Neuroscience: Amateur Hour

When two young girls in 1692 started barking like dogs, fevering and convulsing into impossible positions, the deeply Puritan community of Salem, Massachusettes was quick to cry witchcraft. But they could never have envisioned that religious fervor, family feuds, and potentially a hallucinogenic fungus could have resulted in over 200 people being accused of witchcraft and 20 being executed for the deed. Come and listen to learn a little bit more about the neuroscience of the Salem Witch Trials! Please rate, review, and subscribe and if you have any questions, comments, concerns, queries, or complaints, please email me at neuroscienceamateurhour@gmail.com or DM me at NeuroscienceAmateurHour on Instagram.Citations below:Nast C. Inside the Salem Witch Trials. The New Yorker. Published August 31, 2015. Accessed March 8, 2022. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/09/07/the-witches-of-salem#:~:text=Nearly%20to%20a%20person%2C%20theyLarry Dale Gragg. A Quest for Security : The Life of Samuel Parris, 1653-1720. Conn. ; London; 1990.Betty Parris: First Afflicted Girl of the Salem Witch Trials. Published June 10, 2013. Accessed March 8, 2022. https://historyofmassachusetts.org/betty-parris-first-afflicted-girl-of-the-salem-witch-trials/#:~:text=Shortly%20after%20the%20incident%2C%20BettySalem Witch Trials - Further Readings. Jrank.org. Published 2019. https://law.jrank.org/pages/9985/Salem-Witch-Trials.htmlProtein structure reveals how LSD affects the brain. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Published February 13, 2017. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/protein-structure-reveals-how-lsd-affects-brainCormier Z. Brain scans reveal how LSD affects consciousness. Nature. Published online April 11, 2016. doi:10.1038/nature.2016.19727Eadie MJ. Convulsive ergotism: epidemics of the serotonin syndrome? The Lancet Neurology. 2003;2(7):429-434. doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(03)00439-3‌A Common Misconception: The Ergot Theory and the Salem Witch Trials. Salem 1692. Published January 4, 2015. https://salemwitchtrialsresearch.wordpress.com/2015/01/04/a-common-misconception-the-ergot-theory-and-the-salem-witch-trials/Support the show

Inspired by my coworker's tendency to superglue his fingers back together (listen for the full story), this episode dives into the pharmacological and neurological effects of sniffing glue and other recreational inhalants. Listen to learn a little bit more about how it both increases and decreases activity in dopamine neurons, acts on the same receptors as medical anesthetics and destroys the protective lining of your neurons. Please rate, review, and subscribe and if you have any questions, comments, concerns, queries, or complaints, please email me at neuroscienceamateurhour@gmail.com or DM me at NeuroscienceAmateurHour on Instagram.Citations below:What Are the Effects of Inhalant Use? archives.drugabuse.gov. Accessed March 1, 2022. https://archives.drugabuse.gov/publications/nida-community-drug-alert-bulletin-inhalants/what-are-effects-inhalant-useWilliams JF, Storck M. Inhalant Abuse. PEDIATRICS. 2007;119(5):1009-1017. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-0470Woodward JJ, Beckley J. Effects of the Abused Inhalant Toluene on the Mesolimbic Dopamine System. Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research. 2014;3:1-8. doi:10.4303/jdar/235838MacIver MB. Abused inhalants enhance GABA-mediated synaptic inhibition. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. 2009;34(10):2296-2304. doi:10.1038/npp.2009.57Themes UFO. The Pharmacology of Inhalants. Basicmedical Key. Published December 12, 2016. https://basicmedicalkey.com/the-pharmacology-of-inhalants/#head4About inhalants. Paediatrics & Child Health. 1998;3(2):132-133. doi:10.1093/pch/3.2.132Love S. Demyelinating diseases. Journal of Clinical Pathology. 2006;59(11):1151-1159. doi:10.1136/jcp.2005.031195Abuse NI on D. What are the other medical consequences of inhalant abuse? National Institute on Drug Abuse. Accessed March 2, 2022. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/inhalants/what-are-other-medical-consequences-inhalant-abuseSupport the show

