Naked Neuroscience, from the Naked Scientists - podcast cover

Naked Neuroscience, from the Naked Scientists

Open your mind with Naked Neuroscience, the spine-tingling, interactive monthly exploration of the workings of the nervous system from the Naked Scientists.

Episodes

Managing multiple sclerosis

This episode delves into multiple sclerosis, a major cause of disability in young adults. Hear from Lara Kingsman about her personal journey with MS, including diagnosis and managing daily life. A neurologist explains the autoimmune nature, causes, and how disease-modifying drugs target relapses. Finally, discover promising research and innovative clinical trial approaches, like the Octopus trial, focused on tackling the progressive forms of MS and improving long-term outcomes.

Feb 19, 202528 minEp. 83

New ideas about OCD pave the way for alternative treatments

Pervasive misconceptions about what OCD is may have stood in the way of making progress towards better treating the condition. Keeping your room tidy is not necessarily a sign that you have a psychiatric condition, despite what someone might claim in passing. Now, new theories about the way this anxiety disorder affects the brain are leading to new possibilities with regards to helping people who don't see an improvement from current gold standard therapies. James Tytko explores... Like this pod...

Dec 10, 202428 minEp. 82

Are smartphones bad for children?

In this episode of Naked Neuroscience, James Tytko is investigating what harms smartphones might be inflicting on adolescents. He hears from a collective action group seeking to delay giving phones to their children, neuropsychologist Richard Cytowic describes the autism-like symptoms which arise from too much screen time, and we hear why a ban on smartphones in schools might be a step too far in mitigating the negative effects. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientist...

Nov 11, 202431 minEp. 81

Head injuries: Reducing risk and improving treatment

In this episode of Naked Neuroscience, James Tytko takes us in depth on traumatic brain injuries: assessing the risks of repeat head knocks, and shining a light on key developments in treating them. We hear from Dawn Astle, daughter of former England footballer Jeff Astle, on his dementia following a career of heading footballs. Then, we hear from the doctors and researchers present at the NeuroTrauma conference hosted in Cambridge, before Brain to Z, where the topic is electroencephalography, o...

Oct 09, 202437 minEp. 80

Extremist brains, and expelling traumatic memories

On Naked Neuroscience, James Tytko learns about the traits shared by extremist individuals with the help of political neuroscientist Leor Zmigrod. Also, how the genetic predispositions of your peers could change your risk of developing certain psychiatric conditions. Plus, how a new sleep therapy could be about to revolutionise how we help people recover from PTSD... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Aug 16, 202425 minEp. 79

Fruit fly vision, sensing sarcasm, and social connection

In the latest Naked Neuroscience, James Tytko brings you two new pieces of research involving the use of AI. First, how machine learning has been deployed to map out the visual system of a fruit fly in all its complexity, and how feeding a neural network a diet of quips from popular TV shows has produced the most effective sarcasm detector yet. Plus, David Robson outlines the strategies that will ensure you maintain strong social bonds, the topic of his latest book, 'The Laws of Connection.' Lik...

Jul 17, 202424 minEp. 78

Neuro highlights: SNAP, tickles, and unpopular beliefs

For April's episode, James Tytko brings you the latest and greatest in neuroscience news and views. First, we're probing a touchy subject, finding out whether our tactile sense might be the most underappreciated of all. Then, the sequence of genes responsible for cognitive impairment in those with schizophrenia and ageing reveals new avenues for research. And a bit later on, how the cultural convergence many psychologists predicted as a result of globalisation is not coming to fruition... Like t...

Apr 30, 202430 minEp. 77

'Nostalgia ain't what it used to be,' with Charan Ranganath

This episode is an extended interview with Dr Charan Ranganath, director of the Memory and Plasticity Program and a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of California at Davis. He's also the author of the book, 'Why we remember.' James Tytko started by asking him about his love of popular music...Charan - Yes, music is a very big part of my life and, when I wrote this book, it was a very personal thing for me to be able to write something that both tracked the development o...

Mar 28, 202426 minEp. 76

Brain chips: 'Moral imperative' or a danger to liberty?

This month, James Tytko explores the dangers of debunking fake news online with Francis Madden, and discusses ongoing developments in the neuroscience of Long COVID with Stephanie Brown. Then, following on from Elon Musk's news that his brain chip company Neuralink have successfully implanted their device into a human, we explore what this means for the field of computer brain interfaces... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...

Feb 13, 202427 minEp. 75

Traumatic brain injuries: Invisible wounds of war

Today, we're taking a closer look at traumatic brain injuries, TBIs. We'll be hearing from the doctors who are treating them, and a former soldier who is suffering from a host of mental health conditions as a consequence of his military service.And a bit later on, we'll find out how scientists are harnessing the incredible efficiency of our brains to break new ground in computing performance... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...

Jan 12, 202437 minEp. 74

Diverse roots: Investigating youth mental health

This time on Naked Neuroscience, James Tytko explores the miracle of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with Stephanie Brown from the University of Cambridge, including a new innovation to decrease 'scan-xiety' amongst children. Then, we'll be investigating the complexities of the current youth mental health crisis, with the help of Susanne Schweizer and Camilla Nord... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 24, 202327 minEp. 73

In the brain of the beholder: Music across cultures

Kicking off a new series of Naked Neuroscience, James Tytko serves up the latest research making waves in brain science with the help of Stephanie Brown and Francis Madden. This month, the brain networks linked with addiction, and why suppressing negative thoughts might be the best way to look after your mental health. Then, with Malinda McPherson and Alexander Jensenius, we dive deep into the rhythms and melodies from music of eclectic origins... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting ...

