Brain Ponderings podcast with Mark Mattson
Conversations with neuroscientists, neurologists, evolutionary biologists, anthropologists, computer scientists, and others that ponder the brain. Here are a few of the questions that BRAIN PONDERINGS will tackle: How have brains evolved to enable success in diverse environments? How does the brain develop in the womb and in early life? What are the mechanisms responsible for learning and memory, language, and emotions? How does the brain respond to life’s challenges? In what ways does the brain influence the body and vice-versa? What is known about the causes of psychiatric, neurodegenerative, and other brain disorders? What new technologies are being developed to treat neurological disorders? How do naturally occurring and man-made chemicals affect the brain? How can gene therapy, cell regeneration, and brain stimulation be used for brain disorders? What are the boundaries between ethical and unethical neuroscience research?
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Carlos Matute: Brain White Matter in Health, Endurance Exercise, and Disease
06/17/2025
Carlos Matute: Brain White Matter in Health, Endurance Exercise, and Disease
White matter consists of bundles of long axons that convey information between neural circuits between different brain regions within and between brain hemispheres. These long axons are wrapped with many layers of lipid-rich membranes of oligodendrocytes (a type of glial cell) and it is this ‘insulation’ that enables rapid propagation of signals over long distances. The axons in white matter consume high amounts of energy and their energy demand increases during extended physical exercise. In this episode Professor Carlos Matute talks about his interesting journey to become a neuroscientist and his fascinating discoveries concerning the function and dysfunction of oligodendrocyte neurobiology. He and his team recently provided evidence that the lipids in myelin are consumed by neurons in marathon runners during the event and then are replenished during their recovery. We also talk about how oligodendrocytes and axons in white matter are damaged by traumatic brain injuries, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and neurodegenerative disorders. LINKS About Carlos Matute https://www.achucarro.org/director/carlos-matute/ White matter and marathon running https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12021653/pdf/42255_2025_Article_1244.pdf Review articles https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10454078/pdf/ijms-24-12912.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4493393/pdf/fnana-09-00092.pdf
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Michael Kreutz: Amazing Nanomachines in Synapses that Keep Brains Healthy and Wise
06/10/2025
Michael Kreutz: Amazing Nanomachines in Synapses that Keep Brains Healthy and Wise
Michael Kreutz is Head of the Neuroplasticity Research Group at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology in Magdeburg Germany. Using powerful high resolution microscopy and molecular biology tools his laboratory has shown that autophagy occurs within synapses. Synaptic autophagy is stimulated by neural network activity and is critical for their maintenance and for learning and memory. Moreover, evidence suggests that conventional autophagy and exocytic autophagy prevent the abnormal accumulation of pathogenic proteins (Tau, TDP43, etc.) in neurodegenerative disorders. Pharmacological and lifestyle interventions that bolster synaptic autophagy may promote brain health and disease resistance. LINKS Kreutz Laboratory: https://www.kreutzlab.com/ Review article on autophagy and synaptic plasticity https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0896-6273%2825%2900045-5 Activity-dependent protein expulsion in dendrites https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2211-1247%2823%2901009-4 Golgi satellites in dendrites, NCAM, and LTP https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2211-1247%2823%2900703-9
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Jordan Grafman: Neural Circuits of Religiosity: ‘The Kingdom of God’ is in the Prefrontal Cortex
06/03/2025
Jordan Grafman: Neural Circuits of Religiosity: ‘The Kingdom of God’ is in the Prefrontal Cortex
Belief in supernatural agents and other religious myths arose as a means of ‘explaining’ the unknown and as a tool for social cohesion and hierarchical control of civilizations. Their religiosity is major feature of a ‘believers’ self identity as well as their group identity. Compelling evidence from multiple types of studies have revealed the neurobiological foundations of beliefs in imaginary deities, an afterlife, and other religious myths. In this episode neuropsychologist Jordan Grafman talks about his research and related research showing that neural circuits in the prefrontal cortex convey religious beliefs much as they convey other beliefs (political, economic, etc.). Particularly fascinating are the results of brain imaging studies of mental imagery (e.g., ‘communicating’ with God), religious fundamentalism, and studies of Vietnam veterans who suffered penetrating brain injuries that dramatically affected their religiosity. These studies confirm and extend previous brain imaging studies by showing that spirituality maps to a brain circuit in the periaqueductal grey similar to lesions that cause delusions. LINKS Review articles https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9583670/pdf/fnbeh-16-977600.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11638176/pdf/fnhum-18-1495565.pdf Functional brain imaging and religious experiences https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2660736/pdf/zpq4876.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3929007/pdf/brain.2013.0172.pdf Brain lesions and religiosity https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6197485/pdf/nihms958660.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8714871/pdf/nihms-1735983.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11388357/pdf/pnas.202322399.pdf
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Sridevi Sarma: Using DSM and Neuro-engineering to Diagnose and Treat Neurological Disorders
05/29/2025
Sridevi Sarma: Using DSM and Neuro-engineering to Diagnose and Treat Neurological Disorders