ADHD -  attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - is a condition characterized by differences in brain development and brain activity that affect attention, the ability to sit still, and impulse control. It affects millions of children and adults and has far-reaching effects on the lives and well-being of these individuals. And yet we still don't know what going on!Is it genetic? Is it environmental? Come and listen to learn a little bit more about the neuroscience of ADHD and what's going on in your head. Please rate, review, and subscribe and if you have any questions, comments, concerns, queries, or complaints, please email me at neuroscienceamateurhour@gmail.com or DM me at NeuroscienceAmateurHour on Instagram.Citations below:Demontis D, Walters RK, Martin J, et al. Discovery of the first genome-wide significant risk loci for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Nature Genetics. 2018;51(1):63-75. doi:10.1038/s41588-018-0269-7Faraone SV, Larsson H. Genetics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Molecular Psychiatry. 2018;24(4). doi:10.1038/s41380-018-0070-0Froehlich TE, Anixt JS, Loe IM, Chirdkiatgumchai V, Kuan L, Gilman RC. Update on Environmental Risk Factors for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2011;13(5):333-344. doi:10.1007/s11920-011-0221-3Oscar Berman M, Blum K, Chen TJ, et al. Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and reward deficiency syndrome. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2008;4(5):893. doi:10.2147/ndt.s2627Quist JF, Barr CL, Schachar R, et al. The serotonin 5-HT1B receptor gene and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Molecular Psychiatry. 2003;8(1):98-102. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001244Zulauf CA, Sprich SE, Safren SA, Wilens TE. The Complicated Relationship Between Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Substance Use Disorders. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2014;16(3). doi:10.1007/s11920-013-0436-6Tomasi D, Volkow ND, Wang R, et al. Dopamine Transporters in Striatum Correlate with Deactivation in the Default Mode Network during Visuospatial Attention. Rustichini A, ed. PLoS ONE. 2009;4(6):e6102. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006102Ritalin Poses Cognitive Risks to Those Without ADHD. Pharmacy Times. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/ritalin-poses-cognitive-risks-to-those-without-adhdSupport the show

Synesthesia is a fascinating condition where some people can hear tastes or see letters in color or other crazy combinations of senses. Imagine listening to a Geico commercial and tasting fajitas. Insanity. Could this condition all come down to a genetic mutation that results in some hyperconnectivity between brain regions? Listen to find out more! Please rate, review, and subscribe and if you have any questions, comments, concerns, queries, or complaints, please email me at neuroscienceamateurhour@gmail.com or DM me at NeuroscienceAmateurHour on Instagram. Synesthesia quiz: https://exceptionalindividuals.com/candidates/neurodiversity-resources/neurodiversity-quizzes/synesthesia-quiz-test/Citations and relevant papers below:TYPES OF SYNESTHESIA IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. Accessed February 13, 2022. https://www.thesynesthesiatree.com/2021/02/types-of-synaesthesia-in-alphabetical.htmlHooser SDV, Roy A, Rhodes HJ, Culp JH, Fitzpatrick D. Transformation of Receptive Field Properties from Lateral Geniculate Nucleus to Superficial V1 in the Tree Shrew. Journal of Neuroscience. 2013;33(28):11494-11505. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1464-13.2013Huff T, Prasanna Tadi. Neuroanatomy, Visual Cortex. Nih.gov. Published March 15, 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482504/Zhu MM, Xu YL, Ma HQ. Edge Detection Based On the Characteristics of Primary Visual Cortex Cells. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 2018;960:012052. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/960/1/012052Heywood C, Gadotti A, Cowey A. Cortical area V4 and its role in the perception of color. The Journal of Neuroscience. 1992;12(10):4056-4065. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.12-10-04056.1992Ramachandran V, Hubbard E. Synaesthesia -A Window Into Perception, Thought and Language. Journal of Consciousness Studies. 2001;8(12):3-34. http://chip.ucsd.edu/pdf/Synaesthesia%20-%20JCS.pdfSakai J. Core Concept: How synaptic pruning shapes neural wiring during development and, possibly, in disease. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2020;117(28):16096-16099. doi:10.1073/pnas.2010281117Brang D, Ramachandran VS. Survival of the Synesthesia Gene: Why Do People Hear Colors and Taste Words? PLoS Biology. 2011;9(11):e1001205. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001205Grossenbacher PG, Lovelace CT. Mechanisms of synesthesia: cognitive and physiological constraints. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2001;5(1):36-41. doi:10.1016/s1364-6613(00)01571-0Support the show

