Learn from cutting edge researchers in neuroscience and psychology with PhD students Beth Fisher and Ava Ma de Sousa. On Minds Matter, we explore a range of subjects, from conspiracy theories to falling in love, to nostalgia. We discuss the neuroscientific and psychological research behind these issues while talking through our own personal experiences.
In an age where politicians are both subjects and creators of memes, and outlets like The Daily Show shape public discourse, how is humor influencing our political engagement? Dr. Prateekshit "Kanu" Pandey shares research on humor's effects on the brain, and its differing roles across cultures, from the U.S. to India. Dr. Pandey, Ava & Beth reflect on whether humor good is for politics and civic engagement, or whether politics should remain strictly serious business.
New developments in AI are making headline news with many perspectives on what the future of AI holds. From Chat GPT to robots, there is lots of new information to take in! This week Dr. Abhilasha Ravichander answers our questions from the basics of AI to questions of AI and consciousness. She speaks to us about where the field is at now and discusses her research on hallucinations in Large Language Models and how they can help us understand how our data is being used. Ava and Beth talk about where they think the future is going.
How do behavioural and substance addictions relate to mental health? What are the risk factors for these disorders? This week Dr. Andrew Kim helps us answer these questions and discusses how we can best treat addictions and their mental heath co-morbidities. Dr Kim explains how we can use to research to train clinicians so patients can receive the best possible outcomes. Ava and Beth discuss their countries own medical systems .
What makes teenagers so keen to embrace risk? Are they chasing potential rewards, or are they just blind to potential consequences? Dr. Nina Lauharatanahirun joins us to discuss the computational and neurobiological underpinnings of risky decision-making in teens. Beth and Ava reminisce about their own adolescence. NOTE: Dr. Lauharatanahirun is recruiting PhD students for the 2024-2025 cycle with a background in neuroscience, psychology, computer science or engineering!
We hear about neuromodulators like serotonin all the time, but how do they actually work? This week Dr. Claire O’Callaghan gives us an introduction to the science of neurobiology! She discusses the roles of serotonin and noradrenaline and we learn that the systems are more complex than we may hear in popular science. Ava and Beth discuss their misconceptions around neuromodulators and Beth shares a personal noradrenaline story!