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    Life Sciences

    Neuroscience: Amateur Hour – Neuroscience: Amateur Hour

    Neuroscience: Amateur Hour delves into the neuroscience of everyday experiences in every episode. From anxiety to pregnancy to our addictions to candy crush – come and learn a little bit more about what’s happening upstairs. 

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    Copyright: © 2024 Neuroscience: Amateur Hour

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    Latest Episodes:
    Episode 32: The Neuroscience of Parkinson's Disease Jun 20, 2024

    Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by uncontrollable movements, stiffness, and cognitive decline. Curious? Come learn 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.
    Also if you have the means/desire to financially support this podcast - please go to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/neuroscience
    I really appreciate it!!!
    Citations and relevant papers are below.
    National Institute on Aging. Parkinson’s Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments. National Institute on Aging.

    Hogg E, Frank S, Oft J, Benway B, Rashid MH, Lahiri S. Urinary Tract Infection in Parkinson’s Disease. Journal of Parkinson’s Disease. 2022;12(3):743-757.

    ‌Yu J. Stages of Parkinson’s | Parkinson’s Foundation. www.parkinson.org. Published 2022.

    ‌Zhang ZX, Dong ZH, Román GC. Early Descriptions of Parkinson Disease in Ancient China. Archives of Neurology. 2006;63(5):782.

    ‌2-Minute Neuroscience: Direct Pathway of the Basal Ganglia. www.youtube.com.

    2-Minute Neuroscience: Indirect Pathway of the Basal Ganglia. www.youtube.com.

    ‌Thanvi B, Lo N, Robinson T. Levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson’s disease: clinical features, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment. Postgraduate Medical Journal. 2007;83(980):384-388.

    Zhang JF, Wang XX, Feng Y, Fekete R, Jankovic J, Wu YC. Impulse Control Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Strategies. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2021;12.

    Hisahara S, Shimohama S. Dopamine Receptors and Parkinson’s Disease. International Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 2011;2011:1-16.

    Houston. Tmc.edu. Published October 20, 2020. https://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/m/s3/chapter04.html

    ‌Ovallath S, Sulthana B. Levodopa: History and Therapeutic Applications. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology. 2017;20(3):185-189.

    ‌Levodopa | Parkinson’s Foundation. www.parkinson.org. https://www.parkinson.org/living-with-parkinsons/treatment/prescription-medications/levodopa

    ‌Kelly MJ, Baig F, Hu MTM, Okai D. Spectrum of impulse control behaviours in Parkinson’s disease: pathophysiology and management. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2020;91(7):703-711.

    ‌Gerfen CR, Surmeier DJ. Modulation of Striatal Projection Systems by Dopamine. Annual Review of Neuroscience. 2011;34(1):441-466.

    ‌Sayare S. The Woman Who Could Smell Parkinson’s. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/14/magazine/parkinsons-smell-disease-detection.html. Published June 14, 2024.

    ‌Blandini F, Nappi G, Tassorelli C, Martignoni E. Functional changes of the basal ganglia circuitry in Parkinson’s disease. Progress in Neurobiology. 2000;62(1):63-88.

    ‌Lanciego JL, Luquin N, Obeso JA. Functional Neuroanatomy of the Basal Ganglia. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine. 2012;2(12):a009621-a009621.

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    Episode 31: The Neuroscience of Dreams Jan 25, 2024

    Dreams are both scientifically fascinating and universal. Everyone dreams, at every age and they are often nonsensical, complex, and deeply subjective. How can you quantify something so personal in the activity of cells, circuits, and systems?
    Let's find out together!
    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.
    Also if you have the means/desire to financially support this podcast - please go to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/neuroscience
    I really appreciate it!!!
    Citations and relevant papers are below!
    Chip Brown. The Stubborn Scientist Who Unraveled A Mystery of the Night. Smithsonian. Published October 2003. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-stubborn-scientist-who-unraveled-a-mystery-of-the-night-91514538/

    ‌Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al. The Possible Functions of REM Sleep and Dreaming. Nih.gov. Published 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11121/

    Gott JA, Liley DTJ, Hobson JA. Towards a Functional Understanding of PGO Waves. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2017;11. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00089

    ‌Senzai Y, Scanziani M. A cognitive process occurring during sleep is revealed by rapid eye movements. Science. 2022;377(6609):999-1004. doi:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abp8852

    Crick F, Mitchison G. The function of dream sleep. Nature. 1983;304(5922):111-114. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/304111a0

    ‌Hobson JA, McCarley RW. The brain as a dream state generator: an activation-synthesis hypothesis of the dream process. The American journal of psychiatry. 1977;134(12):1335-1348. doi:https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.134.12.1335

    Caviglia G. Working on dreams, from neuroscience to psychotherapy. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome. 2021;24(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2021.540

    ‌Hobson, J. A. (1990). Activation, input source, and modulation: A neurocognitive model of the state of the brain-mind. In R. R. Bootzin, J. F. Kihlstrom, & D. L. Schacter (Eds.), Sleep and cognition (pp. 25–40). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10499-002

    Baird B, Mota-Rolim SA, Dresler M. The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2019;100:305-323. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.008

    Aspy DJ. Findings From the International Lucid Dream Induction Study. Frontiers in Psychology. 2020;11. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01746

    ‌Soffer-Dudek N. Are Lucid Dreams Good for Us? Are We Asking the Right Question? A Call for Caution in Lucid Dream Research. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2020;13. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01423

    Gao JX, Gao Y, Li XX, et al. The Ponto-Geniculo-Occipital (PGO) Waves in Dreaming: An Overview. Brain Sciences. 2023;13(9):1350-1350. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13091350


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    Episode 30: The Connection Between your Gut and the Brain Jun 08, 2023

    Have you ever thought about why some feelings might be described as gut-wrenching? Or why do the first feelings of love make you feel butterflies in the stomach? It's time to explore how your gut and your brain are connected!
    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.
    Also if you have the means/desire to financially support this podcast - please go to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/neuroscience
    I really appreciate it!!!
    Citations and relevant papers are below!
    Enteric nervous system. qbi.uq.edu.au. Published October 15, 2018. Accessed May 22, 2023. https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/peripheral-nervous-system/enteric-nervous-system#:~:text=The%20enteric%20nervous%20system%20neurons

    Cleveland Clinic. Cranial Nerves: Function, Anatomy and Location. Cleveland Clinic. Published October 27, 2021. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21998-cranial-nerves

    Mayer EA. Gut feelings: the emerging biology of gut–brain communication. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2011;12(8):453-466. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3071

    Carabotti M, Scirocco A, Maselli MA, Severi C. The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Annals of gastroenterology. 2015;28(2):203-209.

