Brain Science Podcast celebrates its 1st Anniversary (BSP 27)

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brainscience-logo1.jpg Episode 27 is a look back on the first 26 episodes of the Brain Science Podcast. I look back on some of the main topics that we have explored including memory, consciousness, emotions, decision-making, body maps, and plasticity. Then I talk a little about what I hope to do in the covering year. This episode is a little more personal than most, and will mainly be of interest to regular listeners. It includes some ideas about how you can help the Brain Science Podcast grow and prosper. However, in preparing this episode I went back over the past year's episodes and I have prepared a list of all the episodes so far and the main topics. This should help both new listeners and regulars to find episodes that pertain to particular topics. Click here for a brief summary of episode 1-26 with links to the audio files. Go to Brain Science Podcast #27 Share your comments on the Discussion Forum Audience Survey itunes-chicklet.gif Subscribe via iTunes™ Subscribe in a reader or podcatcher Subscribe to Brain Science Podcast with Dr. Ginger Campbell by Email

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Additional Reference links from Robert Schleip, PhD

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schleip.jpgRobert Schleip, PhD of the University of Ulm in Germany was a guest on Books and Ideas episode 15. His personal website is http://www.somatics.de/ Here are some additional links to supplement those in the original show notes: General site on fascia related research Wikipedia entries (English) Rolf Institute for Structural Integration (official website) scientific literature related to Rolfing Science magazine article about Dr. Schliep and the 2007 International Fascia Research Congress in Boston World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Pain Below are some links in German: European Rolfing Association
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Dr. Robert Schleip discusses Fascia (B&I 15)

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schleip-science.jpg Books and Ideas Podcast #15 is an interview with Robert Schleip, PhD from the University of Ulm in Germany. Dr. Schleip is an experienced practioner of the body work method known as rolfing, but several years ago he went back and earned his PhD in Biology and began a second career as a research scientist. In our interview we discuss some of the recent discoveries that may revolutionize the way we look at the connective tissue that is commonly called fascia. We also talk about the importance of applying the scientific method to the evaluation of alternative and complimentary healing methods (CAM). Dr. Schleip's enthusiasm for science made this a very enjoyable interview. Listen to the interview now.

Download Episode Transcript (PDF)

References and Links: Dr. Schleip recommends the Wikipedia entry on Fascia if you would like to learn the basics. To learn more about Dr. Schleip's work visit the Fascia Research Project website at http://www.fasciaresearch.de/ The First International Congress International Research Congress was held in October, 2007 in Boston, MA. You can find some of the scientists Dr. Schleip mentions on this speaker page. Click here for more references, including those written in German. Listen to Books and Ideas Episode 15 Subscribe to this podcast Subscribe via iTunes™ Subscribe by email Leave comments at the Discussion Forum
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Dr. Norman Doidge discusses Neuroplasticity (BSP 26)

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I have posted a new episode of the Brain Science Podcast. To learn more please go to the show notes for episode 26. I am not going to be posted detail show notes in this blog until I can solve the problem of not being able to post audio links. If you rely on the RSS feed from this blog to know when new episodes are available, I recommend subscribing to the Brain Science Podcast and Blog feed. Subscribe to Brain Science Podcast and Blog in a reader
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Mini-Review: Flock of Dodos, a film by Randy Olson

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flockofdodos.jpg I bought a DVD of the recent documentary, Flock of Dodos, after hearing director Randy Olson interviewed on Skepticality. What sets this film apart is both its sense of humor and its balance. Olson allows people on both sides of the evolution versus intelligent design controversy to speak for themselves. While he makes his position clear from the beginning I think it is fair to say that this film can be enjoyed by people on both sides. More importantly, there is something to learn for most of us. Even if you are sick of the whole controversy, I highly recommend you check this out, and be sure not to miss the DVD extras .
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Rolf Pfeifer discusses Embodied Intelligence (BSP 25)

