Headshake
THE BRAIN IS HUNGRY FOR PEOPLE. Keeping in mind new experiences of isolation during the pandemic, recent research shows parallels between a socially-deprived brain craving people and a fasted brain craving food.
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Here’s more involuntary neuroscience: spinal reflexes. They’re so involuntary, your brain doesn’t even know they happened.
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The letter A is always red to some people. To others, the sound of a car horn might always smell like pie. Libby and Ruka sensually explore the rare but real condition of synesthesia.
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Does it feel like you’ve heard this before? An episode on déjà vu. An episode on déjà vu.
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Returning to the land of electrophysiology, Lord Nathan and Lady Kristen focus this time on action potentials, which neurons use to send electrical signals long distances in the body. God save the Baked Bean!
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In 1848, Phineas Gage survived an unfortunate railroad accident that later informed science and medicine’s understanding of how the prefrontal cortex works. Supporting character: Spikey the tamping iron
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It’s Headshake’s anniversary, and the finale of the Gap Junction Almanac. We hope you’ve had the “Time of Your Life,” and we’ll still be “Friends Forever.” Let’s cheer ourselves up with a discussion of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
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“Nerves?” This is a neuroscience podcast. Haven’t we been talking about nerves the whole time??? Nope! Learn why.
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There are two kilograms (4.4 pounds) of microbes in your gut. Are these little residents controlling your brain? If so, how? Poop Detectives Libby and Ruka are on the case.
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Hair cells in your inner ear and piano keys in your brain. This is our second episode on the sense of hearing. Libby and Ruka wrap up the year with thicker-than-usual Wisconsin accents. Happy birthday to Libby, and Happy New Year!
info_outlineCan you feel it? Your pointer finger can. After a visit to the land of Complicatia, Libby and Ruka return to Gap Junction to discuss somatosensation and ask important personal questions about the little man living in your cortex.
Key Words
analgesia, anterolateral column, capsaicin, cation, contralateral, dorsal column, free neuron ending, gate, habituation, homunculus, hyperalgesia, insult, ion channel, ipsilateral, ligand, mechanoreceptor, Meissner’s corpuscle, menthol, Merkel’s corpuscle, modality, nociceptor, Pacinian corpuscle, pain, phantom limb, pressure, receptive field, referred pain, Ruffini corpuscle, sensory adaptation, somatosensation, somatosensory cortex, submodality, temperature, touch, transient receptor potential (TRP) protein, vibration
Old West Word of the Day (Gap Junction Almanac)
Knock Into a Cocked Hat
Reference
Textbook: Vander’s Human Physiology, 13th Edition
Connect with us!
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Site headshake.show OR headshake.ninja
Music
Bushwick Tarantella by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1300002
Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Modified from original with volume fading and cuts
Disclaimer
This podcast is for entertainment and education only. Neither of the hosts is a medical doctor, and nothing they say is medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.