The Brain Blown Podcast
By The Brain Blown Podcast
The Brain Blown PodcastFeb 09, 2023
Mini: When Pleasure Becomes Addictive
Things start becoming addictive when we start chasing the want and not the like.
Yes, you want something... but are you enjoying it for the sake of enjoyment... or are you numbing something you don't want to feel instead?
Following our full episode, the Neuroscience of Pleasure, this mini episode shines a giant light on our nervous system and its key role in managing pleasure and avoiding addiction.
For more ways to get involved with the Brain Blown Community, head to www.patreon.com/brainblownpodcast to learn about our offers!
If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com.
We'd love to hear from you.
REFERENCES The Neuroscience of Happiness and Pleasure by Morten L Kringelbach and Kent C. Berridge
Neuroscience of Affect: Brain mechanisms of pleasure and displeasure -- Kent C. Berridge and Morten L. Kringelbach
The Neuroscience of Pleasure and Happiness By Luciano Marinelli
A neuroscience perspective on pleasure and pain -- Dan-Mikael Ellingsen, Morten Kringlebach, and Siri Leknes
Mini: Pleasure, Partners and Consent
The balance of pleasure and pain is on an ever-swinging scale. (Cause they use the same receptors!)
And encouraging others' pleasure enters us onto a whole new playing field.
Following our full episode, the Neuroscience of Pleasure, this mini episode starts to steer us away from our own experiences of pleasure, and towards how our feelings (and actions) can affect others.
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For more ways to get involved with the Brain Blown Community, head to www.patreon.com/brainblownpodcast to learn about our offers!
If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com.
We'd love to hear from you.
REFERENCES The Neuroscience of Happiness and Pleasure by Morten L Kringelbach and Kent C. Berridge
Neuroscience of Affect: Brain mechanisms of pleasure and displeasure -- Kent C. Berridge and Morten L. Kringelbach
The Neuroscience of Pleasure and Happiness By Luciano Marinelli
A neuroscience perspective on pleasure and pain -- Dan-Mikael Ellingsen, Morten Kringlebach, and Siri Leknes
Mini: Dopamine isn't pleasure?
If dopamine isn't pleasure (like we all think it is)...
Then what is pleasure?
Following our full episode, the Neuroscience of Pleasure, this mini episode dives more into dopamine's role while also highlighting a key neurotransmitter that doesn't get enough attention and might be the key to truly enjoying life's pleasures.
Lastly, we look at some common pleasures - sex, food, etc. - and discuss how to enjoy them to the fullest.
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For more ways to get involved with the Brain Blown Community, head to www.patreon.com/brainblownpodcast to learn about our offers!
If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com.
We'd love to hear from you.
REFERENCES The Neuroscience of Happiness and Pleasure by Morten L Kringelbach and Kent C. Berridge
Neuroscience of Affect: Brain mechanisms of pleasure and displeasure -- Kent C. Berridge and Morten L. Kringelbach
The Neuroscience of Pleasure and Happiness By Luciano Marinelli
A neuroscience perspective on pleasure and pain -- Dan-Mikael Ellingsen, Morten Kringlebach, and Siri Leknes
Neuroscience of Pleasure
Pleasure is what drives us to do anything and everything in life.
So how does our brain decide what we enjoy?
What does too much pleasure look like, and how can we make sure the pleasures we pursue in life are healthy?
Tune in to learn more, and look out for a few more mini-episodes along this topic next month.
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For more ways to get involved with the Brain Blown Community, head to www.patreon.com/brainblownpodcast to learn about our offers!
If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com.
We'd love to hear from you.
REFERENCES The Neuroscience of Happiness and Pleasure by Morten L Kringelbach and Kent C. Berridge Neuroscience of Affect: Brain mechanisms of pleasure and displeasure -- Kent C. Berridge and Morten L. Kringelbach The Neuroscience of Pleasure and Happiness By Luciano Marinelli A neuroscience perspective on pleasure and pain -- Dan-Mikael Ellingsen, Morten Kringlebach, and Siri Leknes
Mini: Long-term Decisions (How to Stick to your Goals)
In January we learned about the Neuroscience of Decision Making, and in this episode, we're taking a closer look at long-term decisions.
So... how's that New Year's resolution coming along?
Is it feeling like a wishful dream these days? Or maybe you've fallen off the wagon so many times, it seems easier to quit than keep at it?
Your brain likes to make sticking to long-term decisions (like resolutions) feel as difficult as it seems... but what if there are ways to "cheat the system" and trick your brain to almost guarantee success in the long run?
Give this mini-episode a listen to find some encouragement from your brain to keep going, along with useful suggestions to make it easier to reach your goals. _______________________________________________________
For more ways to get involved with the Brain Blown Community, head to www.patreon.com/brainblownpodcast to learn about our offers!
If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com.
We'd love to hear from you.
P.S. Like our new cover art? Just as this podcast continues to develop, so has our image. But we think this one may be the keeper! Stay tuned for the full image on our website -- update coming very soon.
REFERENCES
- The Behavioral Neuroscience of Motivation: An Overview of Concepts, Measures, and Translational Applications -- Eleanor H. Simpson and Peter D. Balsam
- The Cognitive Neuroscience of Human Decision Making: A Review and Conceptual Framework -- Lesley K. Fellows Montreal Neurological Institute
- The Role of Emotion in Decision Making: A Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective -- Nasir Naqvi, Baba Shiv and Antoine Bechara
- Decision Neuroscience New Directions in Studies of Judgment and Decision Making Alan G. Sanfey
- The Ecology of Human Fear: Survival Optimization and the Nervous System -- Dean Mobbs, Cindy C. Hagan, Tim Dalgleish , Brian Silston and Charlotte Prévost
- Human Orbitofrontal Cortex Signals Decision Outcomes to Sensory Cortex During Behavioral Adaptations -- Bin A. Wang, Maike Veismann, Abhishek Banerjee & Burkhard Pleger
- Behave by Robert M. Sapolsky
Neuroscience of Decision Making
From the everyday to the extraordinary, our decisions shape the course of our lives.
