May 14, 2010

New Discoveries about Glial Cells (BSP 69)

May 14, 2010/ Ginger Campbell, MD

Recent research has discovered that glial cells (the non-neuronal cells that make up about 85% of the cells in the human nervous system) actually do more than just support neurons. In Episode 69 of the Brain Science Podcast I explore some of these recent discoveries with pioneering researcher, R. Douglas Fields, PhD. Dr. Fields is the author of The Other Brain: From Dementia to Schizophrenia, How New Discoveries about the Brain Are Revolutionizing Medicine and Science. The Other Brain provides a compelling introduction to this exciting new field. It is aimed at general readers, but it should also be on the must-read list for all students of neuroscience.

Listen to BSP 69

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April 28, 2010

Another look a "The Myth of Alzheimer's" (B&I 36)

April 28, 2010/ Ginger Campbell, MD

The Myth of Alzheimer's: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis (2008) argues that we should re-evaluate our current approach to dementia. Earlier this month I posted an interview with the book's main author, Dr. Peter Whitehouse (BSP 68). Episode 36 of my Books and Ideas podcast is a follow-up interview with his co-author, Daniel George. As a medical anthropologist George helps put current attitudes into an historical perspective. Labeling large numbers of older people with the diagnosis of "Alzheimer's Disease" is a relatively new practice and a closer examination of how this occurred provides an interesting example of how the history of medicine (and science) is interwoven with political and social history. While Whitehouse and George challenge the current approach to dementia, there message is actually one of hope. I am recommending The Myth of Alzheimer's to people of all ages.

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References:

Alzheimer's, a Love Story: One Year in My Husband's Journey by Ann Davidson
Self, Senility, and Alzheimer's Disease in Modern America: A History by Jesse F. Ballenger
The Myth of Alzheimer's: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis by Peter J. Whitehouse and Daniel George
Brain Science Podcast 68: Interview with Dr. Peter Whitehouse

Useful Links:

The Myth of Alzheimer's website: includes a blog and other useful information
Center on Age & Community (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
TimeSlips: an innovative program started by theater professor Ann Basting
The Intergenerational School in Cleveland brings elders and children together.

Announcements:

Dr. Campbell was recently interviewed on the Alaska Public Radio program Line One. Click here to download the interview.
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During a recent system update at Wizzard/ Libsyn Media all the episode transcripts disappeared from the iPhone Applications for both Books and Ideas and the Brain Science Podcast. New episodes will have transcripts, but it may be a while before they reappear for older episodes. All transcripts remain available for download from this website.
Books and Ideas is currently on an irregular production schedule. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast feed so that you won't miss any episodes.
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April 15, 2010

"The Myth of Alzheimer's" with Dr. Peter Whitehouse (BSP 68)

April 15, 2010/ Ginger Campbell, MD

Brain Science Podcast 68 is an interview with Dr. Peter Whitehouse, co-author (with Daniel George) of The Myth of Alzheimer's: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis. Alzheimer's Disease originally referred to a relatively rare form of premature dementia, but in recent decades the diagnosis has been expanded to include patients of all ages. This change is not based on science and in this interview we talk about why being labeled with with Alzheimer's may be doing older patients more harm than good. Dr. Whitehouse is one of the pioneering researchers in this field, but advocates devoting resources to helping elders with with a wide range of age-related brain changes. This interview should be of interest to physicians, scientists, as well as patients and their families. I will be posting a supplemental interview with Daniel George, the co-author of The Myth of Alzheimer's later this month. (Learn more at /.)

Listen to Episode 68

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March 10, 2010

Thomas Metzinger explores Consciousness (BSP 67)

March 10, 2010/ Ginger Campbell, MD

The free podcast version of Brain Science Podcast 67 is now available. It is an interview with German philosopher Thomas Metzinger, author of The Ego Tunnel: The Science of the Mind and the Myth of the Self and Being No One. Dr. Metzinger argues that any credible model for how the brain generates the mind must incorporate unusual human experiences, such as so-called out of body experiences (OBE), and psychiatric conditions. In this interview we explore how OBE and virtual reality experiments shed light on how the brain generates the sense of self that characterizes normal human experience.

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February 26, 2010

Scott Sigler on Incorporating Science into Horror Writing (B&I 35)

February 26, 2010/ Ginger Campbell, MD

Episode 35 of the Books and Ideas podcast is an interview with best-selling horror writer, Scott Sigler. Scott is widely admired for pioneering the use of podcasting to promote his fiction writing, but so far hasn't gotten the recognition I think he deserves for incorporating hard science into his unique blend of horror and science fiction. This interview gave me the opportunity to talk with Scott about how he meets the challenge of incorporating accurate science without sacrificing storytelling. I think this is an excellent follow-up to the interview I did with Sheril Kirshenbaum (co-author of Unscientific America) back in Episode 32.