    Oligschlaeger Y, Yadati T, Houben T, Condello Oliván CM, Shiri-Sverdlov R. Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Stressed “Gut/Feeling.” Cells. 2019;8(7):659. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8070659

    Vancamelbeke M, Vermeire S. The intestinal barrier: a fundamental role in health and disease. Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2017;11(9):821-834. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/17474124.2017.1343143

    Clapp M, Aurora N, Herrera L, Bhatia M, Wilen E, Wakefield S. Gut microbiota’s effect on mental health: the gut-brain axis. Clinics and Practice. 2017;7(4). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641835/

    ‌Zoppi S, Madrigal JLM, Pérez-Nievas BG, et al. Endogenous cannabinoid system regulates intestinal barrier function in vivo through cannabinoid type 1 receptor activation. Am J Physiol Gastr L 2012;302:565.

    Radjabzadeh D, Bosch JA, Uitterlinden AG, et al. Gut microbiome-wide association study of depressive symptoms. Nature Communications. 2022;13(1):7128. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34502-3

    Wapner J. The link between our food, gut microbiome and depression. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/01/31/gut-microbiome-anxiety-depression/. Published January 31, 2023.

    Fond G, Loundou A, Hamdani N, et al. Anxiety and depression comorbidities in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. 2014;264(8):651-660. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-014-0502-z

    What’s the Difference Between Probiotics and Prebiotics? www.sclhealth.org. https://www.sclhealth.org/blog/2019/07/difference-between-probiotics-and-prebiotics/

    Liu RT, Walsh RFL, Sheehan AE. Prebiotics and probiotics for depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2019;102:13-23. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.023

    Doll JP

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    Episode 29: The Neuroscience of Alien Hand Syndrome May 20, 2023
    A tragic incident - a brain injury, a stroke, the development of a neurodegenerative disease, and all of a sudden, a patient's arm no longer belongs to them. It will pull their hair, pinch their cheeks, and grab miscellaneous objects, seemingly developing a mind of its own.
    How can something that belongs to you and is controlled by your brain, your electrical pulses, and your motor neurons ever develop a mind of its own? 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.
    Also if you have the means/desire to financially support this podcast - please go to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/neuroscience
    I really appreciate it!!!
    Citations and relevant papers are below!
    Doody RS, Jankovic J. The alien hand and related signs. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 1992;55(9):806-810. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.55.9.806

    Panikkath R, Panikkath D, Mojumder D, Nugent K. The alien hand syndrome. Proceedings (Baylor University Medical Center). 2014;27(3):219-220. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4059570/#:~:text=Alien%20hand%20syndrome%20is%20a

    Caixeta L, Maciel P, Nunes J, Nazareno L, Araújo L, Borges JR. Alien hand syndrome in AIDS: Neuropsychological features and physiopathological considerations based on a case report. Dementia & Neuropsychologia. 2007;1(4):418-421. doi:https://doi.org/10.1590/s1980-57642008dn10400016

    Alyssa Anderson. What Is Alien Hand Syndrome? WebMD. Published April 8, 2022. https://www.webmd.com/brain/what-is-alien-hand-syndrome

    Parry-Romberg Syndrome | Boston Children’s Hospital. www.childrenshospital.org. https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/parry-romberg-syndrome

    Feinberg TE, Schindler RJ, Flanagan NG, Haber LD. Two alien hand syndromes. Neurology. 1992;42(1):19-19. doi:https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.42.1.19

    Le K, Zhang C, Greisman L. Alien hand syndrome – a rare presentation of stroke. Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives. 2020;10(2):149-150. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/20009666.2020.1756610

    Motor Cortex (Section 3, Chapter 3) Neuroscience Online: An Electronic Textbook for the Neurosciences | Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy - The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. nba.uth.tmc.edu. https://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/m/s3/chapter03.html#:~:text=The%20premotor%20cortex%20appears%20to

    Bru I, Verhamme L, Neve P, Maebe H. Rehabilitation of a patient with alien hand syndrome: A case report of a 61-year old man. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine – Clinical Communications. 2021;4(1):jrmcc00050. doi:https://doi.org/10.2340/20030711-1000050

    Gheewala G, Gadhia R, Surani S, Ratnani I. Posterior Alien Hand Syndrome from Acute Ischemic Left Parietal Lobe Infarction. Cureus. Published online October 3, 2019. doi:https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.5828

    Mannella F, Mirolli M, Baldassarre G. Goal-Directed Behavior and Instrumental Devaluation: A Neural S

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    Episode 28: MRI or the Salmon in the Scanner with the Eventually To Be Dr. Ilya Oct 06, 2022
    Could a dead salmon be thinking or is something else at play? If you're curious about the answer to that question and want to learn more about magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), come and listen!
    Featuring special guest the Eventually To be Dr. Ilya, this episode discusses the science behind MRI, how noise can affect imaging and landmark studies in the field!
    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.
    Also if you have the means/desire to financially support this podcast - please go to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/neuroscience
    I really appreciate it!!!
    Citations and relevant papers are below!
    Bennett C, Miller M, Wolford G. Neural correlates of interspecies perspective taking in the post-mortem Atlantic Salmon: an argument for multiple comparisons correction. NeuroImage. 2009;47:S125. doi:10.1016/s1053-8119(09)71202-9
    Scicurious. IgNobel Prize in Neuroscience: The dead salmon study. Scientific American Blog Network. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/scicurious-brain/ignobel-prize-in-neuroscience-the-dead-salmon-study/
    Van Dijk KRA, Sabuncu MR, Buckner RL. The influence of head motion on intrinsic functional connectivity MRI.     NeuroImage. 2012;59(1):431-438. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.07.044
    Nishimoto S, Vu An T, Naselaris T, Benjamini Y, Yu B, Gallant Jack L. Reconstructing Visual Experiences from Brain Activity Evoked by Natural Movies.     Current Biology. 2011;21(19):1641-1646. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2011.08.031
    Will GJ, Rutledge RB, Moutoussis M, Dolan RJ. Neural and computational processes underlying dynamic changes in self-esteem. FeldmanHall O, ed.     eLife. 2017;6:e28098. doi:10.7554/eLife.28098

    ‌


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    Episode 27: The Neuroscience of Octopuses Sep 08, 2022
    Two words - Octopus brains! Nine of them!!!
    But seriously, if you want to learn about the insanity of the dispersed octopus nervous system, come and take a listen!
    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.
    Also if you have the means/desire to financially support this podcast - please go to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/neuroscience
    I really appreciate it!!!
    Citations and relevant papers are below!
    The Many Plurals of “Octopus.” Merriam-webster.com. Published 2019. Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-many-plurals-of-octopus-octopi-octopuses-octopodes

    Nine Brains Are Better Than One: An Octopus’ Nervous System | Biomechanics in the Wild. sites.nd.edu. https://sites.nd.edu/biomechanics-in-the-wild/2021/04/07/nine-brains-are-better-than-one-an-octopus-nervous-system/

    ‌Sumbre G, Gutfreund Y, Fiorito G, Flash T, Hochner B. Control of Octopus Arm Extension by a Peripheral Motor Program. Science. 2001;293(5536):1845-1848. doi:10.1126/science.1060976