So how exactly do the choices we make every day, and the people we come in contact with, change that course?
And how can knowing more about our brains lead to better decisions -- ones that we can feel confident in and that match our strengths and values?
Tune in as we uncover the secrets to better decision-making by understanding the inner workings of our brains. ______________________________________________________
For more ways to get involved with the Brain Blown Community, head to www.patreon.com/brainblownpodcast to learn about our offers!
If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com.
We'd love to hear from you.
P.S. Like our new cover art? Just as this podcast continues to develop, so has our image. But we think this one may be the keeper! Stay tuned for the full image on our website -- update coming very soon.
REFERENCES
- The Behavioral Neuroscience of Motivation: An Overview of Concepts, Measures, and Translational Applications -- Eleanor H. Simpson and Peter D. Balsam
- The Cognitive Neuroscience of Human Decision Making: A Review and Conceptual Framework -- Lesley K. Fellows Montreal Neurological Institute
- The Role of Emotion in Decision Making: A Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective -- Nasir Naqvi, Baba Shiv and Antoine Bechara
- Decision Neuroscience New Directions in Studies of Judgment and Decision Making Alan G. Sanfey
- The Ecology of Human Fear: Survival Optimization and the Nervous System -- Dean Mobbs, Cindy C. Hagan, Tim Dalgleish , Brian Silston and Charlotte Prévost
- Human Orbitofrontal Cortex Signals Decision Outcomes to Sensory Cortex During Behavioral Adaptations -- Bin A. Wang, Maike Veismann, Abhishek Banerjee & Burkhard Pleger
The Green Zone
In light of our focus this season on mental health, we leave you with this tool to help ground your mind, activate your whole brain, and ease your body into a more relaxed state.
Stay tuned for Season 3 of The Brain Blown Podcast coming in the new year!
www.brainblownpodcast.com
Neuroscience of Trauma, Part 2
Let's celebrate the holiday season with TWO EXTRA episodes to round out Season 2 of The Brain Blown Podcast!
Following Part 1, this last shorter episode dives back into the neuroscience of trauma and specifically examines the body's role in storing trauma.
Laine also highlights some brilliant takeaways we can all use to try and manage the stress in our lives and be prepared to take on everything life throws at us.
This will be the final episode of the season, and we look forward to bringing you more brain-blowing info in the new year!
Much Love,
Cherys & Laine
REFERENCES
- What Happened To You Bruce Perry and Oprah Windfrey
- Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services. Rockville (MD)
- PTSD History and Overview Matthew J. Friedman, MD, PhD
- Traumatic Stress Center of Wales
- How does your body remember trauma? Dr. Matthew Boland and Hilary L. Lebow
- Response Variation following Trauma: A Translational Neuroscience Approach to Understanding PTSD Rachel Yehuda, * and Joseph LeDoux
- Thirty-Year Study Links Neuroscience, Specific Trauma, PTSD, Image Conversion, and Language Translation Dee Spring PhD, ATR-BC, MFT
- Relational Trauma and the Developing Right Brain An Interface of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology and Neuroscience Allan N. Schore
Neuroscience of Trauma, Part 1
Introducing our capstone episode of the season, and arguably one of the most important topics we've discussed to date.
As it turns out, trauma is proven to play a much more direct role in our lives than we may have realized (as you'll hear around the 22-minute mark).
In this episode, as Laine walks us through some of the science most noted from neuroscientist Bruce Perry, we discover just how impactful trauma -- both "capital T" and "little T" -- can be.
In my experience while recording this episode, it took almost the entire hour+ to grasp the difference between these two traumas, and that shockingly enough, it's not the event that causes trauma.
There's a lot to cover on this topic, and to do it justice, we've decided to break it up into two episodes. You'll receive one more episode + a bonus meditation in November!
REFERENCES
- What Happened To You Bruce Perry and Oprah Windfrey
- Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services. Rockville (MD)
- PTSD History and Overview Matthew J. Friedman, MD, PhD
- Traumatic Stress Center of Wales
- How does your body remember trauma? Dr. Matthew Boland and Hilary L. Lebow
- Response Variation following Trauma: A Translational Neuroscience Approach to Understanding PTSD Rachel Yehuda, * and Joseph LeDoux
- Thirty-Year Study Links Neuroscience, Specific Trauma, PTSD, Image Conversion, and Language Translation Dee Spring PhD, ATR-BC, MFT
- Relational Trauma and the Developing Right Brain An Interface of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology and Neuroscience Allan N. Schore
Neuroscience of Sight
As humans, we prioritize sight more than all other senses. But how does it work?
How does our brain take light (and the absence of it) and turn it into the most vivid, detailed, and extravagant images and experiences of life?
No surprise -- there's a lot more to it, and Laine tells us all about it in our final mini episode of the season. Listen in for a preview of what next season's mini-episodes could cover!
REFERENCES
The Science of Sight -- Scrippts Research
Jean-Paul Noel, Mark Wallace, and Randolph Blake -- Cognitive Neuroscience: Integration of Sight and Sound outside of Awareness?
Charlene Kasdorf -- Neuroscience of Sight Informs Visual Language
Dr. Gregory Schimeca -- Your Eyes See Upside Down and Reversed
Making Sense of Our Evolution by Darren Curnoe
The Neuroscience of Eating Disorders
If you've never had, or never known someone with an eating disorder, you might not feel like this episode applies to you. We promise you, it does, it applies to all of us.
Because when it comes to eating disorders, it just feels so simple. Why can't this person just start (or stop) eating? But what if we told you it has very little to do with eating, and everything to do with how the brain sees the body?