Listen to Episode 35 of Books and Ideas

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Recommended Reading:

The Rookie by Scott Sigler (Listen to this podcast to get a coupon code!)
Contagious by Scott Sigler
Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens our Future by Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum
Early chapters of The Crypt are now available at Podiobooks.com.

Useful Links:

Scott Sigler's website
Podiobooks.com: where you can sample all of Scott's work in free audiobook format.
Scott Sigler's iPhone application

Announcements:

Don't forget to check out the Books and Ideas application for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Books and Ideas will be on hiatus for the next few months while I work on producing and promoting the new premium versions of the Brain Science Podcast.
You can get updates by joining our Facebook Fan page or my subscribing to my newsletter.

February 10, 2010

Memory and the Computational Brain with Randy Gallistel (BSP 66)

February 10, 2010/ Ginger Campbell, MD

Episode 66 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with Randy Gallistel, PhD, Co-Director of the Rutgers Center for Cognitive Science and co-author (with Adam Philip King) of Memory and the Computational Brain: Why Cognitive Science will Transform Neuroscience. We discuss why read/write memory is an essential element of computation with an emphasis on the animal experiments that support the claim that brains must possess read/write memory. This is significant because current models, such as neural nets, DO NOT incorporate read/write memory in their assumptions about how brains work. It is not necessary to have any background in information theory or computation to appreciate the experiments that are discussed in this episode. Episode 3 and Episode 12 of the Brain Science Podcast provide background information for this episode.

Listen to Free Podcast Click here for show notes and episode transcripts.

January 27, 2010

Bruce Hood, author of "SuperSense" (B&I 34)

January 27, 2010/ Ginger Campbell, MD

Episode 34 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Bruce M Hood, author of SuperSense: Why We Believe in the Unbelievable.Dr. Hood is a developmental psychologist with a long-standing interest in why people believe weird things. In SuperSense he argues that innate cognitive structures (how we think without being taught) give people a natural tendency toward belief in the supernatural. Our intuitive sense of how the world works is often at odds with the findings of modern science. In this interview we discuss the evidence for these conclusions and their implications.

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References and Links:

Bruce Hood's website
SuperSense: Why We Believe in the Unbelievable by Bruce M. Hood
Hood, BM, "Gravity Rules for Two- to Four-Year-Olds?" Cognitive Development 10 (1995): 577-98.
Lindeman & Aarnio (2007), "Superstitious, magical, and paranormal beliefs: An integrative model." Journal of Research in Personality 41, 731–744
Lindeman, M. & Saher, M. (2007). "Vitalism, Purpose and Superstition." British Journal of Psychology, 98(1), 33-44.
Lindeman, M. & Aarnio, K. (2006). "Paranormal beliefs: Their dimensionality and correlates." European Journal of Personality, 20: 585-602.

Announcements:

Get episode transcripts on your iPhone or iPod Touch with the Books and Ideas application.
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Books and Ideas and the Brain Science Podcast are supported by listener donations.
Coming Soon! Premium versions of both podcasts.

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Please send your comments and feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com.

January 13, 2010

Jaak Panksepp Explores Animal Emotions (BSP 65)

January 13, 2010/ Ginger Campbell, MD

Episode 65 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with Jaak Panksepp, PhD, author of Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions. Dr. Panksepp has done pioneering work on the neural origins of emotions. In this interview we discuss how his work challenges some of the common assumptions about emotions and some of the important implications of his discoveries. New listeners may want to go back and listen to Episode 11 for an introduction to the neuroscience of emotion.

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December 09, 2009

Brain Science Podcast Celebrates 3rd Anniversary (BSP 64)

December 09, 2009/ Ginger Campbell, MD

Episode 64 of the Brain Science Podcast is our Third Annual Review Episode. It includes a review of some of the major ideas we talked about in 2009 and a look ahead to what I have planned for 2010.

Listen to Episode 64

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Click here for details show notes including a complete list of this year's guest and our reading list.

