Pondering Prosocial Behavior, MDMA, Empathy, and Food Addiction with Robert Malenka

Imagine a world in which everyone got along and cared for the well-being of everyone else. In this episode I talk with Professor Rob Malenka of Stanford University about the neural circuits and neurochemicals involved in prosocial behaviors and empathy.  Malenka’s laboratory has used cutting-edge technologies to identify the brain regions and specific synapses that mediate prosocial behaviors and how MDMA enhances these behaviors.  He also talks about fascinating experiments which showed that neurons in a brain region called the anterior cingulate cortex mediate empathy-like behaviors in mice.  Malenka’s research is leading to new insights into how we interact with other people and how these interactions can be more rewarding and productive. We also talk about the neurobiology of addiction including the recent epidemic of food addiction and obesity. 

LINKS

Professor Malenka’s Stanford profile:  https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/robert-malenka

Review article on the neurobiology of prosocial behavior: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8169714/pdf/nihms-1648144.pdf

Oxytocin and reward: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6214365/pdf/nihms-989254.pdf

Prosocial and rewarding properties of MDMA: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7123941/pdf/nihms-1565640.pdf

Social transfer of pain and analgesia: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7952019/pdf/nihms-1672720.pdf

Food addiction: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8035198/pdf/41467_2021_Article_22430.pdf