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howthebodyshapesthewaywethink.jpgHow the Body Shapes the Way We Think, by Rolf Pfeifer and Josh Bongard Brain Science Podcast episode 25 is an interview of author Rolf Pfeifer, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the University of Zurich. The focus of our conversation was the importance of embodiment. Brains (and intelligence) can not be understood separate from their interaction with the body and the physical world. Pfeifer explains how this realization has led the field of artificial intelligence away from a pure computational approach to one he calls embodied artificial intelligence. His interview is spiced with numerous examples that demonstrate why this approach is relevant to those of us who are interested in the human brain. Listen Now. Episode Highlights:
  • A brief overview of artificial intelligence
  • introduction to biorobotics
  • why artificial intelligence and biorobotics are relevant to understand the brain
  • the meaning of complexity and emergence
  • why the close coupling of the sensory and motor systems is essential to intelligence
  • applying design principles to understanding intelligence
  • Numerous examples make these potentially intimidating topics accessible to all listeners
Related Episodes of the Brain Science Podcast: Scientists mentioned in the podcast: Where to learn more about Pfeifer's work: Listen to this episode now. Share your comments on the Discussion Forum Audience Survey itunes-chicklet.gif Subscribe via iTunes™ Subscribe in a reader Subscribe to Brain Science Podcast with Dr. Ginger Campbell by Email

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Reading and the Brain (BSP 24)

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proustandthesquid.jpg Listen to this episode now. Show Notes Dr. Wolf's book Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain, is divided into three main topics: the history of how writing and reading developed over the last few thousand years, the developmental stages involved in learning how to read, and what happens when the brain can't learn to read. My podcast concentrates on the main ideas from the first two topics. History of Writing:
  • the discovery of symbols
  • Early writing systems- cuneiform and hieroglyphics
    • why Chinese gives us a window into the past
  • Importance of the Alphabet
    • some claims and conclusions
  • Why Socrates opposed literacy
The Stages of Becoming a Reader:
  • the early pre-reader-with emphasis on language development
  • the novice reader-connecting letters to the sounds of language
  • the decoding reader-
  • the fluent comprehending reader-learning to "read between the lines"
  • the expert reader-why reading continues to change us throughout our lives
What goes wrong when the brain can't learn to read: how new findings are leading to new solutions Links and References
  • FastForward-an successful approach to treating dyslexia
  • Michael Posner-a psychologist who used PET scans to study what happens during shifts of attention (a necessary first step in reading)
Listen to this episode now. Share your comments on the Discussion Forum Audience Survey itunes-chicklet.gif Subscribe via iTunes™ Subscribe in a reader Subscribe to Brain Science Podcast with Dr. Ginger Campbell by Email

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Dr. Pamela Gay from "Astronomy Cast" (B&I 14)

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pgay_headshot.jpg Listen Now Show Notes for Books and Ideas Podcast #14 This episode is a conversation with Dr. Pamela Gay from the Astronomy Cast. Dr. Gay teaches astronomy and physics at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Before the Astronomy Cast she was one of the hosts of one of the first science podcasts, Slacker Astronomy. I think her enthusiasm for science and especially for astronomy comes through in this interview. Besides astronomy we talked about the challenges of teaching science as well as the challenges of being a female scientist. Links: Astronomy Cast Pamela Gay's Blog FemaleScienceProfessor Blog Chandra: A Biography of S. Chandrasekhar by Kameshwar C. Wali Buffy Between the Lines: an audio drama definitely worth checking out if you love the Buffyverse Pushing Daisies my favorite new TV show Listen to Books and Ideas Episode 14 Download Episode Transcript Subscribe to this podcast Subscribe via iTunes™ Subscribe by email Leave comments at the Discussion Forum
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Julie Foudy gets my vote for the next coach of the US Women's Soccer Team

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. wwcjulie.jpg When Greg Ryan benched Hope Solo to play Briana Scurry in Women's World Cup semi-final game against Brazil, he showed that he is clueless about coaching women. In a way he was lucky that Hope Solo diverted attention from his coaching with her blow-up after the loss, but yesterday the US Soccer powers announced that his contract will be allowed to expire. (A good summary of events was written by Steve Davis for ESPNsoccernet.) I want to put my vote for Julie Foudy even though I haven't seen her name mentioned. I totally agreed with what she said during the coverage of the World Cup, but the main reason is that I think she should be the next coach is that her years as captain of the team give her a proven track record as a team leader. Tony DiCicco was a great coach, but he has already committed to coaching a team in the new professional league that is scheduled to launch in 2009. The team needs to move forward without losing sight of its unique tradition as a team-player's team. Many fans may not realize that former coach April Heinrichs was a star and team captain of the US Team that won the first Women's World Cup that was played in China in 1991. Therefore, I would argue that being a team captain at this high level is a proven training ground. Some critics seem to think that the team should throw away its past completely, but I think that Foudy symbolizes what made that 1999 team so special. They were not just great players but they stuck together. I can imagine any of them pulling a stunt like Hope Solo's. Its not like she was the first player ever to get benched by bad coaching. Foudy understands the Women's game as well as anyone out there. Plus, she has the kind of creditability that only an ex-player can bring to the team
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Interview with Sandra Blakeslee (BSP 23)