In this month's deep-dive episode, Laine walks us through the science behind the deadliest diagnosis in mental health. Using findings from scientists Riva, Southgate, Tchanturia, Treasure, Stanghellini, Ballerini, and Mancini we discuss things like:
how the brain understands the body
how this can and will rewire the brain
why its so hard to stop
a major takeaway to not only help stop unnecessary death but also change society and create more beauty and self-empowerment in our lives
A small disclaimer: We will be connecting the research to understanding eating disorders to what we learned in both the Neuroscience of Depression and the Neuroscience of Addiction if you want to check those out ahead of time.
If you want to know more ways to be part of our Brain Blown Community, head to www.patreon.com/brainblownpodcast to learn about our offers! If you have any topics you'd be interested in learning more about, please feel free to send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com!
We'd love to hear from you.
REFERENCES
Giuseppe Riva, Ph.D. -- Out of my real body: Cognitive neuroscience meets eating disorders
Laura Southgate, Kate Tchanturia, and Janet Treasure --Building a model of the aetiology of eating disorders by translating experimental neuroscience into clinical practice
Giuseppe Riva, Ph.D. -- The Key to Unlocking the Virtual Body: Virtual Reality in the Treatment of Obesity and Eating Disorders
Giovanni Stanghellini, Massimo Ballerini, and Milena Mancini -- The Optical-Coenaesthetic Disproportion Hypothesis of Feeding and Eating Disorders in the Light of Neuroscience
Mini Episode: Neuroscience of Taste
A little longer than usual, this mini-episode is a great follow-up to last month's topic on smell!
(If you haven't given that one a listen, we recommend it but it's not required listening.)
Prompted by a listener question: What's happening in our brains when we smell or taste, and what can we learn from it regarding losing those senses from COVID-19?
Laine walks us through another surprising & brain-blowing topic!
If you have any topics you'd be interested in learning more about, email us at info@brainblownpodcast.com!
REFERENCES
Hardwired for Taste by Bijal Trivedi
Dana M. Small, Maria G. Veldhuizen, Barry Green -- Sensory Neuroscience: Taste Responses in Primary Olfactory Cortex
Robert A. Wheeler and Regina M. Carelli -- The Neuroscience of Pleasure - Focus on "Ventral Pallidum Firing Codes; Hedonic Reward: When a Bad Taste Turns Good"
Neuroscience of Schizophrenia
It's easy to assume that the brain functions differently for someone with schizophrenia... but you'll never guess why...
And in this month's episode, Laine reports it to us short and sweet.
(If you want to learn more about the extent of the science on your own time, be sure to check out the reference list below for more details.)
But in addition to our usual content rundown for season two, Laine and I share space to discuss
- some of the uncertainty and fear around this disorder
- how we can approach it with a new perspective
- what impact that can have on developing research, supporting those affected by it, and changing how we view the disorder entirely
Enjoy this shorter episode, and be on the lookout for our last two episodes (and mini-episodes) coming out in September & October!
If you want to know more ways to be part of our Brain Blown Community, head to www.patreon.com/brainblownpodcast to learn about our offers!
REFERENCES
- Charan Ranganath, Michael J. Minzenberg, and J. Daniel Ragland -- The Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory Function and Dysfunction in Schizophrenia
- Michael F. Green and David L. Braff -- Translating the Basic Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience of Schizophrenia to Drug Development and Clinical Trials of Anipsychotic Medications
- Werner Strik, Katharina Stegmayer, Sebastian Walther, Thomas Dierks -- Systems Neuroscience of Psychosis: Mapping Schizophrenia Symptoms on Brain Systems
- Katherine H. Karlsgodt, Daquiang Sun, Tyrone D. Cannon -- Structural and Functional Brain Abnormalities in Schizophrenia
Mini Episode: Neuroscience of Smell
Covid-19 has had wild effects on our sense of smell and taste... and for some, it completely blocked those senses altogether.
So... how do we smell?
Or equally important, why do we smell?
What's going on in the brain that allows us to turn molecules from the air into a recognizable scent, that can even trigger memories?
Learn the answers (and more next month) on this month's mini-episode!
Visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BrainBlownPodcast
REFERENCES
Understanding Smell—The olfactory stimulus problem -- Benjamin Auffartha
When the Sense of Smell Meets Emotion: Anxiety-StateDependent Olfactory Processing and Neural Circuitry Adaptation -- Elizabeth A. Krusemark, Lucas R. Novak, Darren R. Gitelman, and Wen Li
What a Smell Looks Like -- Nsikan Akpan Smell and Taste Disorders in COVID-19: From pathogenesis to clinical features and outcomes -- Andrea Mastrangelo, Matteo Bonato, Paola Cinque
The Sweet Smell of Success -- Dennis, C
Neuroscience of Addiction
Sometimes when we can't stop scrolling, we will joke that it's like we are addicted to our phones. Are we?
Addiction is so prevalent both in numbers and in casual conversation, to the point where 'Wine Mom' and 'Beer Dad' are big box store t-shirts.
But what is addiction?
Is it a feeling that we crave, or is it more of an escape from something else? What keeps someone addicted, and why are addictions so hard to break?
In this month's deep-dive episode, Laine walks us through some of the science behind the most prevalent and most impactful diagnosis we have had yet. Using findings from scientists Uhl, Koob, Cable, Volkow and Boyle, we discuss things like:
- what parts of the brain are involved in pleasure and reward
- how addiction can and will rewire your brain
- why its so hard for someone to stop
- a major take away to not only long term recovery possible but to help prevent addiction from occuring
For more resources on addiction, head to the episode on our website www.brainblownpodcast.com. If you have any topics you'd be interested in learning more about, please feel free to send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com!
We'd love to hear from you.
REFERENCES
Donald L. Hilton,Jr and Clark Watts -- Pornography addiction: A neuroscience perspective
George F. Koob, Pietro Paolo Sanna and Floyd E. Bloom -- Neuroscience of Addiction
Nora D. Volkow, M.D., Maureen Boyle, Ph.D. -- Neuroscience of Addiction: Relevance to Prevention and Treatment
George R. Ulh, George F. Koob, and Jennifer Cable -- The Neurobiology of Addiction
Mini Episode: Neuroscience of Pleasure from Pain
Endorphins -- a naturally-produced drug your body (and brain) can't get enough of.