November 24, 2009

"Unscientific America" with Sheril Kirshenbaum (B&I 32)

November 24, 2009/ Ginger Campbell, MD

Sheril-150

Episode 32 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Sheril Kirshenbaum, co-author (with Chris Mooney) of Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens our Future. The focus of our interview was on why it is increasingly important that scientists become skilled at communicating what we do to political leaders and to our fellow citizens. Our future depend on solving complex problems (such as global warning and energy issues), which will require accurate scientific knowledge. Unscientific America provides a fresh look at the on-going problem of scientific illiteracy while offering practical suggestions about how we can re-incorporate science into mainstream culture. It calls on scientists of all ages to embrace the role of citizen-scientist.

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References and Links:

Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens our Future by Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum
Chris Mooney's interview on the Point of Inquiry Podcast: November 2009.
Don't Be Such a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Style by Randy Olson PhD
The Intersection: Mooney and Kirshenbaum's science blog at Discover.com
http://sherilkirshenbaum.com/
"Who are America's science role models? (It's ugly, folks.) " by Eric Burger (March 21, 2008): Most Americans can't even name a living scientist!
CP Snow and his famous Two Cultures essay (wikipedia)
The Science & Entertainment Exchange: a program of the National Academy of Sciences that provides entertainment industry professionals with access to top scientists and engineers to help bring the reality of cutting-edge science to creative and engaging storylines.
Policy Fellowships for Scientists and Engineers: opportunities for scientists and engineers of all ages.

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November 11, 2009

David Bainbridge from Cambridge University (BSP 63)

November 11, 2009/ Ginger Campbell, MD

bainbridge-150

Episode 63 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with David Bainbridge, author of Teenagers: A Natural History. Our focus is on how the brain changes during the teenage years. Bainbridge teaches vetinary anatomy and reproductive biology at Cambridge University and has published several other popular science books including Beyond the Zonules of Zinn: A Fantastic Journey Through Your Brain, which I discussed back in Episode 32.

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October 20, 2009

NASA's Les Johnson live at Dragon*Con 2009 (B&I 31)

October 20, 2009/ Ginger Campbell, MD

LesDC4

Episode 31 of Books and Ideas is an interview with NASA physicist Les Johnson, PhD. We talked about his new book Paradise Regained: The Regreening of Earth. Although Dr. Johnson is a lifelong fan of science fiction he challenges the common assumption that eventually we will pollute or damage the earth so badly that humans will be forced to move to outer space. Instead, Dr. Johnson argues that we should develop the technology to get resources from outer space so that we can preserve the Earth for Life.

Listen to Episode 31 of Books and Ideas

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Additional Links and References:

Les Johnson's website: where you can find information about his books and future appearances.
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.
Dr. Johnson is the Deputy Manager of the Advanced Concepts Office at Marshall.
ProSEDS and the Tethered Satellite System: Dr. Johnson has worked on the development of advanced propulsion systems.
Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency

Books mentioned in this episode:

Living Off the Land in Space: Green Roads to the Cosmos by Gregory L. Matloff, Les Johnson, C Bangs
The Starflight Handbook: A Pioneer's Guide to Interstellar Travel by Eugene F. Mallove and Gregory L. Matloff
Solar Sails: A Novel Approach to Interplanetary Travel by Giovanni Vulpetti, Les Johnson, Gregory L. Matloff
Paradise Regained: The Regreening of Earth by Les Johnson, Gregory L. Matloff, C Bangs
Rocket Men: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon, by Craig Nelson (Available from our sponsor Audible.com)

Announcements:

Don't forget to join the Books and Ideas Fan Page on Facebook.
Books and Ideas is supported by Listener Donations.
Share your feedback in the Discussion Forum or on the Fan Page or send email to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com.

September 11, 2009

Allen Institute for Brain Research (BSP 61)

September 11, 2009/ Ginger Campbell, MD

: Allan Jones, PhD

Episode 61 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with Allan Jones, PhD, the Chief Science Officer of the Allen Institute for Brain Research in Seattle, Washington. The Allen Institute is a non-profit research organization founded by Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft) and is best known for its Mouse Brain Map, which is being used by researchers around the world. The Institute has several other on-going projects including a project to create a map of the human cortex that shows which genes are active in each area. In this interview we discuss both the mouse brain project and the human cortex project with an emphasis on the importance of these projects to neuroscience research. All the maps created by The Allen Institute are freely available on the internet. Dr. Jones also shares his own story and the challenges and rewards of pursuing a career in the non-profit biotech world.

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August 14, 2009

The Importance of Play (BSP 60)

August 14, 2009/ Ginger Campbell, MD

In Episode 60 of the Brain Science Podcast Ginger Campbell, MD interviews Dr. Stuart Brown, author of Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. Our focus is on the importance of play for normal mental development and psychological health. We also explore the importance of play in adults.

