One of the most promising areas of Alzheimer’s disease research involves vaccine-based therapies which stimulate the body to produce antibodies to amyloid-beta protein and remove it from the brain. And despite setbacks in previous clinical trials, scientists are currently working on second-generation vaccines that seem to reverse the cognitive deficits of Alzheimer’s disease without the side effects of the first-generation therapies.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Gene Kinney of Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy and Dr. Michael Hagen of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Kinney and Dr. Hagan are involved with the research and development of ACC-001, one of the most advanced second-generation vaccine-based therapies under development.

Be sure to listen in as we discuss the potential of this new therapy and what it might mean for the future of Alzheimer’s disease treatment.

When we think about our “stream of consciousness,” we don’t really look at it as having any particular order or structure. But according to recent research in this field, we’re constantly making micro-predictions about our immediate environment within this perceptual stream though a very active brain process known as event segmentation. And this event segmentation is critical towards guiding our behavior, our learning, and even our language processing.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Jeffrey Zacks, Associate Professor and Director of the Dynamic Cognition Laboratory at Washington University. Using both behavioral experimentation and functional neuroimaging studies, Dr. Zacks and his team are conducting some of most advanced studies of the mid-brain dopamine system in an effort to determine how our brains segment events – and how this allows us to shape our short-term futures.

There are few experiences more terrifying than a panic attack. These extreme and sudden episodes of intense fear are often accompanied by physical symptoms such as chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress. And unless treated, recurring panic disorders can incapacitate an individual physically, mentally, and even socially.

While the exact causes of panic disorder are still the subject of intense scientific debate, the most widely accepted notion is that the periaqueductal gray area of the brain – or the PAG – is involved with the panic response, and that the neurotransmitter serotonin plays a key role in modulating this region.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Frederico Graeff of the University of Sao Paulo. Dr. Graeff is one of the leading experts in the scientific study of anxiety and panic. Be sure to join us as we talk about the key brain systems involved with both disorders, and what exactly differentiates panic at a neurobiological level.

Erythropoetin, or Epo, is naturally produced hormone that controls red blood cell production. It is available as a prescription therapeutic agent to treat anemia resulting from chronic kidney disease and chemotherapy. Epo has also been used off label as a blood doping agent among competitive sports professionals due to its ability to enhance oxygen carrying capacity.

What’s lesser publicized about Epo, however, is that it also appears to promote neuroplasticity, or the ability of the brain to repair and maintain neurons. And some of the newest and most exciting research in this area deals with the role of Epo in cognitive functioning and mood disorders, such as clinical depression.

In this podcast, we are delighted to feature Dr. Kamilla Miskowiak, one of the scientists on the forefront of Epo research and its potential use as an antidepressant therapy. Be sure to join us as we talk about these new developments and how they might impact the future treatment of mood disorders.

Psilocybin, the active compound in a variety of hallucinogenic mushrooms, is a naturally occurring substance with a history of human use that goes back thousands of years. It was rediscovered by the western world in the 1950’s through the independent research of R. Gordon Wasson, and it quickly became the subject of many clinical research studies.

But a strong backlash in the late 1960’s against the recreational use of hallucinogens essentially shut down all psilocybin research. And it wasn’t until the 1990’s that a small group of intrepid scientists began to revisit psilocybin and take a serious look at how the primary mystical experience of the drug might have potential therapeutic uses in humans.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Roland Griffiths, Professor of Behavioral Biology at theJohnHopkinsUniversity. Dr. Griffiths is one of the leading researchers exploring the therapeutic applications of psilocybin and how this compound might be beneficial in a number of areas, including terminal illness anxiety and drug dependence.

Be sure to join us in this fascinating program where we discuss both the facts and the fallacies surrounding psilocybin as well as the promising new areas of research involving this very unique – and very enigmatic – compound.

Mediation and yoga have long been associated with stress reduction and stress management. But even as scientists establish their therapeutic value, less is known about how they actually work and exactly what parts of the brain they affect.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Sara Lazar fromHarvardUniversity andMassachusetts GeneralHospital. Dr. Lazar used advanced neuroimaging studies to demonstrate that mindful meditation actually increased the concentration of gray matter in the brains of people who engaged in this practice over an 8-week period. And this gray matter growth took place in specific areas of the brain thought to be associated with stress, memory, and empathy.