Legally Blonde fans know what we're talking about. ;)
Enjoy this month's mini-episode where Laine continues to wow me with what our brains are capable of and how we can use its functions to better our lives.
Our last two episodes in June were leading up to this, so if you haven't given those a listen we highly suggest it!
RESOURCES: Rashad Roberson Nicholas A Kerna John Flores Kevin D Pruitt -- "Neuronal Mechanisms and Treatment Approaches to Emotional and Physical Pain"
The Cleveland Clinic -- Endorphins
Neuroscience of Kink
Throughout history, sexuality has been important to the continuation of our species. During this month of pride, we explore when we've turned sexuality into a diagnosis and where expressions of sexuality can be harmful or feel shameful.
Cultural influences such as Rihanna's song "S&M," TikTok's 'book-tok' community's love of books with dominant characters, and "50 Shades of Gray" have all continued to bring more diverse sexual practices into the mainstream. Research has shown about 20% of people have some interest in kink.
So why is this a diagnosis? Should it be?
In this month's episode, Laine walks us through findings from Elise, Wuyts, Manuel, Morrens, and many others to help us better understand why the appeal for kink exists, when it can be harmful, and when it can be healthy. And helps explore:
- What is our understanding of sexual desire?
- What can we learn from alternative sexual practices?
- What does this mean for the field of mental health and the power mental health professionals wield?
**Though this episode covers an adult topic, it does not have explicit content.
As mentioned at the beginning of this episode, we've also started a Patreon! We value all of our listeners and want to get continue to grow this incredible work. Thank you so much to all our supporters and if you want to know more ways to be part of our Brain Blown Community, head to www.patreon.com/brainblownpodcast to learn about our offers!
RESOURCES
https://www.esmeljames.com/
Elise Wuyts Manuel Morrens -- The biology of BDSM: a systematic review
Kristina Gupta -- Protecting Sexual Diversity: Rethinking the Use of Neurotechnological Interventions to Alter Sexuality
Siyang Luo, Xiao Zhang -- Embodiment and Humiliation Moderation of Neural Responses to Others' Suffering in Female Submissive BDSM Practitioners
Umit Sayin -- DSM Controversies, Defining the Normal and the Paraphilia: Sexual Pleasure Objects, Fantasy, Variations, Soft-BDSM, ESR, Hypersexuality, Sex Addiction and Nymphomania
Cara R. Dunkley, Anne Barringer, Silvain Dang, Lori A. Brotto -- Dispositional Mindfulness among BDSM Practitioners: A Preliminary Investigation
Gautami Polepally Ashok -- Childhood Trauma, BDSM, and Self-Esteem: An Exploration of the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Sexual Behavior and the Effects to Self-esteem
Ashley Brown -- A Systematic Scoping Review of the Prevalence, Etiological, Psychological, and Interpersonal Factors Associated with BDSM
Mini Episode: Neuroscience of Pain
We all know how it feels to be in pain. But WHERE you experience it may surprise you!
In the Neuroscience of Pain, we'll explore how our brains process pain signals, how that process varies with different types of pain, and what you can do with this new knowledge to prepare and work through pain in the future.
As mentioned at the beginning of this episode, we've also started a Patreon! We genuinely love sharing these brain-blowing facts and stories with you every month, and if you're enjoying it and would like to contribute (while getting some awesome Patreon perks in the process), head to www.patreon.com/brainblownpodcast to learn about our offers!
REFERENCES Mauricio R. Papini, Perry N. Fuchs, Carmen Torres -- Behavioral Neuroscience of Psychological Pain
James Giordano -- The Neuroscience of Pain, and a Neuroethics of Pain Care
The Mindful Brain by Dr. Dan Siegal
Neuroscience of Mania
Bipolar Disorder has been listed as one of the leading disorders of the Global Burden of Diseases...
Yet the amount of research and funding put towards it is abysmal.
Laine and I share that during our clinical education, we were taught almost nothing about the experience of mania, diagnosing, or treating the disorders like Bipolar.
This episode share's what we know so far (from the MANY articles Laine went through to try to make sense of it) and what's happening in the brain -- referencing studies from Harrison, Gettes, Tunbridge, Clark, Sahakian, and more.
It also touches on what needs to be done to not only better support those who have experienced manic episodes or have been diagnosed, but what is required for the field of mental health to improve.
The takeaways of this episode are some of our favorites -- you can hear it in Laine's voice at the end.
Enjoy -- and as always, if you have any questions feel free to email us at info@brainblownpodcast.com.
REFERENCES
Dionisio et al. - "Cognitive flexibility impairment and reduced frontal cortex BDNF expression in the ouabain model of mania"
Dzirasa et al. - "Impaired Limbic Gamma Oscillatory Synchrony during Anxiety-Related Behavior in a Genetic Mouse Model of Bipolar Mania"
Ferrari et al. - "Depression and Mania Induce Pro-inflammatory Activation of Macrophages Following Application of Serum from Individuals with Bipolar Disorder"
Schmidta et al. - "Cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin-1 (orexin A) levels in mania compared to unipolar depression and healthy controls"
de Soussa et al. - "Lithium increases plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor in acute bipolarmania: A preliminary 4-week study"
Paul J. Harrison, John R. Geddes, and Elizabeth M. Tunbridge1 - "The Emerging Neurobiology of Bipolar Disorder"
Luke Clark, Barbara J. Sahakian - "Cognitive neuroscience and brain imaging in bipolar disorder"
G.S. Kirshenbaum, C. R. Burgess, N. De'ry, M. Fahnestock, J. H. Peever and J C Roder - "Attenuation of mania-like behavior in na+,k+-atpase a3 mutant mice by prospective therapies for bipolar disorder: melatonin and exercise"
Emre Bora - "Neurocognitive features in clinical subgroups of bipolar disorder: A meta-analysis"
Ryan W. Logan, Ph.D. and Colleen A. McClung, Ph.D. - "Animal Models of Bipolar Mania: The Past, Present and Future"
Mini Episode: Neuroscience of Orgasm
Fitting for this time of year, this mini-episode is all about the birds & the bees... kind of.