Neurological disorders involve aberrant neural network activity. New technologies are needed for establishing at a fine spatial and temporal resolution the nature of the altered network activity – and for restoring activity to or towards a healthy state. Professor Sri Sarma is an electrical engineer and neuroscientist who is at the forefront of this research field. Her research combines learning theory and control systems with neuroscience to develop novel approaches for understanding normal brain function and then developing brain – computer – electrophysiology feedback control systems to improve performance in health and disease. Her research and technology development is advancing personalized treatments for epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, and depression. LINKS Seizure onset zone neural fragility in epilepsy https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8547387/pdf/nihms-1743906.pdf Combining interictal intracranial EEG and fMRI to compute a dynamic resting-state index for surgical outcome validation https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11811083/pdf/fnetp-04-1491967.pdf] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10081946/pdf/nihms-1855381.pdf Internal states during movements https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10687170/pdf/41467_2023_Article_43257.pdf Sensory – motor feedback control (athletic performance) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10998569/pdf/pnas.202319313.pdf Gambling and decision making https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11352602/pdf/brainsci-14-00773.pdf
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Richard Johnson: How High Fructose Intake Induces Obesity and Chronic Diseases of the Body and Brain
05/20/2025
Richard Johnson: How High Fructose Intake Induces Obesity and Chronic Diseases of the Body and Brain
Compelling evidence shows that consumption of high fructose corn syrup in soft drinks and ultraprocessed foods has contributed to the increases in obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and dementia that has occurred during the past 50 years. Professor Richard Johnson’s research has been at the forefront of establishing how fructose adversely affects cellular energetics and function, and what happens to various organ systems with chronic consumption of fructose. Interestingly, cells can convert to glucose to fructose under certain conditions suggesting a roles for endogenously produced fructose in adverse effects of high glucose intake on health. Animal studies have shown that high fructose intake impairs cognition, synaptic plasticity, and neurogenesis. Fructose is also stimulates hunger and food-seeking behaviors resulting in overeating. Evidence further suggests that high fructose during pregnancy can cause abnormal fetal brain development and increase the risk for developmental brain disorders – most notably autism. LINKS Reviews Fructose and obesity https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10363705/pdf/rstb.2022.0230.pdf Fructose and uric acid https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3781481/pdf/3307.pdf Fructose and neuroplasticity https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12037248/pdf/JNME2025-5571686.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2694409/pdf/nihms72749.pdf Fructose and autism https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6779523/pdf/nihms-1537205.pdf
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Brian Kennedy: Decoding Metabolic Aging Clocks to Understand and Counteract Aging
05/13/2025
Brian Kennedy: Decoding Metabolic Aging Clocks to Understand and Counteract Aging
Major progress has recently been made in understanding the aging process at the molecular, cellular, and organ system levels. This knowledge is now being applied in preventative and interventional health care. Moreover, because of the severe burden of age-related diseases on societies governments are increasingly developing strategies to extend health span throughout their populations. In this episode Professor Brian Kennedy at the National University of Singapore provides a broad perspective on the field of aging research and its translation into actionable countermeasures. He talks about emerging research on ‘metabolic aging clocks’ and their applications to personalized anti-aging strategies. His experiences in Singapore are particularly enlightening. LINKS Professor Kennedy’s NUS profile: https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/bch/faculty/brian-kennedy/ Related articles: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163724004355?via%3Dihub https://www-sciencedirect-com.proxy1.library.jhu.edu/science/article/pii/S1550413124004534 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11330810/pdf/fnagi-16-1428244.pdf https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40250404/
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Anton Maximov – The Synaptic Signatures of a Memory: Zooming in Using Cutting-Edge Technology
05/06/2025
Anton Maximov – The Synaptic Signatures of a Memory: Zooming in Using Cutting-Edge Technology
Remarkable progress has been made towards understanding of the molecular control of neurotransmitter release from presynaptic axon terminals and the responses of the postsynaptic neuron by neurotransmitters. We know that synaptic activity is required for learning and memory but the structural basis of a memory (an engram) remains unknown. Anton Maximov has made major contributions to understanding the molecular control of synaptic plasticity associated with learning and memory. Here he talks about his research career journey which began in St. Petersburg Russia followed by postdoc training in Dallas Texas and then to the Scripps Research Institute where he is currently a professor and chair of the Neuroscience Department. He and his team and collaborators recently published an elegant technologically-demanding study in Science in which nanoscale resolution ultrastructural analyses was combined with molecular tagging of neurons encoding a memory revealing an increase in synaptic complexity with intriguing presynaptic structural remodeling. LINKS Anton Maximov Lab page: https://www.maximovlab.org/ Science article https://www-science-org.proxy1.library.jhu.edu/doi/epdf/10.1126/science.ado8316 Structural diversity of chemical synapses: https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2211-1247%2821%2900267-9 Experience dependent neuron remodeling https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0896-6273%2814%2900800-9
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Allan Butterfield: Cell Membrane Lipid Peroxidation and Neuron Degeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease
04/29/2025
Allan Butterfield: Cell Membrane Lipid Peroxidation and Neuron Degeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease
The outer membrane of cells is comprised of a lipid bilayer consisting of phospholipids, cholesterol, arachidonic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, and others. Embedded in the membrane are various proteins that play roles critical to the survival and function of the cell. Examples of membrane proteins of particular importance for neurons are: ion channels and ion ‘pumps which control neuron excitability; glucose and ketone transporters which are critical for energy metabolism, and receptors for a myriad of neurotransmitters, neurotrophic factors, and other inter-cellular signaling molecules. In this episode chemistry Professor Allan Butterfield talks about research showing a pivotal role for free radicals generated by the Alzheimer’s amyloid-peptide in triggering a chain reaction attack on membrane arachidonic acid resulting in the release of a toxic lipid fragment called 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). HNE can bind irreversibly to certain amino acids on proteins (lysine, cysteine, histidine) thereby compromising the normal function of the protein. The Butterfield lab and my lab showed that binding of HNE to ion pump proteins, glucose transporters, and glutamate transporters renders neurons vulnerable to excitotoxicity in Alzheimer’s disease. Interventions that suppress membrane lipid peroxidation or detoxify HNE may prevent or ameliorate Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. LINKS Professor Butterfield’s webpage: https://chem.as.uky.edu/users/dabcns Review articles https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/physrev.00030.2022 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7502429/pdf/nihms-1583713.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7085980/pdf/nihms-1566301.pdf
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Francesco Papaleo: Inter-brain Synchrony and Co-modulation of Neural Networks in Social Interactions
04/22/2025
Francesco Papaleo: Inter-brain Synchrony and Co-modulation of Neural Networks in Social Interactions
A fascinating feature of interactions between two people is that neural network activity patterns in their brain can become synchronized. In this episode Francesco Papaleo talks about research studies in which activities of neuronal networks are recorded simultaneously in interacting humans or mice. His work has recently focused on the role of interbrain synchronization in the prefrontal cortex in emotion recognition and empathy. He summarizes this research and its implications as follows: Interacting brains operate as an integrated system, with neural dynamics coevolving over time. Neuronal synchronization across brains has been observed in a range of species, including humans, monkeys, bats, and mice. This inter-neural synchrony (INS) has been proposed as a potential mechanism facilitating social interaction by enabling the functional integration of multiple brains.. Individual responses, such as emotion processing or decision-making, are adjusted and updated based on information that is continuously exchanged among the interacting partners LINKS Dr. Papaleo’s webpage at the Italian Institute of Technology https://www.iit.it/people-details/-/people/francesco-papaleo Review article on multi-brain dynamics https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763424004342?via%3Dihub Self-experience of another’s stress https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-024-01816-y Cortical – cortical transfer during social interactions https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-024-01647-x Prosocial vs selfish behaviors https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-022-01179-2
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Thiruma Arumugam – Vascular Dementia Mechanisms, Risks, and Prevention
04/15/2025
Thiruma Arumugam – Vascular Dementia Mechanisms, Risks, and Prevention
Neural networks in the brain are active 24/7 and so require a continuous supply of nutrients via the cerebral blood vessels. As we age the cerebral vascular system can become compromised resulting in damage to neurons and a consequent impairment of cognition. Cerebrovascular dementia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly but can also occur in younger people as a consequence of genetic mutations. In this episode professor Thiruma Arumugam of LaTrobe University talk about the causes and consequences of cerebral small vessel disease. The good news is that there are several different measures people can take to reduce their risk for cerebrovascular dementia. LINKS Vascular dementia reviews https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163724000965?via%3Dihub https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6420146/pdf/emss-81050.pdf Biomarkers of vascular dementia https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163724000655?via%3Dihub Intermittent fasting and vascular dementia https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11224924/pdf/jomes-33-2-92.pdf
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William Brady: MADness: Understanding and Counteracting Social Discord and Moral Contagion
04/08/2025
William Brady: MADness: Understanding and Counteracting Social Discord and Moral Contagion
William Brady deploys behavioral experiments, big data analytics, and natural language processing to elucidate how human psychology interacts with social media technology to affect morality, emotions, and decision-making. Until very recently in their evolution any one human interacted with no more than a few dozen others during their lifetime. Moreover, those interactions were face-to-face. By its very nature social media is often subjecting our brains to situations for which they are not evolved to deal with properly. Politicians, large corporations, and ‘influencers’ with agendas are taking advantage of several features of social media to benefit themselves and their in-group (political party, religion, ethnicity, and more) at the expense of large swaths of society. Content intended to trigger outrage is a particularly prominent tool in their social media toolbox. In this episode Dr. Brady talks about his research on the spread of moralized content (moral contagion) on social media and how it muffles critical thinking and thoughtful conversations and cooperation amongst individuals with different perspectives on issues. This is big problem for which solutions are not easy given that algorithms are purposely designed in ways that amplify moralized content because this increases the profits and power of those who peddle the outrage, fear, and outgroup hostility and schadenfreude.LINKS Brady lab page: https://williamjbrady.com/ Relevant published articles: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=brady+wj+social+media&sort=date&size=200
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Dietary Phytochemicals and Mycochemicals, Neuroplasticity, and Neuroprotection
03/27/2025
Dietary Phytochemicals and Mycochemicals, Neuroplasticity, and Neuroprotection