    Godfrey-Smith P. The Mind of an Octopus. Scientific American Mind. 2016;28(1):62-69. doi:10.1038/scientificamericanmind0117-62

    Hochner B. An Embodied View of Octopus Neurobiology. Current Biology. 2012;22(20):R887-R892. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2012.09.001

    Hochner B, Brown ER, Langella M, Shomrat T, Fiorito G. A Learning and Memory Area in the Octopus Brain Manifests a Vertebrate-Like Long-Term Potentiation. Journal of Neurophysiology. 2003;90(5):3547-3554. doi:10.1152/jn.00645.2003

    Park M. AMPA Receptor Trafficking for Postsynaptic Potentiation. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 2018;12. doi:10.3389/fncel.2018.00361

    Huang EP. Synaptic plasticity: Going through phases with LTP. Current Biology. 1998;8(10):R350-R352. doi:10.1016/s0960-9822(98)70219-2

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    Episode 26: The Neuroscience of Seizures and Epilepsy Aug 25, 2022
    Hello! I return!
    Today we will be talking about the neuroscience of seizures and epilepsy. Brought about an imbalance of the accelerators (excitatory circuits) and brakes (inhibitory circuits) of the brain, seizures are pretty terrifying events. They're marked by temporary confusion, a staring spell, uncontrollable jerking of the arms and legs (like what you see when someone depicts a seizure on gray's anatomy), loss of consciousness, or even some cognitive and emotional symptoms. Curious to find out what the heck the brain is up to during seizures? Come and 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.
    Also if you have the means/desire to financially support this podcast - please go to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/neuroscience
    I really appreciate it!!!
    Citations and relevant papers are below!
    Types of Seizures. www.hopkinsmedicine.org. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/epilepsy/types-of-seizures#:~:text=Focal%20onset%20seizures%20start%20in

    Rs F, Jh C, Ja F, et al. Operational Classification of Seizure Types by the International League Against Epilepsy: Position Paper of the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology. Epilepsia. Published April 1, 2017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28276060/

    Types of Seizures. Epilepsy Foundation. https://www.epilepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy/seizure-types

    Articles. Cedars-Sinai. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/m/myoclonic-epilepsy.html

    Bromfield EB, Cavazos JE, Sirven JI. Basic Mechanisms Underlying Seizures and Epilepsy. Nih.gov. Published 2015. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2510/

    Peng SJ, Hsin YL. Functional Connectivity of the Corpus Callosum in Epilepsy Patients with Secondarily Generalized Seizures. Frontiers in Neurology. 2017;8. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00446

    Kim T, Nguyen P, Pham N, et al. Epileptic Seizure Detection and Experimental Treatment: A Review. Frontiers in Neurology. 2020;11. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00701

    Ammothumkandy A, Ravina K, Wolseley V, et al. Altered adult neurogenesis and gliogenesis in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Nature Neuroscience. 2022;25(4):493-503. doi:10.1038/s41593-022-01044-2

    CDKL5 cyclin dependent kinase like 5 [Homo sapiens (human)] - Gene - NCBI. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed August 3, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/6792

    ‌CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder. Epilepsy Foundation. Accessed August 3, 2022. https://www.epilepsy.com/causes/genetic/cdkl5-disorder

    Sørensen AT, Kokaia M. Novel approaches to epilepsy treatment. Epilepsia. 2012;54(1):1-10. doi:10.1111/epi.12000

    Rogawski MA, Löscher W. The neurobiology of antiepileptic drugs. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2004;5(7):553-564. doi:10.1038/nrn1430

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    End of Season 1 Jul 14, 2022

    That's a wrap on Season 1 folks! See you all in a few weeks with more episodes about epilepsy, alcohol, and more!
    Happy researching and I'll see you all again soon!

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    Episode 25: The Neuroscience of ... Neurons Firing? Jun 30, 2022
    Apologies for the absolute chaos that is this episode.
    Today I wanted to cover some foundational background concepts, including how a signal travel within a neuron from dendrites to the tip of the axon and how that neuron then communicates to other neurons and parts of the body.
    Curious? Come and 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.
    Also if you have the means/desire to financially support this podcast - please go to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/neuroscience
    I really appreciate it!!!
    Citations and relevant papers are below!
    Guy-Evans O. What Is a Neuron? Function, Parts, Structure, and Types | Simply Psychology. www.simplypsychology.org. Published February 15, 2021. https://www.simplypsychology.org/neuron.html

    Khan Academy. Neuron action potentials: The creation of a brain signal. Khan Academy. Published 2016. https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/organ-systems/neuron-membrane-potentials/a/neuron-action-potentials-the-creation-of-a-brain-signal

    Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al. Increased Conduction Velocity as a Result of Myelination. Neuroscience 2nd edition. Published online 2001. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10921/#:~:text=By%20acting%20as%20an%20electrical

    Chen I, Forshing Lui. Neuroanatomy, Neuron Action Potential. Nih.gov. Published August 27, 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546639/

    Guy-Evans O. Synapse Definition and Function | Simply Psychology. www.simplypsychology.org. Published February 21, 2021. https://www.simplypsychology.org/synapse.html

    my brainnnnnnnnn

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    Episode 24: The Neuroscience of Deafness Jun 23, 2022
    This episode is part two of my miniseries on the neuroscience of language production and processing and today we're touching on how the brain regions encoding those concepts change in deaf individuals. It turns out that the brain is the literal embodiment of that "its free real estate" meme and vision input takes over the auditory cortex!
    If you're curious to know more - come and take a listen!
    Also if you have the means/desire to financially support this podcast - please go to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/neuroscience
    I really appreciate it!!!
    Citations and relevant papers are below!
    CDC. Genetics of Hearing Loss | CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published February 18, 2015. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/genetics.html#:~:text=50%25%20to%2060%25%20of%20hearing

    Deafness causes before birth | Deafness in childhood. www.ndcs.org.uk. https://www.ndcs.org.uk/information-and-support/childhood-deafness/causes-of-deafness/#:~:text=Deafness%20can%20also%20be%20caused

    Simon M, Campbell E, Genest F, MacLean MW, Champoux F, Lepore F. The Impact of Early Deafness on Brain Plasticity: A Systematic Review of the White and Gray Matter Changes. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2020;14. doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.00206

    Sharma A, Dorman MF, Spahr AJ. A Sensitive Period for the Development of the Central Auditory System in Children with Cochlear Implants: Implications for Age of Implantation. Ear and Hearing. 2002;23(6):532-539. https://journals.lww.com/ear-hearing/Abstract/2002/12000/A_Sensitive_Period_for_the_Development_of_the.4.aspx

    Voss P, Thomas ME, Cisneros-Franco JM, de Villers-Sidani É. Dynamic Brains and the Changing Rules of Neuroplasticity: Implications for Learning and Recovery. Frontiers in Psychology. 2017;8. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01657

    Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al. The Auditory Cortex. Nih.gov. Published 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10900/

    Bola Ł, Zimmermann M, Mostowski P, et al. Task-specific reorganization of the auditory cortex in deaf humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2017;114(4):E600-E609. doi:10.1073/pnas.1609000114

    ‌Fougnie D, Cockhren J, Marois R. A common source of attention for auditory and visual tracking. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics. 2018;80(6):1571-1583. doi:10.3758/s13414-018-1524-9

    Campbell R, MacSweeney M, Waters D. Sign Language and the Brain: A Review. The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. 2008;13(1):3-20. doi:10.1093/deafed/enm035

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    Episode 23: The Neuroscience of Smoking Cigarettes Jun 16, 2022

    Tobacco has a long and storied history but its effects on the modern world cannot be ignored. It was hailed as a cure to many ailments for years but as we understand more - we understand that its REALLY bad for you. Something like 80-90% of lung cancer cases are related to smoking along with a plethora of other diseases.
    Curious? Want to learn more about the receptors and brain areas affected by nicotine, the active ingredient in cigarettes? Come and take a listen!
    Also if you have the means/desire to financially support this podcast - please go to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/neuroscience
    I really appreciate it!!!
    Citations and relevant papers are below!
    1907 - Handbook of American Indians north of Mexico, Part I; Frederick Webb Hodge. Internet Archives; Bureau of American Ethnology. Published online January 21, 2019. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/hornbeck_ind_3/3/

    Baron JA. Beneficial effects of nicotine and cigarette smoking: the real, the possible and the spurious. British medical bulletin. 1996;52(1):58-73. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.bmb.a011533

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Effects of Smoking and Tobacco Use. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published February 9, 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/index.htm#:~:text=Smoking%20causes%20cancer%2C%20heart%20disease

    Psychopharmacology 3e Web Box 13.1 - Pharmacology in Action: Why Do Tobacco Plants Make Nicotine? learninglink.oup.com. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://learninglink.oup.com/access/content/psychopharmacology-3e-student-resources/psychopharmacology-3e-web-box-13-1-pharmacology-in-action-why-do-tobacco-plants-make-nicotine

    PubChem. Nicotine. Nih.gov. Published 2019. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/nicotine

    Holz RW, Fisher SK. Synaptic Transmission. Basic Neurochemistry: Molecular, Cellular and Medical Aspects 6th edition. Published online 1999. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27911/

    Hogg RC, Raggenbass M, Bertrand D. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: from structure to brain function. Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology. 2003;147:1-46. doi:10.1007/s10254-003-0005-1

    Taly A, Corringer PJ, Guedin D, Lestage P, Changeux JP. Nicotinic receptors: allosteric transitions and therapeutic targets in the nervous system. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. 2009;8(9):733-750. doi:10.1038/nrd2927

    Abuse NI on D. How does tobacco deliver its effects? National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/tobacco-nicotine-e-cigarettes/how-does-tobacco-deliver-its-effects

    Chen X, Stacy A, Zheng H, et al. Sensations from initial exposure to nicotine predicting adolescent smoking in China: A potential measure of vulnerability to nicotine. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 2003;5(4):455-463. doi:10.1080/14622200307239

    Laviolette SR, van der Kooy D. The neurobiology of nicotine addiction: bridging the gap from molecules to behaviour. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2004;5(1):55-65. doi:10.1038/nrn1298

    Marshall AM, Heffernan T. Smoking harms not just your physical health, but your mental health too. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/smoking-harms-not-just-your-physical-health-but-your-mental-health-too-69021#:~:text=Long%2Dterm%20smokin

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    Episode 22: The Neuroscience of Speech Production Jun 10, 2022

    So this week’s episode is all about speech production. Speech is a fundamental way of communicating our needs, desires, threats, resources, etc to our conspecifics. But do you know about the circuits and muscles and brain regions responsible for our ability to physically produce speech?
    Curious? Come and take a listen!
    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 and relevant papers below:
    Birds Raised In Complete Isolation Evolve “Normal” Species Song Over Generations. ScienceDaily. Accessed June 6, 2022. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090503132617.htm

    Human language may have evolved to help our ancestors make tools. www.science.org. https://www.science.org/content/article/human-language-may-have-evolved-help-our-ancestors-make-tools

    Ludlow CL. Central nervous system control of the laryngeal muscles in humans. Respiratory physiology & neurobiology. 2005;147(2-3):205-222. doi:10.1016/j.resp.2005.04.015

    Petko B, Tadi P. Neuroanatomy, Nucleus Ambiguus. PubMed. Published 2022. Accessed June 6, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547744/#:~:text=The%20nucleus%20ambiguus%20is%20the

    Guy-Evans O. Motor Cortex Function and Location | Simply Psychology. www.simplypsychology.org. Published September 8, 2021. https://www.simplypsychology.org/motor-cortex.html#:~:text=The%20motor%20cortex%20is%20an

    Simonyan K. The Laryngeal Motor Cortex: Its Organization and Connectivity. Current opinion in neurobiology. 2014;0:15-21. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2014.05.006

    Kearney E, Guenther FH. Articulating: the neural mechanisms of speech production. Language, Cognition and Neuroscience. 2019;34(9):1214-1229. doi:10.1080/23273798.2019.1589541

    @neurochallenged. Know Your Brain: Broca’s Area. @neurochallenged. https://neuroscientificallychallenged.com/posts/know-your-brain-brocas-area

    University of California San Francisco. Speech & Language. Memory and Aging Center. Published 2019. https://memory.ucsf.edu/symptoms/speech-language


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    Episode 21: The Neuroscience of Neglect: The Bucharest Project Jun 02, 2022
    Today’s episode is inspired by a historical nightmare and the subsequent decades-long experiment that shaped the way we understand childhood neglect and its effects on the developing brain.
    In 1989, Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was overthrown and the rest of the world discovered that over 170,000 Romanian children were being kept in impoverished institutions and orphanages.
    These children were raised, not by loving parents or guardians, but by the metal bars of their beds and impersonal nurses. This neglect resulted in severe, lifetime, neurological issues including altered structure, function, and connectivity among different brain regions important for integrating complex information, including cognitive, social, and emotional competencies.
    Curious about the decades-long project that followed these children for 21 years and documented the adverse effects of neglect on the developing brain? Come and take a listen!
    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 and relevant papers below:
    Weir K. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/06/neglect. www.apa.org. Published June 2014. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/06/neglect

    Greene MF. 30 years ago, Romania deprived thousands of babies of human contact. The Atlantic. Published June 23, 2020. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/07/can-an-unloved-child-learn-to-love/612253/

    Publications. www.bucharestearlyinterventionproject.org. Accessed May 21, 2022. https://www.bucharestearlyinterventionproject.org/publications

