Best Thalamus Podcasts (2024)

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Unlocking the Brain's Communication Hub: The Power of the Thalamus with Dr. S. Murray Sherman 26:16

5h ago26:16

26:16

In this special episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, host John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, sits down with S. Murray Sherman, PhD, Maurice Goldblatt Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Chicago, in Chicago at the annual Society for Neuroscience (SfN) conference. Sherman i…

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Exploring the Genetic Dance of Neurons: What Roundworms Reveal About Behavior 32:51

20d ago32:51

32:51

In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, we dive into the microscopic world of C. elegans—tiny roundworms that are revolutionizing our understanding of genetics and behavior. Join host John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester as he chats with Doug Portman, PhD, the Donald M. Foster Pro…

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How a quest to find solutions for vision loss- turned a clinician into a scientist. 27:55

2M ago27:55

27:55

José Alain Sahel, MD, is a distinguished professor, eye and ear foundation professor, and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is also the director of the UPMC Vision Institute. Dr. Sahel is a leading expert in retinal diseases and vision restoration research and is a pioneer in optogenetic…

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What helped launch leaders in neuroscience into a lifetime of learning 9:04

3M ago9:04

9:04

Is there a defining moment that set you on your current path? In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, we’re revisiting origin stories – what launched leading neuroscientists into a lifetime of learning and interest in the brain. Host: John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Guests (in order of appearance): Nathan …

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In a Word - Transference (with a dash of neuroscience) 30:10

3M ago30:10

30:10

Send us a text Dr. O'Leary discusses the term Transference, and if you listen until the end, he relates it to some computational neuroscience. Transference is a historically loaded term. Transference is supposed to be an unconscious process, so it can not really be observed, only inferred, so this means that both the definition of transference and …

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Catatonia in Autism and Neuroatypical Patients - Easy to miss, Harder to Treat 35:54

3M ago35:54

35:54

Send us a text -- More recently I have faced the diagnostic conundrum of catatonia in autism, and that is what I want to explore in more excruciating detail today. There is surprisingly little literature on the subject, and that is concerning because being able to identify and treat catatonia can be life-saving, not to mention life-altering for pat…

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The Cingulate Cortex, Mirror Neurons, and Spiritual Health 1:00:51

4M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

In this episode, Ken and Josh dive into the identity center of the brain: the Cingulate Cortex. Things get more complex at this stage of development. Join the guys as they dive right in! For more about Wind Ministries, visit: https://www.windministries.ca/By Joshua Hoffert

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Neuroscience insights: How to steer toward success in science 16:54

4M ago16:54

16:54

How often do you think about science fits into your lifeand how you fit into the field? For our 20th episode we are looking back at some of the advice that’s been shared by our guests on Neuroscience Perspectives. Host: John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del MonteInstitute for Neuroscience Guests (in order of appearance): Katalin Gothard, PhD, profess…

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Mindhunting with Forensic Psychiatrist Dr Michael Schirripa 56:11

4M ago56:11

56:11

Send us a text -- Dr. O’Leary interviews forensic psychiatrist and author Dr. Michael Schirripa about his career as a forensic psychiatrist, the release of his first thriller, Mindhunt, and his podcast Mindhunting. Dr. Shirripa explores how his love of literature influenced his decision to pursue forensic psychiatry and ultimately resulted in his c…

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Psychedelics - A skeptical approach to MDMA aka Ecstasy 31:46

4M ago31:46

31:46

Send us a text - - In the world of psychotropic medication, the question is not just whether it works or not, but whether it works better than a placebo and whether the effect size is clinically significant and the benefits outweigh the risks. In the case of MDMA (aka molly or ecstasy), the effect size for improving post-traumatic stress disorder s…

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The Narrative Fallacy in Psychological and Psychiatric Clinical Practice with Dr. Alexey Tolchinsky, PsyD 55:14

5M ago55:14

55:14

Send us a text The Narrative Fallacy describes our tendency to find meaning, connections, and causal relationships where they do not necessarily exist. In this episode, Dr. O'Leary had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Alexey Tolchinsky. He recently published a paper called “Narrative fallacy and other limitations of psychodynamic case formulation.”…