In the Neuroscience of Orgasm, Laine walks us through the research of what's going on (or not) in our brains during that peak moment of pleasure.
But don't worry, as we mention at the beginning -- we keep things science-forward and professional (as best we can).
And because there's SO much to talk about, we opted to make this episode a touch longer than our usual 15 minutes... Hope you don't mind!
Enjoy, and if any other questions come up be sure to let us know!
Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com.
REFERENCES
Jari Tiihonen, Jyrki Kuikka, Jukka Kupila, Kaarina Partanen, Pauli Vainio, Juha Airaksinen, Markku Eronen, Tero Hallikainen, Jarmo Paanila, Ilpo Kinnunen, Janne Huttunen - "Increase in Cerebral Blood Flow of Right Prefrontal in Man During Orgasm"
Janniko .R Georgiadis, Rudie Kortekaas, Rutger Kuipers, Arie Nieuwenburg, Jan Pruim, A. A. T. Simone Reinders and Gert Holstege - "Regional Cerebral Blood Flow Changes Associated with Clitorally Induced Orgasm in Healthy Women"
Genaro A. Coria-Avila, PhD, Deissy Herrera-Covarrubias, PhD, Nafissa Ismail, PhD and James G. Pfaus, PhD - "The Role of Orgasm in the Development and Shaping of Partner Preferences"
The Science of Orgasm by Barry R. Komisaruk, Carlos Beyer-Flores, Beverly Whipple · 2006
Neuroscience of Autism
Have you ever noticed how many more cases of Autism there are in the world today?
In 2023, the World Health Organization predicts 1 in 100 people will be diagnosed with Autism (and USA Today predicts even more...)
But if you go back a few decades, there are dramatically fewer cases reported.
So what is causing the increase?
Are we just more aware of the symptoms, or have our brains begun to develop differently?
In this month's episode, Laine walks us through findings from Molden, Rubenstein, Hyman, Baron-Cohen, and many others to help us better understand the unique functions of the autistic brain, and how what we've learned has changed how we view or even diagnose autism. We'll look at things like:
- Why there are more people with autism today than 30 years ago
- Why autism does NOT mean a lack of empathy (even though their behaviors make it seem so)
- And what preemptive actions we can take to better support the development and lives of those with autism
**Also enjoy a special "behind the scenes" tag at the end of this episode!
REFERENCES
Steven O. Moldin, John L. R. Rubenstein, and Steven E. Hyman - "Can Autism Speak to Neuroscience?"
S. Baron-Cohen - "The Cognitive Neuroscience of Autism"
Arianna Manzini, Emily J.H. Jones, Tony Charman, Mayada Elsabbagh, Mark H. Johnson, and Ilina Singh - "Ethical dimensions of translational developmental neuroscience research in autism"
Born For Love by Bruce Perry and Maria Szalavitz
P.S. So sorry for the delayed publishing! One of those months where the last Wednesday showed up out of nowhere... can't believe it's already almost May!
Much Love, Cherys
Mini Episode: Neuroscience of Brain Freezes
We've all experienced it before: enjoying a delicious cold beverage or ice cream cone when suddenly...
Gah! Brain freeze!
Ever stopped to wonder what's actually going on to cause the pain?
Or curious about what remedies will actually help relieve a brain freeze?
Learn about it all in this month's mini-episode!
REFERENCES
Ho, Przkora, Kumar - "Sphenopalatine ganglion: block, radiofrequency ablation and neurostimulation - a systematic review" Michael Sinkin, DDS - "7 Ways to Stop Brain Freeze"
Neuroscience of ADHD
ADHD is one of the most common diagnoses for kids, and many adults today claim to have it.
But what if we told you we don't know enough about it to cure it... or prove it exists at all?
Research shows that over 9% of children are diagnosed with ADHD, but considering how common it is you'd think we understand a lot of what's going on and why certain therapies or medications help to relieve symptoms.
Yet what we know (or don't know) about it will shock you.
So what DO we know about the brain and ADHD?
And if it's not ADHD... then what could it be?
Tune into this month's deep dive into the neuroscience of ADHD where Laine walks us through the controversial science from Slater, Tate, Rubia, and many others looking at
- what we know so far
- why do we know so little
- and what we can do about it
We mention some studies from previous episodes as well, so if you haven't yet feel free to check them out via the links below.
Mini Episode: Neuroscience of Motivation
Season 1, Neuroscience of Music
TIMESTAMPS
- 2:01 - What is ADHD?
- 8:06 - The Shocking Truth
- 11:27 - The History (Caveman Jo?)
- 13:34 - Why Neuroscience?
- 16:17 - Break
- 16:34 - The Brain...?
- 24:19 - What we (somewhat) know
- 25:26 - Neural Networks
- 36:50 - Break
- 37:05 - The Great Misdiagnosis?
- 41:40 - Takeaways
RESOURCES
CDC: Toward Systems Neuroscience of ADHD: A Meta-Analysis of 55 fMRI Studies
Leanne M Williams, Tracey W Tsang, Simon Clarke, and Michael Kohn - An ‘integrative neuroscience’ perspective on ADHD: linking cognition, emotion, brain, and genetic measures with implications for clinical support
Jessica L. Slater and Matthew C. Tate - Timing Deficits in ADHD: Insights From the Neuroscience of Musical Rhythm
Carlos Acuña - The ADHD-200 Consortium: a model to advance the translational potential of neuroimaging in clinical neuroscience
Katya Rubia - Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Its Clinical Translation
Mini Episode - Neuroscience of Alcoholic Blackouts
This episode is a tribute to all who may be inclined to enjoy an extra drink or two this St. Patrick's day -
Or for anyone who's enjoyed a night out but can't remember it thanks to too many drinks.