    The Science of Neglect: The Persistent Absence of Responsive Care Disrupts the Developing Brain. https://developingchild.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/The-Science-of-Neglect-The-Persistent-Absence-of-Responsive-Care-Disrupts-the-Developing-Brain.pdf

    Teicher MH, Samson JA, Anderson CM, Ohashi K. The effects of childhood maltreatment on brain structure, function and connectivity. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2016;17(10):652-666. doi:10.1038/nrn.2016.111

    Teicher MH, Dumont NL, Ito Y, Vaituzis C, Giedd JN, Andersen SL. Childhood neglect is associated with reduced corpus callosum area. Biological Psychiatry. 2004;56(2):80-85. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.03.016

    FeaturedGeneticsNeurosciencePsychology·January 19, 2021. Childhood Neglect Leaves Generational Imprint. Neuroscience News. Published January 19, 2021. https://neurosciencenews.com/childhood-neglect-generational-17597/

    Keim B. How Childhood Neglect Stunts the Brain. Wired. Accessed June 1, 2022. https://www.wired.com/2012/09/neuroscience-of-neglect/

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    Episode 20: The Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder May 19, 2022
    This week we will be learning about bipolar disorder! It's a condition characterized by extreme mood swings from emotional highs to emotional lows. One week someone may end up sleeping 24 hours straight and the next week go on a $10,000 gambling spree in Vegas.
    Are you curious about the neural activity and neurotransmitters involved in these sudden shifts in mood? Come and take a listen to Episode 20!
    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:
    Bipolar disorder - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355955#:~:text=Overview

    National Alliance on Mental Illness. Bipolar disorder | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. nami.org. Published August 2017. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Bipolar-Disorder

    How Is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed? WebMD. Accessed May 17, 2022. https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-diagnosis#091e9c5e800091a5-1-1

    Craddock N, Jones I. Genetics of bipolar disorder. Journal of Medical Genetics. 1999;36(8):585-594. doi:10.1136/jmg.36.8.585

    Barnett JH, Smoller JW. The genetics of bipolar disorder. Neuroscience. 2009;164(1):331-343. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.03.080

    Ahmed NY, Knowles R, Dehorter N. New Insights Into Cholinergic Neuron Diversity. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. 2019;12. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2019.00204

    van Enkhuizen J, Janowsky DS, Olivier B, et al. The catecholaminergic-cholinergic balance hypothesis of bipolar disorder revisited. European journal of pharmacology. 2015;753:114-126. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.05.063

    Keck PE, McElroy SL, Arnold LM. BIPOLAR DISORDER. Medical Clinics of North America. 2001;85(3):645-661. doi:10.1016/s0025-7125(05)70334-5

    Machado-Vieira R, Manji HK, Zarate Jr CA. The Role of Lithium in the Treatment of Bipolar disorder: Convergent Evidence for Neurotrophic Effects as a Unifying Hypothesis. Bipolar Disorders. 2009;11:92-109. doi:10.1111/j.1399-5618.2009.00714.x

    Malhi GS, Tanious M, Das P, Coulston CM, Berk M. Potential Mechanisms of Action of Lithium in Bipolar Disorder. CNS Drugs. 2013;27(2):135-153. doi:10.1007/s40263-013-0039-0

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    Episode 19: The Neuroscience of your Ears and Super Loud Rock Concerts May 12, 2022
    Welcome back!
    This week, I want to talk about your ears and how going to super loud concerts can impact your ability to hear. You might be thinking wait - ears aren’t brains. But the way we process sound in our ears is a part of the peripheral nervous system so I say close enough!
    Come and listen to learn a little bit more about your auditory system, your peripheral nervous system, hair cells, and the absolutely insane feat of biological engineering that allows for sound to go from your surroundings to your brain.
    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:
    The Physics Classroom. Sound Waves as Pressure Waves. Physicsclassroom.com. Published 2019. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/sound/u11l1c.cfm

    How the Ear Works. www.hopkinsmedicine.org. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/how-the-ear-works#:~:text=The%20Inner%20Ear

    Petitpré C, Wu H, Sharma A, et al. Neuronal heterogeneity and stereotyped connectivity in the auditory afferent system. Nature Communications. 2018;9(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-018-06033-3

    Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al. The Auditory Cortex. Nih.gov. Published 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10900/

    Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al. The Inner Ear. Nih.gov. Published 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10946/

    Ruggero MA. Responses to sound of the basilar membrane of the mammalian cochlea. Current Opinion in Neurobiology. 1992;2(4):449-456. doi:10.1016/0959-4388(92)90179-o

    Wagner EL, Shin JB. Mechanisms of Hair Cell Damage and Repair. Trends in Neurosciences. 2019;42(6):414-424. doi:10.1016/j.tins.2019.03.006

    Youm I, Li W. Cochlear hair cell regeneration: an emerging opportunity to cure noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss. Drug Discovery Today. 2018;23(8):1564-1569. doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2018.05.001

    Santaolalla F, Salvador C, Martínez A, Sánchez JM, del Rey AS. Inner ear hair cell regeneration: A look from the past to the future. Neural Regeneration Research. 2013;8(24):2284-2289. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.24.008

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    Episode 18: The Neuroscience of Too Much Social Media May 05, 2022

    Social media is omnipresent. Mindless scrolling through TikTok and Instagram reels is just a part of our daily lives now. Whether it's cat videos, funny dances, or cool outfits, online content fills our excess time, entertains us, and keeps us connected with our friends and the people we look up to. As my housemate says, sometimes, we’re living in the REEL world, not the REAL world.

    But it's also no secret that too much social media is not very good for our psyche and our brains. Curious why? Come and listen to learn a little bit more about the neuroscience of spending tooooooo much time on InstaSnapTok.
    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:
    Börchers S. Your Brain on Instagram, TikTok, & Co – The Neuroscience of Social Media. Published June 29, 2020. https://biologista.org/2020/06/29/your-brain-on-instagram-tiktok-co-the-neuroscience-of-social-media/

    Montag C, Markowetz A, Blaszkiewicz K, et al. Facebook usage on smartphones and gray matter volume of the nucleus accumbens. Behavioral Brain Research. 2017;329:221-228. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2017.04.035

    Arias-Carrión O, Stamelou M, Murillo-Rodríguez E, Menéndez-González M, Pöppel E. Dopaminergic reward system: a short integrative review. International Archives of Medicine. 2010;3(1):24. doi:10.1186/1755-7682-3-24

    Jan M, Soomro S, Ahmad N. Impact of social media on self-esteem. Ssrn.com. Published August 31, 2017. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3030048

    Pittman M, Reich B. Social media and loneliness: Why an Instagram picture may be worth more than a thousand Twitter words. Computers in Human Behavior. 2016;62:155-167. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2016.03.084

    Will GJ, Rutledge RB, Moutoussis M, Dolan RJ. Neural and computational processes underlying dynamic changes in self-esteem. FeldmanHall O, ed. eLife. 2017;6:e28098. doi:10.7554/eLife.28098

