this beautiful, nice smooth path towards the road and then up again. Jorden Ryan (53:13) Yeah, that sounds very nice. I think I was just ignorant to people’s needs, I guess. And now I learned firsthand how important they are, right? So I was just like, man, that’s a lot of money to do that. But it makes sense if someone says, well, we have 99 bathrooms, but you can’t use any of them. It doesn’t do me much good, right? So to have this kind of, yeah, right. Bill Gasiamis (53:22) Yeah. Yeah, what’s the point? Finding Light in the Darkest Moments ⁓ Now, the thing about stroke is that unfortunately life doesn’t get put on hold for us to recover from it and then let us get back into life as if we were okay. And I remember going through the third bleed and then a couple of weeks later, literally two weeks later, I think, maybe about a week later, my mother-in-law passed away. And then we had to have her funeral before my brain surgery. and my wife had to deal with all of that, right? You also, you lost one of your friends soon after you got out of, I think it was at rehab. Jorden Ryan (54:19) It was the day I got out of, ⁓ like inside the hospital rehab, inpatient rehab, like he was a good friend and he also had, I think a something to do with he had a tumor on his spine or something that was removed, but it left him slightly paralyzed. Like he was, he had both arms and I remember being in the hospital being jealous of him because Such a little thing like, wow, this guy can go to the bathroom by himself. I wish I could do that, right? But unfortunately, yeah, he died by suicide the day that I got out. It was devastating and very hard. I mean, that was somebody I planned on spending a lot of time with because he lived in the same city that my sister took me in that I was going to hang out with. I mean, not just about me. It was just sad that that happened, obviously. Bill Gasiamis (55:14) Yeah, of course, man, that’s pretty sad. And also, then your dog passed away. Jorden Ryan (55:22) Yeah, so this guy, he had told me my last message with him, well almost last was, we didn’t ask for this, but we’re gonna get through it together. And then, you know, he took his life, so that made me seem like, what should I do now? Then my dog died, which was a big deal to me because, okay, now I have all this time to pet him or play or whatever, and you know, it was pretty dramatic. dick dab that, but I felt like I was in a country song. Bill Gasiamis (55:55) How did you get past it? Jorden Ryan (55:56) I don’t know, think that you you kind of learn to just roll with the punches as I say because there’s so much in life that I can’t control that I mean, just, stuff happens right? You just have to do your best and I try to tell people like, it’s very easy to be in darkness or the negativity but it is my job to open up the light, open the window or whatever, not literally the window but to see all the good things that are happening. around me. So I mean, there are so many amazing things. So I have to open that up and not stay in the darkness too long. I can’t stop from happening personally, like this part of my life, but I can get out of it. Like luckily I have those tools, so to speak. Like I can be like, okay, this is happening. This is amazing. Or my family is healthy or whatever it happens to be or just people being really nice, seeing that, right? But I did have, my hand was like clawed and I would open the door and some people were nice and be like, let me get that door for you. Well, I cannot open my hand to let go of the door. It would almost knock me over several times. So kind of funny. Bill Gasiamis (57:13) always funny opportunities like to things to laugh at in that moment. I remember being wheeled in my wheelchair when I first got out of hospital, out of the hospital ward and we were just going around the hospital grounds just to get some sun. My wife was pushing me and I couldn’t feel my left leg and it fell off the, you know, where the feet sit in the wheelchair, the footrest. It just fell off the footrest and it was getting dragged. beneath the footrest and kind of the wheel of the wheelchair and it was kind of getting dragged and I couldn’t feel it had no idea but my wife was struggling to push the wheelchair Jorden Ryan (57:54) She’s like, is wrong with this? It’s so hard. Bill Gasiamis (57:57) She was going, well, this so hard to push. And then we had to have a look around and realize the reason it was hard to push, because my foot is under the wheelchair and I have no idea that it’s there and it’s getting stuck. ⁓ We laughed about it because what else are you gonna do at that moment? It was pretty ridiculous and funny at the same time. Jorden Ryan (58:16) That is exactly right. I would say that if I had to give credit to one thing, it would probably be my odd sense of humor now, right? Like there’s so many things to laugh at that it’s hard to say, Matt. That situation you had, it could have been really devastating to you or whatever, or you can be like, that is pretty funny, right? So I had something similar happen to me. My foot came off the wheelchair, but it just stopped. I didn’t feel it. my leg, but I mean, it felt like I ran over a rock or something like, so similar, not the same, but similar to me. Like, didn’t know if my leg would ever come back, you know? So people are all different levels of their journey. Like I was not upset, but I was surprised to see people in patient rehab. They could walk so well. like, Hey, we are really struggling over here. We’re in a wheelchair. That’s not the right attitude to have, but that’s how it was, you know, Bill Gasiamis (59:12) Yeah, absolutely. Jorden Ryan (59:14) are fine, get out of here, let us sick people alone, leave us here, so. I mean, I am lucky in the fact that I’m getting a lot more back than I thought that I would, so everything from now on is icing on the cake, so to speak. Living with PTSD and Double Vision After Stroke Bill Gasiamis (59:28) Bonus for sure. I think you talked about PTSD around brushing your teeth, right? How does that show up in your daily life? Do you have moments when that kind of rears its ugly head? Jorden Ryan (59:42) Well, I just moved into a new house and the bathroom is right next to it and it’s not so bad now. But when I had to walk and it was more difficult and I had PTSD and self-diagnosed. So I don’t even know if it’s a real thing. It was very scary, right? Like it would almost like giv

Perry Nickelston: Stop Chasing Pain
SCP Mini Podcast: If You Touch The Face, You Touch The Brainstem And Decrease Stress

Perry Nickelston: Stop Chasing Pain

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 11:26


In this mini podcast episode Dr. Perry talks about how facial massages calm the nervous system and help pain When you massage the face, you're not just working on skin — you're speaking directly to the trigeminal nerve, the largest sensory nerve in the entire head. Gentle pressure on the forehead, cheeks, and jaw sends calming signals into the brainstem, lowering threat, softening sympathetic overdrive, and creating a shift toward safety. The trigeminal system is deeply wired into pain modulation and stress processing, so when you relax the face, you literally turn down the volume on the stress response. It's one of the fastest ways to reset the nervous system: change what the face feels, and you change what the brain perceives. Facial massage stimulates A-beta mechanoreceptors, which quiet pain signals. The trigeminal nerve feeds into autonomic centers calming the fight-or-flight loop. Releasing tension around the jaw and eyes decreases sympathetic load almost instantly. Touching the face shifts emotional tonethe. The limbic system responds to facial relaxation. Relax the face to down regulate inflammation.

Huberman Lab
Essentials: How Your Brain Functions & Interprets the World | Dr. David Berson

Huberman Lab

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2025 40:39


In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Dr. David Berson, PhD, a professor of neuroscience at Brown University and an expert on the visual system and circadian biology. We explore how the brain processes visual information, from photons entering the eye to conscious perception in the cortex. We discuss color vision, the discovery of melanopsin and intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, and how light regulates our circadian clock and melatonin release. We also examine the vestibular system's role in balance and motion detection, the cerebellum's function in motor coordination, and the midbrain's integration of multiple sensory inputs. Finally, we discuss the basal ganglia's role in decision-making and an extraordinary case of neuroplasticity in visual cortex. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. More Huberman Lab Essentials: https://hubermanlab.com/essentials Thank you to our sponsors AGZ: https://drinkagz.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. David Berson (00:00:30) Visual Perception, Photons & Retinal Processing, Ganglion Cells (00:02:12) Color Vision, Wavelengths & Photoreceptors; Cones & Rods (00:05:56) Sponsor: AGZ by AG1 (00:07:24) Melanopsin, Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells & Brightness Detection (00:08:31) Circadian Clock & Synchronization, Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN); Master Clock Function (00:11:16) Hypothalamus, Autonomic Nervous System & Hormonal Systems (00:13:01) Tool: Light Exposure & Melatonin Regulation, Pineal Function (00:14:35) Vestibular System, Balance & Motion Detection; Semicircular Canals (00:16:44) Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex, Image Stabilization & Head Rotation (00:18:51) Sponsor: Function (00:20:45) Motion Sickness, Visual-Vestibular Conflict; Tool: Avoiding Nausea (00:22:24) Cerebellum, Motor Coordination & Learning (00:23:17) Cerebellar Function, Precision & Timing of Movement; Cerebellar Ataxia (00:24:54) Flocculus & Visual-Vestibular Integration (00:25:56) Midbrain, Brainstem & Reflexive Behavior; Superior Colliculus (00:28:26) Spatial Orientation & Multisensory Integration; Rattlesnake Heat Detection (00:30:13) Sensory Integration & Corroboration (00:31:13) Sponsor: LMNT (00:32:45) Basal Ganglia, Go vs No-Go Behavior & Decision Making (00:33:56) Tool: Impulse Control & Delayed Gratification, Marshmallow Test (00:34:51) Individual Differences, Genetics & Experience (00:35:37) Visual Cortex, Neural Processing & Brain Plasticity (00:36:26) Cortical Reorganization, Braille Reading & Stroke Recovery (00:39:15) David Berson's Work; Acknowledgements Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Mind Gut Conversation Podcast
Understanding Sex Differences in Stress and Gut Health | MGC Ep. 97