So what actually happens to those memories during an alcoholic blackout? What's happening in the brain, and what can we learn from it?
Enjoy this month's mini-episode and find out... and have fun (while being safe) this holiday!
REFERENCES
Min, Kim, Lee, etc. - Difference in Cognitive Function by First Onset Age of Alcohol-Induced Blackout and Its Duration
John T. Wixted - The Psychology and Neuroscience of Forgetting
Corey Taylor - The Brain in Black Out
Neuroscience of Anxiety
Humans can't survive without anxiety... but it's fair to say that living with it is no walk in the park.
Whether it's a sudden feeling of unease, fear, impending doom, or a lingering sense of worry or dread that never seems to go away, we need anxiety even if we'd much rather live without it.
So how do we live with it?
How do we understand it so we can regain control when our bodies' alarm tells us there's something to fear?
And how do we keep hold of our anxieties and prevent them from developing into something more serious?
In this month's deep-dive episode, Laine walks us through some of the science behind the second-most common mental illness that humans experience. Using findings from scientists LeDoux, Pine, Nesse, Caouette, Guyer, and McNally, we discuss things like:
- what parts of the brain are involved when we feel anxious (and why its similarity to depression is important)
- how to recognize anxious behavior in ourselves and others
- and what we can do to offer support and keep anxiety at bay (since we can't ever get rid of it completely)
For more resources on anxiety, head to the episode on our website www.brainblownpodcast.com. If you have any topics you'd be interested in learning more about, please feel free to send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com!
We'd love to hear from you.
TIMESTAMPS
- 1:05 - intro
- 8:20 - Caveman Jo
- 10:48 - Why Neuroscience?
- 13:52 - Break
- 14:07 - The Brain
- 23:46 - New "Neighbors" Involved
- 28:41 - Break
- 28:53 - The Body
- 37:09 - The Behavior
- 39:31 - Break
- 39:47 - Takeaways
RESOURCES
Joseph E. LeDoux, Ph.D., Daniel S. Pine, M.D. - Using Neuroscience to Help Understand Fear and Anxiety: A Two-System Framework
Randolph Nesse - "Proximate and evolutionary studies of anxiety, stress and depression: synergy at the interface"
Justin D. Caouette, Amanda E. Guyer - "Gaining insight into adolescent vulnerability for social anxiety from developmental cognitive neuroscience"
Richard J. McNally - "Mechanisms of exposure therapy: How neuroscience can improve psychological treatments for anxiety disorders"
Mini Episode: Neuroscience of Motivation
If you're lacking motivation this time of year - or you're part of the 80% of people who've quit their New Year's Resolution by now - then this mini episode is for you!
It's no surprise that our brains play a major role in getting and staying motivated, but what may surprise you is that it's also your brain that's making things difficult and even screwing you all together...
Enjoy this quick 15 min. episode and get to know your brain so you can keep chasing what you want from life without being so hard on yourself.
RESOURCES:
Sung-Il Kim, "Introduction to Motivational Neuroscience"
Have an idea for a mini-episode you'd like us to cover? Send it to info@brainblownpodcast.com and we'll take a look!
Neuroscience of Depression
Depression is the #1 most common mental illness… but why does it feel like there’s still so much we don’t know about it?
With a rise in mental health awareness, it’s becoming a more common practice to see a therapist or take medications for illnesses like depression - yet the likelihood of ever being “cured” is slim to none. In fact, remission and relapse remain at an all-time high.
This goes for more serious cases, but it also explains why the “winter blues” are a recurring thing… (no coincidence this podcast is out in January. 😉)
What if more answers about this all-too-common illness lie beyond just our minds?
In this podcast, we’re looking straight to the source: our brains. Laine walks us through findings from scientists like Davidson, Pizzagalli, De Raedt, and Koster who share what’s going on in the brain that causes depression, why it’s so easy to feel it over and over again, and the warning signs of it worsening in yourself or someone else.
Some of the content in this episode may be hard to listen to, but when it comes to depression, knowing really is everything. We end with some great takeaways for you to support yourself and those you love, and for anyone who would like more resources you can find them under this episode at www.brainblownpodcast.com.
If you have any topics you'd be interested in learning more about, please feel free to send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com!!
We'd love to hear from you.
This episode is dedicated to my family; I hope it offers insight into a world we may never fully understand, and that we may now have a better map to continue navigating it together. I love you all so much. - Cherys
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:55 - Intro
- 8:07 - “Caveman Jo”
- 10:08 - Why Neuroscience?
- - Break -
- 13:42 - The Brain + Hand Model Recap
- 16:12 - Prefrontal Cortex (PFT)
- 19:05 - Orbital and Ventral Cortex
- 20:20 - Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC)
- 22:35 - Hippocampus
- 23:58 - Amygdala
- 25:07 - Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Adrenal (HPA) + Cortisol
- 27:38 - Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex
- 29:35 - Serotonin
- 32:13 - Norepinephrine
- 33:14 - Dopamine
- 34:11 - Brain Summary
- - Break -
- 36:47 - The Body
- 40:54 - The Behavior
- - Break -
- 47:12 - Takeaways
RESOURCES
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition
Depression: Perspectives From Affective Neuroscience by Richard J. Davidson, Diego Pizzagalli, Jack B. Nitschke, and Katherine Putnam
Understanding vulnerability for depression from a cognitive neuroscience perspective: A reappraisal of attentional factors and a new conceptual framework by Rudi De Raedt and Ernst H. W. Koster
Jaak Panksepp - "Affective neuroscience of the emotional BrainMind: evolutionary perspectives and implications for understanding depression"
Moshe Bar - "A cognitive neuroscience hypothesis of mood and depression"
Michael T. Treadway and David H. Zald - "Reconsidering Anhedonia in Depression: Lessons from Translational Neuroscience"
Mini Episode: Neuroscience of Phantom Limbs
As part of Season 2, we're introducing new "mini" episodes that will come out in between the meatier episodes each month.