    Cacioppo JT, Cacioppo S. The growing problem of loneliness. The Lancet. 2018;391(10119):426. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(18)30142-9

    Chunliang Feng, Li Wang, Ting Li, Pengfei Xu, Connectome-based individualized prediction of loneliness, Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Volume 14, Issue 4, April 2019, Pages 353–365, https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsz020

    Alkozei A, Smith R, Pisner DA, et al. Exposure to Blue Light Increases Subsequent Functional Activation of the Prefrontal Cortex During Performance of a Working Memory Task. Sleep. 2016;39(9):1671-1680. doi:10.5665/sleep.6090



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    Episode 16: The Neuroscience of Mad Cow Disease Apr 14, 2022

    When I was a kid, I thought two things were going to be much bigger problems in my life than they actually are - quicksand and mad cow disease.
    Turns out that they aren't but mad cow disease is still the stuff of science-fiction nightmares. Mad cow disease is caused by the spread of prions, proteins that weaponize our own cells against us and cause proteins to misfold and aggregate, slowly killing neurons throughout the brain. The disease is characterized by rapid and fatal neurodegeneration.
    Want to get the shit scared out of you by learning about the truth behind mad cow disease? Come and listen!
    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:
    About BSE BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/prions/bse/about.html

    Legname G. Elucidating the function of the prion protein. True HL, ed. PLOS Pathogens. 2017;13(8):e1006458. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1006458

    Jung MJ, Pistolesi D, Panà A. Prions, prion diseases and decontamination. Igiene E Sanita Pubblica. 2003;59(5):331-344. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14981553/

    Lanska DJ. The mad cow problem in the UK: risk perceptions, risk management, and health policy development. Journal of Public Health Policy. 1998;19(2):160-183. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9670700/

    MRI used to detect vCJD. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2000;163(3):324. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC80326/

    Macfarlane RG, Wroe SJ, Collinge J, Yousry TA, Jäger HR. Neuroimaging findings in human prion disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. 2007;78(7):664-670. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2006.094821

    NHS Choices. Overview - Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. NHS. Published 2019. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/creutzfeldt-jakob-disease-cjd/

    ‌Mead S, Khalili-Shirazi A, Potter C, et al. Prion protein monoclonal antibody (PRN100) therapy for Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease: evaluation of a first-in-human treatment programme. The Lancet Neurology. 2022;21(4):342-354. doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(22)00082-5


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    Episode 15: The Neuroscience of Pheromones Mar 31, 2022

    For the low, low price of $15.95 on Amazon, you can purchase a little spray bottle of pheromones that supposedly will trigger "animal attraction" in your partner. But is it true???
    Pheromones are a well-known system of communicating territory, alarms, and sexual needs to other animals but is this system present in humans? We know that smell is an important component of sexual attraction and arousal but human beings seem to lack both the organ and brain region needed to process pheromone information. But maybe???
    If you're curious, come and listen to learn a little bit more about what's happening upstairs!
    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:
    Jimenez J, Hughes K, Alaks G, Graham L, Lacy R. An experimental study of inbreeding depression in a natural habitat. Science. 1994;266(5183):271-273. doi:10.1126/science.7939661

    Keverne EB. The Vomeronasal Organ. Science. 1999;286(5440):716-720. doi:10.1126/science.286.5440.716

    Kang N, Baum MJ, Cherry JA. Different Profiles of Main and Accessory Olfactory Bulb Mitral/Tufted Cell Projections Revealed in Mice Using an Anterograde Tracer and a Whole-Mount, Flattened Cortex Preparation. Chemical Senses. 2010;36(3):251-260. doi:10.1093/chemse/bjq120

    Wang L, Zhang Z, Chen J, et al. Cell-Type-Specific Whole-Brain Direct Inputs to the Anterior and Posterior Piriform Cortex. Frontiers in Neural Circuits. 2020;14. doi:10.3389/fncir.2020.00004

    ‌Wedekind, C., Seebeck, T., Bettens, F. and Paepke, A. J. MHC-dependent mate preferences in humans. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B. 1995: 260: 245-249

    Meredith M. Human Vomeronasal Organ Function: A Critical Review of Best and Worst Cases. Chemical Senses. 2001;26(4):433-445. doi:10.1093/chemse/26.4.433

    D’Aniello B, Semin GR, Scandurra A, Pinelli C. The Vomeronasal Organ: A Neglected Organ. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy. 2017;11. doi:10.3389/fnana.2017.00070

    Rodriguez I, Greer CA, Mok MY, Mombaerts P. A putative pheromone receptor gene expressed in human olfactory mucosa. Nature Genetics. 2000;26(1):18-19. doi:10.1038/79124

    Verhaeghe J, Gheysen R, Enzlin P. Pheromones and their effect on women’s mood and sexuality. Facts, Views & Vision in ObGyn. 2013;5(3):189-195. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3987372/

    Miller SL, Maner JK. Scent of a Woman. Psychological Science. 2009;21(2):276-283. doi:10.1177/0956797609357733


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    Episode 14: The Neuroscience of Migraines Mar 24, 2022

    Migraines are PAINFUL! And neuroscience speaking - super cool and complicated. It involves your blood vessels constricting and dilating and your brain going haywire and spreading a wave of neuron depression across your entire cortex.
    Sound interesting? Come and take a listen to learn a little bit more about what happens in your brain!
    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:
    Headache disorders. www.who.int. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/headache-disorders#:~:text=Half%20to%20three%20quarters%20of

    Migraine Headaches: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention. Cleveland Clinic. Published March 3, 2021. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5005-migraine-headaches

    Ruthirago D, Julayanont P, Kim J. Translational Correlation. Conn’s Translational Neuroscience. Published online 2017:159-165. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-802381-5.00013-0

    Mason BN, Russo AF. Vascular Contributions to Migraine: Time to Revisit? Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 2018;12. doi:10.3389/fncel.2018.00233

    Wikipedia Contributors. Aristides Leão. Wikipedia. Published January 9, 2022. Accessed March 22, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristides_Le%C3%A3o

    Lauritzen M. Pathophysiology of the migraine aura. Brain. 1994;117(1):199-210. doi:10.1093/brain/117.1.199

    Schain AJ, Melo-Carrillo A, Stratton J, Strassman AM, Burstein R. CSD-Induced Arterial Dilatation and Plasma Protein Extravasation Are Unaffected by Fremanezumab: Implications for CGRP’s Role in Migraine with Aura. The Journal of Neuroscience. 2019;39(30):6001-6011. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0232-19.2019

    Charles A, Brennan K. Cortical Spreading Depression—New Insights and Persistent Questions. Cephalalgia. 2009;29(10):1115-1124. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2009.01983.x

    Pietrobon D, Striessnig J. Neurobiology of migraine. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2003;4(5):386-398. doi:10.1038/nrn1102