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July 10, 2009

Guy Caldwell, PhD on C. elegans (BSP 59)

July 10, 2009/ Ginger Campbell, MD

Episode 59 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with Dr. Guy Caldwell who is a molecular biologist at the University of Alabama. Since moving to Alabama ten years ago he has done groundbreaking work in applying the green florescent protein techniques developed by his mentor, Nobel Laureate Martin Chalfie to the study of dopamine neurons in the tiny worm C. elegans. In this interview Dr. Campbell and Dr. Caldwell discuss the growing role of molecular biology as a tool in neuroscience. Dr. Caldwell explains why he thinks there is a good chance that a cure for Parkinson's Disease will be found within the next 10 years.

This interview also contains practical information for students interested in pursuing a career in science.

Play Episode 59

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Announcements:

Dr. Campbell is the guest speaker at the July 18 meeting of Skeptics in the Pub in Atlanta, Georgia: http://ow.ly/fh2y
Dr. Campbell was interviewed on Episode 96 of Brains Matter.
Transcripts are now available for all past episodes of the Brain Science Podcast at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/.
Please join our new Brain Science Podcast Fan Pageon Facebook.
Donations of $25 or more qualify you for the new monthly book give away.

Learn more at http://brainsciencepodcast.com or send Dr. Campbell email at gincampbell at mac.com.

June 06, 2009

Philosopher Alva Noë (BSP 58)

June 06, 2009/ Ginger Campbell, MD

Episode 58 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with philosopher Alva Noë, whose book Out of Our Heads: Why You Are Not Your Brain, and Other Lessons from the Biology of Consciousness argues persuasively that our Minds are MORE than just our brains. He says that "the brain is necessary but not sufficient" to create the mind. Read more...

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May 22, 2009

Dr. Robert Martensen Returns to Books and Ideas (B&I 29)

May 22, 2009/ Ginger Campbell, MD

life-worth-living

In Episode 29 of Books and Ideas Robert Martensen, MD returns to talk about his book A Life Worth Living: A Doctor's Reflections on Illness in a High-Tech Era. Last month we talked about Dr. Martensen's career as both an emergency physician and as an historian. This month we concentrate on the issues facing patients with life threatening illnesses, including making decisions about end of life care. Dr. Martensen and I agree that the American emphasis on high tech care tends to ignore the needs of people in these situations. We discuss the importance of better communication between physicians and patients as well as the need for fundamental changes in our system.

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This episode includes a short promo for Nina Kimberly the Merciless by Christiana Ellis. You can learn more about Christiana's work at http://ninakimberly.com.

Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com or join the Discussion Forum at http://brainscienceforum.com

May 11, 2009

Neurophsychologist Chris Frith, PhD (BSP 57)

May 11, 2009/ Ginger Campbell, MD

Episode 57 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with neuropsychologist Dr. Chris Frith, author of Making up the Mind: How the Brain Creates Our Mental World. Our brain processes information about the world outside us (via our senses) in the same way that it processes information from within our bodies and from our own mental world. In this interview Dr. Frith and I explore the implications from recent discoveries about how our brain generates our mental world.

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April 25, 2009

Interview with Robert Martensen, MD (B&I 28)

April 25, 2009/ Ginger Campbell, MD

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Books and Ideas #28 is an interview with Robert Martensen, MD, author of A Life Worth Living: A Doctor's Reflections on Illness in a High-Tech Era. Dr. Martensen worked for 25 years as an emergency physician, but about mid-way through his career he went to graduate school and earned a PhD in history, while continuing to work in the ER at night and on weekends. He is now the Director of the NIH Office of History. This interview is actually the first of two parts. In this first part we talked about Dr. Martensen's career and we also reflected briefly on the history of emergency medicine in the United States. Dr. Martensen also explained the purpose fo the NIH Office of History and described its current and upcoming projects. When Dr. Martensen returns (hopefully next month) we will discuss his book A Life Worth Living: A Doctor's Reflections on Illness in a High-Tech Era.

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April 12, 2009

Pioneering Neuroscientist Eve Marder, PhD (BSP 56)

April 12, 2009/ Ginger Campbell, MD

evemarder2 Episode 56 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with neuroscientist, Eve Marder, PhD. Dr. Marder has spent 35 years studying the somatogastric ganglion of the lobster. In this interview we talk about how she got into neuroscience during its early days, her recent tenure as president of the Society for Neuroscience, and how some of her key discoveries have implications for studying more complex nervous systems.

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Episode Transcript (coming soon)

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