In this episode I provide an overview of the evidence that certain chemicals produced by plants and fungi are beneficial for brain function and health. I focus on the fact that the function of these phytochemicals or mycochemicals in the plants or mushrooms is to defend them from being consumed by insects and other animals. We and other animals evolved mechanisms to tolerate the noxious chemicals. We avoid too much of them because they have a bitter taste, and our cells respond to the chemicals by activating adaptive stress responses (antioxidant enzymes, protein chaperones, neurotrophic factors, etc). By these hormesis-based mechanism way plant-based diets enhance brain resilience and counteract aging and disease processes. LINKS Articles on dietary phytochemicals and brain health https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4081729/pdf/pr.113.007757.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5841445/pdf/nihms946635.pdf https://www-sciencedirect-com.proxy1.library.jhu.edu/science/article/pii/S0166223606002001 Review article on mycochemicals https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10647524/pdf/ijms-24-15596.pdf Evolutionary perspectives https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4586293/pdf/nihms678801.pdf https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1087184523000439?via%3Dihub Recent Nature Medicine study https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03570-5
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Dietmar Schmitz: Interneuron Diversity and Circuit Mechanisms of Brain Rhythms in Memory and Recall
03/18/2025
Dietmar Schmitz: Interneuron Diversity and Circuit Mechanisms of Brain Rhythms in Memory and Recall
The vast majority of research on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the storage and retrieval of memories has focused on the excitatory glutamatergic neurons that convey signals into and throughout the brain. However, recent research has revealed the importance of widespread oscillations in neural network activity (particularly gamma and theta frequencies) in cognition. In this episode Professor Dietmar Schmitz talks about features of short- and long-range neural connectivity and their roles in cognition with a focus on inhibitory GABAergic interneurons. Different subtypes of GABAergic neurons have different molecular signatures, shapes, electrophysiological properties, and connectivity patterns. These different GABAergic neurons serve specific functions in memory, and information processing. LINKS: Schmitz lab page: https://schmitz.neurocure.de/ GABAergic interneurons and memory: https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0896-6273%2823%2900475-0 microcircuits and spatial coding: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/epdf/10.1152/physrev.00042.2020 hippocampal CA3 module: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10861929/pdf/pnas.202312281.pdf
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Dudley Lamming: mTOR – How Dietary Protein and Amino Acids Affect Aging and Disease Processes
03/11/2025
Dudley Lamming: mTOR – How Dietary Protein and Amino Acids Affect Aging and Disease Processes
Research has shown that excessive dietary protein intake and high amounts of branch-chain amino acids (BCAA) in particular can accelerate aging and exacerbate chronic diseases of aging. In this episode University of Wisconsin Assoc. Professor Dudley Lamming talks about the cellular amino acid sensing mTOR pathway and its influences on aging and disease processes. The Lamming laboratory is making major contributions to establishing how amino acid intake affects cells and organ systems in health and disease. This research has important implications for optimizing health throughout the lifespan. LINKS Lamming lab webpage: https://lamminglab.medicine.wisc.edu/ Review article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9197406/pdf/ACEL-21-e13626.pdf Protein restriction in Alzheimer’s mouse model: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11189507/pdf/41467_2024_Article_49589.pdf BCAA restriction, aging, and lifespan: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10655617/pdf/nihms-1939504.pdf
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Roshan Cools: Dopamine’s Roles in Cognitive Control, Motivation, Decision-Making, ADHD, and PD
03/06/2025
Roshan Cools: Dopamine’s Roles in Cognitive Control, Motivation, Decision-Making, ADHD, and PD
Dopamine is best known as a neurotransmitter involved in the experiencing of pleasure and reward, and for its role in addiction to drugs, gambling, food, etc. But dopamine is also very important in the brain’s ability to evaluate computational tradeoffs (cost versus benefit) and make decisions. In this episode Roshan Cools a Professor of cognitive neuropsychiatry at Radbout University in the Netherlands talks about how dopamine normally controls the neuronal circuits in the striatum and prefrontal cortex that regulate motivation and cognitive control. By combining PET imaging to measure relative dopamine release with various cognitive control tasks and administration of drugs such as methylphenidate (Ritilin) that affect dopamine signaling she found that every individual has their own dopamine ‘set point’. She talks about how dopaminergic drugs enhance cognitive control in ADHD patients but impair cognitive control in patients with Parkinson’s disease. We also talk about potential pharmacological and behavioral modifications to optimize cognitive control in healthy people. LINKS Professor Cools web page: https://www.roshancools.com/ Chemistry of the adaptive mind: https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0896-6273%2819%2930838-4 Dopamine’s role in making cost versus benefit decisions: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8282630/pdf/nihms-1697802.pdf
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Maryanne Garry: Misinformation, Disinformation, False Memories, AI, and Our Future
03/03/2025
Maryanne Garry: Misinformation, Disinformation, False Memories, AI, and Our Future
In this episode I talk with Professor Maryanne Garry at the University of Waikato New Zealand about several interrelated realms of human cognition that are fundamental to changes in the behaviors of individuals and social groups as influenced by electronic media and artificial intelligence. Dr. Garry has devoted her career to understanding how memories of one’s past experiences can be distorted, how false information can become engrained in one’s system of beliefs. She talks about individual and collective memories, and the brain’s source monitoring systems and how they are influenced by group identity, repetition of information (whether true or not). Interestingly although memories of untruths can be retracted when new information is provided they can still influence one’s decision-making. She also talks about how social media and AI (LLMs) influence the brain’s source monitoring systems and potential approaches to ameliorating their adverse effects on mental health and societal discord. LINKS Dr. Garry’s lab webpage: https://www.garrylab.com/ Collective and autobiographical memories: https://www-tandfonline-com.proxy1.library.jhu.edu/doi/epdf/10.1080/09658211.2022.2154804 Retracted memories: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9365748/pdf/13421_2022_Article_1328.pdf LLMs and the institutionalization of misinformation: https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com/271877/1-s2.0-S1364661323X00138/1-s2.0-S1364661324002213/main.pdf?X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEG4aCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJGMEQCIA9kHgyXdZwhJDF2Nc6gQiDwWhuj%2F9fvysEcbyMKnaM8AiBEX6%2BAkbxOT%2FT%2FJCTkVCeOnibe%2Fin%2BeiHRN8auAjLO7yq8BQin%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F8BEAUaDDA1OTAwMzU0Njg2NSIMnDX%2Bz%2BiS%2BD9b8%2BsCKpAFlPWcxi2Nu4wg%2FlKU8mSVoZQPyiR6LQkJokbH6TlJvixjI04Sd92Kj5SSAHB8QvzpkbIuJoErUOjgSlkpGTlKK7kMqkMt2S%2FSmUyp5OzH5PlhGyxSi3Lpq%2Bdjol9vmiF9rXTEeHeRrHzUh48X4HajvARh9q6lC6v%2FCSx84dpolcD3kMlhYIEuYfJbVc%2Fm4k%2F9xtjX2NtA3BhLHFs8nzUuuDcNtLxZ3mi7SLbQz9oBGMdeJFd2bBjf%2ByCpjqUl%2Bs9ALlI75kYC1aDPdB2f84XWB78f9CKz%2FtNob%2FjKE9tMcwB3Dni8%2FtndhQRjybd74siNn2sApJu%2FXKwgKsqJEvKP8CDYYTgnSVrRAseqXSdLKoA63G91ZG9K7nOjODivQI%2BpzciLPlvzYVjpeEJ5LE3PC5VVYxCkOQKUtwDvUgXigGtfHsgazln3m8WMBxakhHXrKEWK7q%2FuxuLBle%2BD%2BK%2FdM1aw2JpS7hyllAgfZ4cuSBexwzQ%2B3OjGg4Fe2MBdTmpa0ZG9WT7B7KNo2FxoiKEZJupQ3z%2FaMOIBCMCqa0EvuMCQpIqZKS8zxngNpJeOVpTuWv%2BJ3EQjM3T6GL9hxNA%2BszUz7MR7KN6so2RZvU32fCtHB14j2vHVXkaytDu653flfPWASPWQKprXowbOsghYz0UegMyUjO1a67axaYcTUrVAt7OxvM%2BwyZDkSPJhOWHDfcSyL30v%2BhTLjWxGRy4GdrEndVdgAw3RmjDWx0E4CrmUkycwWQND01xhJI6IijMO%2BgoJ%2FFVSnrNNvGVGCCtU80%2FylVKonMGKTDptdPrqsi8aQDdQYdyL5sq4itFXa6Obi0EvBTjlB8p%2BMORusgVwSP9PBJFbLLbT%2FnxegI2FJJ0wh5%2BMvgY6sgFhGU%2FH5TGFnQMV5o1J5r37XL5V8jHthF%2FO3kUtL%2Fk6oDRUfFYPQxvyRxi0EzFaGcDu7jYC53O%2BZxrzPgPJS1qP6%2BNJu6%2FDls8iyGvg3JAi85RLRRgZlhp3wnfLghXW4W6VnmXzQzMUdjCahckzzB9w8XVmhGrXw%2F4JIvHgSx73D6oVy%2BPMi4h%2F4I5T08ApqPSaR7bkrnYvAtWgfjRynIpiabV%2BBisHSuNwL11EsBTf3auq&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Date=20250301T144026Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAQ3PHCVTY4USPLILK%2F20250301%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Signature=03ec372fac008431242909cb94e0acfca84a8a7d4fdc142df102bf78149b9761&hash=1da48c96274cce2ef2914eaf9bd37a118e05e359da92f349fb5c1a767dcd852e&host=68042c943591013ac2b2430a89b270f6af2c76d8dfd086a07176afe7c76c2c61&pii=S1364661324002213&tid=spdf-52d87662-932c-46b0-925b-296bc39e2460&sid=f0d8a6a836dc5742e59bb5900fc7ac98a3f4gxrqa&type=client&tsoh=d3d3LXNjaWVuY2VkaXJlY3QtY29tLnByb3h5MS5saWJyYXJ5LmpodS5lZHU%3D&rh=d3d3LXNjaWVuY2VkaXJlY3QtY29tLnByb3h5MS5saWJyYXJ5LmpodS5lZHU%3D&ua=0f105a505f56585c0053&rr=919968d1f9843b0b&cc=us
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Michal Schwartz: How Immune System Cells Promote Brain Health and Recovery From Damage
02/25/2025
Michal Schwartz: How Immune System Cells Promote Brain Health and Recovery From Damage
It had long been thought that the brain was ‘immunologically privileged’ (physically separated from the immune system). However, this dogma was overturned by a series of discoveries including those made by Professor Michal Schwartz at the Weizmann Institute. In this episode I talk with Michal about the different types of immune cells that are located in ‘immunological niches’ of the brain (choroid plexus, perivascular space, meninges..) and how these cells play critical roles in maintaining normal brain health and function (neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory). In addition, Michal tells us how the immune system is vital for healing and protecting the brain in case of injury or disease in a process called protective autoimmunity. LINKS The Schwartz laboratory webpage: https://www.weizmann.ac.il/brain-sciences/labs/schwartz/ Review article in Science: https://www-science-org.proxy1.library.jhu.edu/doi/epdf/10.1126/science.abo7649 Review article in Neuron: https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com/272195/1-s2.0-S0896627324X00021/1-s2.0-S0896627324008821/main.pdf?X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEOT%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJGMEQCIH9qI%2FHFo0TFwwhZ5hnpbny3R%2BBmGbU0Q6Jf2eSs4aMwAiAg1gQKCHXgtyB1QTOz9%2BHuFdAEwUjZfZxdN7qIuitxnSqyBQgdEAUaDDA1OTAwMzU0Njg2NSIMamYY8Czn0NEpjijeKo8Fst5HNVzMqIsK6tHRy1OPd3%2BiRf4CleOwam945epwh%2BWJCRv3vjV8cHVmcUPqNnQI6CNJ%2BHjihnNnr1KKKh25j9oqm8eVOB6EPMOQmOlZ8JnfOw82gvpFwLvNDQBspUb%2FSS7qIz1LTJRkQASLgxJzjCDB2emDLOTnwBmVrktQOqTAH1A04l%2FY5xtc1GQI9emBGMXRHjBFSH2LHORJ08vvfDEMpF%2FnFWesKWqcGC9SrZdSxXgiVvnL2kX%2FA96V1%2B5AevSLvAQz2GiAfG7IjuurqeZht68BqTv%2Bi%2BRqNRIYIFbGxDzeucq3ac1xrSlaHwznp31k%2BFLwJoLLYSEixqfBpuBat%2Ft9vzhxMlcflvyteLNaP4B4EHiuQ9DixBMYQ0hKdtHXZpd7wmY1UYM9g1S4Yc6GNMjj%2BfXQWexvCOgUbqPqIjDp4WtKdPA%2B1slxuoE4wyns%2Bvqntw01MjdbU9Bn4pBQQOwS4fzz9bFlB2iDKGAKXyN0SHqdWPpP9Scj6yJuIXOsZkSS0481ADJLyUF7n46ZFuKmYSsDdy5f5RegbcmY25YITTooTxJxK0IXBczdPZIkfWAsPvBvvq%2BREarPeOA3FAcEs5%2BOSSU41qk8QJEiHdOdnTuScsjI1yMElwnepaA8DdJ9DTU3YeXpMG7xColHHCpn%2FeCeTvP612oFVjqE4Q1yqBpdCiy2CMWdvHhtXcAZOeavgMMfqhk6OWN8qXlZubu8uFiOfDwDpPWZE5qpitKaC6pwM7lkYyecPstLn84Sh149kpVnMY1aLp2NgCZ4rvq4XWwV1dMNrPeKU7GyQBwIKIBGlQz5fHPFbINPDH8UXZW7cCe%2BT02g0BXwQY4lgzqGqxyYpe3NtS7dwzD%2B%2BO29BjqyAemqzi7IVALnQ9vlrBPSO%2BkAPcisPB%2FY%2B8BmQC16wLFwu63gufdnti8i%2FsS1H%2FD%2BpPqJ3t1vn2wie%2FOc9mgRZkY8HqNqX9Dv%2FUH%2FOICaGadyLdPc8A3sjo7bPtUV42NA5FZwBt8YiikhkCFQwzTcrHzr5fP9kN9ThQVSY1DMSTz%2BMbLmLWoolWEwLwzL9mS3qEz2mX3h%2Boec4CYuKBRgExYTH0V1dk0bfca4YMPpvgER7iA%3D&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Date=20250223T204131Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAQ3PHCVTYZTUPN5RI%2F20250223%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Signature=59057549b15a459c579302af14796c40e5c70192d93a62b69b68c2bd3942cd8b&hash=bc06cbd441c60c0f8ee395108521ce86afe847a68e5f109544b937b88a9c473c&host=68042c943591013ac2b2430a89b270f6af2c76d8dfd086a07176afe7c76c2c61&pii=S0896627324008821&tid=spdf-34e9b5cb-d1e9-4a56-8a8b-edab99b3d37e&sid=d752fa96683d9742086a083805b7d9da151bgxrqa&type=client&tsoh=d3d3LXNjaWVuY2VkaXJlY3QtY29tLnByb3h5MS5saWJyYXJ5LmpodS5lZHU%3D&rh=d3d3LXNjaWVuY2VkaXJlY3QtY29tLnByb3h5MS5saWJyYXJ5LmpodS5lZHU%3D&ua=0f105a50500e5e5d5c53&rr=916a0981a902c99d&cc=us
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Diego Mendoza-Halliday: How the Brain Stays on Task - Attention, Noise Filtering and Working Memory
02/18/2025
Diego Mendoza-Halliday: How the Brain Stays on Task - Attention, Noise Filtering and Working Memory
Throughout our waking hours neural networks in our brains are processing incoming information, particularly sights and sounds, integrating those inputs with stored information, making decisions, and executing responses. Staying on task requires that we attend to the details of the task while filtering out ‘noise’. In this episode I talk with Diego Mendoza-Halliday at the University of Pittsburgh about visual working memory – what it is, what neuronal circuits are involved, and how it works. His experiments involve recording of neuronal activity in prefrontal cortex and other brain regions while individuals are performing visual working memory tasks. His findings have revealed previously unknown mechanisms. He has demonstrated that attention and working memory involve different groups of neurons and has shown that throughout the cerebral cortex there is spectro-laminar motif of neuronal oscillation frequencies that appears to play an important role in working memory. This research is not only revealing how our brains process information in a seemingly effortless manner, but may also lead to new ways of improving human productivity and treating memory disorders. LINKS Mendoza-Halliday lab webpage https://www.mendoza-halliday-lab.com/ Coding of perceived and memorized visual features in the prefrontal cortex https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5461493/pdf/ncomms15471.pdf Dissociation of neurons involved in attention and working memory https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0896-6273%2823%2900935-2 Spectrolaminar motif of local field power in the cerebral cortex https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10917659/pdf/41593_2023_Article_1554.pdf Review article on working memory https://www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fulltext/psych/74/1/annurev-psych-021422-041757.pdf?expires=1739719353&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=3C2E750794D8E913C545FF401FEA62F7
