Neuroscience Videos

An SOF Unheard Cut from a hotel room in Vancouver - Krista and Diamond met face-to-face to discuss education, cognitive neuroscience, the importance of play, and more. Here's your chance to be in the room and listen to it all.

Click here to buy Dance to the Beat: Animals Music This time on Animal Talk Naturally we ask, do animals actually dance in rhythm to the music like humans? Or does it all just appear so because we love to equate their behavior to ours? Find out as we speak with Irena Schulz of ​Bird [...]

Neuroscientist Adele Diamond is helping to bring unfolding knowledge about the brain into classrooms and educational systems, and in the process she's challenging fundamental modern notions about education and life. Activities like reflection and play, music and sports, it turns out, not only nourish the many aspects of human spirit and personality, but also hone our minds.

Peter Nygard (the internationally famous fashion designer) is today's featured guest. Topics: how technology has transformed the fashion industry; and the pivotal role he played in the beginning and final negotiation of NAFTA. Also, as I interviewed him, my assistant Peggy Gregory noticed that his leather jacket bore the seal of the president of the United States of America. Asking about this, he explained that President Bush Senior--while visiting him on his island--took it off and gave it to him in return for one of his designer T-Shirts. Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the November 18, 2009 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 26 minutes] (This interview was recorded on October 4, 2009 at the Singularity Summit in New York City.) Peter Nygard is a fashion designer who's clothing, accessories, and home fashions can be found in Sears, Dillard's and countless other well known stores around the world. Enjoying a long and prosperous career, he owns a private island in the Bahamas called Nygard Key where he built a resort style mansion with a staff of 20, and owns a 133 feet long 727 as his private jet. He is friend to presidents, prime ministers, and celebrities of every media--TV, movies, music and print. This episode is dedicated with special thanks to Greta Blackburn (an actress who appeared in many TV shows in the 80s and 90s such as Threeâs Company and Dynasty, and several movies such as 48 Hrs and Yellowbeard, as well as the original version of the mini-series V). While I was busy interviewing futurists, Greta introduced my assistant Peggy to several noteworthy people we would have otherwise missed. One was Noel Patton of T.A. Sciences and another was today's guest, her friend, Peter Nygard. Greta was so modest that (though I kept thinking she looked familiar) I had no idea of her fame until I got home and looked her up online. If I had realized I would have asked her for an interview too.

Making Memory Room, Oh Rats!, Hackers Hacking Pacemakers, New Breast Implants, A Tale of Two Drugs, iCough, Building Bigger Muscles, Push-Button Electric, Golden Ears, Right-Handed Chimps, Minion Mailbag, and More!!!

Ari Kiirikki, Vice President of Knome Inc. (the world's leading provider of personal DNA sequencing) is today's featured guest. Topics: how you can have your entire DNA sequenced; the rate at which this expensive procedure is growing in popularity; how soon it will drop below $1000 (and may even reach $100); the new diagnostic powers general practitioners will gain using personalized DNA sequencing; cases in which the accidental discovery of extreme human genotypes have produced new drug therapies; why this technology will make the discovery of these extreme human genotypes far more common by making them far less random; speculation on ways widespread personal DNA sequencing might change online dating services; and how Knome Inc. is working to make personal DNA sequencing increasingly affordable and yet keep this data in the hands of the person whose DNA it is, and not in any database anywhere. Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the November 11, 2009 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 20 minutes] (This interview was recorded on October 4, 2009 at the Singularity Summit in New York City.)

Is it possible that we humans have a âsixth senseï? with regards to sexual attraction and mate selection? This notion may not be as far fetched as it might seem. While it is well known that chemicals known as pheromones influence the sexual arousal and breeding behaviors in animals such as insects and rodents, this connection has never been conclusively established among the human species. But this may be changing in the near future. The secret to our subliminal sexual attraction might very well lie with a little known â and rather controversial â cranial nerve known as ânerve zero.ï? Although it was discovered back in 1878, nerve zero has largely been overlooked as a potential conduit for transmitting human pheromone signals. In fact, you wonât find even nerve zero referenced in most brain anatomy textbooks. In this program, we speak with Dr. R. Douglas Fields, Chief of the Nervous System Development and Plasticity Section, NICHD and adjunct professor at the University of Maryland. Dr. Fields has spearheaded much of the recent research with nerve zero, and he provides an excellent overview of some of the most recent findings surrounding this fascinating new area of scientific discovery.

