The BrainCore Podcast

What is psychology? What does it mean to be a psychologist? Can psychological research really have applications in our daily lives? In this episode, Tolu and Regan break down misconceptions about psychology as a science. Regan shares the evolution of his answer to the question: “So, can you read minds?” Tolu shares some updates on her academic journey. Together, they discuss real-life applications of psychology - from analyzing news headlines to reducing your anger at bad drivers. The TOTE (term of the episode) is Psychology!

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How does psychedelic-assisted therapy give people perspective? How does ketamine help with diagnoses like depression and anxiety? Sabina Pillai, from Field Trip Health, enlightens Tolu and Kristina on the healing potential of psychedelics and ketamine. They discuss what a typical session looks like for clients who come to Field Trip Health. Sabina explains how psychedelics target the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of a person and may help with existential questions one may have such as “What have I been put on this earth to do?”. Kristina asks about how more individuals can get involved in creating more alternatives to current mental health treatments…and Sabina gives a great answer! The TOTE is psychedelics.

What is it good for? Tolu and Kristina discuss how genetic testing may provide individuals with an opportunity to know more about themselves with Dr. Robyn Murphy (Scientific Advisor at DNALabs) and Dr. Aaron Goldman (Chief Science Officer at DNALabs). What is DNA? What can one do when they have risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases? How can lifestyle changes decrease one's chances of having cognitive decline? The term of the episode or TOTE is Genetic Testing. If you're interested in purchasing either the LoveMyHealth or MatchMyMeds products from DNALabs, use our code 'BRAINCORE15' for 15% off!!

Tolu and Kristina bring back student-entrepreneur Chloe Duckworth to discuss an exciting update! How can we improve one's ability to communicate with others? What if that one is not especially good at interpreting subtle verbal or social cues? This short episode gives us insight into what Chloe and her team have been up to! The term of the episode or TOTE is Emotional Perception. 

Our reality is starting to look interestingly similar to that of a Black Mirror episode. In this episode, Kristina and Tolu talk about the potential benefits and drawbacks of a metaverse, particularly how virtual reality (VR) may affect mental health. Tolu brings up the research she did on Facebook, and how the metaverse is not a newly realized goal. They talk about how VR is starting to be implemented in situations other than gaming (e.g., work). The new DSM is rumored to release in March, so they discuss the rumored additions, as well as disorders that might not be added (such as Problematic Internet Use Disorder). However, they also bring up an alternative to the DSM. Kristina recalls past episodes where the function of a metaverse was slightly foreshadowed. The term of the episode is Metaverse.

Kristina and Tolu investigate attachment styles as it relates to their relationships with others. In this episode, they discuss their attachment style reports and its implications on their upbringing, friendships, and romantic relationships! How does one get a secure attachment style? What does it mean to be anxiously attached to romantic partners? The term of the episode is Attachment Theory!

Article discussed:

Simpson, J. A., & Rholes, W. S. (2017). Adult attachment, stress, and romantic relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 19-24.

Congratulations to Rishik and Ashmita for winning the Brainstorm Jeopardy game! In this episode, Kristina and Tolu are joined by Nigerian Neuroscience researchers Dr. Ibukun Akinrinade and Dr. Mahmoud Maina. They discuss the issues that create barriers for neuroscience research in Nigeria. The issues include funding, lack of internal collaboration, outdated equipment, lack of graduate school opportunities, and more. They also talk about their involvement with TReND in Africa, an organization which helps to support African researchers and students. The term of the episode is Brain Drain.

BC Trivia Question: What was one of the findings from our episode with Dr. Regan Gurung?

Tolu and Kristina are in two different countries!! They talk about the new chapters they're starting in their lives, new updates for the podcast, and what they see themselves doing in the future. They also briefly talk about elections, the water supply in Cyprus, and language barriers! The concept discussed is one of new beginnings. Don't forget to fill out our subscriber form!!