Explore the neurological effects of napping on memory, executive functioning, cognitive decline, and hypertension. Learn about the different stages of sleep, its physiological changes, and its importance for survival. Discover the role of sleep in memory consolidation, the impact of sleep deprivation on memory, and the relationship between dreaming and memory consolidation. Discuss the benefits of napping such as improved mood and memory consolidation, as well as the downsides and mortality risk associated with excessive daytime napping. Get advice on when and how long to nap for optimal memory consolidation.

How do we designate something, whether it's a painting, a sculpture, or a piece of music as beautiful? Where have our ideas of beauty arisen over the course of human evolution? How do we as individuals decide that something is beautiful to us compared to our neighbors? Dive into the gripping but controversial field of neuroaesthetics to learn a little bit more about the science behind beautiful things. If you have any comments, questions, concerns, queries, or complaints, please email me at NeuroscienceAmateurHour@gmail.com or DM me at @NeuroscienceAmateurHour on Instagram. Citations and relevant papers below:Neuroaesthetics: Beauty is Only Brain Deep - Omniscience. MyScienceWork. Accessed January 31, 2022. https://www.mysciencework.com/omniscience/neuroaesthetics-beauty-is-only-brain-deep#:~:text=Those%20who%20oppose%20neuroaesthetics%20areDiessner R. Magnificent Moral Beauty: The Trait of Engagement with Moral Beauty. Understanding the Beauty Appreciation Trait. Published online 2019:183-204. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-32333-2_7‌Beauty and the Brain: The Emerging Field of Neuroaesthetics | Arts | The Harvard Crimson. Thecrimson.com. Published November 10, 2017. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2017/11/10/neuroaesthetics-cover/MBB 980N - Neuroaesthetics at Harvard University | Coursicle Harvard. www.coursicle.com. Accessed February 1, 2022. https://www.coursicle.com/harvard/courses/MBB/980N/Xie J, Liu B, Elsadek M. How Can Flowers and Their Colors Promote Individuals’ Physiological and Psychological States during the COVID-19 Lockdown? International Journal of Environmental Eckert J. Why we like flowers: the new psychology of bright colors (Part 1). Medium. Published July 3, 2021. Accessed February 1, 2022. https://psychologyofart.medium.com/why-do-we-like-flowers-on-the-origin-of-pretty-colors-f3ddd400d168Castro J. How the Brain Responds to Beauty. Scientific American. Accessed February 1, 2022. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-brain-responds-to-beauty/#:~:text=So%20what%20part%20of%20our%20brain%20responds%20to%20beauty%3F&text=Brain%20scientists%20who%20favor%20theChuan-Peng H, Huang Y, Eickhoff SB, Peng K, Sui J. Seeking the “Beauty Center” in the Brain: A Meta-Analysis of fMRI Studies of Beautiful Human Faces and Visual Art. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience. 2020;20(6):1200-1215. doi:10.3758/s13415-020-00827-zLüttge U, Souza GM. The Golden Section and beauty in nature: The perfection of symmetry and the charm of asymmetry. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology. 2019;146:98-103. doi:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2018.12.008Support the show

