This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg

Latest Episodes:

Talking With Dolphins May 07, 2021

Show notes

Dolphins have large, complex brains that are a lot like the human model -- what if we could get inside their heads and communicate with them? Meet cognitive psychologist and marine mammal scientist Diana Reiss, PhD, who has been doing just that. Turns out our underwater friends have a lot going on in their brains, if only we could learn to decode it. Plus... Hear from one of the musician/scientists who discovered fifty years ago that whales produce actual songs.

Covid on the Brain Apr 23, 2021

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What's causing the "Covid fog" and "long-haul Covid" that have been all over the news lately? Neuropsychologist Heidi Bender, PhD, and infectious disease specialist Lish Ndhlovu, MD, PhD, explain how the virus is sneaking into the brain, what it does when it gets there, and how that affects cognition, emotions, and behavior. Plus... hear firsthand from a patient who went through the fog — and came out the other side.

Calm Yourself Apr 09, 2021

Show notes

Pain and fear are inevitable, especially these days, but we can retrain our brains to reduce suffering. Dr. Sara Lazar, Assistant Professor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School, reveals how just eight weeks of mindful meditation can visibly change parts of the brain to be less reactive to pain. Plus... how meditation apps put the power of mindfulness right in your hand.

Links to the meditation apps mentioned in this episode:

www.calm.com

www.headspace.com

https://insighttimer.com

The Paradox of Dreams Mar 26, 2021

Show notes

More than an evolutionary waste of energy, dreams are one of the last mysteries of human cognition. Dr. Raphael Vallat, a neuroscientist and sleep researcher at UC Berkeley, explains what we know about what happens during REM sleep, why we have recurring nightmares, and even how that evening cocktail affects your dreams. Plus… the weirdest things some people do while they're asleep

The 'Art' of Making Decisions Mar 12, 2021

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A brain experiment on abstract vs representational art reveals the secrets of how we make decisions, and how we impulsive humans may finally learn to delay gratification. Psychologist Daphna Shohamy, Professor of Psychology at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute at Columbia University, explains "construal level theory" and what that means about art -- and dessert. Plus... The Stendahl Syndrome (aka an Art Attack), in which great works can quite literally knock you flat.

What's So Funny? Feb 26, 2021

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Delve into a comedian's brain to discover what makes people laugh -- and when the comic is also a neuroscientist, it's no joke! Dr. Ori Amir studies what goes on in the brain as jokes are born, and he's also learned how to "get out of his head" to write some pretty funny stuff. Be afraid: He is working on using artificial intelligence to come up with new puns to make us groan.

Are You Smarter Than a Teenage Neuroscientist? Feb 12, 2021

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Welcome to the International Brain Bee, where the innovators of tomorrow — most of them still too young to drive — are spending their days memorizing brain parts, studying neurons, and even dissecting cadaver brains. Meet Norbert Mylinski, who founded the worldwide competition, and Julianne McCall, a Brain Bee alum who is now ‎co-director of the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine. Plus... How many Brain Bee questions could YOU answer?

The Change Is Gonna Come: Menopause and the Brain Jan 29, 2021

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Menopause can wreak havoc on mood and body temperature as it signals the end of fertility, but some of the biggest changes it causes are in the brain. Emily Jacobs, assistant professor in the department of psychological and brain sciences at UC Santa Barbara, explains how the precipitous decline in estrogen during the "change of life" disrupts the endocrine system, and why menopause makes some women feel like they're going crazy while others sail through unscathed. Plus: Hear from real women describing the wide range of effects they experienced.

How Gabby Giffords Found Her Voice Jan 15, 2021

Show notes

After the shocking 2011 shooting that sent a would-be assassin's bullet through her brain, former U.S. Rep. Giffords had to re-learn how to breathe, walk, and talk. In the Season 2 premiere episode of This Is Your Brain, Dr. Stieg talks with neurologic music therapist Maegan Morrow, whose innovative techniques helped Giffords "rewire" her brain and regain her voice. Bonus: Special appearance by Ms. Giffords herself.

Genetics, Metabolism, and Alzheimer's Disease Dec 28, 2020

Show notes

One in three cases of Alzheimer's disease may be preventable, but some cases are quite predictable. Dr. Richard Isaacson, Director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine, explains how scientists look at genetics, lifestyle, and medical history to evaluate an individual's risk of developing the disease. Plus... how your belly size affects your memory center