Email: thebraincorepodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @thebraincorepodcast

Twitter: @thebraincorepod

Perhaps the majority of those embedded in philosophy have heard of the "Ghost in the Machine" analogy, introduced initially by Gilbert Ryle. It is one piece of the puzzle that is the conversation on consciousness. In this episode, Tolu and Kristina are joined by Peter Hampson from Blackfriars in Oxford, UK. Peter has a unique take on the subject because he has acquired degrees in both psychology and theology. They discuss what a monist perspective looks like from a psychological and theological perspective. They also discuss how both disciplines can inform one another on a topic as complex as consciousness. The term of the episode is Theology. 

Peter's Recommendations:

To continue their conversations on consciousness, Tolu and Kristina are joined by Dr. Adrian Owen, a world-renowned neuroscientist, and Professor at the Brain and Mind Institute in London, Ontario. Back in 2006, Adrian's work showed that some individuals who were in a vegetative state could respond to questions with their brain activation - brain activation that could be viewed with an fMRI. In this episode, they discuss how this research informs the conversation on consciousness in disciplines such as philosophy and psychology. They also talk about the implications of the research on the legalities surrounding medical care and end-of-life care. Towards the end, they talk about Adrian's band BAM! and how through the pandemic, they've still been able to make some music. The term of the episode is the Gray Zone. 

Things we referenced:

Adrian’s Book

First off, Tolu apologizes for the sound quality on her end - but what is podcasting without mic issues? 

In this exciting episode, Tolu and Kristina start their two-month focus on the topic of Consciousness. They are joined by the knowledgable Patricia Churchland to discuss consciousness from a neurophilosophical point of view. Pat is one of the founders of Neurophilosophy and is a Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of California, San Diego. The trio discusses the possible re-definition of a soul, how the consciousness conversation differs from discipline to discipline, how one can revel in their biology, and more. The term of the episode or TOTE is Neurophilosophy.  

Links to Referenced Media/Books

Tolu and Kristina go all the way to Greece (virtually) to discuss psychodrama therapy with Dr. Nikos Takis. This month they aim to put the focus on their respective countries of origin: Greece for Kristina and Nigeria for Tolu. Together, they discuss the history of psychodrama, what a psychodrama therapy session is like and how certain concepts like myth can be incorporated into group sessions. The term of the episode or TOTE is Psychodrama!

Dr. Takis’ Article

How do you begin to feel like you belong in a certain environment? A specific position? A new job? How can you start to internalize your successes when they occur? In this episode, Tolu and Kristina tackle the Imposter Phenomenon, better known as Imposter Syndrome. They are joined by Brooke Vick (Associate Provost at Muhlenberg College), Nick Rule (Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto), and Linda Tropp (Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Massasuchetts Amherst). They all discuss the origins of their imposter feelings, how they have learned to work through them, and how we can all begin to battle our own feelings of perceived fraudulence. The term of the episode is Imposter Syndrome.

Article Discussed:

This March, Tolu and Kristina take a deeper dive into psychological phenomena. To start the dive, they are joined by Professor of Psychology at the Florida Institute of Technology, Dr. Richard Addante. In this episode, Rick explains the Dunning-Kruger Effect or DKE. He also briefly explains his role in NASA's largest psychology for space travel. Have you ever underestimated or overestimated your abilities to do something? How do you find your personal balance between confidence and humility? The term of the episode or TOTE is the Dunning-Kruger Effect. 

Article Discussed:

A haptic wristband that can convert emotions into vibrations, an app that tracks important data from dementia patients, and a group distributing medical and sanitary supply kits in the Bay Area. All of these initiatives have been co-founded by student entrepreneur Chloe Duckworth. To finish up our month's focus on neurotechnology, we invited Chloe, a sophomore (second-year student) at the University of South California, to discuss her involvement and interest in neurotechnology. We want to express to students that there truly is no impact that is too small and that you can start your own projects now. The term of the episode (TOTE) is Neurodiversity!

Neurable is a company that is trying to improve our ability to focus on tasks and get things done. They're doing this with the help of neurotechnology! In this episode, Tolu and Kristina are joined by a co-founder of Neurable, Adam Molnar to discuss what Neurable is up to. They talk briefly about the technologies used in the company's upcoming product, the future of work, and what we can expect to see from the company soon. The term of the episode is brain-computer interface or BCIs.