The Mind Gut Conversation Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2025 7:57


Dr. Mayer unpacks groundbreaking research on how men and women differ in their responses to stress, emotional stimuli, and gut sensations. Drawing from studies at UCLA's Oppenheimer Center, the conversation highlights key differences in brain-gut communication, revealing how neural pathways influence both emotional and physical health.You'll learn why women are more prone to conditions like IBS, how heart rate variability reflects emotional processing, and why men tend to show more action-oriented responses to stress. Dr. Mayer also explores the growing potential of personalized therapy—tailored to biological and psychological differences—to transform how we treat chronic gut-brain conditions.Key Topics Covered:• Sex-based differences in stress response patterns• Brainstem connectivity and gut sensitivity• Emotional awareness and heart rate variability• Chronic disease and the gut-brain connection• Personalized therapies based on genderUnderstanding these sex-based differences isn't just fascinating—it's essential for developing more effective, tailored approaches to brain-gut health. Tune in to explore how science is reshaping the way we treat mind and body together.Connect with Dr. Mayer:Website: ⁠⁠emeranmayer.com⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠@emeranmayer⁠Twitter/X: ⁠@EmeranMayerMD⁠YouTube: @EmeranMayerMD

The Mind Gut Conversation Podcast
Understanding Sex Differences in Stress and Gut Health | MGC Ep. 97

The Mind Gut Conversation Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2025 7:57


Dr. Mayer unpacks groundbreaking research on how men and women differ in their responses to stress, emotional stimuli, and gut sensations. Drawing from studies at UCLA's Oppenheimer Center, the conversation highlights key differences in brain-gut communication, revealing how neural pathways influence both emotional and physical health.You'll learn why women are more prone to conditions like IBS, how heart rate variability reflects emotional processing, and why men tend to show more action-oriented responses to stress. Dr. Mayer also explores the growing potential of personalized therapy—tailored to biological and psychological differences—to transform how we treat chronic gut-brain conditions.Key Topics Covered:• Sex-based differences in stress response patterns• Brainstem connectivity and gut sensitivity• Emotional awareness and heart rate variability• Chronic disease and the gut-brain connection• Personalized therapies based on genderUnderstanding these sex-based differences isn't just fascinating—it's essential for developing more effective, tailored approaches to brain-gut health. Tune in to explore how science is reshaping the way we treat mind and body together.Connect with Dr. Mayer:Website: ⁠⁠emeranmayer.com⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠@emeranmayer⁠Twitter/X: ⁠@EmeranMayerMD⁠YouTube: @EmeranMayerMD

Believe Like A Boss
What's Hijacking Your Creativity? The Neuroscience Behind Being Stuck (Brainstem vs. Prefrontal Cortex)

Believe Like A Boss

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 14:52 Transcription Available


Send us a textWhat happens in your brain when fear stops you from taking action toward your dreams? The mechanics are fascinating and understanding them can completely transform your approach to challenges. When you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or anxious about moving forward, your brain has shifted from its creative center to its survival center without you even realizing it.Your brainstem—located where your skull connects to your neck—houses your fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses. When activated, this primitive part of your brain takes control, effectively shutting down your prefrontal cortex where creative thinking happens. This explains why overwhelm leads to decision paralysis, why anxiety blocks innovation, and why fear keeps you scrolling through how-to videos instead of actually launching your business or going for that promotion.The good news? You have the power to shift from survival mode back into creative genius mode through practical tools. Meditation, physical movement, journaling, or even something as simple as taking a short walk can help you return to your prefrontal cortex. The key isn't just knowing which tools work for you—it's consistently using them, especially when you feel stuck. By bringing awareness to your fear through the simple question "What am I afraid of right now?" you begin the process of moving from reactive to creative.As someone who coaches high-achieving women and creative entrepreneurs, I've witnessed this neurological shift transform people's capacity to take aligned action despite fear. We all have these tools available to us, but often forget to use them precisely when we need them most. Which of your tools have you been neglecting lately? Are you ready to reclaim your creative thinking and finally move forward on what matters most to you? Your brain is designed for both protection and creation—learning to consciously navigate between these modes might be the missing piece in your success journey.- - - - - - - -ENJOY THE PODCAST?Leave us a 5-star review so more people can find us!LEARN MORE ABOUT COACHINGNandiCamille.comSCHEDULE YOUR FREE DISCOVERY CALLClick HereEVENTSClick here to learn viewLISTEN TO MY CONFIDENCE SESSIONS IN THE MARIGOLD APP50% off annual membership: Use code: NANDI50---> Click below to learn morehttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/marigold-self-confidence/id1463889202LET'S BE SOCIALEmail: hello@nandicamille.comInstagram: @nandi.camilleLearn more about Nandi and Life Coaching at: NandiCamille.com

Clarkesworld Magazine
Brainstem Disco, 2191 by Angela Liu (audio)

Clarkesworld Magazine

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 13:59


This episode features "Brainstem Disco, 2191" written by Angela Liu. Published in the May 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/liu_05_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?

Hearing Matters Podcast
Matt Hay's Journey with an Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI)

Hearing Matters Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 39:13 Transcription Available


Send us a textWhat if your entire life changed at the age of 19? Matt Hay shares his incredible journey of sudden hearing loss due to neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and the pivotal moment an audiologist recognized the need for further medical evaluation, leading to his diagnosis. This episode underscores the critical importance of comprehensive audiology practices and the life-altering impact of an accurate diagnosis.Join us as we explore the pioneering world of auditory brainstem implants (ABI). From the early challenges at the House Ear Institute to the remarkable personal account of a patient who underwent the ABI procedure, we cover it all. Listen to how this groundbreaking technology transformed everyday sounds and interactions, reshaping lives, including Matt's, and even influencing his wife's career path as they embarked on starting a family.In a deeply touching segment, Matt opens up about the emotional and psychological toll of facial paralysis. He shares his experiences with visible and invisible disabilities and his profound gratitude for advancements in ABI technology. We also spotlight Blaise Delfino's inspiring contributions to hearing care advocacy and celebrate Matt's heartfelt book, which has resonated deeply with our audience.While we know all hearing aids amplify sounds to help you hear them, Starkey Genesis AI uses cutting-edge technology designed to help you understand them, too.Click here to find a provider near you and test drive Starkey Genesis AI! Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Twitter: @hearing_mattasFacebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

From the Spectrum: Finding Superpowers with Autism
Part 2 Autism and Sensory Processing: Scientific Literature

