In this special episode of Speaking of the Brain, I sit down with Dr. Debebe Theodros, a neurosurgery resident at Stanford University and one of my mentors through the Harris Neuroscience Internship.

We discuss Dr. Theodros’s journey into medicine and neurosurgery, the challenges of training in one of the most demanding medical specialties, and the mentors who helped shape his path. Dr. Theodros also shares valuable insights about resilience, learning from failure, and what it means to support the next generation of scientists.

As someone who has learned so much from his mentorship, this conversation was especially meaningful to me. I hope listeners can take away a glimpse into the possible pathways for a neuroscientist and are encouraged to stay curious and keep moving forward even when things don’t go as planned.

How does the brain turn practice into muscle memory? In this episode, we delve into how movement and memory are encoded in the brain, as explored through the work of Stanford neuroscientist Dr. Jun Ding. Learn how neural circuits refine with practice, why skills become automatic over time, and what this research reveals about aging, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.

Sources:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/inside-the-science-of-memory

https://www.usa.edu/blog/science-backed-memory-tips/

https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2024/03/memory-age-dementia-healthy-brain.html

https://neuroscience.stanford.edu/news/stanford-researchers-observe-memory-formation-real-time

https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2022/07/the-science-behind-muscle-memory.html

https://scitechdaily.com/stanford-scientists-rethink-how-we-learn-to-move-in-the-world/

https://brainresilience.stanford.edu/news/rethinking-how-we-learn-move-world

https://www.science.org.au/curious/people-medicine/all-our-different-types-memories

Why do New Year’s resolutions start out strong and then fizzle so fast? On this episode of Speaking of the Brain, we dive into what your brain is really doing when you try to change. From habit loops to motivation crashes to decision fatigue, we’ll explore why sticking to goals is harder than it seems and how to outsmart your own brain.

Sources:

https://sceniccityneurotherapy.com/why-new-years-resolutions-fail-a-neuroscience-and-psychological-perspective/

https://time.com/7342704/new-year-resolutions/

https://www.uab.edu/news/news-you-can-use/brain-hack-neuroscience-tips-to-make-new-years-resolutions-stick

https://news.wfu.edu/2025/12/11/thinking-of-making-new-years-resolutions-the-trick-isnt-trying-harder-its-planning-smarter/

https://hbr.org/2022/01/to-build-new-habits-get-comfortable-failing 

Are you “left-brained” or “right-brained”? In this episode, we take a closer look at the popular myth behind the brain dominance theory and explore what neuroscience actually says. From hemispheric specialization to the brain’s high-speed communication system, the corpus callosum, we uncover why creativity, logic, intuition, and reasoning aren’t split down the middle. Tune in for a myth-busting dive into how the brain really functions as a whole.

In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking “digital bridge” developed by Dr. Grégoire Courtine and Dr. Jocelyne Bloch, a wireless brain-spine interface that helps restore movement after spinal cord injury. Learn how thoughts can once again become actions through cutting-edge neurotechnology.

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/post-next/interactive/2025/jocelyne-bloch-gregoire-courtine/

https://www.wired.com/sponsored/story/rolex-gregoire-courtine-neuroscience/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03306-x

https://www.lausanneuniversityhospital.com/brain-computer-interface-enables-thought-controlled-walking-after-spinal-cord-injury

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05385-7

Description:

In this episode, we explore focused ultrasound–how this noninvasive technique targets deep brain circuits, how it can modulate neural activity, and why researchers see it as a breakthrough for treating conditions like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and addiction.

Sources:

https://www.brightfocus.org/resource/how-focused-ultrasound-is-changing-alzheimers-treatment/

https://www.fusfoundation.org/posts/ali-rezai-emerging-applications-of-focused-ultrasound-alzheimer-s-disease/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/neurosurgeon-works-to-slow-alzheimers-progression-treat-drug-addiction-60-minutes-transcript/

https://www.rsna.org/media/press/i/2131

In this episode, we break down how your brain controls sleep–how it knows when to power down, what happens during each stage, and why quality rest is crucial for learning, memory, and mood.

Sources:

https://sleep.hms.harvard.edu/education-training/public-education/sleep-and-health-education-program/sleep-health-education-48

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/stages-of-sleep

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-science-of-sleep-understanding-what-happens-when-you-sleep

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/12148-sleep-basics

Kicking off our very first episode, we dive into the neuroscience of stress: what triggers it, how your brain processes it, and what happens when stress becomes a daily norm.

Sources:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-01986-4

https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/physrev.00041.2006