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Thomas Hartung: Merging Brain Organoid and AI Technologies to Accelerate Basic and Applied Research
02/11/2025
Thomas Hartung: Merging Brain Organoid and AI Technologies to Accelerate Basic and Applied Research
Professor Thomas Hartung has made a major impact in biomedical research by developing and promoting alternatives to animal research. His efforts are leading to more ethical and efficient approaches to basic and applied research in the fields of environmental toxicology, drug development, and neuroscience. In this episode I talk with Thomas about two major flourishing technologies – brain organoids and artificial intelligence – and how they are being rapidly incorporated into both basic and translational research. He provides an historical perspective on the overzealous and unnecessary use of lab animals for toxicology and drug development and then delves into emerging research on ‘organoid intelligence’ and the relationships and interactions of brain organoids and AI. A very thought-provoking conversation. LINKS Organoid Intelligence webpage: https://organoidintelligence.org/ AI and alternative texting of toxins and drugs: https://www.altex.org/index.php/altex/issue/view/166 Brain Organoids and Organoid Intelligence articles https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10013972/pdf/frai-06-1116870.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10796793/pdf/frai-06-1307613.pdf
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Magdalena Götz: Direct Conversion of Astrocytes Into Neurons – Progress and Therapeutic Potential
02/04/2025
Magdalena Götz: Direct Conversion of Astrocytes Into Neurons – Progress and Therapeutic Potential
Someday it may be possible to restore neuronal networks that have been lost or damaged by brain injury or in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. There are as many astrocytes in the human brain as there are neurons and the astrocytes generally do not die in brain injuries and neurodegenerative disorders. Professor Magdalena Götz has shown that astrocytes can be converted directly into neurons using molecular biology technologies to manipulate a few transcription factors that switch cell fate. These new neurons grow and form synapses with each other and can integrate into functional neuronal networks and may restore brain function. In this episode Dr. Götz talks about her pioneering work on cell reprogramming that holds great promise for the repair of neuronal networks damaged by trauma, a stroke, and neurodegenerative disorders. LINKS: Professor Götz publications on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=magdalena+G%C3%B6tz&sort=date&size=200 Professor Götz Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalena_G%C3%B6tz Review article in Neuron: https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0896-6273%2821%2900972-7 Selected original research articles https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11239498/pdf/41593_2024_Article_1677.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10719094/pdf/41591_2023_Article_2644.pdf https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0896-6273%2819%2930693-2
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Antonio Di leva: Fractal Patterns and the Brain - Applications in Basic and Clinical Neuroscience
01/30/2025
Antonio Di leva: Fractal Patterns and the Brain - Applications in Basic and Clinical Neuroscience
The Euclidean geometry that we learned in our primary education concerns man-made shapes such as rectangles, triangles, and perfect circles. However the shapes of molecules, cells, and organ systems (and their dynamic changes over time) are more complex. Some biological structures exhibit fractal geometry which is defined as “shapes and patterns that appear similar at different scales” (recursive iteration). Examples of biological structures exhibiting fractal geometry include the branches and roots of trees, blood vessels, lung airways, and the dendritic arbors of neurons. In this episode I talk with Antonio Di leva a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist at Macquarie University School of Medicine about fractal geometry and its applications to basic and clinical neuroscience. Fractal structures of neural networks optimize the energy efficiency of the brain. Dr. Di leva talks about emerging applications of fractals to diagnosis and monitoring of neurological disorders, neurosurgery, neuroimaging, and computational intelligence. Fractal analyses are not limited to structures and can also be applied to studies of recursive features dynamic processes including neural network activity. LINKS Dr. Di leva’s webpage: https://mqneurosurgery.com.au/prof-antonio-di-ieva/ Book ‘The Fractal Geometry of the Brain’: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8 Review articles: https://journals-sagepub-com.proxy1.library.jhu.edu/doi/full/10.1177/1073858413513927 https://journals-sagepub-com.proxy1.library.jhu.edu/doi/full/10.1177/1073858413513928
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Stephan Sigrist: Dietary Spermidine, Neuroplasticity, Aging, and Brain Health
01/27/2025
Stephan Sigrist: Dietary Spermidine, Neuroplasticity, Aging, and Brain Health
