Mind & Matter

Nick Jikomes
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Aug 9, 2024 • 1h 24min

Epigenetics, Chromatin Plasticity & the Neural Basis of Memory | Giulia Santoni | 169

Giulia Santoni, a neuroscientist with a PhD from EPFL, dives into the captivating world of epigenetics and memory. She discusses how gene regulation and chromatin plasticity influence memory formation. The conversation explores the intricate processes of synapse formation, highlighting how calcium influx and transcription factors strengthen memories. Santoni also reveals the significance of energy supply in memory encoding and the shift toward using human brain organoids in research, emphasizing ethical considerations and the future of neuroscience.
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20 snips
Aug 5, 2024 • 1h 40min

Sleep: Neural Circuits, Orexin/Hypocretin, Hypothalamus, Neuromodulators, Stress & Cortisol, Sleep Drugs & Ultrasound Technology | Luis de Lecea | 168

Luis de Lecea, a neurobiologist at Stanford, dives into the intriguing science of sleep. He explores how sleep architecture operates across species, detailing the vital roles of REM and non-REM phases. Stress and cortisol’s impact on sleep patterns are discussed, revealing the physiological consequences of disruptions. De Lecea also shares insights on innovative ultrasound technology for enhancing sleep quality and the significance of orexin neurons in sleep disorders like narcolepsy. A fascinating discussion on sleep's role in DNA repair wraps up this deep dive into slumber science.
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Jul 26, 2024 • 51min

Plant Chemistry & the Chemical Basis of Marijuana Aroma | Iain Oswald | 167

Send us a textAbout the guest: Iain Oswald, PhD is an organic chemist and Director of Research & Development at Abstrax Tech.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Oswald discuss: plant chemistry; marijuana strains and their aroma; the chemical basis of cannabis aroma; terpenes vs. non-terpene volatile organic compounds; and more.Related episodes:Marijuana, Plant Chemistry, Terpenes, Volatile Sulfur Compounds, Cannabis Industry, What Pungent Weed Smells Like & Why | Iain Oswald | #114Endocannabinoids, Stress, Exercise, Cortisol, Anxiety, Cannabis & Effects of Marijuana on Brain Development | Matthew Hill | #123*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.Support the showAffiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. MINDMATTER gets you 15% off. AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models. Seed Oil Scout: Find restaurants with seed oil-free options, scan food products to see what they’re hiding, with this easy-to-use mobile app. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) For all the ways you can support my efforts
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Jul 19, 2024 • 2h 10min

History of Diet & Food, Population Size & Social Stability, Psychological Pandemics, Physical & Mental Health in Civilization Cycles | Rudyard Lynch | 193

Rudyard Lynch, a history and anthropology scholar and YouTube host, dives deep into the evolution of agriculture and its impact on human society. He discusses how dietary practices shape social behavior, linking meat consumption to individualism and rice to collectivism. The conversation also explores the rise and fall of civilizations, emphasizing the connection between population density and social stability. Lynch touches on the cognitive revolution and its monumental effects on culture, creativity, and even future genetic enhancements.
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Jul 14, 2024 • 1h 29min

Evolution: Natural Selection, Genetic Drift, Origin of Life, Cellular Complexity, Epigenetics | Michael Lynch | 166

Send us a textAbout the guest: Michael Lynch, PhD is an evolutionary biologist at Arizona State University who studies the origins of genomic and cellular complexity.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Lynch discuss: natural selection vs. genetic drift; genetic mutations & the speed of evolution; origin of life; the evolution of cellular complexity; epigenetics & the inheritance of acquired characteristics; and more.Related episodes:Evolution & Animal Development: How Nature Builds & Changes Bodies | Sean B. Carroll | #138Evolution, Language, Domestication, Symbolic Cognition, AI & Large Language Models | Terrence Deacon | #141*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.Support the showAffiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. MINDMATTER gets you 15% off. AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models. Seed Oil Scout: Find restaurants with seed oil-free options, scan food products to see what they’re hiding, with this easy-to-use mobile app. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) For all the ways you can support my efforts
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Jul 10, 2024 • 1h 41min

PUFAs in Brain Health & Disease, Dietary Fats, Brain Lipids, Nutrition | Richard Bazinet | 165

