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PODCAST

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson

Conversations with neuroscientists, neurologists, evolutionary biologists, anthropologists, computer scientists, and others that ponder the brain. Here are a few of the questions that BRAIN PONDERINGS will tackle: How have brains evolved to enable success in diverse environments? How does the brain develop in the womb and in early life? What are the mechanisms responsible for learning and memory, language, and emotions? How does the brain respond to life"s challenges? In what ways does the brain

science natural sciences

All Episodes

01:10:26

Melissa Barker-Haliski: Neural Network...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2026/02/11

Normally activity in the brain's neural networks is tightly regulated by the interplay between neuronal excitation by the neurotransmitter glutamate and inhibition by GABA. An epileptic seizure is a dramatic example of what can happen when an abrupt excitatory imbalance occurs. However, excitatory imbalances also occur during aging and contribute to the dysfunction and degeneration of neurons in Alzheimer's disease. In this episode I talk with University of Washington Associate Professor Melissa

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01:01:23

Liqun Luo: Signaling Pathways and Molecular Codes for...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2026/02/03

Stanford Professor Liqun Luo's laboratory investigates the mechanisms by which neural circuits in the brain are assembled during development and how this neuroarchitecture enables their functions throughout life. During the past 30 years his work has provided technical advances that enabled the establishment of roles for specific proteins in the formation of synaptic connections between individual neurons. In this episode I talk with Liqun about experiments using these technologies that revealed

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01:00:02

Alex Kwan: Cutting-Edge Technologies Reveal How...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2026/01/27

The rapid psychedelic effects of the mushroom chemical psilocybin and its long-lasting mood-elevating effects are remarkable. While psilocybin and other psychedelics activate the serotonin 5HT2A receptor the nature of the functional and structural changes responsible for the dramatic effects of psychedelics on perception, mood, and cognition are unknown. In this episode Cornell University Professor Alex Kwan talks about very recent research in his laboratory showing that psilocybin triggers

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01:22:53

Neurobiology of Aging Lecture #5 – Mechanisms by...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2026/01/13

Here I describe evidence that brain aging can be slowed by lifestyle choices that include exercise, moderation in energy intake, and consumption of plant-based diets. LINKS https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5913738/pdf/nihms958771.pdf https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1550-4131%2823%2900473-4

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59:26

Andrew Pieper: Recent Evidence that Advanced...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2026/01/06

In this episode I talk with Case Western Reserve University Professor Andrew Pieper about how it might be possible to restore neuroplasticity and cognition in Alzheimer's disease. The conversation focuses on a recently published study from his laboratory which shows that a chemical called P7C3-A20 that restores energy balance in brain cells can reverse brain pathology and restore cognitive function in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. LINKS Pieper laboratory:

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01:04:46

Neurobiology of Aging Lecture #4: Aging and...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/12/30

In this lecture I describe how changes occurring in the brain during normal aging set contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and frontotemporal dementia. Cellular and molecular hallmarks of aging predispose brain cells to neurodegenerative orders with environmental and genetic factors determining if and when the disease manifests. LINKS: Review articles: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3710114/pdf/nihms288391.pdf

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54:37

Tomás Ryan: Competition Between Memory Engrams and...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/12/23

During the past decade several new technological advances have enabled the identification of ensembles of neurons that encode a specific memory trace (engram cells) and for controlling the activity of engram cells so that recall or inhibition of a memory is controlled by the experimenter. The technologies include fluorescence 'tagging' of engram cells and optogenetic activation or inhibition of the engram cells. In this episode professor Tomás Ryan talks about these developments and his own

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01:02:28

Shuying Sun: RNA Dysregulation in Neurodegenerative...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/12/16

Recent discoveries show that some neurodegenerative disorders occur because of abnormalities in the processing of RNA in the cell nucleus and/or its export from the nucleus. Johns Hopkins University Associate Professor Shuying Sun is at the forefront of research that is establishing the molecular mechanisms responsible for RNA dysregulation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Her research is contributing to a rapid acceleration of understanding of the causes of

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01:19:09

Neurobiology of Aging Lecture #3: mTOR, Functional...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/12/10

NOTE: This lecture with slides presented can be found on the Brain Ponderings YouTube Channel. This episode begins by highlighting recent evidence showing adverse effects on the brain of excessive activation of the mTOR pathway as a consequence of dietary branched chain amino acid consumption. Then I describe evidence that Beyond the age of 40 years brain aging results in progressive decrements in function which are associated with reductions in gray matter and synapse numbers particularly in brain

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01:21:19

Neurobiology of Aging Lecture 2: Cellular and...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/12/10

NOTE: This lecture with slides presented can be found on the Brain Ponderings YouTube Channel. This video describes 12 major changes that occur in brain cells during aging and their involvement in decline in brain function and the development of neurodegenerative disorders including dementia and Parkinson's disease.