From the Spectrum: Finding Superpowers with Autism

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 37:56


For today's episode, we expand on Autism and Sensory Processing. We return to the mesencephalon—a brainstem region with superior and inferior colliculi—as a critical hub for sensory integration and attention bias. We cover four scientific articles, starting with Marco et al. (2011), which uses EEGs, MEGs, and fMRIs to reveal autism's auditory processing inconsistencies (e.g., delayed N100/M100 cortical responses), tactile hypersensitivity from overactive receptors, and visual processing quirks like reduced fusiform gyrus activation for faces. Russo et al. then explore brainstem-level deficits, showing autistic children's auditory brainstem responses (ABR) to speech syllables like "DA" exhibit poor neural synchrony and phase locking, especially in noise, due to disrupted wave V, A, D, F timing—linking these to language impairments. These findings point to biological roots, including denser neocortical mini-columns (30-40 vs. 50-60 microns in controls) and cerebellar Purkinje cell loss, impairing local processing and long-range connectivity.The episode continues with Leekam et al. (2007), confirming over 90% of autistic individuals have multi-modal sensory abnormalities—hypo- and hypersensitivity tied to serotonin and GABA dysregulation—persisting across life, while Tomchek and Dunn (2007) note 95% prevalence via caregiver reports, hinting at neural pathway disruptions. At some point, we need to acknowledge the mesencephalon's embryological stasis as one of four neural cell types, suggesting its evolutionary role in sensory modulation is key to Autism's biology. These articles collectively highlight altered neural circuitry, from brainstem to cortex, and biases us to remaining within ourselves. Remember, the biology that gives us Autism allows us to be comfortable within ourselves. Marco et al 2011 https://www.nature.com/articles/pr9201193Russo et al 2009 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-7687.2008.00790.xLeekam et al 2007 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-006-0218-7Tomchek & Dunn 2007 https://affectautism.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/tomcheck_dunn.pdf0:00 Autism and Sensory Processing; comorbid conditions; Mesencephalon3:03 Article 1 Marco et al 20114:11 Auditory5:00 N100 & M100 tools9:17 Tactile11:23 Visual13:53 Multisensory Integration15:16 Postmortem; Cerebellum & Purkinje Cells; Minicolumns17:06 Speech19:02 Article 2 Russo et al; Brainstem scientists20:28 Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR); Quiet versus Noisy environments; Beatles comparison23:49 Neural Synchrony; Waves V, A, D, F24:33 Phase Locking27:34 Article 3 Leekam et al 2007; Neuroplasticity33:09 Article 4 Tomchek & Dunn 200736:36 Reviews/Ratings and Contact InfoX: https://x.com/rps47586Hopp: https://www.hopp.bio/fromthespectrumYT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGxEzLKXkjppo3nqmpXpzuAemail: info.fromthespectrum@gmail.com

Science (Video)
CARTA: Oxytocin's Pathway to the Origins of Speech and Dance with Constantina Theofanopoulou

Science (Video)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 27:13


Dr. Theofanopoulou studies neural circuits behind sensory-motor behaviors like speech and dance, aiming to develop drug- and arts-based therapies for brain disorders. Her brain imaging research reveals overlapping motor cortex regions controlling muscles for speech and dance, while transcriptomic studies show upregulation of the oxytocin gene pathway in key areas like the motor cortex and brainstem. Using zebra finches, Bengalese finches, white-rumped munias, and humans, she demonstrates oxytocin's role in vocal production. She also developed genomic tools to apply these findings across vertebrates. Her future work explores oxytocin-based drugs and dance therapies to treat speech and motor deficits in brain disorders. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40384]

University of California Audio Podcasts (Audio)
CARTA: Oxytocin's Pathway to the Origins of Speech and Dance with Constantina Theofanopoulou

University of California Audio Podcasts (Audio)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 27:13


Dr. Theofanopoulou studies neural circuits behind sensory-motor behaviors like speech and dance, aiming to develop drug- and arts-based therapies for brain disorders. Her brain imaging research reveals overlapping motor cortex regions controlling muscles for speech and dance, while transcriptomic studies show upregulation of the oxytocin gene pathway in key areas like the motor cortex and brainstem. Using zebra finches, Bengalese finches, white-rumped munias, and humans, she demonstrates oxytocin's role in vocal production. She also developed genomic tools to apply these findings across vertebrates. Her future work explores oxytocin-based drugs and dance therapies to treat speech and motor deficits in brain disorders. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40384]

CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (Video)
CARTA: Oxytocin's Pathway to the Origins of Speech and Dance with Constantina Theofanopoulou

CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (Video)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 27:13


Dr. Theofanopoulou studies neural circuits behind sensory-motor behaviors like speech and dance, aiming to develop drug- and arts-based therapies for brain disorders. Her brain imaging research reveals overlapping motor cortex regions controlling muscles for speech and dance, while transcriptomic studies show upregulation of the oxytocin gene pathway in key areas like the motor cortex and brainstem. Using zebra finches, Bengalese finches, white-rumped munias, and humans, she demonstrates oxytocin's role in vocal production. She also developed genomic tools to apply these findings across vertebrates. Her future work explores oxytocin-based drugs and dance therapies to treat speech and motor deficits in brain disorders. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40384]

Humanities (Audio)
CARTA: Oxytocin's Pathway to the Origins of Speech and Dance with Constantina Theofanopoulou

Humanities (Audio)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 27:13


Dr. Theofanopoulou studies neural circuits behind sensory-motor behaviors like speech and dance, aiming to develop drug- and arts-based therapies for brain disorders. Her brain imaging research reveals overlapping motor cortex regions controlling muscles for speech and dance, while transcriptomic studies show upregulation of the oxytocin gene pathway in key areas like the motor cortex and brainstem. Using zebra finches, Bengalese finches, white-rumped munias, and humans, she demonstrates oxytocin's role in vocal production. She also developed genomic tools to apply these findings across vertebrates. Her future work explores oxytocin-based drugs and dance therapies to treat speech and motor deficits in brain disorders. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40384]

Science (Audio)
CARTA: Oxytocin's Pathway to the Origins of Speech and Dance with Constantina Theofanopoulou

Science (Audio)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 27:13


Dr. Theofanopoulou studies neural circuits behind sensory-motor behaviors like speech and dance, aiming to develop drug- and arts-based therapies for brain disorders. Her brain imaging research reveals overlapping motor cortex regions controlling muscles for speech and dance, while transcriptomic studies show upregulation of the oxytocin gene pathway in key areas like the motor cortex and brainstem. Using zebra finches, Bengalese finches, white-rumped munias, and humans, she demonstrates oxytocin's role in vocal production. She also developed genomic tools to apply these findings across vertebrates. Her future work explores oxytocin-based drugs and dance therapies to treat speech and motor deficits in brain disorders. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40384]

UC San Diego (Audio)
CARTA: Oxytocin's Pathway to the Origins of Speech and Dance with Constantina Theofanopoulou

UC San Diego (Audio)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 27:13


Dr. Theofanopoulou studies neural circuits behind sensory-motor behaviors like speech and dance, aiming to develop drug- and arts-based therapies for brain disorders. Her brain imaging research reveals overlapping motor cortex regions controlling muscles for speech and dance, while transcriptomic studies show upregulation of the oxytocin gene pathway in key areas like the motor cortex and brainstem. Using zebra finches, Bengalese finches, white-rumped munias, and humans, she demonstrates oxytocin's role in vocal production. She also developed genomic tools to apply these findings across vertebrates. Her future work explores oxytocin-based drugs and dance therapies to treat speech and motor deficits in brain disorders. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40384]

Discover Daily by Perplexity
Altman's Worldcoin Rebrands, Long COVID is a Brain Injury, and the AI Safety Clock

Discover Daily by Perplexity

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 9:00 Transcription Available


Do you prefer multistory episodes, single story episodes, or a mix? Let us know! In this episode of Discover Daily, hosts Alex and Sienna explore the latest developments in tech, medicine, and AI safety. They discuss the rebranding of Sam Altman's Worldcoin to "World" and the unveiling of the next-generation Orb 2.0 technology, which aims to create a global identity verification system for the AI era. The hosts also delve into recent research that reveals striking similarities between long COVID and traumatic brain injury, offering new insights into potential treatment approaches. Finally, they take an in-depth look at the AI Safety Clock, a symbolic representation of the risks posed by uncontrolled artificial general intelligence, and examine its impact on the ongoing conversation about responsible AI development.From Perplexity's Discover Feed:https://www.perplexity.ai/page/sam-altman-s-worldcoin-rebrand-AWQtbtNySQC61ch5lUHwQQhttps://www.perplexity.ai/page/long-covid-is-a-brain-injury-W57eub2jSTWz2VDnwvcZ3Ahttps://www.perplexity.ai/page/the-ai-safety-clock-oD44Gvv4RMy9zk6K5G1kbQPerplexity is the fastest and most powerful way to search the web. Perplexity crawls the web and curates the most relevant and up-to-date sources (from academic papers to Reddit threads) to create the perfect response to any question or topic you're interested in. Take the world's knowledge with you anywhere. Available on iOS and Android Join our growing Discord community for the latest updates and exclusive content. Follow us on: Instagram Threads X (Twitter) YouTube Linkedin