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Psychometrics - The Dangers of Rating Scales and Screeners 31:45

5M ago31:45

31:45

Send us a text Dr. O'Leary discusses a variety of concerns that all clinicians should have in mind when using psychometrics. In the end, he hopes you come away with some level of agreement with the statement: “Our primary concern should not be with the quantity of data, but with the quality of the data.” Statistics are conceptual machines that will…

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How are the brain systems that support adaptive human cognition and behavior organized? 42:36

5M ago42:36

42:36

Kia Nobre, PhD, is the director of the Center for Neurocognition and Behavior at the Wu Tsai Institute at Yale University. Her discoveries have revolutionized our scientific understanding of the human mind and #brain. She tells John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, about the great gift she acquired as a child that le…

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Fight, Flight, Freeze, Appease: The Amygdala, Healing, and Spiritual Growth 1:04:31

6M ago1:04:31

1:04:31

We've talked about the thalamus as the smoke detector of the brain, now its time to move on to layer 2: the amygdala. Once we have detected that external stimulus is happening, how we respond is largely influenced by how our amygdala has been formed since childhood. Tune in as Josh and Ken talk about the role of the amygdala and how we learn fight,…

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In a Word - Aphasia 37:22

6M ago37:22

37:22

Send us a text In this episode, Dr. O'Leary discusses a word that he has struggled to understand since medical school. The word is aphasia. The root “phasia” comes from the Greek phanai which means “to speak.” When aphasia is used medically, it refers to an inability to speak, although not always. More generally it is often used to mean a failure t…

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The Thalamus and Spiritual Health: The First Stage of Brain Development 51:53

6M ago51:53

51:53

What does the Thalamus have to do with spiritual and emotional health. Is there something about how the brain develops that gives us insight into the way we go about maturing and growing? And what happens is we miss those things? Join Joshua and Ken Hoffert as they talk about the layers of the brain, spiritual and emotional health, and that weird l…

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The Why and How of Spiritual Health: A Look at the 4 Layers of the Brain 59:48

6M ago59:48

59:48

Did you know the brain goes through 4 stages of development? And that those stages correspond to our maturation and age? And what does the Lord's Prayer and the story of Cain and Abel have to do with this? Pain and trauma have a way of impacting each of these stages in unique ways. Join Joshua and Ken Hoffert as they dive in and break down how we a…

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How do early life experiences shape brain function and critical periods of brain development? 30:11

7M ago30:11

30:11

Takao Hensch, PhD, is a professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School at Boston Children’s Hospital and a professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard’s Center for Brain Science. He leads the National Institute of Mental Health Silvio Conte Center on Mental Health Research at Harvard and the International Research Center for Neurointel…

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Navigating The Big Six Emotions 1:03:29

7M ago1:03:29

1:03:29

What are we to do when we encounter anger, fear, sadness, shame, disgust, and hopelessness.? These are our most uncomfortable moments. In difficult moment, we either ignore, succumb to, or stuff these are the emotions. But what if there is a better way? And what if, when we looked at Jesus, we noticed that he did not avoid any emotional expression?…

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: When Fear Hijacks Your Brain 38:52

6M ago38:52

38:52

Support If you’re struggling with your mental health, you’re not alone. If you are in immediate danger of harming yourself or others, call 9-1-1, or head to your nearest emergency room. You can also call or text 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide Crisis Helpline. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Young people can chat anytime with Kids He…

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WTF Cerebellum - Little Brain, Big Deal 32:58

7M ago32:58

32:58

Send us a text I did not until recently even consider the cerebellum when thinking about psychiatric conditions, but the more I read, the more I wonder why the cerebellum is not considered a potential important player in nearly every psychiatric disorder. Although it can be said that all brain regions primarily function to make predictions, the cer…

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How does maturity happen (and can you stumble into it) 50:03

7M ago50:03

50:03

Why does maturity (both spiritual and emotional) seem so elusive? And why does it seem as though we either don't have it, only others possess it, or we only seem to stumble into it? Join Joshua and Ken Hoffert as they dive into how we can go about expecting spiritual and emotional health. For more about Wind Ministries, visit: https://www.windminis…

