WaterCooler Neuroscience

Latest Episodes:

Think Fast S2, EP14 – Brain’s warehouse of faces with Jorge Almeida Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

Human's process faces almost better than anything else, we can even see faces when there isn't a face there which is called Face pareidolia and why people claim to see faces in the sky or in the sea. Our brains try to see faces everywhere, even where they are no faces. But on occasion this malfunctions worse than just coffee foam oddly looking like a cartoon face and can result in conditions where people can no longer recognise faces or see faces as distorted. Our guest today is an expert on a condition that makes people see faces as distorted but more importantly, this very rare condition allowed Jorge to better understand if we remember faces only based on perspectives we have seen faces in the past or if we store a 3D representation of every face we can remember.

WCNeuro Special Feature – So you want to be a neuroscientist with Dr Ashley Juavinett Apr 04, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, I talk to Dr Ashley Juavinett on her book 'So you want to be a Neuroscientist' which covers not only the difficulties, promise and secrets of being a neuroscientist. My interview with Ashley not only covers the topics of her book but also her inspirations and everything she would have added to the book after it was completed. Becoming a neuroscientist is one of the most complex but also diverse scientific paths a person can take in the modern academic world and this book provides an excellent introduction so that not every step you take is blind. For the rest listen to the interview.

Think Fast S2, EP13 – How to study epilepsy with maths with Jen Creaser Mar 31, 2021

Show notes

Epilepsy is a condition that is most simply understood as causing blackouts and seizures but from a neurological point of view what is happening is a mass activation of neurons with very little control which effectively overloads our sensory and motor centres and can cause unconsciousness as the brain can't fire in the ways that allow for a normal conscious experience. Episodes about epilepsy normally include talking to both doctors and patients on the biology and lived experiences of those with epilepsy. Today we are talking about maths, what is epilepsy without the brain? What can maths show us which other fields can't? This episode explores mathematical neuroscience and the contributions that a chaos mathematician is bringing to the squishy organic world of neuroscience.

Think Fast S2, EP12 – How to make a lab with Dr Rafiq Huda Mar 25, 2021

Show notes

Dr Rafiq Huda's work in human decision-making processes have elucidated the process of flexible decision making across rodent and human brains. However, recently Rafiq has risen to the ranks of having his own lab and this means he has spent the last year transitioning from a pure researcher to the joint job of researcher and lab manager. Running a lab is very similar to running a business, just without any products to sell or regular income, and here Rafiq gives his insights into how scientists have to transition into managers handling budgets, not just research projects. This show is sponsored by NeuroCatch Inc., an objective quick measure of brain health available today. If you would like to know more about NeuroCatch Inc. please go to our website www.watercoolerneuroscience.co.uk.

Think Fast S2, EP11 – Why some people always order the same thing at a restaurant with Dr Michael J Frank Mar 18, 2021

Show notes

It is a question in Psychology and Neuroscience how people who are constantly adventurous and rigidly stuck to what they know are both using the dopamine systems found in the midbrain. How can two seemingly opposite patterns of behaviour come from the same source and why whenever a discussion about the brain starts is it always somehow focused on dopamine. Michael J Frank is an expert on the dopamine systems in the human brain and brings his research and decades of experience to help us understand what the dopamine system is actually doing here. This show is sponsored by NeuroCatch Inc., an objective quick measure of brain health available today. If you would like to know more about NeuroCatch Inc. please go to our website www.watercoolerneuroscience.co.uk.

Think Fast Academia and Industry, EP4 – When a CEO meets science with Kirk Fisher Mar 15, 2021

Show notes

In this series on Academia and Industry we are moving to the other end of the spectrum and instead of talking with scientists about how they integrate into business we are approaching CEO of the Lark Group and how he works with scientists. Kirk provides insights into his working relationships with scientists and what he thinks are both the best practices for starting a new partnership and how to get the best out of both parties with their different training and background. This show is sponsored by NeuroCatch Inc., an objective quick measure of brain health available today. If you would like to know more about NeuroCatch Inc. please go to our website www.watercoolerneuroscience.co.uk.

Think Fast S2, EP10 – How do we mind wander with Dr Julia Kam Mar 11, 2021

Show notes

Mind-wandering or daydreaming is one of the most common activities that happen in a day. It is almost impossible to not eventually have your mind wander off into thoughts about the past or fantasies about the future. In this episode, I interview Dr Julia Kam on her research into mind-wandering and how we can study the major network involved, the default mode network. We talk about what the default mode network does, how we can study it and where the limits of the field are with such a newly studied network. This show is sponsored by NeuroCatch Inc., an objective quick measure of brain health available today. If you would like to know more about NeuroCatch Inc. please go to our website www.watercoolerneuroscience.co.uk.

Think Fast S2, EP9 – AI on psychedelics with Dr Nikolaus Kriegeskorte Mar 04, 2021

Show notes

Artificial intelligence is used regularly in neuroscientist with programs that are able to process enormous amounts of data and alter their own parameters to 'learn'. AI is even used to identify different objects just through a camera and the applications of visual identification are becoming mainstream with the use of such programs in self-driving cars. The question is how do we pick between AI that seem to work equally at first pass. Well the answer is we show them psychedelic images. To find out why that would ever work tune into this episode of Think Fast. This show is sponsored by NeuroCatch Inc., an objective quick measure of brain health available today. If you would like to know more about NeuroCatch Inc. please go to our website www.watercoolerneuroscience.co.uk.

Think Fast Academia and Industry, EP3 – From finishing a PhD to the lab with Shaun Fickling Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

For most people, the heights of Professorship and CSO/CEO are dreams for a future year. Today we are talking with Shaun Fickling, a researcher at HealthTechConnex, and one of the researchers who helped with NeuroCatch Inc. Shaun only recently finished his PhD and brings us the insights from someone who spent years in academia and has now entered the ground floor of corporate scientific endeavours. He offers his advice and insights for what the modern PhD researcher needs.

Think Fast S2, EP8 – AI and Romance with Dr Paul Eastwick Part 2 Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

In the second part of my interview with Dr Paul Eastwick, we delve into the idea of compatibility. It is accepted in human culture that when two people choose to be together or are chosen to be together, there is a level of compatibility. We accept we fit better with some people, we don't fit with others, and while perfection is not possible, it is best to find someone who compliments us. This interview is going to knock that concept on the head a little. Machine learning last time poured into what parts of relationship questionnaires really inform us about relationships, and now we are going to be finding out are people compatible when they first meet or does a relationship's success depend on if you become compatible together? This show is sponsored by NeuroCatch Inc., an objective quick measure of brain health available today. If you would like to know more about NeuroCatch Inc., please go to our website www.watercoolerneuroscience.co.uk.

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