Be sure to listen in as we discuss the neural mechanisms of stress and how meditation and yoga might actually be modifying these structures within the human brain.

Studies going back to 1990 have indicated a potential connection between inflammation and clinical depression in humans. But there is still a substantial degree of debate within both the medical and research communities on the overall impact of inflammation as a either a causal or contributing factor to this disorder.  However, a recently published theoretical model might reconcile the various biomedical theories of depression and perhaps even incorporate the sociological and psychoanalytic paradigms.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Karen Wager-Smith who, along with her colleague Dr. Athina Markou, detailed their new theory of the pathophysiology of depression in the most recent edition of the journal, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews.

Be sure to join us as we discuss the role of stress and inflammation in the human depressive response and how the resulting “neural remodeling” might be the key factor explaining the disorder.

It has been known for some time that aerobic exercise and physical activity can increase cognitive function and affect the development of the hippocampus – the structure deep in the middle of the temporal lobe that’s involved with spatial memory. In fact, researchers have discovered that an “enriched environment” which includes regular physical activity can actually lead to larger hippocampal volume among older adults.

But recently published studies seem to indicate that physical exercise is especially critical to the brain development of younger children – and that a lack of it could lead to a significant underdevelopment of areas such as the hippocampus and the basal ganglia.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Laura Chaddock and Dr. Art Kramer of the University of Illinois. These scientists, using advanced MRI techniques, found that physically fit children in the 9-10 age group tended to have larger hippocampal volume and greater basal ganglia development than their less fit counterparts.

Be sure to join us as we discuss these results as well as their potential implications in terms of childhood education and public health.

For many years, the medical and scientific communities have largely accepted as factual the widely-held theory that clinical depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain – especially with regards to the neurotransmitter serotonin. However, repeated meta-analyses of the FDA-submitted clinical trial data do not seem to support this belief. Conversely, there is significant evidence that the patient benefits of antidepressants are largely – if not completely – due to a placebo effect.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Irving Kirsch, professor of psychology at the University of Hull in the United Kingdom and the author of The Emperor’s New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth. Be sure to join us as we discuss the real story behind the effectiveness of antidepressants and why they may not be the “wonder drugs” we think they are.

Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, and it affects 1 out of every 4 people over age 75. In the United States alone, the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to increase from 4.5 million today to 14 million by 2050.

But these figures represent only a fraction of the total human impact caused by this disease. In addition to robbing patients of their memory, cognition, and personality, Alzheimer’s disease is equally catastrophic to the families and caregivers of those afflicted with this progressive – and ultimately fatal – condition.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Howard Fillit, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation and an internationally recognized expert in Alzheimer’s disease and geriatric medicine. Be sure to join us in this timely and informative discussion of Alzheimer’s disease and the current state of research and development in this critical area.

For many years, social scientists have attempted to explain human cultural differences by studying behavioral or attitudinal traits. But recent advances in neuroimaging techniques are now allowing researchers to look directly into the brain and to identify these differences at a cellular level.

In this podcast, we are delighted to feature Dr. Nalini Ambady, one of the leading scientists in the emerging field of cultural neuroscience. Be sure to join us in this fascinating podcast as we discuss what exactly defines culture from a neuroscience perspective, and what areas of the brain might be responsible for our respective cultural norms and identities.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, otherwise known in theUnited States as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a devastating disorder that affects the control of muscle movement by damaging motor neurons.  And while scientists have identified a small percentage of cases that are linked to a specific genetic mutation, the majority of ALS cases occur in people with no family history of the disorder.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Mahmoud Kiaei of the Department of Neurology and Neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medical College.  Dr. Kiaei is spearheading a number of research initiatives which will hopefully lead to better treatments forALS.  Be sure to listen in to this in-depth discussion ofALS where we cover virtually every aspect of the disease and highlight some of the new therapies that might eventually lead to a cure.

We’ve all heard about our “sleep clocks.” But were you aware that we have numerous such clocks all over our bodies – and that disruption of these clocks can have serious health and emotional consequences?

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Ilia Karatsoreos of Rockefeller University who recently conducted a study on how the disruption of circadian rhythms can adversely affect our metabolism as well as our higher level cognitive functioning. Be sure to listen in as we discuss the science of body clocks and how important is to keep them “in sync.”