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What is spiritual maturity and what does Jesus have to say about the topic? 42:23

7M ago42:23

42:23

Join us for a new series on the Wind Ministries podcast: The Spiritual Maturity Series! Josh and Ken dive deep into the topics of spiritual maturity, brain science, attachment theory, and stages of development. In this inaugural episode, Josh and Ken talk about what a spiritually healthy and vibrant person looks like according to the words of Jesus…

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WTF - Thalamus 22:32

7M ago22:32

22:32

Send us a text The thalami are bilaterally symmetrical structures in the subcortical part of the brain that are cradled by the basal ganglia. They are major hubs of pretty much everything your brain does and all of the sensory information coming into the brain with the exception of smell. More primitive models of the brain visualized it as a bunch …

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How are injury and illness monitored in the brain? And how can scientists diversify the bench? 26:13

8M ago26:13

26:13

How are injury and illness monitored in the brain? Once thought of as the glue of the brain, glia cells have been proven to play a key role in brain health with astrocytes acting as important messengers. These star-like cells are at the center of the research of Nathan A. Smith, PhD, associate dean for Equity & Inclusion for Research and Research E…

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Seroquel (Quetiapine) - Drugs, Sex, Money and Psychopharm 24:53

8M ago24:53

24:53

Send us a text In this episode, I discuss a medication that patients who saw a psychiatrist or their primary care provider between about 1997 and 2015 were very likely to find themselves prescribed. More recently, it has been taken down a notch or two on prescribers lists of preferred meds. This medication is quetiapine, marketed as Seroquel by Ast…

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Oxygen Odyssey... Wonders of Hyperbaric Oxygen, Mitochondria, Health & Youth 11:10

8M ago11:10

11:10

By Dr. Alison Pellicane

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In a Word - Confabulation 14:22

9M ago14:22

14:22

Send us a text This episode continues an intermittent series called “In a Word.” Past episodes have explored words like Akathisia, Dissociation, Perseveration, and even the difference between Impulsive and Compulsive. This episode explores Confabulation, including some of the brain circuits involved, and what might differentiate confabulation from …

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Neurological Architects... Building Connections with the Thalamus, Cerebellum & Proprioception 13:43

9M ago13:43

13:43

By Dr. Alison Pellicane

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Dissociative Identity Disorder: You, Plural 37:12

8M ago37:12

37:12

The term “dissociation” is a hot topic amongst those who study the brain. An example of dissociation that most of us can relate to is when you’re reading or scrolling through social media and you realize that your mind is elsewhere, that you haven’t actually absorbed the information in front of you. Some researchers have termed these momentary and …

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Reflux Realities... A Quest for Natural Relief & Wellness 14:41

9M ago14:41

14:41

By Dr. Alison Pellicane

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How do we learn? How does our brain change between different mental states? 24:19

9M ago24:19

24:19

What changes happen at the cellular level in the cerebral cortex between concentration and daydreaming? Jessica Cardin, PhD, associate professor and vice chair of the Neuroscience Department at Yale School of Medicine, joins John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, on NeURoscience Perspect…

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Borderline Personality Disorder: The Jukebox of Self Doubt 37:08

9M ago37:08

37:08

Diagnosis of personality disorders in youth is relatively new. Before the release of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, version 5 (DSM-V), nobody under the age of 18 could receive a diagnosis of a personality disorder, mainly due to the transitional nature of personality in youth, and the degree of stigmatization attached to such a diagnosis. R…

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Sound Waves of Wellness... Childhood Ear Infections & Chiropractic 7:30

9M ago7:30

7:30

By Dr. Alison Pellicane

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How guilty are adolescents for their crimes? 29:31

9M ago29:31

29:31

Send us a text In 2012 the Supreme Court heard two related cases involving adolescents convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole because of mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines in their states. One of the boys, Evan Miller along with an accomplice, had beat a man unconscious with a baseball bat after a fight that ensued …

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ADHD: When your brain can't sit still 38:34