Machine Learning Street Talk
Prof. Mark Solms - The Hidden Spring

Machine Learning Street Talk

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 86:45


Prof. Mark Solms, a neuroscientist and psychoanalyst, discusses his groundbreaking work on consciousness, challenging conventional cortex-centric views and emphasizing the role of brainstem structures in generating consciousness and affect. MLST is sponsored by Brave: The Brave Search API covers over 20 billion webpages, built from scratch without Big Tech biases or the recent extortionate price hikes on search API access. Perfect for AI model training and retrieval augmentated generation. Try it now - get 2,000 free queries monthly at http://brave.com/api. Key points discussed: The limitations of vision-centric approaches to consciousness studies. Evidence from decorticated animals and hydranencephalic children supporting the brainstem's role in consciousness. The relationship between homeostasis, the free energy principle, and consciousness. Critiques of behaviorism and modern theories of consciousness. The importance of subjective experience in understanding brain function. The discussion also explored broader topics: The potential impact of affect-based theories on AI development. The role of the SEEKING system in exploration and learning. Connections between neuroscience, psychoanalysis, and philosophy of mind. Challenges in studying consciousness and the limitations of current theories. Mark Solms: https://neuroscience.uct.ac.za/contacts/mark-solms Show notes and transcript: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/roipwmnlfmwk2e7kivzms/ACjZF-VIGC2-Suo30KcwVV0?rlkey=53y8v2cajfcgrf17p1h7v3suz&st=z8vu81hn&dl=0 TOC (*) are best bits 00:00:00 1. Intro: Challenging vision-centric approaches to consciousness * 00:02:20 2. Evidence from decorticated animals and hydranencephalic children * 00:07:40 3. Emotional responses in hydranencephalic children 00:10:40 4. Brainstem stimulation and affective states 00:15:00 5. Brainstem's role in generating affective consciousness * 00:21:50 6. Dual-aspect monism and the mind-brain relationship 00:29:37 7. Information, affect, and the hard problem of consciousness * 00:37:25 8. Wheeler's participatory universe and Chalmers' theories 00:48:51 9. Homeostasis, free energy principle, and consciousness * 00:59:25 10. Affect, voluntary behavior, and decision-making 01:05:45 11. Psychoactive substances, REM sleep, and consciousness research 01:12:14 12. Critiquing behaviorism and modern consciousness theories * 01:24:25 13. The SEEKING system and exploration in neuroscience Refs: 1. Mark Solms' book "The Hidden Spring" [00:20:34] (MUST READ!) https://amzn.to/3XyETb3 2. Karl Friston's free energy principle [00:03:50] https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn2787 3. Hydranencephaly condition [00:07:10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydranencephaly 4. Periaqueductal gray (PAG) [00:08:57] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periaqueductal_gray 5. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) [00:13:52] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_emission_tomography 6. Paul MacLean's triune brain theory [00:03:30] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triune_brain 7. Baruch Spinoza's philosophy of mind [00:23:48] https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/spinoza-epistemology-mind 8. Claude Shannon's "A Mathematical Theory of Communication" [00:32:15] https://people.math.harvard.edu/~ctm/home/text/others/shannon/entropy/entropy.pdf 9. Francis Crick's "The Astonishing Hypothesis" [00:39:57] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Astonishing_Hypothesis 10. Frank Jackson's Knowledge Argument [00:40:54] https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qualia-knowledge/ 11. Mesolimbic dopamine system [01:11:51] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesolimbic_pathway 12. Jaak Panksepp's SEEKING system [01:25:23] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaak_Panksepp#Affective_neuroscience

Curiosity Daily
Brainstem Dial, Centipedes & Kidneys, AI Ghosts

Curiosity Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 11:41


Today, you'll learn about an accidental discovery of a dial in the brainstem that controls the body's inflammation level, how centipedes might offer a treatment for kidney disease, and the problem with bringing back our deceased loved ones using AI. Brainstem Dial “Found: the dial in the brain that controls the immune system.” by Giorgia Guglielmi. 2024. “Your brain could be controlling how sick you get - and how you recover.” by Diana Kwon. 2023. “Tissues, not blood, are where immune cells function.” by Donna L. Farber. 2021. Centipedes & Kidneys “Centipedes used in traditional Chinese medicine offer leads for kidney treatment.” ACS. 2024. “Giant Redheaded Centipede.” Missouri Department of Conservation. 2024. “Structurally Diverse Alkaloids with Anti-Renal-Fibrosis Activity from the Centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans.” by Bin-Yuan Hu, et al. 2024. AI Ghosts “Call for safeguards to prevent unwanted ‘hauntings' by AI chatbots of dead loved ones.” University of Cambridge. 2024. “Griefbots, Deadbots, Postmortem Avatars: on Responsible Applications of Generative AI in the Digital Afterlife Industry.” by Tomasz Hollanek & Katarzyna Nowaczyk-Basinska. 2024. “Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence.” LCFI. 2024. Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hearing Matters Podcast
Matt Hay's Experience with NF2 and Auditory Brainstem Implants (ABIs)

Hearing Matters Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 40:08 Transcription Available


Send us a Text Message.What if your entire life changed at the age of 19? Matt Hay shares his incredible journey of sudden hearing loss due to neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and the pivotal moment an audiologist recognized the need for further medical evaluation, leading to his diagnosis. This episode underscores the critical importance of comprehensive audiology practices and the life-altering impact of an accurate diagnosis.Join us as we explore the pioneering world of auditory brainstem implants (ABI). From the early challenges at the House Ear Institute to the remarkable personal account of a patient who underwent the ABI procedure, we cover it all. Listen to how this groundbreaking technology transformed everyday sounds and interactions, reshaping lives, including Matt's, and even influencing his wife's career path as they embarked on starting a family.In a deeply touching segment, Matt opens up about the emotional and psychological toll of facial paralysis. He shares his experiences with visible and invisible disabilities and his profound gratitude for advancements in ABI technology. We also spotlight Blaise Delfino's inspiring contributions to hearing care advocacy and celebrate Matt's heartfelt book, which has resonated deeply with our audience.While we know all hearing aids amplify sounds to help you hear them, Starkey Genesis AI uses cutting-edge technology designed to help you understand them, too.Using innovative Neuro Sound Technology, Genesis AI mimics how a healthy auditory system hears. This allows the hearing aids to better replicate how the human brain processes sound.Click here to find a hearing care professional near you to try Genesis AI! Support the Show.Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Twitter: @hearing_mattasFacebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

The Art of Listening
It's All Feelings: Investigating Consciousness From the Brainstem to the Psyche, with Mark Solms

The Art of Listening

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 49:32


We often think of our conscious experience as one driven by language. Our thoughts are shaped by words; our emotions processed in conversation. Yet, while language is a sharp tool for expression, the level of detail and nuance it affords us can also get us lost. And like many other animals, we communicate our needs before we're able to speak. So what if consciousness, the quality of being us in the privacy of our mind, was in fact something else?My guest today has spent 40 years investigating what it means to be at once a brain, a mind and a psyche. And he has done away with complexity to conclude: “it's all feelings”. Mark Solms is a renowned neuropsychologist, psychoanalyst, and researcher who has bridged the gap between two traditionally opposed disciplines: neuroscience and psychoanalysis. A pioneer in his field, and a true inspiration for many practitioners on both sides of the divide, Mark has shown that cognitive and analytical work are two sides of a coin, and that they have much to learn from each other.  In this episode of the Art of Listening, we let Mark Solms lead the way, to unpack his life's work. Drawing from difficult childhood experience, Mark reflects on what seeded his existential questions and led him to investigate the inner workings of the brain. Together, we get to grips with what constitutes a conscious experience, we question the legacy of Freud's findings, and we tap into the power of Neuropsychoanalysis to enhance how we listen. Join us for a fascinating conversation with Mark Solms, and reconcile the study of the subject with the study of the object; of the brain, with the psyche. Chapters1 - The accident that changed Mark's childhood 2 - First forays into neuroscience: daring to leave the beaten path3 - “Neuropsychotherapy” or how a new discipline is born4 - How cognitive and analytic approaches can benefit each other5 - Consciousness and language beyond verbal communication LinksMark SolmsMark's BooksMore from ‘The Art of Listening' 