Richard Bazinet, a neurochemist and nutritional scientist at the University of Toronto, dives into the fascinating world of brain lipid metabolism. He explores how dietary fats, especially omega-3s, impact cognitive health and function. The discussion unveils the intricate mechanics of fatty acid transport and their crucial role in neural health. Bazinet also tackles the complexities of fatty acid metabolism, emphasizing how our dietary choices can influence conditions such as fatty liver disease and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's.
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Jun 30, 2024 • 1h 48min

Seed Oils, Chronic Disease, Diet & Religious Cults, Mainstream Medicine vs. Independent Research | Tucker Goodrich | 192

Send us a textAbout the guest: Tucker Goodrich is an independent researcher and self-described “seed oil zealot” who credits many of his own health improvements with minimizing his consumption of industrial seed oils. He runs a Substack page, and provides interesting commentary about scientific research on seed oils, metabolic health, and related topics.Episode summary: Nick and Tucker discuss: what seed oils are and their history; differences between omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs); seed oils, sunburn, and oxidative stress; Seventh Day Adventism and the relationship between religion, ideology, and diet; paleobiology of human diet; and more.*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.Support the showAffiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. MINDMATTER gets you 15% off. AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models. Seed Oil Scout: Find restaurants with seed oil-free options, scan food products to see what they’re hiding, with this easy-to-use mobile app. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) For all the ways you can support my efforts
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Jun 26, 2024 • 1h 9min

Dopamine, Reward, Motivation, Lateral Hypothalamus, Feeding Behavior & Eating Disorders | Melissa Sharpe | 164

Melissa Sharpe, a neuroscientist at the University of Sydney, dives into the fascinating world of dopamine and its multifaceted role in motivation beyond pleasure. She discusses the lateral hypothalamus as a key player in feeding behavior and learning associations. The conversation explores how impulsive decisions in addiction can affect long-term goals, revealing the complex interactions between brain circuits. Additionally, Sharpe shares insights from her academic journey across continents and the cultural differences in work-life balance between Australia and the U.S.
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Jun 22, 2024 • 1h 45min

Anesthesia, Placebo Effects, Consciousness, Subjectivity, MDMA, Ketamine, Opioids, Psychedelics | Boris Heifets | 163

Send us a textAbout the guest: Boris Heifets, MD, PhD is an anesthesiologist and researcher at Stanford University. His lab studies non-ordinary states of consciousness and psychoactive drugs like MDMA, ketamine, and psychedelics.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Heifets discuss: anesthesia and how anesthetics work; placebo effects & expectations in clinical research; ketamine as an antidepressant, anesthetic, and recreational drug; the subjective effects of psychedelics and other drugs; MDMA and Lykos Therapeutics’ attempts to gain FDA approval for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy; opioids & placebo effects; and more.Related episodes:How Does Ketamine Work & Is It Addictive? | Christian Lüscher | #90*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.Support the showAffiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. MINDMATTER gets you 15% off. AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models. Seed Oil Scout: Find restaurants with seed oil-free options, scan food products to see what they’re hiding, with this easy-to-use mobile app. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) For all the ways you can support my efforts
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4 snips
Jun 16, 2024 • 1h 35min

Drugs, Addiction & Neuroplasticity: Psychedelics, MDMA, Opioids, Cocaine, Amphetamine (Adderall), Nicotine, Marijuana & Alcohol | Robert Malenka | 162

Send us a textAbout the guest: Robert Malenka, MD, PhD is psychiatrist & neuroscientist. He has spent most of his career at Stanford University, where his lab studies synaptic plasticity, mechanisms of drug action in the brain, and the neural basis of behavior.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Malenka discuss: mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in the brain, such as LTP & LTD; addiction & the dopamine reward circuitry of the brain; psychoactive drugs ranging from stimulants (cocaine, nicotine, amphetamines) to opioids (fentanyl), psychedelics, MDMA, THC, and alcohol; and more.Related episodes: How Does Ketamine Work & Is It Addictive? | Christian Lüscher | #90Neuroscience of Social Behavior, Pain, Empathy, Emotion, Brain Mechanisms of MDMA | Monique Smith | #159Support the showAffiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. MINDMATTER gets you 15% off. AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models. Seed Oil Scout: Find restaurants with seed oil-free options, scan food products to see what they’re hiding, with this easy-to-use mobile app. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) For all the ways you can support my efforts

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