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sblackslee.jpg Listen to the Interview Now Show Notes Episode 23 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with Sandra Blakeslee, co-author (with her son Matthew) of The Body Has a Mind of Its Own: How Body Maps Help You Do (almost) Everything Better, which we discussed in episode 21. I asked Blakeslee to tell me a little bit of her background as a science writer. She wrote for the New York Times for many years and was the co-author of both Jeff Hawkins groundbreaking book, On Intelligence and VS Ramachandran's modern class Phantoms in the Brain (1998), which was one of the first books to explore neuroplasticity. In this interview we explored the relationship between body maps and neuroplasticity, as well as questions from listeners about out of body experiences and other oddities once considered "paranormal." We talked about how body maps are relevant to understanding why some methods of alternative healing appear to be effective. I asked her to tell me which scientist she met made the biggest impression. Here are a few of those she mentioned: Blakeslee told me about some of the pioneering work that Merzenich is doing to apply his discoveries to help people, both those with disabilities and those who just want to combat aging. You can learn more about his work at http://www.positscience.com/. If you would like to contact Sandra Blakeslee to give her feedback or ask her questions she has a contact form on her books website at http://www.thebodyhasamindofitsown.com/. She is going to let me know when she gets the references posted on the site. Share your comments on the Discussion Forum Audience Survey Click Below to Listen to Podcasts itunes-chicklet.gif Subscribe via iTunes™ Subscribe in a reader Subscribe to Brain Science Podcast with Dr. Ginger Campbell by Email

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Review: Buffy Between the Lines is a must listen for Buffy fans

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buffybtwl250.jpg Although I am a huge fan of Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly/Serenity, I have never really gotten into fan fiction, but I am making an exception for the new audio drama, Buffy Between the Lines, which debuted earlier this month. The story is set between the end of season 5 and the beginning of season 6, which every Buffy fan knows is the period when Buffy was dead (and fans didn't know if there would be a season 6). This show is being produced as a twice a month podcast and I think the first episode showed lots of potential. The storyline is clever (what fan doesn't want to know what happened that summer) and Tabitha Smith captured the dialog of each character perfectly. The voice acting is surprisingly good although I found some of the female voices hard to tell apart. The voice of Xander (Chris O) sounded just like Nicholas Brendon and the voice of Spike (Nick Edwards/lemming) also stood out. I have three suggestions, which I hope will be taken as constructive criticism. First, the story begins with Giles writing in his Watcher's Journal. This is a great touch since he and Buffy had had a conversation about why Watchers never recorded the deaths of their slayers. However, I did not like the scratching sound in the background. This was apparently supposed to be the sound of him writing in the journal, but I thought this sound effect was both superfluous and annoying. Otherwise, the sound effects were very good. Second, and this is my biggest complaint: there is a need for a bit more narration. I don't want to give anything away for new listeners, but I found several scenes a little confusing. Use of sound effects is good, but it wouldn't hurt to have an occasional description of the scene, especially when they change locations. Finally, I thought there were too many promos breaking up the show. The producers were trying to emulate the show (TV commercials) but I think they should cut back on the frequency of promos. I did enjoy learning about how many different sites and podcasts are devoted to the Buffy Verse, but by the end I was going, "shut up and finish the story!" Despite these criticisms I recommend that all Buffy fans check out Buffy Between the Lines. The crew has a long track record in podcasting, so you can count on them to improve the show and to bring out something really great by the end of the season.
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Nature Relaunches its neuroscience podcast

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I am happy to report that Nature has relaunched its neuroscience podcast under the new name NeuroPod. If you like the Nature podcast but would rather hear a show devoted to the latest Nature articles on neuroscience, you will want to check this out at http://www.nature.com/neurosci/neuropod. If you prefer blogs, you might want to check out Action Potential (also from the editors of Nature). I am not very good at keeping my blogroll up-to-date, but another site worth checking out (suggested to me by Adam Rutherford at Nature) is Mind Hacks. As always, remember that you can submit your favorite podcasts, blogs, and other neuro-related websites at the Brain Science Podcast Discussion Forum.
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Christof Koch discusses Consciousness (BSP 22)