To learn more about what we have in store for Season 2, head to our website! www.brainblownpodcast.com
________________________________________
Have you ever wondered how someone with a missing body part could feel discomfort even in its absence?
Not just discomfort, but even searing pain at times?
Well so did a bunch of medical professionals back in the 1900s.
Luckily there is a solution, and it’s quite creative if we do say so ourselves. :)
Click the button below to give it a listen! And if you’ve got any wild human tendencies or unanswered thoughts on the brain, send us an email and we just might make an episode on it.
Resources:
The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons by Sam Kean
Neuroscience of Politics
This season of the Brain Blown Podcast has been duly named "The Neuroscience of Human Connection."
And in our final episode of the season, we decided to take a closer look at one of the biggest threats to that connection (for Americans, at least...)
Politics.
As it turns out, even our political standings can be traced back to our brains and how we use them. In this episode, Laine presents some fascinating research around
- in-group and out-group thinking
- how things like emotion, memory, and discomfort can sway a vote
- and the truth behind one of the most confusing questions in politics:
... how republicans manage to convince a poorer audience to vote in favor of the rich, and why liberals can't seem to convince anybody to do anything.
Our hope is that you'll leave this episode with a better understanding of the opposing side (whatever side that may be for you), and learn a little more about why that side thinks, acts, and believes what they do.
Who knows, maybe it'll lead to some healthy conversation in the future.
___
After this episode, we'll be taking a short, seasonal break to regroup and prepare for season 2!
So if you have any topics you'd be interested in learning more about, please feel free to send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com!
We'd love to hear from you.
Timestamps:
- 0:55 Intro
- 6:38 What is Politics?
- 12:11 Politics & The Brain
- 12:36 Emotion
- 15:01 Anxiety & Enthusiasm
- 16:15 Anger
- 17:12 In-group vs Out-group
- 24:24 Memory
- 29:44 Pain & Discomfort
- 30:23 Intelligence
- 32:26 Interactive Complexity
- 38:34 Morality
- 43:38 The truth behind Politic's most confusing questions
- 47:18 Politics through a Neuroscience lens
- 53:41 Why we're talking about this
- 58:57 Why do we care + What do we do about it
References:
Behave by Robert Sapolsky
Matthew D. Lieberman and Darren Schreiber Matthew D. Lieberman and Darren Schreiber - "Is Political Cognition Like Riding a Bicycle? How Cognitive Neuroscience Can Inform Research on Political Thinking"
Published by Cambridge University - Rt Hon Lord Owen CH FRCP Book Review
Leonie Huddy - "Chapter 9: On the Distinct Political Effects of Anxiety and Anger" (From the book The Affect Effect: Dynamics of Emotion in Political Thinking and Behavior)
Jan Slaby - "Neuroscience and Politics: Do Not Hold your Breath"
D. Schreiber - "Social Attribution: Implications of recent cognitive neuroscience research for race, law, and politics"
Toward a Neuroscience of Politics by David B. Arciniegas, M.D., C. Alan Anderson, M.D.
M. Holmes - "International Politics at the Brain's Edge: Social Neuroscience and a New 'Via Media'"
MF Mendez - "A Neurology of the Conservative-Liberal Dimension of Political Ideology"
S Krastev - "Do Political and Economic Choices Rely on Common Neural Substrates? A Systematic Review of the Emerging Neuropolitics Literature"
Neuroscience of Music
Music fascinates us because it doesn't work in our brains as we expect it to.
It can trigger emotions, activate memories sometimes thought as long forgotten, change our experience of something, and help us heal.
And just like so much of this first season, Music allows us to connect with one another in ways that words often can't.
It's why during the pandemic we took to playing instruments on balconies and duetted sea shanties on TikTok.
Music brings people together.
In our second-to-last episode of the season, both Laine and I (Cherys) dive into the almost unforetold answer of "What really is Music?" We look at how music is a genuinely whole-brain experience for both the maker and the enjoyer. References mostly cover findings from Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin and writer Robert Jourdain, whose books you'll see referenced below.
Check out our website at www.brainblownpodcast.com for more info!
TIMESTAMPS
0:55 - Announcement
3:19 - The Neuroscience of Being Human (the new official title for Season One)
5:21 - How do we experience sound?
17:23 - What is music?
24:30 - Musical terms defined
31:37 - Music & The Brain
47:40 - Memory
53:22 - Movement & Emotion
56:34 - Why do we have music? There are theories.
1:09:00 - What do we do about it?
REFERENCES
This Is Your Brain On Music by Daniel J. Levitin
Music, The Brain, and Ecstacy by Robert Jourdain
Papatzikis, "Mitigating the Impact of the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic on Neuroscience and Music Research Protocols in Clinical Populations"
Trimble and Hesdorffer, "Music and The Brain: The Neuroscience of Music and Musical Appreciation"
Wang and Agius, "The Neuroscience of Music; A Review and Summary"
Neuroscience of Mindfulness, Part 2
Siegel writes, "We have the possibility of creating a world of compassion and well-being and we have the capacity for mindless violence and destruction."
By practicing mindfulness and strengthening our brain's connections through neural integration, we can gain more control over the impact our thoughts have on ourselves and others. We can become more attuned to one another, empathize quicker, create acceptance, and connect with more than just ourselves.
In the second half of this episode, we welcome our first guest, Emily, to participate in some mindfulness strategies that we hope will give you insight into how mindfulness works, but also recognize that it isn't always easy... and that's okay.
Most findings in this episode come from Dan Siegel’s The Mindful Brain, as he’s spent decades studying this topic and founded the Mindfulness Awareness Research Center at UCLA. Additional resources can be found below.
