Brain Inspired BI 214 Nicole Rust: How To Actually Fix Brains and Minds
32 snips
Jun 18, 2025 
Nicole Rust, director of the Visual Memory laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania and author of 'Elusive Cures', shares her insights on transforming neuroscience to address brain and mental disorders. She discusses the need for a holistic approach, emphasizing how environmental factors shape moods and mental health. Rust also explores the shift in research methodologies, advocating for a view of the brain as a complex, adaptive system. Additionally, she touches upon innovative treatments, including the fascinating role of psychedelics in therapy.
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Crick's Inspiration Shaped Career
- Nicole Rust was inspired by Francis Crick's book about consciousness pathways early in her career.
- She studied the visual system before shifting focus to broader cognition and mood neuroscience.
Embracing Dynamical Systems View
- Nicole Rust initially doubted the importance of dynamical systems in brain function.
- Writing her book helped her appreciate its essential role beyond simple feed-forward brain models.
Mood Is Hard To Measure
- Mood neuroscience lags other brain functions due to difficulty measuring subjective happiness.
- Our understanding of brain mechanisms for mood remains limited compared to perception or memory.