Recent research seems to indicate that animals raised without fathers exhibit significant reductions in neuronal growth during the immediate post-natal period. And this reduced brain development translates into adverse behavioral issues later on in life – especially among male offspring. Is it possible that human children might experience similar brain effects by being raised in a fatherless environment?

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Anna Katharina Braun, director of theInstitute ofBiology at Otto von Guericke University inMagdeburg,Germany, who conducted this study. Dr. Braun recently presented her findings at the Society for Neuroscience meeting here inChicago.

Be sure to join us for a fascinating look at the critical role of the father in the brain development of post-natal children.

When it comes to individual genetics, certain skills or abilities may actually be hardwired into the brain at birth. And there is compelling evidence to suggest that key hormonal balances during gestation are instrumental in creating specific brain types which strongly influence us throughout our lives.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Judith Lauter, professor in the Doctoral Program in School Psychology at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX, where she also directs the Human Neuroscience Laboratory. Dr. Lauter is the author of the book, How is Your Brain Like a Zebra? which details the science of neurotypology and illustrates the three brain types that appear to be present within the human species. (Originally broadcast4-November-2009)

For many years, drug addictions were deemed to be largely behavioral disorders once the abuser went through a period of detoxification.  But advanced imaging technologies have now indicated that addiction is a physical process that occurs in addition to physical dependency.  Indeed, there is more and more evidence that drugs of abuse disrupt several areas of the brain beyond just the dopamine system – which would explain why addictions are so hard to break.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Nora Volkow*, the director at the National Institute on Drug Abuse and one of the leading scientists in the area of addiction research.  Be sure to listen in as we talk about the key brain systems involved with the addiction process and how this translates to larger public health issues such as substances abuse, obesity, and even managing the human aging process.

* Dr. Volkow will be presenting a special lecture on “Addiction and Self-Control” at this year’s Neuroscience 2009 event here in Chicago.

Even the most pious among us will often resort to using profanity whenever we stub our toe or hammer our thumb in lieu of the nail.  And we tend to do this for very scientific reasons. Researchers are just beginning to uncover the link between emotionally charged words – or swearing – and our perception of pain.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Richard Stephens of the Keele University School of Psychology.  Dr. Stephens has been examining the connection between swearing and pain for a number of years, and his team recently published the results of a study indicating that so-called “curse words” might be instrumental in helping us alleviate physical pain.

Be sure to join in as we talk about the role of emotionally-charged language in our pain response and how emotions such as anger, aggression, and the human fight-or-flight response might be involved.

When he published The Myth of Mental Illness in 1961, Thomas Szasz launched the first salvo in what would become a lifelong criticism of psychiatry and what he has referred to as the “therapeutic state.”  And with the recent publication of his new book, Psychiatry: The Science of Lies, Dr. Szasz demonstrates that he has not wavered a bit from his views that human behaviors are miscategorized as “mental diseases” and that psychiatry “medicalizes” human conditions and practices coercion under the guise of treatment.

In this podcast, we get a chance to hear from Dr. Szasz himself on a variety of topics including the nature of mental illness, the history of medicalizing nondiseases, and the emerging political and social forces that are currently shaping our healthcare system.  Join us in this fascinating discussion where Dr. Szasz reflects upon the impact he has made on the field of psychiatry and on the legacy he hopes to have established.

Advancements in neuroscience have enabled physicians to successfully restore the mental functioning of patients with severe cognitive, mood, and motor disorders.  But many of these same therapies can also produce significant mental gains in normal, healthy individuals.  This has created a rapidly growing demand for “smart drugs” that have the potential to greatly enhance the mental performance of people over and above what is considered normal or average.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, and one of the leading researchers in the area of human cognition and the neuroethics of brain enhancement.  Be sure to tune in as we talk about the emerging field of “cosmetic neurology” and how this could very well be the next frontier in elective medicine.