Resources:
Dan Siegel, The Mindful Brain
Yi-Yuan Tang, The Neuroscience of Mindfulness Meditation
P. Zelazo, K. Lyons - “The Potential Benefits of Mindfulness Training in Early Childhood: A Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective“
Neuroscience of Mindfulness, Part 1
Mindfulness–is just an overused buzzword, or could it be the key to mastering our brains and living a more connected and fulfilling life?
As told by Dan Siegel, “Mindfulness in its most general sense is about waking up from a life on automatic and being sensitive to the novelty in our everyday experiences.”
On a neuroscience level, mindfulness is so much more.
In fact, Laine and I were so in awe of how intentional thoughts can not only strengthen our brains but also encourage empathy and connection with others, we couldn’t help but make this a two-part episode.
Most findings in this episode come from Dan Siegel’s The Mindful Brain, as he’s spent decades studying this topic and founded the Mindfulness Awareness Research Center at UCLA. Additional resources can be found below.
Knowing how practical this topic is as well, be sure to stay tuned for Part 2 next month where we’ll walk you (and a special guest) through some mindfulness practices that you can incorporate into your daily life!
Resources:
Dan Siegel, The Mindful Brain
Yi-Yuan Tang, The Neuroscience of Mindfulness Meditation
P. Zelazo, K. Lyons - “The Potential Benefits of Mindfulness Training in Early Childhood: A Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective“
Neuroscience of Relationships
Nature versus Nurture… which one has a bigger impact on your brain?
In past episodes, we’ve talked a lot about the nature of our brains and how they respond similarly throughout evolution to ensure our survival.
Our brain used to warn us when a sabertooth tiger might be nearby. In today’s world, we still get those same warnings from things like paying our taxes, preparing for a big exam or presentation, or when someone unfamiliar follows behind you in a parking garage.
But when exactly does nurture come into play? And how do the relationships we form early on in life influence the type of person we become and the relationships we choose later on?
In episode 6, Laine walks us through not only the neuroscience, but also the psychological findings that scientists like Bowlby, Siegel, and Levine have discovered about how nature and nurture change our brain function, our body's natural responses, and ultimately the person we become.
Books:
The Developing Mind by Daniel Siegel
Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel SF Heller
Resources:
A.Shore – Attachment and the regulation of the right brain*
P.Molenberghs – The Neuroscience of In-Group Bias
Buchheim, George, Gundel, Viviani – Editorial: Neuroscience of Human Attachment
J.Coan – Toward a Neuroscience of Attachment
V.Green – Emotional Development in Psychoanalysis, Attachment Theory, and Neuroscience
Neuroscience of Racism
In our fifth episode of the Brain Blown Podcast, we introduce you to our most requested topic of the season: the neuroscience of racism.
From the kitchen table to the senate floor, racism is being talked about constantly. So where does racism come from? And why do these racist acts of violence happen - and continue to happen - so frequently?
In this episode we'll review questions like:
- What is racism?
- What is racism from a neurological level?
- What's going on in our brains that causes us to feel and act differently around people of a different race?
- And what can we do to change that?
Laine shares the facts from scientists like Robert Sapolsky, Bruce Perry, Manie Bosman, JT Kobuta, Elizabeth Phelps, and Andreas Ollson from NYU who've done extensive research, as well as findings from implicit bias tests and futsal form recognition tests. (See our resource list below for direct links.)
**At the end of the episode, we've added a special interview with friend Kiara Lewis who discusses more from the book My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem.
Time Stamps:
- 1:25 - Intro
- 9:25 - Why are we talking about this?
- 10:55 - What is it: what does racism look like in our brains?
- 14:39 - Conditioned vs. ideological racism and the implicit bias test
- 22:34 - What is our fusiform and how is it involved? (Or not involved?)
- 26:51 - How these held racial tendencies in our brains have deadly consequences
- 30:05 - Why it happens; the importance of P-200 and N-200 waveforms and making rational decisions
- 33:44 - Our brain on shortcuts
- 36:19 - Why should we care? What do we all have in common, and how is it impacting all of us?
- 45:15 - What do we do about it?
- 50:51 - Awareness matters - your beliefs and values don’t always drive your behavior
- 53:23 - How "us vs. them" changes constantly
- 56:25 - Interview with Kiara
Resources
Books:
My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem
What Happened To You by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey
Articles:
- JT Kobuta: “The Neuroscience of Race”
- N Kanwisher, G Yove: “The fusiform face area”
- AJ Golby, JDE Gabrieli: “Differential responses in the fusiform region to same-race and other-race faces“
- K Shutts, KD Kinzler: “An Ambiguous-Race Illusion in Children's Face Memory”
- A Avenantie: “racial bias reduces empathic sensorimotor resonance with other-race pain”
- J Correll: “Event-related potentials and the decision to shoot”
- J Eberhartd: “Seeing Black”
Neuroscience of Safety
Have you ever been driving in a car and suddenly heard sirens coming up behind you? Did you notice how quickly your sense of safety changed at that moment, from feeling relaxed to completely on edge and aware of everything all in a single moment?
In today's episode, Laine introduces us to the science behind feeling safe and just how easily (and frequently) we bounce between feeling safe, escalated, and numb. We're moving out of our brains and into our bodies, studying the vagus nerve and how it acts as the highway system that keeps our bodies functioning and how it even protects us from danger.
Neurscience of Empathy, Part 2
If you haven't listened to last months' Part 1 we highly suggest you do that first.
In Part 2, Laine dives deeper into how empathy and stress go hand in hand, why we should care about empathy at all, and what we can do to better ourselves and the world by being more kind to others. The way empathy is connected to so many areas of our lives like language, epigenetics, drugs & alcohol use, or even political leanings is almost shocking, we couldn't dare cut this episode short.
Neuroscience of Empathy, Part 1
In an unexpected but well-deserved two-part series, Laine introduces us to the first deep-dive discussion topic of the season: empathy. Humans today are born with empathetic tendencies, but just like any other trait, it had to start somewhere. While empathy may only seem like a caveat to "being kind," this trait just might be the key to our survival.
Stay tuned for Part 2, launching March 2022.