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questforconsciousness.jpg Listen to the Interview Now Brain Science Podcast #22 is an interview with Dr. Christof Koch of Cal Tech, one of the pioneers in the neurobiological study of consciousness. About two decades ago when Koch and Francis Crick began looking for what they called the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC), such a quest was considered controversial, but now the field is increasing in popularity. In our interview we talked a little about his book, The Quest for Consciousness, as well as his on-going research and his thoughts about what the future might bring. Show Notes Here is a list of some of the topics we discussed:
  • Why Francis Crick was an outstanding mentor and colleague
  • A Working definition of consciousness
  • How consciousness relates to awareness
  • What are neural correlates of consciousness
  • Why vision is the focus of Koch's research
  • The search for the "footprints" of consciousness
  • The role of functional imaging and the use of monkeys
  • Neurons-"the atoms of perception"
  • Why we need a theory of consciousness
  • The role of the frontal lobes in consciousness
  • Is consciousness an emergent property?
  • What about zombies?
  • Why do we need consciousness?
  • Will artificial intelligence become conscious?
  • The hard problem: how does the brain generate subjective experience (qualia)
Links: Christof Koch's homepage The Quest for Consciousness: A Neurobiological Approach (2004) Listen to the Episode Now Share your comments on the Discussion Forum Audience Survey

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Meet me at the Podcast and New Media Expo

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expo125×125.gif I am looking forward to my first Podcast and New Media Expo this week in Ontario, California. My goals are to learn a lot and to meet lots of new people. Obviously, I will be promoting the Brain Science Podcast and Books and Ideas, but I also hope to make contacts that could lead to new opportunities in the field since my longterm goal is to build a new full-time career. I will be meeting with fellow health and science podcasters on Thursday evening at 8PM at the  entrance to the D Street Bar & Grill (located in the Marriott). (Updates) I will be helping out at at the iProng booth on Saturday from noon until 2 PM. If you stop by to say Hi you can also play with an iPhone™ or the new iPod Touch™.
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Body Maps (BSP 21)

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Featured in this episode: The Body has a Mind of Its Own: How Body Maps in Your Brain Help You Do (Almost) Everything Better (2007), by Sandra Blakeslee and Matthew Blakeslee. (Also available on from Audible.com) Listen to the podcast now

SHOW NOTES Topics:
  • Body Maps and the role of embodiment
  • Basic ideas about the body maps in the brain
  • Mapping the world around us
  • How Body maps differ between species
  • Body Schema and Body image
  • The role of body maps in disease
  • The role of belief in health and illness
  • How body maps explain non-traditional healing methods and unusual experiences
  • The role of motor imagery in improving motor skills
  • Mirror Neurons
  • Place and grid neurons in the hippocampus (see more on Scholarpedia)
  • How sensation and emotions come together (the role of the insula)
Scientists mentioned in the podcast: Other scientists mentioned in The Body has a Mind of Its Own: Note: This list is not exhaustive. I know I left off VS Ramachandran and several others, but those listed above did work that was addressed, directly or indirectly, in my podcast. Brain Structures (links include diagrams of the brain): Listen to the podcast now

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Reflections on Dragon*Con 2007

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dragoncon07.jpgWell its been a week since I got back from my first Dragon*Con in Atlanta, Georgia and I have decided that I am not going record a podcast about my experiences. I got to meet many podcasters that I knew only by voice or from email, and I learned some stuff that I hope will help me improve my future podcasts. One of the highlights of the weekend was the Second Annual Parsec Awards because I learned about some great podcasts that I haven't listened to yet. I am looking forward to trying these out. I do want to mention a few of the people I met at the Con. First, I want to thank Derek and Swoopy from Skepticality for inviting me to participate in the podcasting track. Skepticality was one of the first podcasts I ever heard when I discovered podcasting on iTunes™ back in July of 2005. It was also great getting to meet Rob Walch of Podcast 411 since he has helped me out of several jams in the last few months. Because I am into science podcasting I was especially impressed with Dr. Pamela Gay from The Astronomy Cast and I am looking forward to having her on my Books and Ideas podcast soon. Atlanta is a hotbed for podcasting. So while I was there I got to see several people I had met this spring at Podcamp Atlanta. I want to congratulate Les from The Signal on his team's Parsec Award. It was also great seeing Laura Ross of The Rocky Horror Podshow and Steve Ely from Escape Pod. Mur Lafferty, one of my inspirations for getting into podcasting, also won a Parsec for her show I Should Be Writing. One of the highlights of the weekend was her reading some of her work including excerpts from her new novel. I also enjoyed meeting Michael A Stackpole, who is a very successful fantasy writer and impressed me with his generosity toward younger writers looking for guidance. It was also great meeting listener Doc Kos and Tabitha Smith from Buffy Between the Lines. I met several people from FarPoint Media including Kris Mayo and Michael R Mennenga, who gave me some valuable gear tips. I met so many people I am sure I am leaving some out. If you were there and would like me to link to you in this blog, just drop me an email.
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"The Female Brain" with Dr. Louann Brizendine (BSP 20)