Perception is indeed reality when it comes to what we see.  And nowhere is this more apparent than during a magical act.  But beneath all the showmanship and flair, these artists are actually triggering complex neuroscientific processes which help create the seemingly impossible on stage.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Susana Martinez-Conde of the Barrow Neurological Institute, and Founding Member and Executive Chair of the Neural Correlate Society. Dr. Martinez-Conde is a recognized expert in the field of visual neuroscience who has been leading key research in the area of visual illusions.  Most recently, Dr. Martinez-Conde’s work has been featured in Scientific American (“Magic and the Brain”) and in Nature Review Neuroscience (“Attention and awareness in stage magic: turning tricks into research”).  The latter was co-authored with Dr. Stephen Macknik as well as with the professional magicians Mac King, James Randi, Apollo Robbins, Teller, and John Thompson.

Be sure to join us as we talk about the fascinating subject of human visual perception and put a spotlight on how magicians manipulate human attention and awareness to both entertain and delight us.

Confidence scams have been around since time immemorial.  And while we like to think of ourselves as intelligent and “street smart,” we’re still quite willing to place our complete trust in total strangers with regards to such cherished items as our time and our money.  Why is that?

In this podcast, we are delighted to once again feature Dr. Paul Zak, the founding Director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies at Claremont Graduate University and author of the Moral Molecule blog.  Dr. Zak and I discuss the role of the hormone oxytocin in the development of the human emotions of trust and empathy.  In addition, we talk about how con artists engage The Human Oxytocin Mediated Attachment System (THOMAS) and hijack it for the purposes of meeting their needs at our expense.

Join us as we delve into the neuroscience of human trust and explain exactly why we are so susceptible to the machinations of these “unconditional nonreciprocators.”

Very few areas areas of psychology generate such high levels of both excitement and skepticism as the study of anomalous perception, or “psi” phenomena.  And given how hype and speculation of psi phenomena have often taken the place of serious scientific examination, the skeptics are certainly justified in their criticisms.  Nevertheless, there are a few scientists who are willing to brave this area of research in an attempt to critically examine whether or not psi phenomena are measurable – or perhaps even learnable.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Julia Mossbridge, a Visiting Scholar at the Visual Perception, Cognition, and Neuroscience Laboratory atNorthwesternUniversity.  Dr. Mossbridge is currently examining psi phenomena from a perceptual neuroscience approach and attempting to identify types that can actually be measured and quantified.

Join us as we review the current research in this field and discuss the areas of psi phenomena that show the most potential.

One of the most exciting areas of neuroscience involves the exploration of the biological and physiological underpinnings of human social interaction.  And as researchers discover more and more about the critical role that mirror neurons appear to play in our lives, the relatively new field of “social neuroscience” is rapidly becoming the central front from which we examine how the brain influences social behavior, and vice versa.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Carl Marci who is the Director of Social Neuroscience for the Psychotherapy Research Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry.  Dr. Marci is involved with some of the most advanced research that focuses on measuring and quantifying the human emotion of empathy.

Be sure to listen in on this podcast where we discuss a promising new development in the one of the hottest areas of neuroscience today.

Back in March of 2007, we interviewed Dr. Alan Hirsch of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, located here inChicago.  Dr. Hirsch is one of the world’s leading authorities on the science of smell and taste, and we had an opportunity to discuss the complex effects that these two senses exert over our everyday lives.

We caught up with Dr. Hirsch about a month ago, and we’re very excited to report on some of the new developments at his research center.  For quite some time, Dr. Hirsch has been studying how our senses of smell and taste might have a role in regulating our food intake and our sense of satiety – or our feeling of being “full” and “satisfied.”

Join us as we visit once again with Dr. Hirsch and talk more about the science and commerce of smell and taste.

It seems as if everywhere you look there’s a new book being published or a new “expert” on the talk show circuit telling us how to find happiness in our lives.  Indeed, the “feel good” industry is flourishing and sales of self-help books and CDs that promise a more fulfilling life have never been higher.  However, few researchers have devoted their entire careers to scientifically exploring exactly what it is that promotes “subjective well-being” in humans.

In this podcast, we speak with Robert Biswas-Diener, Program Director at the Center for Applied Positive Psychology (UK) and co-author of Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth.  Robert and his father Dr. Ed Diener, who collaborated on this publication, are two of the world’s foremost experts on the science of happiness.

Be sure to join us as we take an in-depth look at the components that make up true psychological wealth in humans.  The real key to having a truly happy and fulfilling life will definitely surprise you.