    Eisenstein M. Closing the gender gap in migraine research. Nature. 2020;586(7829):S16-S17. doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02867-4

    Sutherland HG, Albury CL, Griffiths LR. Advances in genetics of migraine. The Journal of Headache and Pain. 2019;20(1). doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1017-9


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    Episode 13: The Neuroscience of Itch Mar 17, 2022

    Itch is... uncomfortable. We've all been there before, one motivated mosquito takes a bite out of you, and you are left with an itchy red spot for a few days that only scratching can temporarily relieve. Have you ever wondered how that sensation is transferred to the brain and processed? How about why pain, like pressing really hard on that mosquito bite makes the itching go away. If the answer to any of these questions is YES, come and take a listen to learn a little bit more about what's happening upstairs!
    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:
    Henley C. Touch: The Skin. openbookslibmsuedu. Published online January 1, 2021. https://openbooks.lib.msu.edu/neuroscience/chapter/touch-the-skin/#:~:text=with%20the%20skin.-

    ‌Feher J. 4.3 - Cutaneous Sensory Systems. ScienceDirect. Published January 1, 2012. Accessed March 13, 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128008836000355

    Ringkamp M, Meyer R. Pruriceptors. PubMed. Published 2014. Accessed March 13, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK200917/

    Schmelz M. Itch Processing in the Skin. Frontiers in Medicine. 2019;6. doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00167

    Ikoma A, Cevikbas F, Kempkes C, Steinhoff M. Anatomy and Neurophysiology of Pruritus. Seminars in cutaneous medicine and surgery. 2011;30(2):64-70. doi:10.1016/j.sder.2011.04.001

    Potenzieri C, Undem BJ. Basic mechanisms of itch. Clinical & Experimental Allergy. 2011;42(1):8-19. doi:10.1111/1.

    Shim W-S, Oh U. Histamine-Induced Itch and its Relationship with Pain. Molecular Pain. 2008;4:1744-80694-29. doi:10.1186/1744-8069-4-29j.1365-2222.2011.03791.x

    Forster C, Handwerker HO. Central Nervous Processing of Itch and Pain. PubMed. Published 2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK200926/

    Papoiu ADP, Coghill RC, Kraft RA, Wang H, Yosipovitch G. A Tale of Two Itches. Common Features and Notable Differences in Brain Activation Evoked by Cowhage And Histamine Induced Itch. Neuroimage. 2012;59(4):3611-3623. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.10.099

    Ishiuji Y. Addiction and the itch‐scratch cycle. What do they have in common? Experimental Dermatology. 2019;28(12):1448-1454. doi:10.1111/exd.14029


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    Episode 12: The Neuroscience of the Salem Witch Trials Mar 10, 2022

    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%20they

    Larry 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%20Betty

    Salem Witch Trials - Further Readings. Jrank.org. Published 2019. https://law.jrank.org/pages/9985/Salem-Witch-Trials.html

    Protein 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-brain

    Cormier Z. Brain scans reveal how LSD affects consciousness. Nature. Published online April 11, 2016. doi:10.1038/nature.2016.19727

    Eadie MJ. Convulsive ergotism: epidemics of the serotonin syndrome? The Lancet Neurology. 2003;2(7):429-434. doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(03)00439-3

    ‌A 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/


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    Episode 11: The Neuroscience of Sniffing Glue and Other Inhalants Mar 03, 2022

    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-use

    Williams JF, Storck M. Inhalant Abuse. PEDIATRICS. 2007;119(5):1009-1017. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-0470

    Woodward 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/235838

    MacIver 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.2009.57

    Themes UFO. The Pharmacology of Inhalants. Basicmedical Key. Published December 12, 2016. https://basicmedicalkey.com/the-pharmacology-of-inhalants/#head4

    About inhalants. Paediatrics & Child Health. 1998;3(2):132-133. doi:10.1093/pch/3.2.132

    Love S. Demyelinating diseases. Journal of Clinical Pathology. 2006;59(11):1151-1159. doi:10.1136/jcp.2005.031195

    Abuse 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-abuse


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    Episode 10: The Neuroscience of ADHD Feb 24, 2022

    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/s41588-018-0269-7

    Faraone SV, Larsson H. Genetics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Molecular Psychiatry. 2018;24(4). doi:10.1038/s41380-018-0070-0

    Froehlich 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/s11920-011-0221-3

    Oscar 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.s2627

    Quist 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.4001244

    Zulauf 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/s11920-013-0436-6

    Tomasi 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.0006102

    Ritalin Poses Cognitive Risks to Those Without ADHD. Pharmacy Times. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/ritalin-poses-cognitive-risks-to-those-without-adhd


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    Episode 9: The Neuroscience of Synesthesia: Union of the Senses Feb 17, 2022

    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.html

    Hooser 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.1464-13.2013

    Huff 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:10.1088/1742-6596/960/1/012052

    Heywood 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.12-10-04056.1992

    Ramachandran 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.pdf

    Sakai 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.2010281117

    Brang 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.1001205

    Grossenbacher 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)01571-0


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    Episode 8: The Neuroscience of Sleep, Memory and Really Good Afternoon Naps Feb 10, 2022

    We spend a third of our lives sleeping and there is no greater enjoyment than a really good afternoon nap. Back in preschool, the good old days, naps were built into our daily schedules but as adults - not so much. But should they be? Is there any neurological benefit or detriment to taking a nap?
    Tune in to learn a little bit more about the neuroscience behind sleep, memory, and naps!
    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 and relevant papers below:
    Cherry K. The 4 Stages of Sleep (NREM and REM Sleep Cycles). Verywell Health. Published June 16, 2007. https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-four-stages-of-sleep-2795920

    The Haunting Effects Of Going Days Without Sleep. NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/2017/12/27/573739653/the-haunting-effects-of-going-days-without-sleep#:~:text=VEDANTAM%3A%20At%202%3A00%20in..

    Alberini CM, Chen DY. Memory enhancement: consolidation, reconsolidation and insulin-like growth factor 2. Trends in Neurosciences. 2012;35(5):274-283. doi:10.1016/j.tins.2011.12.007

    Walker MP, Stickgold R. Sleep-Dependent Learning and Memory Consolidation. Neuron. 2004;44(1):121-133. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2004.08.031

    McKenzie S, Eichenbaum H. Consolidation and Reconsolidation: Two Lives of Memories? Neuron. 2011;71(2):224-233. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2011.06.037

    Rasch B, Born J. About Sleep’s Role in Memory. Physiological Reviews. 2013;93(2):681-766. doi:10.1152/physrev.00032.2012

    Walker MP. The role of slow wave sleep in memory processing. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. 2009;5(2 Suppl):S20-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2824214/

    Kumar D, Koyanagi I, Carrier-Ruiz A, et al. Sparse Activity of Hippocampal Adult-Born Neurons during REM Sleep Is Necessary for Memory Consolidation. Neuron. 2020;107(3):552-565.e10. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2020.05.008

