Brain
Neuroscientist Alex Korb on reversing depression
Kathryn Ryan speaks to Alex Korb, a neuroscientist at the University of California about his book The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at at… Audio
Typing monkeys
Science news with Dr Chris Smith. A team at Stanford is using brain computer interfaces to get monkeys to type at speeds of up to 12 words per minute. Throw in some predictive text (good old… Audio
Epilepsy: causes and treatments
Dr Ian Rosemergy has a particular interest in epilepsy. He's a consultant neurologist and the clinical leader for neurology at Capital & Coast DHB. Audio
Josh Davis: prosopagnosia and super-recognisers
Kim Hill talks to Dr Josh Davis, Reader for Psychology in the Department of Psychology, Social Work and Counselling at the University of Greenwich. He has published research on human face recognition… Audio
Stuart Firestein: ignorance, failure, and how we smell
Kim Hill talks to neuroscientist Dr Stuart Firestein, Chair of Columbia University's Department of Biological Sciences, whose lab studies the vertebrate olfactory system, seeking answers to the… Audio
Thomas Thwaites: acting the goat
Kim Hill talks to designer Thomas Thwaites, whose new book, GoatMan, tells about how he took a holiday from being human by becoming a goat in Switzerland, using special prostheses and attempting to… Audio, Gallery
Damian Bailey: brains, mountaineering, diving, concussion
Kim Hill talks to Professor Damian Bailey, a world leading expert on concussion and the ageing brain, and Director of the Research Institute of Science and Health for the University of South Wales. He… Audio
Microbes and moods
We are more microbe than human, and our microbiome may be affecting our brain, moods and behaviour. Audio
Tuning your brain
Have you ever considered what your brain does when you interact with music? Can music help us recover from illness? Professor Warren Tate from the University of Otago is a geneticist with an interest… Audio
New approach to fighting Alzheimer's?
A new study suggests that the protein amyloid beta's bad reputation could be ill deserved. Although it's seen as the prime cause of the neurological knots and tangles found in the brains of… Audio
Your microbiome and brain health
It seems like the colony of bacteria living inside our gut has never been so important! Previous studies have revealed links between the composition of this microbiome and our mood, how likely mothers… Audio
Using light and electricity to study individual brain cells
Optogenetics uses light to target individual cells, and Peter Freestone is using it to better understand Parkinson's disease and the role of endocannabinoids in how brain cells communicate. Audio
John Pepper: Using conscious movement to bypass Parkinson's tremors
John Pepper says he has successfully reversed his Parkinson's symptoms, to the point where he no longer needs to take any medication. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease more than two decades… Audio
Why placebos can work
How is it that placebos can be effective..even when someone knows they are taking fake medicine? What impact can meditation and slow, regulated breathing have on your nervous system and immune… Audio
Brain Train! You are what you exercise
There are no more excuses to stay on the couch! As well as being good for our bodies, modest exercise can increase memory by about 20% and make older brains look younger. Memory in early Alzheimer's… Audio
Eat better, think better - diet and the brain
Psychologists and nutritionists at the University of Otago are studying how diet can have a positive impact on heart and brain health Audio
Pioneer of research into the split brain, Dr Michael Gazzaniga
Dr Michael Gazzaniga has lead pioneering studies on patients with split brains, where the two hemispheres work completely separately from eachother. In the 1960's he was involved in studies of split… Audio
Why multi-tasking is bad for you
A neuroscientist says multi-tasking is one of the most damaging 'illusions' of the internet age.
Berry Good News for the Brain
Plant and Food Research have shown that blackcurrants can help in tasks involving memory and concentration Audio
Salt, Blood Pressure and the Brain
A new study in rats shows that the link between high salt intake and high blood pressure is caused by changes in the brain Audio