From the Spectrum: Finding Superpowers with Autism

In this episode, we discuss biology of anxiety, responses from anxiety, and common situations causing anxiety with Autism. The stress response system of the body is very finite and the nervous system reflexively responds based on what it knows. A few biological components of anxiety include the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and the spine. Common responses to anxiety include avoidance, shifts in physiology, and valance, or how we feel about the situation. To end, we have a lengthy discussion on some common sources of anxiety. Biology and Anxiety https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6690364/Deisseroth on Anxiety https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtCeIefq_PMDeisseroth on Autism and Anxiety https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oiKOX2lCmEPhysiological Sighs https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(22)00474-8Jack Feldman https://bioscience.ucla.edu/people/jack-feldman/David Spiegel https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/david-spiegelJoseph LeDoux https://as.nyu.edu/faculty/joseph-e-ledoux.html(0:00) Intro; Comorbid Tendency and the DSM(2:56) Anxiety's role(3:42) Biology and responses of Anxiety; Amygdala and Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis; Avoidance, Physiology, Valance(7:48) Avoidance (Action)- Hypothalamus(9:11) Brief notes on Cortex(11:36) Back to the Hypothalamus(12:27) Physiology/Breathing (Body)- Parabrachial Nucleus; Physiological Sigh; Brainstem, Spine, and Body(17:48) Valance (Feelings)- Ventral Tegmental Area; direct or indirect exposure- it doesn't matter(20:00) Dopamine, Neuroplasticity, Side note on Testosterone, Multiple words have the same meaning(24:58) Common situations for Anxiety and Autism(35:58) Wrap Up, Reviews and Ratings, Contact Info

MS Living Well: Key Info from Multiple Sclerosis Experts
Uncommon Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

MS Living Well: Key Info from Multiple Sclerosis Experts

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2024 35:53


Awareness of the more uncommon multiple sclerosis symptoms can lead to an earlier diagnosis and appropriate treatment. For instance, experiencing electrical shock sensations when bending the neck forward, known as Lhermitte's sign, may indicate an attack on the cervical spinal cord. Likewise, excruciating bolts of pain across either side of the face, called trigeminal neuralgia, can be caused by a MS relapse. The MS hug, an unfriendly, squeezing sensation around the torso, can respond to muscle relaxants and nerve pain medications. Some MS symptoms, like tingling in legs, only surface when exercising or overheated (Uhthoff's phenomenon). Vertigo, a spinning sensation, can be a sign of MS, especially when lasting days and accompanied by other symptoms like gait imbalance, facial numbness and double vision. Brainstem attacks may also lead to swallowing issues and shaky vision. While MS bladder issues are commonly addressed,  bowel problems, including constipation, urgency, incontinence and trouble evacuating, should not be overlooked. Overcoming stigma is essential to treat sexual dysfunction. Barry Singer MD, Director of The MS Center for Innovations in Care, interviews: Mary Ann Picone MD, Medical Director, MS Center at Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck, New Jersey Bruce Hughes MD, Director of the Ruan Multiple Sclerosis Center, MercyOne, Des Moines, Iowa

Recovery After Stroke
Recovering from a BRAINSTEM stroke – Jamie & Jessica Robinson

Recovery After Stroke

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2024 77:39


Jamie and Jessica Robinson joined me to discuss their experience with a brain stem stroke from the perspective of both caregiver and patient. The post Recovering from a BRAINSTEM stroke – Jamie & Jessica Robinson appeared first on Recovery After Stroke.

The Morning Show Podcast
Tuesday, February 20, 2024

The Morning Show Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2024 17:14


Happy Tuesday! Stanley is in more trouble after admitting they had lead in their cups. Capitol One and Discover are merging. The EU opened a formal investigation into TikTok. The first ever child has been cured of Brainstem glioma. There's a new reservation system at Mount Rainier National Park. "Last Week Tonight" will be posted much later to YouTube! NEWSLETTER ⬅️ Carnival of Cocktails! Sign up here to get your FREE Seattle Cocktail Club membership with code: CMA. THEN buy your tickets to Carnival of Cocktails at a discount here! What's Trending: https://go.shopmy.us/p-3717768 Play a game on The Morning Show Podcast: https://forms.gle/Bf6aPVTbEqmo4QoS6 Head to TheMorningShowPodcast.com for EVERYTHING we talk about. AG1 Deal: DrinkAG1.com/cma Seattle Gummy Company - code: CMA for 20% off https://seattlegummy.com/?ref=802 QUICK LINKS TO WATCH US LIVE, SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER, FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS HERE: https://www.flowcode.com/page/carlamarieandanthony Follow Carla Marie on Instagram Follow Anthony on InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Pain in the Neck? Resolving Suffering
Upper Cervical Chiropractor Near Me Impostor Syndrome

What Pain in the Neck? Resolving Suffering

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 36:19


Upper Cervical Chiropractic is growing. The importance of the neck An Upper Neck problem can affect the Brainstem, Blood vessels, CSF flow, the Vagus Nerve, and more.Upper Cervical Doctors have extra expertise and more training.There are ifferent techniques/ associations. Find all the techniques and websites listed hereWhat is a true specialist?What Do Upper Cervical Doctors do?Neurological examThermographyLegcheckImaging and measuring.No popping, pulling, or jerking.The most common reaction: You didn't do anything. Adjustment vs. manipulation. Holding is healing.Links related to this episode:ICA Upper Cervical Council'sList of Upper Cervical techniques and providersDCCJPWhat can a Diplomate do for you?Dr. Lenarz - How to help more with lessDr. Dwayne Hoskins - ThermographyDr. Tyler Evans - CBCT Scan To contact Ruth:806-747-2735 https://www.blairclinic.comruth@blairclinic.comhttps://www.facebook.com/rutelin

Brain Based Parenting
Brain Development: The Brainstem and Your Child

Brain Based Parenting

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024 20:30


Unlock the secrets to your child's mind with our latest episode, as we journey through the fascinating landscape of brain development . Prepare to have the veil lifted on the brain's extraordinary capacity for change, particularly in the early years, and discover how the experiences we provide for our little ones lay the foundations for their future.From the crucial first three to five years of life, we unravel the tapestry of the brain's growth, emphasizing the need for genuine alignment between parental responses and the developmental stages of children. Non-traditional families, take note—you'll find pearls of wisdom here that speak directly to the heart of your unique situation. Our conversation spins a thread that connects the essential building blocks of brain development with tangible parenting strategies, underscoring the responsibility we hold in nurturing our children's blossoming minds.The episode zeroes in on the bedrock of brainstem development and its paramount role in basic body regulation and sleep. Drawing from a well of both personal insights and professional expertise, we offer actionable advice on crafting sleep routines and environmental tweaks to promote a sense of security and regulation in children. We also debate the merits of supplements like GABA and magnesium—always with a nod to professional medical advice—to support the intricate workings of our children's developing nervous systems. Tune in and learn how to navigate the delicate intricacies of your child's brain to enhance their growth, learning, and overall well-being.To Donate: https://secure.calfarley.org/site/Donation2?3358.donation=form1&df_id=3358&mfc_pref=TTo Apply:https://apply.workable.com/cal-farleys-boys-ranch/j/25E1226091/For More Information about Cal Farley's Boys Ranch:https://www.calfarley.org/Music:"Shine" -NewsboysCCS License No. 9402

The Holistic Anxiety Fix Podcast
Your Brain and Anxiety: An Interview With A Functional Neurologist

The Holistic Anxiety Fix Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2023 52:12


This podcast episode is going to change your perspective about anxiety. In this episode, I interview Dr. Jared Zeigler who is a functional neurologist. He talks at length about the neurological basis of anxiety and how he uses different healing techniques to cure anxiety.                               According to functional neurology, anxiety is one of the primitive responses of our brain. As a result of traumatic brain injury, the brain goes into a reflexive state. When you are anxious, your brain is actually looking out for you. Emotional stress, physical stress, mold and parasites infestation, gut infections, autoimmune disorders, and head injury all can trigger the reflexive part of the brain, brainstem.                               Brainstem controls our basic reflexes that we can't consciously control while frontal cortex is responsible for our conscious activities. It turns out our brainstem is stronger than the the cortex, which is why we are unable to control anxiety by conscious thought process. Over time, the learned behavioral reflexes get hardwired in our brain and control us. To cure the brain from toxic patterns, functional neurologists use different activation techniques that stimulate selective parts of the brain. Tune in to know more about this game changing approach to healing anxiety and its benefits to restore your mental health!

Information Morning Saint John from CBC Radio New Brunswick (Highlights)

Dr. Shawn Jennings of Rothesay wasn't expected to live after a brainstem stroke in 1999 that left him locked inside his body. The CBC's Rachel Cave spoke with Dr. Jennings and his wife, Jill, about their journey.

Good Day Health
GDH - Jack - Being A Medical Non-Conformist

Good Day Health

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 36:55


9/20//23 - Dr. Jack Stockwell, www.forbiddendoctor.com & www.jackstockwell.com Phone: 866-867-5070. Included in this podcast: learn why Dr. Jack elected not to go to medical school, he choose to focus his medical training on the top bone in the spine, he recommends a book called "Crooked: Man-Made Illness Explained," a person's face and symmetry tells a lot about their health, many illnesses can be traced to the brain stem and Dr. Jack believes the damage don by Aluminum in vaccines, 250 micrograms of Aluminum can be found in Hepatitis B Vaccine that is given to all children within. the first 24 hours of birth and a warning, the new COVID Vaccine has had no human testing.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3010085/advertisement

Essential Alchemy
What Causes Brain Symptoms and How To Overcome Them

Essential Alchemy

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2023 44:10


Have you experienced a frustrating moment of “Why is my brain not working”? If so, you're not alone - as a matter of fact, it was a recurring question that functional neurologist Titus Chiu was asked when treating patients suffering from brain symptoms. By taking a deep dive into neuroscience and natural medicine, Titus was able to identify 6 regions that cause the majority of brain symptoms!  So what are they? In this episode of Essential Alchemy, Jodi sits down with Titus to discuss some of these regions - what they do, how they affect our brain, and different exercises and essential oils you can use to create balance. Tune in to learn about: [02:15] - The Brainstem (stress, resilience and digestive function) [13:07] - Prefrontal Cortex (patience and presence) [25:07] - Limbic System (emotional regulation) [35:34] - Finding balance (essential oils and movement) [40:34] - Discover top brain healing secrets with Titus ✪ Which areas of your brain are out of balance? Click here to take the Brain Quiz ❂ Jodi Cohen: Facebook: Vibrant Blue Oils Discussion Group | Instagram: @VibrantBlueOils | Youtube: Vibrant Blue Oils Oils mentioned: Adrenal Blend: https://shop.vibrantblueoils.com/product/adrenal-essential-oil/ Parasympathetic: https://shop.vibrantblueoils.com/product/parasympathetic-essential-oil/ Immune Support: https://shop.vibrantblueoils.com/product/immune-support-essential-oil/ Frankincense: https://shop.vibrantblueoils.com/product/frankincense-essential-oil-2/ Lemon: https://shop.vibrantblueoils.com/product/lemon-essential-oil-copy/ Grapefruit: https://shop.vibrantblueoils.com/product/grapefruit-essential-oil-5-ml/

Steve Cochran on The Big 89
June is Alzheimer's Awareness month: New research provides hope for new treatment

Steve Cochran on The Big 89

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2023 18:42


Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kevin Most joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss the discovery of Alzheimer's disease, how to tell the difference between old age forgetfulness & dementia, and treatments to slow the progression of this disease.  Read all of Dr. Most's notes below and listen every Tuesday morning for more medical news. June is Alzheimer's Awareness month Alzheimer's is named after Dr. Alzheimer, who in 1906 had a patient who died with what was then unusual mental illness- after she died he examined her brain and found abnormal clumps, now known to be amyloid and tangled fibers Alzheimer's is the most common cause of Dementia, accounting for 60-80% of all dementia cases- Close to 7 million Americans are living with dementia, 230,000 in Illinois alone Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death The number of cases is felt to be much higher as many cases will go undiagnosed and untreated There is no blood test or screening test to predict Alzheimer's , the diagnosis is made after symptoms are noted, by this time the disease has caused significant damage The age group of over 65 is growing dramatically so the number of cases of dementia is expected to rise. 1 in 9 adults over the age of 65 is in some stage of Alzheimer's We do not have enough long term care facilities or care givers for the expected increase in cases. It is thought that Alzheimer's begins 20 years before memory loss or other symptoms begin, stressing how important it is for research to work on early detection Alzheimer's moves thru stages- Mild- some memory loss- cognitive function decreases- wandering- getting lost- paying bills a problem- personality and behavior changes Moderate- loss of language control, sensory processing- memory loss is worse- difficulty learning new things- difficulty carrying out multitask steps- getting dressed- Severe-  loss of ability to communicate- completely dependent on others for their care- mobility is limited The greatest risk factor is age, but Alzheimer's is not a part of normal aging Rosalynn Carter shared diagnosis of Dementia this past week 10 Early Signs of Alzheimer's Memory that disrupts daily life- forgetting recently learned information- asking the same question over and over. With age related change- we will forget names or events but remember them later Challenges in planning or problem solving- signs include things as common as following a recipe, or keeping track of monthly bills Difficulty completing familiar tasks- like driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list Confusion with time and place- lose track of dates and seasons, forgetting where they are or how they got there Vision problems that may lead to difficulty with balance or reading, difficulty judging distances Trouble following or joining a conversation. Stop in middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue, Difficulty naming a familiar object Misplacing things or placing objects in unusual places and then be unable to retrace steps Poor judgement or decision making- may notice this with money decisions or even grooming Withdrawal from work or social activities- unable to converse in a group, or keeping up with a team activity Changes in mood/personality-  confusion- suspicious- depressed- fearful Basics of the brain Made up of 3 main parts- Cerebrum-memory- problem solving- thinking- feeling- movement- vision.  Cerebellum- coordination and balance Brainstem- connects the brain to the spinal cord- controls breathing- heart rate- blood pressure The brain uses a lot of energy and oxygen- it uses about 25 % of oxygen and fuel, yet doesn't weigh much as a percentage The brain works with chemicals and electrical activity- amazing- think about it, you see something or read something and an electrical and chemical activity stores that in your brain for future use. Your brain tells your arm to move whether you are doing surgery, playing an instrument or taking out the garbage. It tells you what to do and how to do it. In Alzheimer's  we see brain cell death and plaques and tangles making the communication between cells impossible When these healthy connections are stopped those brain cells then die In Alzheimer patients proteins called beta amyloid clump together and build plaques- these block the areas where the signals in the brain occur. The progression of this illness follows a pattern of spread in the brain. Cause of Alzheimer's There is not a single cause of Alzheimer's that has been identified. There are risk factors- age- family history-head injury- heart/head connection Treatment options for Alzheimer's Recently there have been medications that have shown to slow  the pace of Alzheimer's by a third There are 2 that are close to approval- ADUHELM and LEQEMBI – these are placed on an accelerated approval The  most recent medication is an  antibody  that is designed to attack beta amyloid- DONANEMAB- they also are looking for accelerated approval. Medicare announced Thursday that it will cover drugs that are granted full approval. For a drug to go from accelerated approval to full approval more clinical trials are required. RUSH and U of C, are all participating in current trials, awaiting now to see what trials will open for more patients Each of these medications is expected to cost over $25,000 a year, placing them out of reach for most patients. Will Medicare be able to push for a lower cost? These medications appear to slow the build up of the amyloid, thus slowing the progression of the disease The latest drug from Lilly--- Donanemab, was given to 1700 individuals, it was given as a monthly infusion- pace of disease was slowed by 30-35%, it also improved daily functions The medication is given once a month by infusion. The medication worked so well that over half of the individuals were able to stop the medication within one year. The patients who stopped taking the medication are continued to be monitored to see if the amyloid returns and at what rate Plaque buildup of amyloid is the hallmark of Alzheimer's, it was unclear what role amyloid played. There are individuals with no signs of dementia yet still have significant amyloid Many drugs are in development focused on slowing amyloid, or breaking down amyloid, even though the link is not clear, it is part of the of the development it appears This study shows that removing the amyloid, slows the cognitive decline in patients with early Alzheimer's Lilly plans on filing for approval within the next 2 months and will be asking for accelerated approval This is exciting as other drugs are in the pipeline also looking at the slowing of amyloid plaque as well as removing plaque. Now that we have 2 drugs that attack beta amyloid with some success it has convinced scientists they are on the right track These drugs work in the early stages of Alzheimer's, so now we know the key to success here will also be in early diagnosis. Studies are now going on using Artificial Intelligence looking at MRI scans and other medical data points and identifying Alzheimer's before symptoms or at an early stage, Studies are  being done at Mass General, Emory and University of Florida Once the algorithm is set and tested this could be expanded across the country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lifeline to Vitality
Neurophysiological Importance of the Upper Cervical Spine