Today's episode journeys into the neuroscience behind magic mushrooms! Psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient, is known for making its users feel like their senses are mixing, their brains are dissociating, and the walls are melting? Does it all come down to cortical deactivation in the brain region responsible for encoding our sense of self? Come and listen to learn a little bit more about magic mushrooms effects, their huge potential as therapies for mental health disorders, and the potential consequences of their use. If you have any comments, questions, concerns, queries, or complaints, please email me at NeuroscienceAmateurHour@gmail.com or DM me at @NeuroscienceAmateurHour on Instagram. Citations below: Hartney E. What to Know About Magic Mushroom Use. Verywell Mind. Published February 26, 2012.Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms) Uses, Effects & Hazards. Drugs.com. https://www.drugs.com/illicit/psilocybin.html.Lowe H, Toyang N, Steele B, et al. The Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin. Molecules. 2021;26(10):2948. doi:10.3390/molecules26102948‌Aronson JK, ed. Psilocybin. ScienceDirect. Published January 1, 2016. Accessed January 26, 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978044453717100158XDrug Scheduling. www.dea.gov. https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling#:~:text=Schedule%20I%20drugs%2C%20substances%2C%20orCarhart-Harris RL, Erritzoe D, Williams T, et al. Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2012;109(6):2138-2143. doi:10.1073/pnas.1119598109Bhagwagar Z, Hinz R, Taylor M, Fancy S, Cowen P, Grasby P. Increased 5-HT(2A) receptor binding in euthymic, medication-free patients recovered from depression: a positron emission study with [(11)C]MDL 100,907. The American Journal of Psychiatry. 2006;163(9):1580-1587. doi:10.1176/ajp.2006.163.9.1580Psychedelic Treatment with Psilocybin Relieves Major Depression, Study Shows. Johns Hopkins Medicine Newsroom. Published November 4, 2020. ‌More promise for psilocybin in depression but safety remains a concern. Clinical Trials Arena. Published November 15, 2021.Vollenweider FX, Vollenweider-Scherpenhuyzen MFI, Bäbler A, Vogel H, Hell D. Psilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action. NeuroReport. 1998;9(17):3897-3902. Mozhdehipanah H, Gorji R. Subarachnoid Hemorrhage as a Manifestation of Magic Mushroom Abuse: A Case Report and Review Literature. Journal of Vessels and Circulation. 2020;1(3):40-42. doi:10.52547/jvesselcirc.1.3.40‌Hendricks PS, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR. Psilocybin, psychological distress, and suicidality. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2015;29(9):1041-1043. doi:10.1177/0269881115598338Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: SAMHSA's National Helpline800-662-HELP (4357)TTY: 800-487-4889Support the show

It's a common sight on Sunday afternoon. The snacks are gathered. The couch cushions are plumped. The beer is cold. Across the screen, twenty-two people in tight white pants and polished helmets trot across the screen. But behind the shiny exterior of football, America's favorite pastime, lies a dark secret - chronic traumatic encephalopathy (a word I am incapable of pronouncing). A neurodegenerative disease characterized by psychological, behavioral, and cognitive changes, CTE and repeated head trauma has been linked to rage behaviors and increased aggression. In fact, Aaron Hernandez, a former NFL player was posthumously diagnosed with advanced CTE, potentially providing a "why" for his brutal murder of Odin Llyod. If you have any comments, questions, concerns, queries, or complaints, please email me at NeuroscienceAmateurHour@gmail.com or DM me at @NeuroscienceAmateurHour on Instagram. Citations and relevant papers below: NFL Helmet Challenge Raises the Bar for Helmet Technology and Performance, Awards $1.55 Million in Grant Funding to Help New Models Get on Field Faster. NFL.com. https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/equipment-and-innovation/innovation-challenges/nfl-helmet-challenge-raises-the-bar-for-helmet-technology-and-performance-awards Published 2021. Built By Data: NFL Helmet Innovation. NFL.com. https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/equipment-and-innovation/engineering-technology/built-by-data-nfl-helmet-innovation. Published 2021. Heintz E, Breaux L, Lewis A, Foreman J. Determinants of Missed Games Following Concussions in the National Football League. Front Sports Act Living. 2020;2. doi:10.3389/fspor.2020.595445Tator C. Concussions and their consequences: current diagnosis, management and prevention. Can Med Assoc J. 2013;185(11):975-979. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120039Mez J, Daneshvar D, Kiernan P et al. Clinicopathological Evaluation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Players of American Football. JAMA. 2017;318(4):360. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.8334McKee A, Stein T, Kiernan P, Alvarez V. The Neuropathology of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Brain Pathology. 2015;25(3):350-364. doi:10.1111/bpa.12248Asken B, Sullan M, DeKosky S, Jaffee M, Bauer R. Research Gaps and Controversies in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. JAMA Neurol. 2017;74(10):1255. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.2396Turner R, Lucke-Wold B, Robson M, Lee J, Bailes J. Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy: Distinct but possibly overlapping disease entities. Brain Inj. 2016;30(11):1279-1292. doi:10.1080/02699052.2016.1193631Giza C, Hovda D. The New Neurometabolic Cascade of Concussion. Neurosurgery. 2014;75:S24-S33. doi:10.1227/neu.0000000000000505Haislop T. Aaron Hernandez timeline: From murders and trials to prison suicide. Sportingnews.com. https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/aaron-hernandez-timeline-murders-trials-prison-suicide/1886y82a8bgyx123qxcgg04lb5. Published 2020. Support the show