Polyamines are small organic molecules that are acquired in the diet and can also be synthesized in cells. Spermidine is a polyamine that is increasingly recognized as playing important roles in counteracting aging. Foods with high amounts of spermidine include whole grains, broccoli, and natto (fermented soybeans). Professor Stephan Sigrist at the Free University of Berlin who is widely known for his fundamental contributions to understanding how specific proteins and their interactions control the rapid release and reuptake of neurotransmitters at the presynaptic active zone. In this episode I talk with Stephan about his recent fascinating discoveries that have revealed important roles for spermidine in synaptic plasticity, and brain health and resilience. Spermidine stimulates autophagy which may be required for the anti-aging effect of dietary energy restriction. He talks about the intriguing molecular mechanism by which spermidine accomplishes these feats. LINKS Sigrist lab page: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/biologie/arbeitsgruppen/genetik/ag_sigrist/mitarbeiter/leiter/sigrist/index.html Spermidine counteracts brain aging: https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2211-1247%2821%2900255-2 Autophagy mediates beneficial effects of spermidine on memory during aging: https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.3512.pdf Spermidine preserves synaptic plasticity during aging: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5042543/pdf/pbio.1002563.pdf Spermidine, fasting and longevity: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11392816/pdf/41556_2024_Article_1468.pdf Clinical trial of spermidine – effects on cognition in older folks: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2792725
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Jon Simons: Reality Monitoring- How the Brain Distinguishes Between Imagination and Reality
01/22/2025
Jon Simons: Reality Monitoring- How the Brain Distinguishes Between Imagination and Reality
In the moment most people can readily distinguish between information that is coming into the brain from their senses and what information their brain is generating. However, when recalling information stored in the brain’s neuronal networks the ability to distinguish between what was real and what was imagined becomes more problematic. How does the brain keep track of what we actually experienced in the past and what we imagined happened? In this episode Jon Simons who is Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge talks about his research that is elucidating the neurobiological basis of reality monitoring including which brain regions and neuronal networks are involved, individual differences in people’s reality monitoring ability, the effects of early life experiences and aging, its alterations in schizophrenia and autism, and the broader implications of this research for individuals and societies in the [mis]information age. LINKS: Professor Simon’s laboratory web page: https://www.memlab.psychol.cam.ac.uk/ Review article https://www-sciencedirect-com.proxy1.library.jhu.edu/science/article/pii/S1364661317300554 Selected original research articles https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2292823/pdf/ukmss-1581.pdf https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010945216301745?via%3Dihub https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4860197/pdf/10803_2016_Article_2749.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5292760/pdf/main.pdf
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Keqiang Ye: From Gut to Brain – Rogue Protein Fragments in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases
01/08/2025
Keqiang Ye: From Gut to Brain – Rogue Protein Fragments in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases
In this episode Emory University and Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor Keqiang Ye talks about his fascinating and ground-breaking trail of discoveries that have revealed previously unknown mechanism responsible for the production and accumulation of damaging fragments of the APP and Tau proteins in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the alpha-synuclein protein in Parkinson’s disease (PD). He discovered an enzyme called AEP that cleaves Tau and alpha-synuclein into self-aggregating toxic fragments. Eliminating or disabling AEP can prevent the disease process and preserve brain function in mouse models of AD and PD. More recently, in a series of studies his laboratory has provided evidence that the generation of rogue Tau and alpha-synuclein fragments first occurs in neurons surrounding the intestines and then propagates up the vagus nerve to the brain. Moreover, his group has shown that certain species of bacteria in the gut can promote the development of the disease. Finally, Professor Ye has developed drugs that inhibit AEP or activate BDNF receptors as potential treatments for AD and PD. LINKS Key publications: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4224595/pdf/nihms623922.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5315368/pdf/nihms825673.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10482867/pdf/41467_2023_Article_41283.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8408610/pdf/EMBJ-40-e106320.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6951265/pdf/41422_2019_Article_241.pdf Professor Ye’s Google Scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=VSP72CMAAAAJ&hl=en
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For-Profit Drivers of Poor Health in America 2: Pharmaceutical Industry
01/02/2025
For-Profit Drivers of Poor Health in America 2: Pharmaceutical Industry
Among high income countries the United States spends the most on health care and yet has the lowest life expectancy. A high percentage of Americans suffer with chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, mental disorders, and Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases. There are several reasons why people living in the wealthiest country have poor health all attributable to unrestrained capitalism. In this episode I talk about issues with pharmaceutical industry that contribute to the overall poor quality of health and health care in America with a focus on drugs for neurological disorders. Drug prices in the US are much higher than in other countries and prices are increasing at a rate more than 5 times the rate of inflation. Pharmaceutical companies spend nearly twice as much on marketing as on research and development and overstate their costs for drug development by ~400 percent. The US is one of only two countries that permit direct advertising of drugs to consumers. Pharmaceutical company representatives lobby doctors and congress. There are also major issues concerning clinical trials of drugs including conflicts of interest, lack of data transparency, and lack of head-to-head comparisons of a new drug with an existing drug. There are potential solutions to these problems but will require major new government regulations. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31034803/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8649053/pdf/nihms-1751070.pdf
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Jason Shepherd: The Arc Protein – From Viral Origins to Center Stage in Neuroplasticity and Disease
12/20/2024
Jason Shepherd: The Arc Protein – From Viral Origins to Center Stage in Neuroplasticity and Disease
In this episode I talk with Professor Jason Shepherd about his discoveries concerning a fascinating protein called Arc. In response to synaptic activity Arc levels rapidly increase in postsynaptic dendrites as a result of local translation of the Arc mRNA in the dendrites. Arc plays a critical role in long-term memory although it is not necessary for learning. But perhaps the most interesting twist in the Arc story comes from the Shepherd labs discovery that Arc can self-assemble into highly ordered structures that are essentially identical to the capsids that form the coat of viruses. I talk with Jason about evidence that Arc can bind mRNAs and transfer them from one neuron to another in extracellular vesicles. These findings reveal a whole new mechanism for regulating neuronal network function. Moreover, recently Jason and his lab members have demonstrated a key role for Arc in the trans-neuronal propagation of Tau pathology which is an important advance in understanding how the neurodegenerative process spreads throughout neuronal networks in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders – and also has implications for novel approaches for halting the disease process. LINKS: The Shepherd laboratory page: https://www.shepherdlab.org/ Key publications from the Shepherd lab: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8041237/pdf/nihms-1661230.pdf https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0092-8674%2817%2931504-0 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11526995/pdf/nihpp-2024.10.22.619703v1.pdf
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For-Profit Drivers of Poor [Brain] Health in America 1: Food Industries
12/11/2024
For-Profit Drivers of Poor [Brain] Health in America 1: Food Industries
Among high income countries the United States spends the most on health care and yet has the lowest life expectancy. A high percentage of Americans suffer with chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, mental disorders, and Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases. There are several reasons why people living in the wealthiest country have poor health all attributable to unrestrained capitalism. In this episode I talk about how large-scale monoculture crops used to produce addictive ultraprocessed sugars such as high fructose corn syrup adversely affect health including brain health. The widespread availability of such obesogenic high-calorie ultraprocessed foods at low prices have propelled a transgenerational epidemic of obesity, diabetes and associated chronic brain disorders. Increasingly sedentary lifestyles exacerbate the problem. In also talk about the health benefits of a range of organically grown vegetables and fruits with a focus on a few specific chemicals they produce that act on cells in ways that bolster their function and resilience. Here are links to a few articles that provide more detail on the problem and potential solutions. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9904196/pdf/nihms-1868184.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8748512/pdf/41467_2021_Article_27645.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6779523/pdf/nihms-1537205.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5841445/pdf/nihms946635.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4081729/pdf/pr.113.007757.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4586293/pdf/nihms678801.pdf
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Bruno Rossion: Elucidating the Remarkable Ability of the Human Brain to Recognize Faces
12/03/2024
Bruno Rossion: Elucidating the Remarkable Ability of the Human Brain to Recognize Faces
Humans have the amazing ability to instantly recognize the faces of hundreds or even thousands of people they have previously met or seen in pictures or movies. Studies of people with brain injuries that render them incapable of recognizing faces and recordings of neuronal activity in people during face recognition have shown that networks in the occipital and temporal lobes adjacent to the visual cortex mediate facial recognition. Professor Bruno Rossion is at the forefront of research that is revealing the neurophysiological underpinnings of face recognition. By recording and stimulating neurons in the face recognition circuits of numerous research participants Rossion’s laboratory has elucidated how the brain captures and recalls the gestalt of a face without dwelling on specific features of the face. LINKS: Review articles on the neurobiology of face recognition: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9954066/pdf/brainsci-13-00354.pdf https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393224000800?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763424000034?via%3Dihub
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Bioenergetics and Brain Health 4: Brain Aging, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases, and Stroke
11/26/2024
Bioenergetics and Brain Health 4: Brain Aging, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases, and Stroke
In this final episode of the Bioenergetics and Brain Health series I talk about changes that occur in brain cells during normal aging, and in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke with emphasis on alterations upstream and downstream of cellular energy metabolism. The episode concludes with examples of therapeutic interventions that target those age- and disease-related alterations. LINKS: Hallmarks of Brain Aging https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6039826/pdf/nihms979409.pdf Brain Energy Rescue: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7948516/pdf/nihms-1624328.pdf The Hormesis Principle of Brain Health and Resilience https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5209274/pdf/nihms834422.pdf
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Bioenergetics and Brain Health 3: How Exercise and Fasting Enhance Neuroplasticity and Resilience
11/19/2024
Bioenergetics and Brain Health 3: How Exercise and Fasting Enhance Neuroplasticity and Resilience
In this third podcast in the Bioenergetics and Brain Health series I talk about how intermittent exercise and fasting affect brain function, neuroplasticity, and resilience. Research has shown that both of these bioenergetic challenges can enhance learning and memory, improve mood, counteract aging, and protect neurons against injury and disease. I provide an overview of evidence that over periods of weeks and months cycling between challenge (exercise and fasting) and recovery (resting, eating, sleeping) periods stimulates the formation of new synaptic connections between neurons, increases neurogenesis, and bolsters neuronal stress resistance. These adaptations of brain cells to bioenergetic challenges are mediated by hormonal factors released from peripheral organs including ketones, and by changes in gene expression in brain cells. A better understanding of how bioenergetic challenges affect the brain provides a rationale for incorporating exercise and fasting into lifestyles and is also revealing new approaches for pharmacological interventions in neurological disorders.
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