9M ago38:34

38:34

The definition of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has gone through many changes over the years. Interestingly, the criteria used to diagnose ADHD has actually become broader, encompassing a wider range of ages and a variety of different clinical presentations and symptoms. One thing that’s stayed the same since the release of the DS…

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Anxiety & Eating Disorders: When the alarm bells won't stop ringing 38:25

9M ago38:25

38:25

Anxiety is one of the body’s natural responses to stress. When a person is met with an important event or perceived danger, anxiety can help them to react to that stressor. But when symptoms of anxiety are ongoing or severe, it’s a sign of an anxiety disorder. There are several types of anxiety disorders, with each subtype categorized by how anxiet…

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Serious Mental Illness in America with Dr. Zac Brooks 45:59

10M ago45:59

45:59

Send us a text I am lucky today to be able to bring you an interview with Dr. Zac Brooks who is passionate about serious mental illness (SMI). “What is serious mental illness?” you might ask. That is one of the things we are going to discuss, and you may be surprised when Dr. Brooks explains how it was first formally defined. We also discuss the nu…

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How does the brain perceive touch? How does it process pain? 24:47

10M ago24:47

24:47

How does the brain perceive touch? How does it process pain?Could what we know about pain better inform treatments for addiction? Fan Wang, PhD, professor in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences department at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, joins John Foxe, PhD, director of the DelMonte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of …

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Depression: When skydiving feels kinda boring 25:47

9M ago25:47

25:47

Being sad or feeling hopeless is a normal part of human existence appearing and disappearing and reappearing with the ebbs and flows of life. But when symptoms of a depressive episode last for more than two weeks, and begin to get in the way of one’s day-to-day life, that’s when a person meets the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, or MDD, whi…

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Click here to start loving your brain! 13:25

9M ago13:25

13:25

Strap in for another exciting season of Playing With Marbles, brought to you by Brain Canada. In past seasons, we learned about all of the cool brain science research coming out of labs in Canada, from mini-brain organoids in petri dishes to women’s health beyond the bikini. We’ve taken a look at the brain at a microscopic level and learned how eac…

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HIV, PrEP, and Mental Health with Dr. Jon Lindefjeld 46:48

10M ago46:48

46:48

Send us a text PsyDactic welcomes Dr. Jon Lindefjeld for a discussion of the history of HIV and AIDS. In particular, we discuss the development of effective antiretroviral therapies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), highlighting the CDC guidelines for use and monitoring, need to treat psychiatric com-mo…

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Perspectives on the Borderline: The Most Disordered Personality 40:07

10M ago40:07

40:07

Send us a text Dr. O'Leary discusses some of the history of the borderline personality, how different perspectives have attempted to explain its origin, how to treat it and how not to treat it. He starts in 1947 with some colorful descriptions of patients living with borderline personality disorder that would never get published today, and highligh…

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The Elastic Brain... How Neuroplasticity Reshapes Our Lives & How Our Lives Reshape Our Brain 15:31

10M ago15:31

15:31

By Dr. Alison Pellicane

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The Ghost of Personality Disorders Future 23:27

10M ago23:27

23:27

Send us a text Our current diagnostic criteria for personality disorders have failed to demonstrate validity or reliability. The DSM 5 encouraged psychiatrists to start considering a broad range of personality features adapted from the Five Factor Model. These are combined with global functioning measures to build a personality inventory for any pa…

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ZInc... Your Shield Against Illness 14:13

10M ago14:13

14:13

By Dr. Alison Pellicane

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Tattoos, Stigma, Racists, and Psychiatry 26:11

11M ago26:11

26:11

Send us a text Humans have a history of tattooing that stretches millennia into prehistory. The western ban on tattoos by the early church resulted in a systematic effort to paint tattooed individuals as pagan, primitive, vulgar, criminal, and mentally ill. Psychiatrists have historically contributed to this characterization but are in a position t…

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Attractor Networks and the Bayesian Brain 58:06

11M ago58:06

58:06

Send us a text The brain understands the world by building models that predict the future. One of the ways that it does this is by utilizing attractor networks. These small world networks are constantly trying to determine what is a true signal from the constant noise in the neural net. Dr. O'Leary explores how attractor networks have been hypothes…