They dominate the doctor's office waiting room, the bus ride home, any spare few minutes in our lives that we want to fill with something low-effort and mindless. What are they? Mobile games like Candy Crush Saga and other mindless match-three timesucks. Listen now to learn about how these games are engineered to hack into your brain to make them easy to get into, satisfying to play, and impossible to put down. If you have any comments, questions, concerns, queries, or complaints, please email me at NeuroscienceAmateurHour@gmail.com or DM me at @NeuroscienceAmateurHour on Instagram. Citations and relevant papers below: Dockterman, E., Candy Crush Saga: The Science Behind our Addiction, TIME, November 13, 2013Fruhlinger, J., Candy Crush Addiction is Real - and Can Lead to Destructive Results, Observer, (2019). Soroush, M., Hancock, M., Bohns, VK., Self-Control in Casual Games: The Relationship between Candy Crush Saga (™) players in-app purchases and self-control. IEEE Games Media Entertainment, Conference Paper (2014). Larche, C., Musielak, N., Dixon, M., The Candy Crush Sweet Tooth: How “Near-misses’ in Candy Crush Increases Frustration, and the Urge to Continue Gameplay, Journal of Gambling Studies (2016). Madigan, J., Why You Don’t Burn out on Candy Crush Saga, Psychology of Video Games (2013). Perez-Truglia, R., On the causes and consequences of hedonic adaptation, Journal of Economic Psychology, Volume 33, Issue 6 (2012). Camgoz, N., Yener, C., Guvenc, D., Effects of hue, saturation, and brightness: Part 2: Attention. Color Research and Application, Volume 29, Issue 1 (2003). Madore, J., Wagner, A., Multicosts of Multitasking, Cerebrum, (2019).Duverge, G., Insert More Coins: The Psychology Behind Microtransactions, Touro University Worldwide (2016).Support the show

This legend took a metal bar through the brain that took out 4% of his cerebral cortex and still retained the ability to move, speak, and live his life. The behavioral changes that occurred after his accident have fascinated neuroscientists for centuries and still remain a fascinating insight into the function of the prefrontal cortex today. If you have any comments, questions, concerns, queries, or complaints, please email me at NeuroscienceAmateurHour@gmail.com or DM me at @NeuroscienceAmateurHour on Instagram. Citations and relevant papers below: O’Driscoll, K., Leach, J., “‘No longer Gage’: an iron bar through the head, early observations of personality change after injury to the prefrontal cortex, BMJ (1998). doi: 10.1136/bmj.317.7174.1673aSiddiqui, S., Chatterjee, U., Kumar, D., Siddiqui, A., Goyal, N., Neuropsychology of prefrontal cortex, Indian Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 50, Issue 3 (2008). doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.43634Harlow, JM, Passage of an iron rod through the head. Boston Med Surg Journal. (1848)Harlow JM, Recovery from the passage of an iron bar through the head, Publ Mass Med Soc, (1868). Hamilton, J., Why Brain Scientists are Still Obsessed with the Curious Case of Phineas Gage, NPR, Weekend Edition Sunday (2017). Demnasio, H., Grabowski, T., Frank, R., Galaburda, AM., Damasio, AR., The Return of Phineas Gage: Clues about the Brain from the Skull of a Famous Patient, Science, Vol. 264, Issue 5162 (May 20, 1994). Van Horn, JD., Irimia, A., Torgerson, C., Chambers, M., Kikinis, R., Toga, A., Mapping Connectivity Damage in the Case of Phineas Gage, PLoS ONE, Volume 7, Issue 5 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0037454Support the show