Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson

Professor Jonathan Kipnis of the Washington University School of Medicine talks about the brain's immune system. He and is students and postdocs have provided evidence that cells of the immune system are critical for protecting neurons of the brain and spinal cord against traumatic injury, and that 'protective autoimmunity' can also be beneficial for the brain in animal models of multiple sclerosis and autism. Their discoveries have also revealed important roles for a type of T lymphocyte in learning and memory, anxiety, and social behaviors. Dr. Kipnis recently discovered that the brain has its own lymphatic system that functions as a drainage system through which molecular waste is removed. This lymphatic system may become clogged during aging which may contribute to the accumulation of toxic amyloid in the brain in Alzheimer's disease. He discusses the implications of his research findings for the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders.

What determines whether we make good or bad decisions? Professor Michael Platt of the University of Pennsylvania is a biological anthropologist, neuroscientist, and neuroeconomist whose research has elucidated the neuronal networks involved in decision-making. By recording electrical activity in neurons of non-human primates while they are making decisions Platt has shown that circuits in prefrontal cortex and adjacent cingulate gyrus are particularly important in decision-making. More recently he has been applying his knowledge of the neurobiology of decision-making to help businesses enhance their productivity.

Sarkis Mazmanian is a professor of microbiology at the California Institute of Technology. Research in his laboratory has provided evidence that bacteria in the intestines play important roles in the normal development and function of the immune and nervous systems. His findings suggest roles for certain gut bacteria in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders and Parkinson's disease. He discovered that one species of gut bacteria can improve immune function and can ameliorate behavioral abnormalities in an animal model of autism.

Art Kramer is a Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Center for Cognitive Brain Health at Northeastern University. In this podcast he talks about how aerobic exercise can improve several aspects of brain performance including learning and memory, and multitasking. His brain imaging studies in elderly people have shown that exercise can increase the amounts of gray and white matter in some brain regions, and can enhance the functional connectivity of neuron networks. Importantly, exercise improves academic performance in children. On the other hand lack of exercise and overeating adversely affect brain structure and performance.

Professor Charles Nelson of Harvard University talks about his research that has elucidated how children's brains normally develop and how adversities (neglect, physical abuse, infections) can result in lifelong problems with mental and physical health. Dr. Nelson talks about his studies of early life adversity in children in Romania, Bangladesh and Hungary. In addition, he talks about genetic and environmental risk factors for autism.

Professor Guo-Li Ming talks about how the neuronal networks are formed during brain development. She and others have developed technologies that enable the formation of brain organoids ('mini-brains') from human pluripotent stem cells. Guo=Li has used such brain organoids to elucidate how the brain normally develops and what goes wrong in developmental brain disorders including schizophrenia and autism. She has also provided evidence that by infecting neural stem cells, ZIKA virus and COVID-19 viruses may adversely affect the brain. Professor Ming's laboratory website: https://www.med.upenn.edu/minglab/

Professor Franz Vollenweider of the University of Zurich is psychiatrist and neuroscientist who has been at the forefront of research on drugs that induce altered states of consciousness. Using state of the art brain imaging technologies, pharmacological tools, and psychological evaluations, he and his research team have made major advances toward a clear understanding the neurobiological basis of the psychedelic experience. Here talks about how psychedelic chemicals such as psilocybin, LSD, and ketamine affect neuronal network excitability in ways that elicit hallucinations and altered states of brain function. He also talks about the emerging evidence that psychedelics can be very beneficial for people with depression and may also facilitate recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.

In this episode I talk with evolutionary and behavioral biologist Kay Holekamp talks about her fascinating research on spotted hyenas that has shed light on the evolution of intelligence. By studying the behaviors of hyena social groups in Kenya, Professor Holekamp and her students have revealed the remarkable cognitive capabilities of these animals. Their work has provided valuable insight into how the brain evolved complex social skills to enable flourishing in harsh environments. For further details and pictures of the hyenas visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZDs7n9j-KE Her publications can be found at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=kay+holekamp&sort=date&size=200

Professor Robert Sapolsky - Stanford University - talks about his research into how chronic psychosocial stress adversely affects the brain in ways that predispose it to anxiety disorders, depression, and Alzheimer's disease. His studies of baboons in Kenya and of rodents in the laboratory established a major role for the adrenal hormone cortisol in promoting the atrophy and death of neurons in the brain.

I talk with Professor Nicola (Nicky) Clayton at Cambridge University about her experiments which have established the remarkable cognitive capabilities of corvids which are birds in the crow family. By studying their food caching (hiding) behaviors Nicky and her students have shown that corvids can read the minds of other birds, and they can remember details of past events and plan for the future. Moreover, corvids seem to have a working knowledge of the laws of physics and they can craft and use tools to solve problems. Nicky also talks about her research on the development of cognition in children, and her efforts to foster collaborations between scientists and people in the performing arts.