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01:21:18

Neurobiology of Aging Lecture Series: #1 – Theories,...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/12/10

NOTE: This lecture with slides presented can be found on the Brain Ponderings YouTube Channel. This is the first of five lectures on the Neurobiology of Aging. The other four lectures cover cellular hallmarks, structural and functional aspects, biomarkers, how neurodegenerative disorders occur during aging, and how aging can be slowed and brain health span extended by lifestyle and dietary changes.

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55:32

Norm Haughey: Membrane Sphingomyelin and Ceramides...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/12/02

The lipid membrane bilayer of cells is composed of fats including phospholipids, cholesterol, and sphingomyelin. Enzymes called sphingomyelinases can cleave sphingomyelin resulting in the liberation of ceramides which can diffuse within the cell and act as signaling molecules. In this episode I talk with Tulane University Professor Norm Haughey about research in his laboratory and others which have shown that levels of certain ceramides are increased in the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood of

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59:27

David Gutmann – Cancer Neuroscience and the...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/11/18

Brain tumor cells interact with neurons, glial cells, and immune cells in complex ways that often benefit the cancer cells while compromising the function of normal neural cells. In this episode I talk with Washington University Neurology Professor David Gutmann about brain cancer cells and their communication with surrounding normal cells. A major component of Dr. Gutmann's research program focuses on Neurofibromatosis a rare genetic disorder that causes non-malignant brain tumors as well as

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57:26

Ray Dorsey: Environmental Toxins and Parkinson's...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/11/12

There is considerable evidence that exposure to certain chemicals in the environment cause Parkinson's disease in many people. In this episode neurologist Ray Dorsey talks about some of the chemicals that may cause Parkinson's disease including the pesticides paraquat and rotenone, and trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene which are chemicals used for degreasing and dry-cleaning. LINKS Relevant journal articles: https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1474-4422%2825%2900287-X

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01:12:11

Ai Yamamoto: "ALFY" Cleanses Neurons of Pathological...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/10/29

A shared feature of neurodegenerative disorders is accumulation of aggregated proteins within neurons: Tau in Alzheimer's disease; alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's disease; huntingtin in Huntington's disease; and TDP43 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In this episode Ai Yamamoto – an Associate Professor Neurology at Columbia University – talks about the trail of discoveries that led to the identification of a protein called ALFY that can prevent and reverse the accumulation of such pathogenic

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01:03:16

Marco Capogrosso – Spinal Cord Stimulation for...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/10/21

Remarkable advances are being made in the development and clinical applications of stimulation devices that enable recovery of motor function in patients who have suffered a spinal cord injury, a stroke, and even those with rare disabling genetic disorders. At the forefront of this research is Marco Capogrosso at the University of Pittsburgh. He has shown that certain patterns of stimulation of sensory pathways in the spinal cord can activate motor neurons that were otherwise silenced by the

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Dayu Lin: Neural Circuits and Neurochemicals for...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/10/13

Aggression, mating, and parenting are evolutionarily conserved social behaviors that enable survival and reproduction. Identifying neural circuits and neurotransmitters in the brain that control these behaviors is not only of academic interest, but may also lead to new approaches for reducing pathological aggression, child abuse, and other unwanted behaviors. Professor Dayu Lin at New York University has used cutting-edge technological approaches including chemogenetics and optogenetics combined

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01:15:26

Scott Ayton: Iron, Brain Health, Parkinson’s and...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/10/07

Dietary iron is essential for health as it plays important roles in the ability of hemoglobin to carry oxygen throughout the body and brain. In addition, iron is involved in various functions in cells including the generation of ATP in mitochondria and DNA synthesis. The vast majority of iron is bound to proteins such as ferritin and heme. However, in its ionic form (Fe2+) iron can react with the hydrogen peroxide produced from mitochondrial superoxide radical to generate the highly toxic hydroxyl

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01:12:00

Erik Musiek: Brain Cell Circadian Clock Proteins in...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/09/24

Health depends upon proper regulation of circadian rhythms of cell and organ functions. Disruption of circadian rhythms has detrimental consequences for brain function and resilience and abnormal circadian rhythms are a common feature of Alzheimer’s disease. In this episode neurology professor Erik Musiek talks about the roles of specific circadian clock proteins in neurons and glial cells in brain health and Alzheimer’s disease. His research is revealing the ways in which these circadian regulatory

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01:11:08

Georgia Hodes: Sex Differences in Responses to Stress...

Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson ·

2025/09/11

Chronic uncontrolled stress is a risk factor for many different diseases including mental and neurodegenerative disorders. The effects of such stress on the brain differ considerably between females and males. However, the vast majority of preclinical studies in animal models have included only males which in some cases has resulted in therapeutic interventions that are less effective in females compared to males. In this episode Georgia Hodes talks about sex differences in the effects of stress on

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