To many in the neuroscience community, mirror neurons represent the biggest discovery of the past twenty years.  These “smart cells,” which activate when we perform actions and when we see other people performing the same or complementary actions, seem to provide us with a common neurobiologic dynamic for our understanding of how we learn, empathize, and interact socially and culturally with other human beings at a fundamental level.  In addition, mirror neurons may also be the key to understanding and treating a variety of social interaction disorders such as autism, social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

In this podcast, we speak with Dr. Marco Iacoboni, Director of the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Lab at the Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.  Dr. Iacoboni is currently leading some of the most advanced research on the human mirror neuron system and its role in both social behavior and social disorders.

Be sure to listen in on this provocative interview where we discuss Dr. Iacoboni’s new book, Mirroring People: The New Science of How We Connect with Others (May 2008, Farrar, Straus and Giroux), and delve into the fascinating details of one of the most exciting new areas of scientific discovery.

Personal credit card debt in the United States has doubled since 2004, and personal bankruptcies are at the highest rates ever. And despite unprecedented levels of economic growth and wealth creation, the median American family has less than $10,000 in assets.  This begs the question, “Where has all the money gone?”

The unvarnished truth is that many Americans spend and continue to spend well beyond their means, in essence mortgaging their futures for the temporary convenience of the present.  And as the U.S. housing crisis continues to intensify, these same individuals are finding themselves in an increasingly precarious financial predicament brought on by years of unchecked consumptive habits.

In this program, we speak with Dr. Tahira K. Hira of Iowa State University.  Dr. Hira is internationally known for her research in consumer bankruptcy, consumer credit, and the social and psychological aspects of borrowing among middle and high income Americans as well as the impact of gambling and credit use on family financial well-being.

Join us in this timely and insightful conversation where we explore the key factors that influence people’s buying and borrowing behavior and help explain why people overspend in the first place.

As communications technologies such as Second Life become more and more sensory and interactive, human beings are increasingly being forced to navigate environments that consistently blur the lines between fantasy and reality.  And while most industry analysts praise this next big wave of “social media” a growing number of neuroscientists are critically analyzing how these “false identities” might impact us in our “real-life” interactions and relationships.

In this podcast, we are delighted to feature Baroness Susan Greenfield, one of the world’s leading brain researchers and the author of the upcoming book, ID The Quest for Identity in the 21st Century (May 2008, Hodder & Stoughton).  As the Director of The Royal Institution of Great Britain and professor of pharmacology at Oxford University, her research and writing have advanced our understanding of the workings of the human brain and have stimulated public understanding of, and appreciation for, that most complex of human organs.  And as one ofGreat Britain’s most popular and recognizable public figures, Baroness Greenfield has been instrumental in communicating the critical notion that the human brain is not only highly adaptive to our changing technological landscape, but also highly vulnerable to it as well.

Be sure to tune into this thought-provoking interview where we look at the latest science of human/technology interaction and examine how these emerging “virtual worlds” are increasingly shaping the human identity.

Hydrotherapy, or the medicinal use of water, has long been utilized by both traditional and alternative medicine to treat a variety of physical ailments.  However, recent scientific studies have suggested that cold water therapies might be effective in the treatment of mood disorders such as depression – and that there might actually be an evolutionary basis to this.

In this program, we speak with Dr. Nikolai Shevchuk, author of the November 2007 study, Adapted Cold Shower as a Potential Treatment for Depression. Dr. Shevchuk’s work has been instrumental in identifying and explaining how cold temperatures activate specific areas of the brain that appear to be involved with the regulation of mood in humans.

Join us as we explore the hard science of cold water therapy and examine how our current “ambient temperature” lifestyle might potentially be a factor in our mood states.

In our previous podcast on the blood brain barrier, we explored the issues and challenges involved with delivering therapeutic compounds into the brain.  And while both big pharma and academic neuroscience continue to disregard the limiting factors of the blood brain barrier, a few pioneering companies are tackling this issue head on.

In this segment, we speak with Stephan Mittermeyer of BrainLAB, a medical equipment company headquartered in Munich, Germany.  Stephan’s group has developed an integrated approach to circumventing the blood brain barrier that involves a process known as convection enhanced delivery, or CED.  Join us as we explore BrainLAB’s innovative technique for delivering drugs directly into the brain – one that is as much a tale of physics and engineering as it is of biology.