Lifeline to Vitality

Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2023 7:19


Ketones and Coffee Podcast with Lorenz
Episode 125: Brainstem stroke survivor Thrives ON Carnivore Diet (KetoCon Special Interview)

Ketones and Coffee Podcast with Lorenz

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2023 23:06


Live in KetoCon Austin 2023! Greg, a brainstem stroke survivor and advocate for the carnivore diet. Lorenz and Greg discuss Greg's journey to a healthier lifestyle through the carnivore diet, including his experience with stroke and how the diet played a role in his recovery. They also touch on the topic of health and what it means to be healthy. The conversation takes place in Greg's RV, which he has transformed into a "Carnivorous journey vehicle."Show Links:Link to Greg's bio:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thervcarnivore/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thervcarnivoreCall to action for listeners: Follow ketones and Coffee Podcast on Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/keton.esncoffee ), Youtube ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsZZmBEenvZnU8tA1npAODA ), and Twitter ( https://twitter.com/KetonesP ) for updates and new episodes.Support the ShowAre you struggling with symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other mental disorders?1 on 1 CoachingBook your FREE Discovery call HERE ~~~~~~Estrella by Audiorezout is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.~~~~~~ Hey Ketones Krew! I have a Free Keto guide on how to calculate your Macros Correctly In this guide, You will learn the importance of each of the macronutrients and how to calculate your macros to meet your weight loss goals. There's a lot of Versions of keto out there that are notthe best way of doing keto.Download: FREE GUIDE DOWNLOADSupport the show

Spectrum Autism Research
New technique details brainstem's response to sounds

Spectrum Autism Research

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2023 3:50


By revealing differences between autistic and non-autistic children, it could help identify autism in babies.

Spectrum Autism Research
New technique details brainstem's response to sounds

Spectrum Autism Research

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2023 3:50


By revealing differences between autistic and non-autistic children, it could help identify autism in babies.

The Mystery of Your Mind
Midbrain (Mesencephalon)

The Mystery of Your Mind

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2023 2:28


The Midbrain is the topmost part of the Brainstem, located between the Forebrain and the Hindbrain, and serves as a role in integrating the brain and the Spinal Cord, just like the Pons and Medulla. The Midbrain itself is made of three main formations, the Colliculi, the Tegmentum, and the Cerebral Peduncles, and is directly connected to the Oculomotor and Trochlear Cranial Nerves, controlling eye and eyelid movement. In this fast-facts episode, Edward reviews the Midbrain's form and function, as well as the key features that make us who we are.To create this episode, I used information provided by the University of Queensland's Queensland Brain Institute which can be found here: https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/midbrainNo statement, phrase, or episode of this series—or any episode in this podcast—are intended to treat, diagnose, cure, prevent, or otherwise change your mind or body in any form or manner. This podcast—and this series especially—is meant purely for education purposes for the common person. Please do not rely on any of the information I share in this podcast in any way for your medical or psychological treatment. If you feel that you may have a condition mentioned or not mentioned in this podcast, do not come to me. Instead, immediately go to a trusted psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, counselor, or other reliable source of information and help for further guidance. Never disregard professional, psychological, or medical advice—nor delay in the seeking of this advice—because of something that you have heard or read from this podcast, this podcast's episode descriptions, this podcast's promotional materials, or any other information explicitly or implicitly generated from this podcast.-----If you love this podcast, show your support by rating, subscribing, and downloading!  The best way to support me is by sharing this podcast with others—the more people can learn, the better we can understand the crazy world we live in :DI realize that this episode is coming back after a very long hiatus--I have had a few issues with my podcast server, but the rest of the episodes of this season will be published in the next few days :) Sorry for the delays and thank you for your patience!

The Neurotransmitters
Intro to Brainstem Anatomy

The Neurotransmitters

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2023 14:05


It's back to basics this week with an overview of brainstem anatomy! While the brainstem is a complicated area of the nervous system some key principles can help it to be remembered more easily! Find me on Twitter @Drkentris (https://twitter.com/DrKentris) Email me at theneurotransmitterspodcast@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/DrKentris The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of any associated organizations. The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not represent specific medical/health advice. Please consult with an appropriate health care professional for any medical/health advice.

The Medbullets Step 1 Podcast
Neurology | Brainstem

The Medbullets Step 1 Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2023 9:35


In this episode, we review the high-yield topic of Brainstem from the Neurology section. Follow Medbullets on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/medbullets Instagram: www.instagram.com/medbulletsofficial Twitter: www.twitter.com/medbullets --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/medbulletsstep1/message

Leave Your Mark
Exploring the World of Neuroscience with Matt Bush

Leave Your Mark

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2022 66:13


This EP I bring back a leading expert in the world of applied neurology, Matt Bush.  For the past 15+ years, Matt has been educating human performance practitioners on how to use concepts in neuroscience to improve outcomes in injury management and performance.  First with Z-Health as the lead instructor, and now through his own business, Next Level Neuro.Jaime and I brought Matt in to help us integrate applied neurology into the practice of Reconditioning and it has changed how we practice and the results we help our clients achieve. We spent this last year in an intense mentorship with NLN to further build on what we first learned so that we could continue to bring the practice of Reconditioning to an even higher level.In this podcast, Matt and I discuss some fundamentals of this neuroscience exploration, what it could mean for your practice, and the outcomes you seek to achieve.Reconditioning follows a step-by-step process of integrating applied neurology in our three courses, R1 Foundations (proprioceptive concepts), R2 Designs (Visual and Vestibular considerations), and the R3 CoLab (Cortex, Brainstem, and the Cerebellum).  Please have a look at our course curriculum today at https://reconditioninghq.com/If you wish to see what Matt is doing with his company Next Level Neuro, he can be found at https://www.nextlevelneuro.com/If you liked this EP, please take the time to rate and comment, share with a friend, and connect with us on social channels IG @Kingopain, TW @BuiltbyScott, LI+FB Scott Livingston. All things LYM at www.LYMLab.com, download your free Life Lab Starter Kit today and get busy living https://lymlab.com/free-lym-lab-starter/

Middle Tech
215. BrainSTEM University: Ricky Mason on Providing Youth in Underserved Areas Access to Quality STEM Education

Middle Tech

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 41:42


Ricky Mason is the Founder and CEO of BrainSTEM University, a Louisville-based edtech company. BrainSTEM started as a STEM education program, helping youth in underserved areas access quality STEM education. As more students transitioned to learning online during Covid, they've grown to be an edtech company that develops teacher tools to enable all teachers and students to be more creative and dive deeper into learning. Our discussion covers Ricky's extensive STEM background, a breakdown of how BrainSTEM equips students and teachers to dive deeper into STEM topics, and the struggles that Ricky has faced while trying to raise capital from this region. Learn more about BrainSTEM University at BrainSTEMU.com Visit us at MiddleTech.com Take our survey for a $5 Startbucks gift card here. Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Logan's Twitter Tj's Twitter Middle Tech is proud to be supported by: Our presenting sponsor, KY Innovation Endeavor Midwest Render Capital