Oct 21, 202335 minEp. 72

Inside the Mind

This month we're pondering the mysterious mind - what is it? Are us humans unique in having one? And where does the brain fit in? Plus we chat over some of the latest neuroscience news with local experts... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Apr 23, 202135 minEp. 71

Eating for Your Nervous System

We all know that vegetables and fruits are good for us - high in fibre, lots of vitamins. But what good do they actually do the brain? Do certain foods really benefit our nervous systems? How does this work? Can food actually prevent neurological issues? Well that's what Katie Haylor wants to find out in this month's Naked Neuroscience... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Mar 25, 202145 minEp. 70

I'm soooo bored!

This month - we're boring into boredom! What does it mean to be bored? Should we embrace it? Should we avoid it? How do you get through it? Stick with us to find out... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Feb 23, 202146 minEp. 69

Hallucination Science

From internal vision to things that appear to go bump in the night, we're talking about hallucinations. Plus, as usual, we're joined by our local experts to digest some of the latest neuroscience news...https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hallucinations Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Jan 29, 202146 minEp. 68

Dogs vs Cats: the Human-Pet Relationship

It's nearly Christmas! Grab a mince pie and get comfy as this month Naked Neuroscience navigates the relationships we have with our pets. What makes some cat noises so annoying? Why are we such suckers for a cute dog? Plus, of course, some of the latest neuroscience news from our Cambridge-based experts... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dec 18, 202036 minEp. 67

A Walk in the Park

This month, take a stroll outside as Naked Neuroscience hears about the brain benefits of exercise, and the ways in which the great outdoors can do us good. Plus, as usual, we're joined by our local experts to digest some of the latest neuroscience news... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 20, 202037 minEp. 66

Food on the Brain

Snacking, craving and the microbiome! This month Naked Neuroscience looks at what's going on in the brain when we're hungry and thirsty... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Oct 21, 202044 minEp. 65

Having a Laugh, Throughout Life

Last month, we considered animals at play. And this month, Katie Haylor is joined by a couple of guests to consider the importance of play in human animals - from little kids, right into adulthood... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Sep 21, 202042 minEp. 64

Larking About: Play Science

This month and the next, we're having a laugh! We'll be getting stuck in to the science of play. What exactly is play? Why bother? And are we playing enough? Plus some of the latest from the world of neuroscience news with our local experts... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Aug 26, 202034 minEp. 63

Migraine on the Brain

This month, we're digging deeper into the world of headaches, asking what's going on in the brain when a migraine occurs? And meet the stripes that can do your head in... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Jul 20, 202045 minEp. 62

Honing in on Headaches

Nearly everyone has had one, with some merely a nuisance and others severely debilitating.... we're honing in on headaches in this and the next episode of Naked Neuroscience. Plus, we're talking about the latest neuroscience news with our local experts! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Jun 19, 202031 minEp. 61

The mind under lockdown

This month, we're lifting the lid on the mind under lockdown. What's going on in the brain when you're having a virtual conversation, compared to one face to face? Could teenagers' mental wellbeing relate to whether they adhere to social distancing? And how to look after your mental health, whatever your situation... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

May 26, 202043 minEp. 60

Brain development - decisions, decisions...

This month, we're talking development and decisions. From some of the cellular decisions involved in actually making a brain, to delving into teenage decision making... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Apr 21, 202039 minEp. 59

Colour on the Brain - part 2

This month - Naked Neuroscience continues its colourful journey! We're exploring amazing animal colour vision, colour perception and development, and how colour relates to emotion. Plus, some of the latest neuroscience news from our local experts... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Mar 20, 202037 minEp. 58

Colour on the Brain - part 1

Be it burnt orange, millenial pink, inky black, dusky, deep purple, colour is everywhere! Over the February and March 2020 episodes of Naked Neuroscience, we're opening up the paint box of colour. In this episode Katie Haylor will be putting her retinas to the test at the optometrists, and finding out about how we actually see colour in the first place. Plus, some neuroscience news from our local experts... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...

Feb 21, 202033 minEp. 57

Coming off Antidepressants

This month - with about 1 in 10 people in the UK on antidepressant drugs, we're asking what's it like to come off of these medications? How well is this change managed? And how can this be improved? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Jan 20, 202042 minEp. 56

When Gaming Gets Out of Control

This month, we're getting to grips with gaming disorder. With the NHS's first specialist clinic to help people with gaming disorder now open, we're asking what's it like to be addicted to gaming, and what can be done to help? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dec 20, 201934 minEp. 55

Anxiety and Sex: Naked Neuroscience top up!

Welcome to a bonus episode of Naked Neuroscience, the podcast exploring the workings of the brain and the nervous system, in our bodies and beyond. In this short show Katie Haylor chats to Anglia Ruskin University perceptual psychologist Helen Keyes and Cambridge University cognitive neuroscientist Duncan Astle about a few neuroscience news stories they looked at back in November 2019. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists...

Dec 18, 201913 minEp. 54
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