When two neuroscientists at Newcastle University in Great Britain published the results of their study in the August 21, 2007 edition of the journal Current Biology, they were quite surprised at the strong reaction and scrutiny from the media and the general public.  And what exactly was it that courted such controversy? Specifically, Dr. Anya Hurlbert and Dr. Yazhu Ling reported research findings that seemed to indicate that there might be consistent and predictable differences in color preferences between men and women.  However, what really “fanned the flames” was the speculation that these sex differences might be evolutionary and based upon sex-specific behaviors likely practiced by our ancestors.

In this podcast, we go beyond the superficial controversy and instead delve into the fascinating details of how humans process and perceive color – and how we might indeed be hardwired to perceive it in different ways.  Join us for a fascinating and dynamic discussion with Dr. Ling where we explore the real story at a much deeper and more scientific level.

Whenever the topic of virtual reality comes up, we tend to automatically think of video games or science fiction movies.  But separate from all this hype and fantasy are dedicated scientists who are using virtual reality applications to enhance the lives of people suffering from a wide array of neurological ailments.  And the key factor driving this interest in virtual reality lies in the fact that virtual reality is much more than merely a visual phenomenon.

In this program we speak with Dr. Emily Keshner, Professor and Chair, Department of Physical Therapy and Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Temple University. Dr. Keshner is leading research at the state-of-the-art Virtual Reality and Postural Orientation Laboratory that examines how virtual reality influences both the visual and vestibular systems in human beings – and how these two systems are inextricably linked to each other.

Join us for a fascinating discussion of virtual reality and how this dynamic visual environment is proving to be an indispensable rehabilitation tool for patients with all types of neurological disorders that affect both balance and posture in humans.

When you listen to one of these shows, you’re really only hearing a very small part of a much greater effort.  By the time a show is officially “ready for prime time,” I’ve typically spent several weeks – or even months in some cases – communicating back and forth with each guest.  And as much as I try to keep things businesslike, I’m always surprised at how fairly well I get to know the guest during this period.

I think there are two reasons for this.  First, with all the back-and-forth e-mails, phone calls, and appointment (re)schedulings, you really get a feel for a person’s temperament and personality.  Second, both my guest and I are bound by a strong mutual interest – namely, we are insatiably curious about the inner workings of the human brain and mind.  And it’s this fascination with exploring the unknown that, I believe, helps us connect at a much deeper level.

I had the great pleasure of working with Dr. Ann E. Kelley back in late March of 2006.  At that time, we were transitioning NeuroScene towards a syndicated content model, and Dr. Kelley was one of our first podcast guests.  I recall Dr. Kelley as being an exceptionally bright and engaging individual who had the rare dual blessings of both loving one’s field of study – and of being one of the world’s best at it.

Sadly, Dr. Kelley lost her battle with cancer last month.  As a tribute to her, we are reposting the original interview, “The Neuroscience of Obesity” with an updated introduction.

It’s no secret that researchers in both the commercial pharma and academic neuroscience communities are intent on designing new medicines to treat the growing populations of patients afflicted with central nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and brain tumors.  And it’s also no secret that the biggest obstacle to the successful delivery of these specialized drug therapies is the blood brain barrier – a unique network of tightly packed endothelial cells that protects the brain from the many chemicals flowing within the blood.

What’s surprising, however, is that the blood brain barrier continues to be significantly disregarded as an essential area of focus within both Big Pharma and the academic neuroscience establishment.  And the unfortunate byproduct of this neglect is a substantial over funding of neuroscience research projects that produce few commercially viable therapies that can effectively address the growing threat of many age-related neurological conditions.

In this program, we speak with Dr. William Pardridge, Professor of Medicine at the UCLA Brain Research Institute and founder of ArmaGen Technologies.  Join us for an eye-opening discussion of the science and politics of blood brain barrier drug delivery, and learn more about some of the fascinating new areas of research and development in this critical, but very often overlooked, area of neuroscience.

Is it possible that we humans have a “sixth sense” 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 – and rather controversial – cranial nerve known as “nerve zero.” 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 won’t 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 theUniversity 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 “gut feeling” – either good or bad – about another person whom we’ve 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 of Claremont Graduate University and one of the founders of the field of neuroeconomics. Dr. Zak’s 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 – “Moral Markets: The Critical Role of Values in the Economy” – 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 ofKansas 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 Germanyhave 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.

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.

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.