Neurable's website:

Tolu and Kristina talk about haptic technology with co-founder of WearWorks, Keith Kirkland. Visually, the colour red signals 'stop' or 'danger', but what is the haptic equivalent of red? Does it exist? What can a multisensory experience look like with haptics as the lead, and visual and auditory technology as the enhancers? How does psychology inform the engineering process of a product like the Wayband, a product which helps the visually-impaired navigate the world with vibrations? Toward the end of the episode, they touch on why failure is the best opportunity to learn and improve. The term of the episode or TOTE is Haptics/Haptic Technology.

The WearWorks Website:

PTSD! What is it and how can analyzing brain tissue inform future treatments for it? Tolu and Kristina are joined by PTSD expert, Dr. Matthew J. Friedman and Dr. Matthew J. Girgenti, an Associate Research Scientist from the Yale School of Medicine. In this episode, they talk about transcriptomics, proteomics, PTSD treatments, and immunology. They also talk about the sex differences found in PTSD brains. Kristina's movie recommendations are: Leave No Trace, American Sniper, and The Flags of Our Fathers. The term of the episode (TOTE) is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, otherwise known as PTSD. 

Matt & Matt’s Article:

A bonus episode to end the year! Tara Goodale joins Tolu and Kristina to talk about her experience living with depression, and her experience with anorexia and bulimia. It is likely that all of our listeners know someone who has or is suffering from depression. In this episode, Tara shares with us how she has managed it over the years with therapy, medication, and social support. What can you do for a friend with depression? What role does social media play in helping or destabilizing one's mental wellbeing? How accessible are resources? How can we overcome the self-made barriers to seeking these resources? The term of the episode or TOTE is repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS).

In this episode, Tolu and Kristina take the conversation all the way to the UK to discuss the negative symptoms of schizophrenia with Isabelle Butcher, a Ph.D. student at the University of Manchester. What are negative symptoms? How can one feel...but also not feel? How do these symptoms differ from person to person? How do patients with schizophrenia think their symptoms came to be? All of this is discussed in this short but sweet episode. Tolu's movie/book suggestion is 'A Beautiful Mind' and the term of the episode or TOTE is Schizophrenia. We hope you are enjoying the holidays!

Tolu and Kristina discuss the case of the Romanian orphanages. Is it possible that childhood deprivation can impact brain volume? Further, can enrichment and movement to another environment improve delayed development? They talk siblings, growing up and how one's tendency to emulate others decreases as time goes on. The term of the episode (TOTE) is neuroplasticity. 

Journal Article Discussed:

Mackes, N. K., Golm, D., Sarkar, S., Kumsta, R., Rutter, M., Fairchild, G., ... & Sonuga-Barke, E. J. (2020). Early childhood deprivation is associated with alterations in adult brain structure despite subsequent environmental enrichment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(1), 641-649.

Background music:

Tolu and Kristina are joined by Dr. Carissa Cascio who teaches at Vanderbilt University to discuss the importance of social touch on human development. What is social touch? How does it influence our daily activities? How has the pandemic impacted our ability to engage in social touch? Two, chilling experiments are also described at the start of the episode to complement the month of October. The Term of the Episode (TOTE) is social touch. 

Dr. Cascio's Article:

Tolu and Kristina discuss the possible ironic effects of anti-prejudice interventions with Dr. Michael Inzlicht, a psychology professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Is it possible these interventions may actually end up increasing prejudice? They also talk briefly about the Implicit Association Test. Does the test actually produce reliable and valid results? The terms of the Episode (TOTEs) are Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation. 

Dr. Inzlicht's Journal Article: 

In this episode, Tolu and Kristina discuss the interplay between the perception of others through clothing and racism. Why do certain outfits on others instil a feeling of warmth or danger in us? How can we become aware of our own internal biases? What should we all be wary of in shows like the Money Heist? All of this is discussed with special guest and professor of Psychological Science at Oregon State University, Dr. Regan Gurung. Term of the Episode (TOTE): Implicit Bias 

Dr. Gurung's Journal Article:

Gurung, R. A., Stoa, R., Livingston, N., & Mather, H. (2020). Can success deflect racism? Clothing and perceptions of African American men. The Journal of Social Psychology, 1-10.

Other readings mentioned: