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The Human Brain in the Age of Insight

- Eminent neuroscientist and Nobel laureate Eric Kandel in a recorded livestream from Big Think, interviewed about creativity and the brain, the challenges facing neuroscience research, differences between the brain and computers, imaging, and questions from viewers. “Understanding the human brain is the most important task that confronts us, both from an intellectual point of view and a medical point of view. We’re now at the verge of a major advance,” he says. Check out his new book, The Age of Insight. Click the image above or this link to view video.

Dr. Pamela Collins on Global Mental Health Challenges

Dr. Collins discusses the Grand Challenges meeting to prioritize research needs from countries around the globe, as well as emerging ways of delivering mental health services with mobile phones, and modeling other successful health care models. She describes one solution, task shifting, as extending the reach of specialists into the hands of communities in need of basic care. She also talks about opportunities with the World Health Organization and other global agencies joining together. Video accompanied by a full transcript.

National Database for Autism Research

Demonstrating the adage “power in numbers,” the National Database for Autism Research pools valuable data collected from 169,846+ sources. Individuals with autism spectrum disorders have participated in many types of clinical and basic research, in studies ranging from molecules to genes, to behavioral, social, and environmental factors, and this database aggregates the results to make their contributions even more relevant to a larger group of scientists. If you would like to contribute to the database as a person with ASD (or parent of one), you can start by connecting with a researcher in your area. Video features a full transcript, useful for people who are hearing impaired.

So You Want to Get a PhD in Psychology

Animation of an imaginary conversation between a psychology professor and a student who wants to follow in his footsteps. Want to help people? Study the human condition? Make lots of money? Apparently academia is not the right career choice. This cute, short video points out some of the potential drawbacks of working in the field.
This is the first in my new series, Funny Fridays. I’ll be featuring amusing videos about the brain and behaviour every week. Sit back and relax, have a laugh, and feel free to share links to your favourites in the comments.

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.

Deep Brain Stimulation in Tourette Syndrome: A Description of 3 Patients With Excellent Outcome

A neurologist describes a new paper published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Three of his patients suffering from severe, treatment refractory Tourette syndrome received deep brain stimulation implants, and the procedures were successful. Dr. Savica talks about which areas of the brain were targeted by DBS, and the need for more research to determine the best target. For more details, read the free article here. DOI: 10.4016/38287.01.

2011 Gloria Neidorf Memorial Lecture on Bipolar Disorder

The controversial link between sensitivities to foods including milk casein, wheat, and gluten, and effects on psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. A young investigator presents her ideas in the The Gloria Neidorf Memorial Lecture for 2011 at the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Annual Symposium in New York City. Brief presentation followed by a Q&A with the public.

Greg Murray, The Quality of Life Scale

A collaboration with a psychiatry group at UBC in Vancouver and a Sydney, Australia researcher measuring quality of life in bipolar disorders, separate from its symptoms. Murray describes how they developed a scale, now available for free clinical and individual use (click here), through a series of questionnaires and analyses. They created a useful instrument for the treatment of bipolar disorder that considers important dimensions.

Michalak, E., Murray, G. (2010). Development of the QoL.BD: a disorder-specific scale to assess quality of life in bipolar disorder Bipolar Disorders, 12 (7), 727-740 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2010.00865.x

Disasters and Mental Health Research

Disasters (both man-made and natural) can have disastrous effects on the large groups of people who experience them. A researcher talks about the long term psychological effects of 9/11, and how scientists have studied the best methods to identify and help people at risk of developing PTSD. Complete transcript accompanying video.

Exercise as a Preventive or Disease-Modifying Treatment of Dementia

A neurologist reports on the newly published article “Physical Exercise as a Preventive or Disease-Modifying Treatment of Dementia and Brain Aging,” Ahlskog et al, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2011. Their meta-analysis found that exercise affects brain health in animal models, and suggest it can modify cognitive outcomes with normal aging and perhaps reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disease like dementia. Physical (as opposed to mental) exercise is recommended. Although the amount and type of exercise has not been completely assessed, patients are being counseled to practice regular vigorous exercise. DOI: 10.4016/33263.01.