Better with Dr. Stephanie
Obesity, Lipostats, & Fact Checking Diet Books | BETTER! w/ Dr. Stephanie & Stephan Guyenet

Better with Dr. Stephanie

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2022 134:55


The Better Show brings Stephan Guyenet to the show this week to talk his new book The Hungry Brain. Stephan has a BS in Biochemistry and a PHD in Neuroscience, with over 12 years in the neuroscience research field. The founder of Red Pen Reviews, an unbiased, non-profit, evidence-based review company that scores popular health and nutrition books available for the public based on their sources. We begin chatting about the evolution of diets and the level of obesity in society, as well as the changes that have driven the BMI increase over the past century. We venture into the science side of the episode to talk about Lipostats, the Hypothalamus and the brain stem. We discuss the behavioural side of obesity, and the reward circuits related to highly palatable food and consumption. We explore the solutions available to lose weight, and what are the best options for differing levels of obesity. We finish off the episode by talking about debunking sources and misinformation around nutrition and health. Are you A Healthcare Practitioner? Join The Estima Certification Program HereJoin the Hello Betty AMA here: https://www.hellobetty.club/ama We'd like to thank our sponsors, The DNA  Company - $50 discount using code "DRSTEPHANIE" at checkout. https://www.thednacompany.com/drstephanieHVMN Ketones - get 10% off your order with Promo Code “STEPHANIE”  https://hvmn.me/STEPHANIEAthletic Greens - redeem an exclusive offer here: athleticgreens.com/stephanieLMNT Electrolytes - A FREE 7-flavor sample pack! - https://www.drinklmnt.com/DrEstimaOrion Red Light Therapy - Use the code STEPHANIE10 for 10% off + 40% off storewide until September 5th https://www.orionrlt.ca/?ref=StephanieLumen - get $25 off your order with Promo Code “DRSTEPHANIE25” https://www.lumen.me/?fid=1799Ancestral Supplements - Use Promo Code “ASA10” for 10% off any purchase https://shop.ancestralsupplements.com/discount/Tribe10?rfsn=5900205.652074&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=5900205.652074PRIMEADINE - get 10% Off your Order with Promo Code “DRSTEPHANIE10” - https://oxfordhealthspan.com/products/best-spermidine-supplementBIOOPTIMIZERS - receive 10% off your order with Promo Code "ESTIMA" - www.biooptimizers.com/drstephanie Episode Overview: 0:00 Introduction2:00 Stephen's Discovery of Obesity Research 8:00 Brain's Impact on Hunger & Obesity 19:30 When Fatness is a Good thing23:30 Obesity from an Evolutionary Lens32:00 Historical Trend of Obesity56:00 Lipostat & Leptin  1:09:00 Brainstem's Satiety Role 1:33:30 Tools to Circumvent Weight Gain   1:48:30 Red Pen's Empirical Reviews2:12:00 Conclusion Follow Me On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.stephanie.estimaGet yourself a copy of my best-selling book, The Betty Body - https://bettybodybook.comJoin the Hello Betty Community here - https://hellobetty.club Stephan's Links:The Hungry Brain Book Linkhttps://www.redpenreviews.org/

Parenting After Trauma with Robyn Gobbel
{REPLAY} How The Brainstem Heals

Parenting After Trauma with Robyn Gobbel

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2022 33:48


"The brainstem is developed, soothed, and repaired through experiences that are rhythmic, repetitive, relational, and somatosensory" ~ Bruce Perry, MD, PhDThis is part 3 of the Strengthening the Foundation of the Brain series.The brainstem is the lowest, most inside region of the brain.  It sits at the base of the brain and connects the skull brain to the spinal cord.  The brainstem is the first part of the brain to really wire up, flourishing with neural connections.  The brainstem is organizing and developing in utero and is working pretty effectively in healthy, full term infants.The brainstem is responsible for all the things our brain and body does automatically- in fact, it's called the autonomic nervous system.Heart rate, respiration, and most importantly in this Strengthening the Foundation for the Brain series- the regulation of energy and arousal in the nervous system.It can be easy to overlook the relationship between energy, arousal, and behavior because we've been taught to believe the behavior is largely deliberate, intentionally, and something we do with a lot of thinking.The brainstem is organized and regulated- healed- through experiences that are rhythmic, repetitive, relational, somatosensory! If you'd rather read the blog instead of listen on the podcast, CLICK HERE.Goodies you can find on my website:FREE Brilliance of Attachment eBook at https://robyngobbel.com/ebookFREE masterclass on What Behavior Really Is and How to Change It at https://robyngobbel.com/masterclassUpcoming trainings for Parent and Professionals are listed at https://robyngobbel.com/trainings *******The Club is a virtual community for the families of kids with big, baffling behaviors and the professionals who support them. https://robyngobbel.com/theclubApplications for the 2023 cohort of Being With ~ a year-long immersive and holistic program for parenting professionals ~ will open summer 2022. https://robyngobbel.com/beingwith

Science Connections: The Podcast
S1-09. Supporting K–8 science students in the digital world: Ricky Mason

Science Connections: The Podcast

Play Episode Play 32 sec Highlight Listen Later May 25, 2022 29:14 Transcription Available


In this episode, Eric sits down with Ricky Mason, CEO of BrainSTEM. Ricky shares his passion for inspiring students into science careers, and his path from an engineering career with organizations like the Department of Defense, NASA, and the CIA to starting BrainSTEM, an education program that develops creative digital tools to enable all teachers and students to dive deeper into STEM content. Ricky and Eric talk about representation in science classrooms and the importance of embedding fun within K–8 science content! Check out BrainSTEM here!Join Science Connections: The Community on Facebook!

Relentlessly Resilient Podcast
Brainstem tumor survivor Jodi Orgill Brown part 2: It is your choice to be “better” or “bitter”

Relentlessly Resilient Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 40:21


In this second part of a two-part series featuring Jodi Orgil Brown’s inspirational story, she shares with listeners the wisdom she has learned along her decade-plus medical journey. As she continues to recover from brainstem tumor removal, three craniotomies, and multiple reconstructive surgeries to help with subsequent facial paralysis, she has learned that making and keeping stretch goals has been the key to her progress. And while some people in her situation have chosen to be bitter, she has chosen to be better! She now inspires others with her best-selling memoir and as a motivational speaker and coach. Even though we live in challenging times we can become Relentlessly Resilient as we lean on and learn from one another’s experiences. Hosts Jennie Taylor and Michelle Scharf are no strangers to overcoming adversity; Michelle lost her husband to cancer, while Jennie’s husband Major Brent Taylor was killed in the service of our country. Their stories bond them together and now listeners can join them weekly as they visit with others enduring challenges and who teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward. Listen to the Relentlessly Resilient Podcast regularly on your favorite platform, at kslpodcasts.com, kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSL App. Join the Resilience conversation on Facebook at @RelentlesslyResilient and Instagram @RelentlesslyResilientPodcast. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relentlessly Resilient Podcast
Brainstem tumor survivor Jodi Orgill Brown part 1: From fatigue to facial paralysis

Relentlessly Resilient Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022 43:06


Jodi Orgill Brown is an author, motivational speaker, wife, mother, and brainstem tumor survivor. She was living her white-picket-fence life until her fatigue and headaches turned out to be something much more sinister. Now after three craniotomies, facial paralysis, and multiple reconstructive surgeries she has become a best-selling writer and inspiration to those she meets. She joins our Relentlessly Resilient hosts to share her medical journey in the first part of this two-part special, and how a positive mindset can help you overcome debilitating circumstances. Even though we live in challenging times we can become Relentlessly Resilient as we lean on and learn from one another’s experiences. Hosts Jennie Taylor and Michelle Scharf are no strangers to overcoming adversity; Michelle lost her husband to cancer, while Jennie’s husband Major Brent Taylor was killed in the service of our country. Their stories bond them together and now listeners can join them weekly as they visit with others enduring challenges and who teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward. Listen to the Relentlessly Resilient Podcast regularly on your favorite platform, at kslpodcasts.com, kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSL App. Join the Resilience conversation on Facebook at @RelentlesslyResilient and Instagram @RelentlesslyResilientPodcast. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.