Author: This Is Your Brain producer
Our brains evolved for a simpler life, and today they struggle to cope with a deluge of distraction from technology. Dr. Adam Gazzaley, professor of neurology at the University of California San Francisco, reveals why the brain loves multi-tasking even though it’s so bad for productivity; why “single-tasking” is so hard to relearn; and why 60-year-olds can’t filter out irrelevant information. Plus… a prescription video game that can help kids with ADHD and others change their brains to find better focus. Phil Stieg: Hello, I’d like to welcome Dr. Adam Gazzaley, the distinguished professor of neurology, physiology and psychiatry at…
Bonus clip from Drowning in Distraction, with Dr. Adam Gazzaley.Dr. Adam Gazzaley, professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco addresses how our “ancient” brains struggle to cope with the deluge of distraction from modern-day technology and offers solutions.In this bonus segment, Dr. Gazzaley shares what multitasking really means, and why some people prefer working from a coffee shop when they want to focus. Phil Stieg: One of my pet peeves is when I used to go on interviews and somebody would ask me whether I could multitask. My personal feeling is your brain cannot multitask. And I’m curious…
Speech therapists have long used music to help patients regain their voices after stroke or brain injury. Today’s music therapists are going even further, developing strategies that use music on patients with Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, cognitive issues, and more. Hear from Neurologic Music Therapist Caitlin Hebb about how the rhythm and rhyme of music work on memory, gait, and language. Plus… what’s that earworm? Phil Stieg: Hello. I’d like to welcome Caitlin Hebb, Clinical Operations Manager and a neurologic music therapy fellow at Med Rhythms Therapy. She graduated from Berkeley College of Music with a degree in music…
Unlike a broken bone or clogged artery, a brain that goes awry due to disease or injury—or even an errant molecule—causes weird and unpredictable changes in personality. Hear some of the bizarre tales of tiny particles that alter behavior from neurologist Sara Manning Peskin, author of “A Molecule Away From Madness.”Plus… how parasites hijack animal brains, sometimes turning a host into a zombie in their quest to reproduce.Phil Stieg: Hello, I’d like to welcome Dr. Sara Manning Peskin, a neuroscientist and assistant professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. Today we are here to discuss her recent book…
Bonus clip from Tales of a Hijacked Brain, with Dr. Sara Manning Peskin In addition to her writing, Dr. Sara Manning Peskin is a clinical researcher in the field of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. In this bonus segment, Dr. Peskin discusses some wide ranging issues related to dementia, including experimental drugs for treatment, testing for genetic markers, and preventative measures that, in her opinion, are not worth the money. Phil Stieg: I know it’s not what your book is about, but I guess I have to ask you because I know there’s a number of people out there marketing…
The impact of mild traumatic brain injury extends far beyond the gridiron – concussions can happen anywhere, including playing fields, bike paths, and war zones. Kenneth Kutner, PhD, who specializes in head injuries and has been the team neuropsychologist for the New York Giants for 30 seasons, joins us to talk about what the latest research has revealed about concussion and how it affects physical health and cognitive function. From the military to the NFL, and even in the corporate boardroom, this invisible injury is finally emerging from the shadows. Plus… why don’t woodpeckers get concussions? Phil Stieg: Hello I’d…