What makes one person trust another person? Why do we get a âgut feelingï? â either good or bad â about another person whom weâve just met? And how does trust at a micro level in areas such as business transactions and legal agreements affect the overall economy and market efficiency of a society? In this program, we speak with Dr. Paul Zak, a Professor at Claremont Graduate University in Southern California and one of the founders of the field of neuroeconomics. Dr. Zakâs research was the first to identify the role of the neuropeptide oxytocin in mediating trusting behaviors between unacquainted humans in 2004. In addition to directing the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies at Claremont Graduate University, Dr. Zak has an upcoming book â Moral Markets: The Critical Role of Values in the Economy â which will be soon be available through Princeton University Press in 2007. Join us for a fascinating discussion of neuroeconomics, and how trust and the role of oxytocin affect us at both an individual and a societal level.

On September 24, 2002, Pro Football Hall of Fame center Michael Lewis Webster died in Allegheny General Hospital's coronary care unit at age 50. Known as Iron Mike during his playing years, Webster's discipline and overachieving nature helped propel the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl championships. But soon after retiring in 1990, Webster's life became plagued by debt, depression, family turmoil, and eventually homelessness. Through an entirely serendipitous set of circumstances, forensic pathologist and neuropathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu had an opportunity to conduct an extensive examination of Mike Webster's brain shortly after his death. What Dr. Omalu found was astonishing. While Mike Webster's brain did not show any outward physical signs of dementia, at a cellular level his brain resembled that of an 80-year-old advanced dementia patient. Over the next 5 years, Dr. Omalu conducted post-mortem tests on additional former pro football players, and he began to notice an emerging pattern which seemed to indicate an entirely different form of progressive chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Termed Dementia of Football, this syndrome was very different from dementia pugilistica, or the boxers' punch-drunk syndrome. In contrast, Dementia of Football tended to occur without the presence of any motor symptoms - which would explain why it would often be misdiagnosed or completely overlooked. Join us in this fascinating conversation with Dr. Omalu where we discuss this newly emerging syndrome in detail and ponder what could very well be one of the next major public health issues to affect athletes - both amateur and professional - worldwide.

In the decades following World War II, a military-academic complex has emerged and has been quite active in exploring the potential uses of advanced neuroscience applications for our national defense. But the underlying motives have been fairly consistent - namely, how can we as a nation harness the power of the human nervous system in order to gain a strategic advantage over our adversaries? In his groundbreaking new book, Mind Wars: Brain Research and National Defense, Dr. Jonathan D. Moreno delves into the fascinating origins of our government's neuroscience and neurotechnology initiatives and provides a detailed glimpse into what might be the next major frontier of our national defense. Be sure to join us in this compelling podcast interview with Dr. Moreno where we discuss both the past history of neuroscience defense initiatives as well as some of the more exciting potential future developments. From cognitively enhanced soldiers, to brain-machine interface devices, to non-lethal neuro-disruption technologies, we take a look at the both the fact and fiction surrounding this cutting-edge area of research.

Why is it that, despite unprecedented levels of affluence and advancement in both medicine and technology, we still see skyrocketing rates of clinical depression within the developed world? Could it be that we have altered our environment so radically over the past 60 years - and that our hunter-gatherer genetics just simply have not caught up with these changes? Join us in this fascinating conversation with Dr. Stephen Ilardi of the University of Kansas where we discuss in detail what may be the true cause of depression in our society - and how we might ultimately be able to reclaim those protective Stone Age elements that have historically insulated us from depression since time immemorial. Program highlights include: (0:50) Overview of evolutionary psychology - why we are genetically wired to thrive in a Stone Age environment (4:25) The environmental changes over the last 60 years - why clinical depression is so rare in contemporary hunter-gatherer societies (11:10) Socialization and a sense of community - how this is missing from our lives right now, and why this is so important to preventing depression (14:55) Physical activity - why exercise is such a powerful antidepressant, and how we've engineered this critical activity out of our lives (22:10) Sleep, sunlight, and circadian rhythms - how our current environment has actually miscalibrated our brains to the detriment of our health (28:45) Diet and consumption patterns - the importance of Omega-3 fatty acids in preventing depression, and why we currently no longer consume this essential supplement in adequate amounts (38:00) The reaction from the scientific community - why many of these statistically significant findings have been largely ignored by the conventional medical establishment (41:25) The danger of rumination - how our lifestyles have changed so much that this unhealthy activity is now ubiquitous, and why this factor was relatively absent in Stone Age societies (48:30) Depression among the younger population - how their current upbringing is set to predispose these future generations to skyrocketing levels of depression (53:40) Therapeutic Lifestyle Change - how people can reclaim the six protective lifestyle elements and incorporate them into their current lives to insulate themselves from depression

Ketamine has a long history of clinical usage and is known for its effective anesthetic properties. However, ketamine has gained a fair amount of notoriety in recent years as a recreational club drug due to its dissociative side effects. But in the midst of this controversy, ketamine is quietly emerging as the forerunner of what promises to be the next big frontier in treating depression. According to the World Health Organization, depression affects over 120 million people worldwide, making it the fourth largest contributor to the global burden of disease. And until relatively recently, much of the current focus on treating depression has centered upon compounds and derivatives which interact with the serotonin system. Ketamine, by contrast, works directly on the glutaminergic system, specifically on the NMDA receptor sites. And the treatment results tend to be much more immediate - and sometimes even profound. We are very excited to feature Dr. John Krystal on this segment. Dr. Krystal has been one of the most influential researchers studying the role that the neurotransmitter glutamate plays in various mood disorders. Join us in this fascinating program as we discuss the emerging role of ketamine as a viable treatment for depression - and how this new scientific focus just might be the next target of Big Pharma.

Why is it that certain odors or scents can bring up such vivid memories of our past? And why is it that specific smells can significantly alter our moods and perceptions - sometimes without us even being aware that this is taking place? We are very excited to feature an exclusive interview with Dr. Alan Hirsch of the Smell and Taste Research Foundation in Chicago, IL. Dr. Hirsch has been on the forefront of clinical research studying the complex effects that our senses of smell and taste exert over our everyday lives. From impacting eating patterns, to reducing chronic pain, to even affecting the sexual arousal of us and our romantic partners, we are subtly influenced by the scents and odors in our immediate environment. Join us in this very compelling discussion where Dr. Hirsch details the research he has done in this area and highlights both the commercial and personal value of his findings.

Our guest on this segment is Dr. Robert Schwartzman, professor and chair of the Department of Neurology at the Drexel University College of Medicine. Over the past couple of years, Dr. Schwartzman and his colleagues in Germany have used ketamine to successfully treat patients suffering from the chronic pain disorder known as complex regional pain syndrome (CPRS). This pioneering approach is not for the faint of heart. Advanced CPRS patients are actually placed in a ketamine-induced coma for several days. But the results have been dramatic - often allowing for a complete cure for what had previously been a totally disabling illness*. Be sure to tune in to this fascinating interview where we discuss both the hard science of the human pain response as well as Dr. Schwartzman's cutting-edge therapeutic approach to treating chronic pain. * Be sure to also check out the CNN video coverage of this study.

It's Valentine's Day, and we couldn't imagine a more appropriate show! We are very excited to feature an exclusive interview with Dr. Raj Persaud, a worldwide authority on the topic, and the author of the psychological bestseller Simply Irresistible - The Psychology of Seduction - How to Catch and Keep Your Perfect Partner. Dr. Persaud is Gresham Professor for Public Understanding of Psychiatry and Consultant Psychiatrist at The Bethlem Royal Hospital - the oldest psychiatric hospital in the UK. He has won numerous academic prizes and awards for his clinical and research work including an unprecedented two of the Royal College of Psychiatrist's top prizes - the Research Prize and Medal and the Morris Markow Prize, as well as the ancient Society of of Apothecaries' Osler Medal. A prolific researcher, author, and broadcaster, Dr. Persaud presents a series of podcasts on the Royal College Website and is the author of over 150 research and academic papers. The Times newspaper recently voted him one of the top twenty gurus in the world and The Independent also recently elected him one of the top ten clinical psychiatrists in the UK - the youngest doctor to make it onto this esteemed list.

The market for video and PC games has accelerated so rapidly within the past few years that this industry has now eclipsed Hollywood in both size and revenue. And with the increasing popularity of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) like Second Life, these entertainment mediums are attracting audiences of all age groups and demographics. In this interview with Dr. Scott Rigby of Immersyve, we explore the underlying human motivations that have been driving this commercial phenomenon. Instead of automatically condemning video games as addictive or time wasting, we take the subject to a much deeper level - and we try to nail down what this really means to businesses in this market space. (Originally broadcast 10-January-2007)

All the big guns in neuroscience will be getting together within the next few weeks at the Cleveland Clinic Medical Innovation Summit. Get the inside scoop on the hottest areas of neuroscience research and commercial development from Chris Coburn, the Executive Director of CCF Innovations, the commercialization arm of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. (Originally broadcast 24-October-2006)

The phrase junk food junkie might be closer to the truth than you realize. Scientists are just beginning to uncover some of the neural mechanisms which underlie food cravings and overeating. Learn more about the neuroscience of obesity in this fascinating podcast interview with Dr. Ann E. Kelley of the University of Wisconsin. (Originally broadcast 31-March-2006)