Neuroscience and Beyond

In this episode, we talk to Prof. Andrea Antal, an Extraordinary Professor at the University of Göttingen and a group leader at the Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Laboratory in the Department of Neurology at the Medical University Göttingen. Prof. Antal has many years of experience developing treatments for patients suffering from chronic pain, depression, and mild cognitive impairment. The focus of this conversation is on non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, namely transcranial electric and magnetic stimulation. You will learn about the practical aspects and the underlying science of such therapies and how they can be combined with meditation. We also talk about the problems women face in academia. At the end, Prof. Antal shares some great advice for PhD students.

Our channel is supported by International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Neurosciences as well as Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging (MBExC) in Göttingen, Germany. The views presented on this channel are not representative of IMPRS or MBExC.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:55 Early career and motivation for doing science

00:06:02 Why Göttingen?

00:08:02 Research interest: transcranial electric stimulation in treatment

00:12:18 The course of a treatment with non-invasive brain stimulation and its effectiveness

00:21:26 What is brain plasticity?

00:23:35 Phosphene perception

00:24:47 Clinical trials and evaluating the success of the treatment

00:36:15 What is cognition? Should we strive to enhance it?

00:43:53 Meditation in treatment of mild cognitive impairment

00:54:48 Problems in academia: gender inequality

01:00:20 Work-life balance in research

01:03:56 Advice for PhD students

01:08:20 Problems in academia: publishing system and granting money for research

Intro music by penguinmusic from Pixabay

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Neuroscience and Beyond team:

Svilen Georgiev

Kristina Jevdokimenko

Sabina Nowakowska

In this episode we talk to Prof. Tiago Outeiro, Full Professor of Aggregopathies, Director of the Department of Neurodegeneration and Restaurative Research at the University Medical Center Göttingen, a Professor at the institute of Neuroscience at the Newcastle University in the United Kingdom and Auxiliar Professor, Instituto de Fisiologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal. The focus of this interview is on Parkinson's disease. You will learn about its potential causes, associated pathologies and available therapies. We talk extensively about the problematic protein structures and how they can spread around the body. We also touch on some problems in academia and the use of animal models in academia.

Our channel is supported by International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Neurosciences as well as Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging (MBExC) in Göttingen, Germany. The views presented on this channel are not representative of IMPRS or MBExC. We would like to apologize for the technical problem that we experienced at the beginning of the podcast.

Timestamps:
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:01 Early career and motivation for doing science
00:12:17 Academia and entrepreneurship in the US and Europe
00:19:47 Why Göttingen?
00:26:22 Research interest: prion diseases, protein misfolding, models of Parkinson's disease
00:34:44 Alpha synuclein protein and Lewy bodies: what are they and how are they linked to Parkinson's disease
00:45:02 Spread of pathology and protein transport between the cells
01:08:11 Role of non neuronal cell types in the spread of disease
01:12:26 Why do we need animal models to study complex diseases?
01:20:41 Treatment for Parkinson's patients
01:29:32 Can you smell Parkinson's?
01:32:50 Prevention of Parkinson's disease
01:36:47 Problems in academia: reproducibility crisis
01:44:38 Problems in academia: publishing system and granting money for research

In this episode we talk to Prof. André Fischer, Director at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) site Göttingen and Professor at the Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen. The focus of this interview is on understanding epigenetics - the mechanism of inheritance and determination of some traits outside the DNA code. You will learn how this mechanism can be linked to memory and neurodegenerative diseases. We talk extensively about the possible causes, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. We also touch on some problems in academia and comparison between the German and American approach to research. 

Our channel is supported by International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Neurosciences as well as Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging (MBExC) in Göttingen, Germany. The views presented on this channel are not representative of IMPRS or MBExC. 

Timestamps: 
00:00:00 Intro 
00:02:05 Motivation for doing science 
00:04:30 Research and lifestyle in the US 
00:14:47 Why Göttingen? Recruitment for academic positions in Germany 
00:19:13 DZNE - German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases 
00:27:54 Research interest: neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer’s) 
00:32.37 What is epigenetics? 
00:36:00 Link between epigenetics and neurodegenerative disease 
00:51:50 Transgenerational epigenetics and an updated theory of evolution 
00:56:50 Preventive strategies of living organisms against neurodegeneration: how to protect yourself from Alzheimer’s disease? 
01:03:00 What causes AD and how is it treated? 
01:18:06 Epigenetic biomarkers: ways of early identification of the disease 
01:27:20 Problems in academia: funding 
01:34:30 Problems in academia: reproducibility issues 

References: All illustrations were created with BioRender.com unless stated otherwise: Fagan, M.B. (2011) ‘Waddington Redux: Models and explanation in Stem Cell and Systems Biology’, Biology & Philosophy, 27(2), pp. 179–213. doi:10.1007/s10539-011-9294-y https://www.tebubio.com/blog/writing-erasing-reading-epigenetics-targeting-erasers-in-drug-discovery/ 

Intro music by penguinmusic from Pixabay Following footage downloaded from videvo.net: Storage of samples in a hospital setting. Ungraded Prores file by MaartenLCF A scientist adjusting the magnification on a microscope by Videvo 

Stock footage provided by Pressmaster Like and subscribe animation downloaded from SweetPhilMedia 

Follow us on social media for the latest updates! 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/neuro_beyond 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurosciencebeyond/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neurosciencebeyond 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neurosciencebeyond 

Neuroscience and Beyond team: 
Svilen Georgiev 
Kristina Jevdokimenko 
Sabina Nowakowska 
Lennart Schneider

 #neuroscience #epigenetics #Alzheimer #AlzheimersDisease #AcademicChatter #SciComm #podcast #science #brain #göttingen #IMPRS #MBExC #evolution #inheritance 

In this episode we talk to Prof. Alexander Gail, the head of Sensorimotor Research Group, German Primate Center and Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience and Professor for Sensorimotor Neuroscience and Neuroprosthetics at the University of Göttingen. The focus of this talk is on understanding the process of decision making and movement planning. You will learn what methods are used for recording neural activity in the brain and how they can be used for the development of neuroprosthetics and help patients. We also talk extensively about the use of non-human primates in neuroscientific research and their welfare.