    Groch S, Wilhelm I, Diekelmann S, Born J. The role of REM sleep in the processing of emotional memories: Evidence from behavior and event-related potentials. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. 2013;99:1-9. doi:10.1016/j.nlm.2012.10.006

    Horváth K, Plunkett K. Spotlight on daytime napping during early childhood. Nature and Science of Sleep. 2018;Volume 10:97-104. doi:10.2147/nss.s126252



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    Episode 7: The Neuroscience of Beautiful Things or Neuroaesthetics Feb 03, 2022

    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%20are

    Diessner 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_7

    ‌Beauty 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-f3ddd400d168

    Castro 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%20the

    Chuan-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-z

    Lüttge 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.2018.12.008



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    Episode 6: The Neuroscience of Magic Mushrooms Jan 27, 2022

    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/molecules26102948

    ‌Aronson JK, ed. Psilocybin. ScienceDirect. Published January 1, 2016. Accessed January 26, 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978044453717100158X

    Drug Scheduling. www.dea.gov. https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling#:~:text=Schedule%20I%20drugs%2C%20substances%2C%20or

    Carhart-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.1119598109

    Bhagwagar 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.2006.163.9.1580

    Psychedelic 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.1.3.40

    ‌Hendricks PS, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR. Psilocybin, psychological distress, and suicidality. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2015;29(9):1041-1043. doi:10.1177/0269881115598338


    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:

    SAMHSA's National Helpline
    800-662-HELP (4357)
    TTY: 800-487-4889

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    Episode 5: The Neuroscience of Traumatic Brain Injuries and America's Favorite Pastime Jan 20, 2022

    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.2020.595445

    Tator C. Concussions and their consequences: current diagnosis, management and prevention. Can Med Assoc J. 2013;185(11):975-979. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120039

    Mez 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.2017.8334

    McKee A, Stein T, Kiernan P, Alvarez V. The Neuropathology of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Brain Pathology. 2015;25(3):350-364. doi:10.1111/bpa.12248

    Asken 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.2017.2396

    Turner 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:10.1080/02699052.2016.1193631

    Giza C, Hovda D. The New Neurometabolic Cascade of Concussion. Neurosurgery. 2014;75:S24-S33. doi:10.1227/neu.0000000000000505

    Haislop 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.


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    Episode 4: The Neuroscience of Candy Crush and Other Mindless Match-Three Timesucks Jan 12, 2022

    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, 2013


    Fruhlinger, 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).


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    Episode 3: The Incredible, Unbelievable Story of Phineas Gage Jan 05, 2022

    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.317.7174.1673a


    Siddiqui, S., Chatterjee, U., Kumar, D., Siddiqui, A., Goyal, N., Neuropsychology of prefrontal cortex, Indian Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 50, Issue 3 (2008). doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.43634


    Harlow, 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.0037454


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    Episode 2: Neuroscience of Sexy Times Dec 30, 2021

    Sex is a complex but inescapable part of our lives. Lots of people do it every day, it affects our advertisements, our clothing, even our interactions with other people. But have you ever wondered what's happening in your brain during sex? Tune in to learn a little bit about the brain regions, circuits, and neurotransmitters at play during sexy times.
    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:

    • Hellier et al., Female Sexual Behavior in Mice Controlled by Kisspeptin Neurons, Nature Communications (2018).
    • Seok, J., Sohn, J., Neural Substrates of Sexual Desire in Individuals with Problematic Hypersexual Disorder, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (2015).
    • Stahl, S., Illustrating the circuits of sexual desire, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (2010).
    • Yang, L., Comninos, A., Dhillo, W., Intrinsic links among sex, emotion, and reproduction, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (2018).
    • Leuner, B., Glasper, E., Gould, E., Sexual Experience Promotes Adult Neurogenesis in the Hippocampus Despite an Initial Elevation in Stress Hormones, PloS One (2010).
    • Baird, A., Sex and the Single Amygdala, Part 2 of your Sexiest Brain Bits, Psychology Today (2019).
    • Micevych, P., Meisel, R., Integrating Neural Circuits Controlling Female Sexual Behavior, Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience (2017). https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2017.00042
    • Jennings, K., De Lecea, L., Neural and Hormonal Control of Sexual Behavior, Endocrinology, Volume 161, Issue 10 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1210/endocr/bqaa150
    • Baird, A. et al., Neurological Control of human sexual behavior: insight from new lesion studies. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, Volume 78, Issue 10, (2006). https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/78/10/1042
    • Oei, N., Rombouts, S., Soeter, R., van Gerven, J., Both, S., Dopamine modulates reward system activity during subconscious processing of sexual stimuli, Neuropsychopharmacology, Volume 37 (2012). https://www.nature.com/articles/npp201219
    • Magon, N., Kalra, S., The orgasmic history of oxytocin, love, lust and labor, Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, (2011). 10.4103/2230-8210.84851
    • Algoe, S., Kurtz, L., Grewen, K., Oxytocin and Social Bonds: The Role of Oxytocin in Perceptions of Romantic Partners’ Bonding Behaviors, Psychological Science, Volume 28, Issue 12 (2017).



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    Episode 1: Neuroscience of Anxiety Dec 22, 2021

    Whether it's meeting your ex at a party or your upcoming presentation at work, we have all felt the sinking feeling of anxiety. Come and find out a little bit about what's happening upstairs in this bite-sized look at the brain regions, connections, and neurotransmitters involved in anxiety processing and regulation.
    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:

    • Price, J.S., An Evolutionary Perspective on Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders, New Insights into Anxiety Disorders (2012).
    • Davis, M., The Role of the Amygdala in Fear and Anxiety, Annual Review Neuroscience (1992).
    • Duval, Javanbakht, Liberzon., Neural circuits in anxiety and stress disorders: a focused review, Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management (2015).
    • Ventura Silva et al., Excitotoxic lesions in the central nucleus of the amygdala attenuate stress-induced anxiety behavior, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (2013).
    • Levar et al., GABA concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex are associated with fear network function and fear recovery in humans, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (2017)
    • Fuchs, Flugge., Cellular consequences of stress and depression, Dialogues Clinical Neuroscience, (2004)
    • Lechin et al., Effects of buspirone on plasma neurotransmitters in healthy subjects, Journal of Neural Transmission (1998)
    • Botterill et al., Bidirectional regulation of cognitive and anxiety-like behaviors by dentate gyrus mossy cells in male and female mice, Journal of Neuroscience (2021)
    • Martin et al., The Neurobiology of Anxiety Disorders: Brain Imaging, Genetics, and Psychoneuroendocrinology, Psychiatric Clinics of North America (2013)
    • Cominski et al., The role of the hippocampus in avoidance learning and anxiety vulnerability, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (2014).
    • LeBlanc et al., Striatopallidal neurons control avoidance behaviors in exploratory tasks, Psychiatry (2018).
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