ADHD After Anaesthesia

A doctor describes a risk analysis of ADHD following anaesthesia for surgery in young children, from an epidemiodogical, observational study. They found a correlation with two or more exposures to anaesthesia, but prudently don’t point to any one cause. Good video, with an excellent explanation for the public. Reported in the new free journal article Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder After Early Exposure to Procedures Requiring General Anesthesia, Sprung et al, Mayo Clinic Proceedings Feb. 2012.

(click to view video)

Alison Gopnik

On infant learning, connectionism, philosophy, and cognitive science. Learning and representation, applications in computing and developmental psychology and the role of probablistic modeling. What knowledge is innate and what is learned from environment? Experiments show powerful results, and Gopnik reveals how previously opposed views can actually support one another. Interviewed at CogSci 2010: Cognition in Flux.

Brain Development & Addiction with Gabor Mate

A Vancouver, BC doctor specializing in treating chronic substance use disorders talks about the early childhood neurodevelopment and environmental conditions that lead to addictions. He suggests a compassionate approach to healing that takes social and other factors into consideration. DVD is available for purchase.

[Image by BarnyardBBS.]

Postpartum Sleep in Whales and Dolphins

A random brief video: wakefulness in newborn cetaceans and mothers, accompanying a Brief Communication published in Nature, 2005 (PDF). “…unilateral or bilateral eye closure was almost never (for less than 0.4% of 24 h) observed in dolphin mothers during the first 2 months postpartum.” 24 hr video surveillance confirmed human observations of the mothers keeping a near-continuous eye on offspring. Development and parenting occur without much rest “in contrast to the pattern seen so far in other animals, from flies to mammals,” conclude researchers Lyamin et al. Supplemental info PDF here, and the video supplement features a cute baby orca.

Lyamin, O., Pryaslova, J., Lance, V., & Siegel, J. (2005). Animal behaviour: Continuous activity in cetaceans after birth Nature, 435 (7046), 1177-1177 DOI: 10.1038/4351177a

Opening the Mind’s Eye – Learning to See

Understanding how the brain perceives an object and learns to see, and curing blindness in children in India. Humanitarian aid and basic science combine in a remarkable endeavor (Project Prakash) headed by this brilliant and affable speaker. More info.

Michael Merzenich on re-wiring the brain

Neuroplasticity, neurodevelopment, and cognitive ability. Theories of how human brains learn, develop and function, and the potential of brain fitness (in 2004). Available with subtitles in English and Portuguese, and an interactive searchable transcript.

Child Genius 2 – Young and Gifted

This sequel to a 2005 documentary on gifted children visits several years later to report on their development. Parenting, potential, privilege, and public education. Although it’s a Channel 4 production this episode is featured on a Canadian TV site that permits international viewing; if you’re located in the UK you can watch both episodes here.

Vaccines and Autism: A thoughtful debate with authors David Kirby and Arthur Allen

Not many science talks are introduced with a warning that attendees will be kicked out for intolerable acts and heckling. This is a moderated debate between Kirby, a journalist who writes about the belief that mercury in vaccines causes autism spectrum disorders, and Allen with the science-based perspective that there is no causal link. If you enjoy debate about this emotionally-charged issue, this is the video for you.

[Image by RIPizzo]

Cognitive Control in Young Children and Ways to Improve It

Adele Diamond of UBC speaking in California about cognitive control in young children. This public lecture was presented for a general audience after a more technical talk for professionals, Prefrontal Cortex and Developmental Neuropsychology: Genetic and Environmental Influences (01:24:05). Both are available at the link below. There’s also a PDF abstract.

Adolescent Brain Development

A forensic examiner talks about decision making and developing brains in youth, for an audience of youth advocates. See also: Brain Science as a Means of Understanding Delinquency and Substance Abuse in Youth,  The Teen Brain, and Teen Brain, an award-winning documentary on neuroethics and the juvenile justice system.