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Click here to here episode #20 I still can't get the link to the audio to show up in WordPress although the link in the sidebar works just fine. For those of you who get this as a Feed or Email and therefore can't see the sidebar, here is an alternative link: http://brainsciencepodcast.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=253174
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Mini-Review: "Empire" by Orson Scott Card

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empire.jpgThose of you familiar with Orson Scott Card's long-running Ender series know that he has an unusual interest in history and how it shapes political events. In his latest novel, Empire, the assassination of the US president and vice-president lead to a civil war between the extreme right wing and the extreme left wing. The scenario he presents challenges our tendency to assume that such an event could never occur. The near-realism of the story is both chilling and thought-provoking. This is not a feel-good book, but while it is disturbing, it also provides a strong argument in favor of a return to a politics of moderation, in contrast to the increasing polarization of the current political landscape. In the tradition of great science fiction and great storytelling in general, Card uses his characters to communicate an important message. No matter what your political beliefs you will find characters in the story that you can respect and root for. The book comes to a conclusion that is both satisfying and open-ended. The narration by Stefan Rudniki is excellent though you might find yourself wishing for the print version so that you can re-read some of the more complicated arguments. If you want to get this as a free audio download from Audible.com be sure to click on the ad on this page (sorry new members only). I recommend this to all OSC fans and to anyone who enjoys speculative, political fiction.
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Review: "Gut Feelings" (BSP 19)

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gutfeelings.jpgClick here to listen to this episode. Listen to Brain Science Podcast #19: Gut Feelings Show Notes for Brain Science Podcast #19: Gut Feelings This episode is a discussion of Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of the Unconscious (2007) by Gerd Gigerenzer Dr. Gigerenzer argues that unconscious decision-making or intuition is actually based on the use of hueristics (rules of thumb) that can be explored, and even brought into awareness. In this episode I discuss his basic arguments with an emphasis on the differences between intuitive reasoning and formal logic. Then we explore some examples including the application of these ideas to more controversial areas like morality and social instincts. Listen to episode. Some of his ideas are provocative and I hope you will discuss them on the Brain Science Podcast Discussion Forum. References Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of the Unconscious (2007) by Gerd Gigerenzer Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (2005) by Malcolm Gladwell See also Brain Science Podcast #13: Unconscious Decision Making Links of Interest Gerd Gigerenzer-wikipedia Gerd Gigerenzer-home page at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development Jonathan Haidt-social psychologist mentioned in this episode Listen to Brain Science Podcast #19: Gut Feelings itunes-chicklet.gif Subscribe via iTunes™ Subscribe to Brain Science Podcast with Dr. Ginger Campbell by Email Visit the new Brain Science Podcast Forum
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Wizzard Media chooses the Brain Science Podcast as a featured podcast

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wizzard.jpg I am proud to announce that Wizzard Media, the new owner of Libsyn, has chosen the Brain Science Podcast to be part of its network. You can find the Brain Science Podcast on the Wizzard.tv Science and Medicine page, and I have been told that it will also appear on the Wizzard Media page of the iTunes Store when it is updated. Since Rob Walch has recently been named vice-president in charge of podcaster relations at Wizzard Media, I am hopeful that this will help the Brain Science Podcast reach a larger audience, and perhaps give me a chance to make a little advertising revenue. Obviously, a podcast like mine is never going to appeal to a mass audience, but it does have a very loyal following. Potential advertisers like to reach audiences that are intelligent and well-educated. However, I need some data to show who is listening to the show. Wizzard Media has set up an anonymous survey that I hope you will take a few minutes to complete. Complete the Survey Now
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