Our channel is supported by International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Neurosciences as well as Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging (MBExC) in Göttingen, Germany. The views presented on this channel are not representative of IMPRS or MBExC.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro

00:02:11 Motivation for career and higher education

00:04:32 Research and lifestyle in CalTech

00:06:44 Changes in German academia over the years

00:08:39 Why Göttingen?

00:13:25 Being a young leader in academia, setting up a lab

00:18:16 Why is physics training beneficial in neuroscience?

00:22:06 Overview of research interests: sensory based decision-making, movement planning

00:24:05 Overview of techniques available to study brain function in humans and monkeys

00:30:16 Why are monkeys used in neuroscientific research?

00:34:28 Measuring neuronal activity in the monkeys

00:45:08 Combining experiments in the lab with the field research

00:48:13 Big data and predicting motor action based on brain signal 

00:58:03 Can we study long-term planning in animals?

01:05:29 Dynamics of information processing in the networks of neurons in the context of planning actions

01:14:58 Brain computer interface (BCI) and neuroprosthetics

01:25:02 Welfare of animals in research

01:37:05 Moving from academia to industry (academia vs industry)

01:41:02 Problems in academia: reproducibility crisis

01:47:01 Advice for PhD candidates in systems neuroscience

References:

All illustrations were created with BioRender.com unless stated otherwise:

Center outreach task scheme adapted from Pesaran, B., Nelson, M.J. and Andersen, R.A. (2010) ‘A relative position code for saccades in dorsal premotor cortex’, The Journal of Neuroscience, 30(19), pp. 6527–6537. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1625-09.2010. 

Intro music by penguinmusic from Pixabay

Following footage downloaded from videvo.net:

Storage of samples in a hospital setting. Ungraded Prores file by MaartenLCF

A scientist adjusting the magnification on a microscope by Videvo

Stock footage provided by Pressmaster

Like and subscribe animation downloaded from SweetPhilMedia

Follow us on social media for the latest updates!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/neuro_beyond

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurosciencebeyond/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neurosciencebeyond

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neurosciencebeyond

Neuroscience and Beyond team:

Svilen Georgiev

Kristina Jevdokimenko

Sabina Nowakowska

Lennart Schneider

#neuroscience #neuroprosthetics #BrainComputerInterface #BCI #DecisionMaking #movement #AcademicChatter #SciComm #AnimalResearch #podcast #science #brain #podcast #monkeys #primate #DPZ #GermanPrimateCenter

In this episode we talk to Dr. Patapia Zafeiriou, a research group leader at the University Medical Center Göttingen. The focus of this talk is on organoid research. You will learn about different types of cells in the brain, their interaction with the heart and how we can study such topics with organoids developed from so-called induced pluripotent stem cells. We also talk about combining being a parent with academic work and problems with the current publishing system and awarding grants.

Our channel is supported by the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Neurosciences in Göttingen as well as the Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging in Göttingen, Germany. The views and ideas discussed on this channel represent the personal opinion of the host and the guest and are separate from their research position at the respective institutes. 

We would like to thank Deutsches Primatenzentrum for allowing us to record the podcast at their premises.

Intro music by penguinmusic from Pixabay

Following footage downloaded from videvo.net:

Storage of samples in a hospital setting. Ungraded Prores file by MaartenLCF

A scientist adjusting the magnification on a microscope by Videvo

Stock footage provided by Pressmaster

Follow us on social media for the latest updates!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/neuro_beyond

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurosciencebeyond/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neurosciencebeyond

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neurosciencebeyond

Neuroscience and Beyond team:

Svilen Georgiev

Kristina Jevdokimenko

Sabina Nowakowska

Lennart Schneider

#neuroscience #organoids #StemCells #heart #AcademicChatter #SciComm 

In this episode we talk to Dr. Felipe Opazo, a group leader at the Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration in Göttingen & a CTO at NanoTag Biotechnologies. The focus of this talk is on visualizing molecules in the brain. You will learn how antibodies are used as a research tool in microscopy, what the mysterious nanobodies are and why they are better than antibodies. We also talk about Dr Opazo’s career path and how to balance work in academia and industry!

Our channel is supported by International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Neurosciences in Göttingen, Germany. The views presented on this channel are not representative of IMPRS. 

Intro music by penguinmusic from Pixabay

Follow us on social media for the latest updates!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/neuro_beyond

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurosciencebeyond/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neurosciencebeyond

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neurosciencebeyond
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3gbVlK6Rn6eFd77jyqTsB7
Amazon Musik: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a1165e23-7104-41cb-90c2-3957c2492c41/neuroscience-and-beyond

Neuroscience and Beyond team:

Svilen Georgiev

Kristina Jevdokimenko

Sabina Nowakowska

Lennart Schneider