Neuroscience Perspectives

How Microglia Influence Brain Development and Disease | Ania Majewska

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:09:25 GMT

On this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, John Foxe, PhD, talks with Ania Majewska, PhD, professor of neuroscience and co-director of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at the University of Rochester. Majewska studies microglia—immune cells in the brain—and how they interact with synapses during development, learning, and disease. Using advanced two-photon microscopy and in-vivo imaging, Majewska and her team can watch microglia and synapses interact in the living brain. Her landmark research has helped shift how we think about microglia, showing that they are not just passive responders to injury but active, dynamic participants in normal brain wiring and plasticity. Majewska also discusses her path into neuroscience, the evolution of two-photon imaging, and the importance of mentorship in scientific research. Listen and learn more about microglia, synapses, brain plasticity, neurodevelopment, and the technologies helping scientists see the brain in action. Subscribe to Neuroscience Perspectives for conversations with leading neuroscientists and researchers from the University of Rochester and beyond.

RE-RELEASE: Why the Brain is Smarter than AI

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Dr. Doris Tsao shares how her pioneering research has transformed our understanding of how the brain processes visual information. Her lab helped discover that it only takes a few hundred neurons to encode any face – for reference, there are more than a few billion neurons in the brain. This conversation explores the intersection of neuroscience, math, and AI. We also discuss her academic journey—from Caltech to Harvard, and her current role at UC Berkeley. Dr. Tsao shares the importance of science communication and what it means to pursue truth in a world shaped by both neural networks and human curiosity. Join Dr. John Foxe, Director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at University of Rochester Medicine on Neuroscience Perspectives. #podcast #science #AI #brain #neuroscience

RE-RELEASE: Lisa Genova Novels and Neuroscience

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 14:23:58 GMT

Revisit the fascinating conversation with best-selling author and neuroscientist Lisa Genova, PhD. Her groundbreaking novel, Still Alice, coupled powerful storytelling with the reality of Alzheimer's disease. It launched Lisa Genova into the spotlight and Hollywood, but most importantly, it deepened the public’s understanding of the neurological condition. Lisa Genova continues to bridge science and storytelling, writing books about left neglect, Huntington’s, ALS, autism, and bipolar disorder. In doing so, she inspires empathy for those affected and reshapes how these diseases are perceived beyond the lab and clinic.

Dr. Genova was a headline speaker at the University of Rochester's Meliora Weekend: https://www.rochester.edu/melioraweekend/meliora-2025-announcement/#lisa

#neuroscience #BrainHealth #LisaGenova

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🧠Experts in this Episode:

Lisa Genova, PhD: https://www.lisagenova.com/

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

How can a microscopic roundworm help researchers understand the brain?

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Anne Hart, PhD, professor and Chair of Neuroscience at Brown University, uses C elegans to study genetics, disease, and sleep. In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, she tells Dr. John Foxe about the bold move she made early in her career and how it paid off. She also shares the importance of using these simple animal models to ask complex questions.

Why Can't You 'See' Everything? The Neuroscience Behind Selective Attention

Thu, 21 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Dr. Marlene Cohen, professor of Neurobiology at the University of Chicago's Neuroscience Institute, discusses how selective attention helps us pick out what is important in the world around us. Our eyes are constantly bombarded with information, which then enters the brain for processing. This highlights the intricate work of neuroscience in understanding brain function and how we perceive our environment. She is recognized for using multielectrode array recordings to show that a specific pattern of brain activity is reduced when the brain prioritizes information, and that the same mechanism is used when we learn. Today, her research investigates how neural activity gives rise to behavior, particularly in the context of visual attention, and she has also moved into translational work. #neuroscience #cognitive science #brainscience #selectiveattention #optic

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🧠Experts in this Episode:

Marlene Cohen, PhD: https://neurobiology.uchicago.edu/faculty/marlene-cohen

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

🧠Labs Mentioned:

Marlene Cohen Lab: http://www.cohenlab.com/

Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

Rett Syndrome: Symptoms, Genetics, Science, and Clinical Trials

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT

What is Rett syndrome—and how close are we to effective treatments? In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, Dr. John Foxe, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at University of Rochester Medicine, sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Neul, a leading expert in pediatric neurology and neurodevelopmental disorders, to explore the latest breakthroughs in Rett syndrome research, clinical trials, and biomarker development. Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurological disorder that primarily affects girls and is often caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. Dr. Neul shares how advances in neurogenetics and translational neuroscience are transforming how researchers understand and treat this complex condition. #RettSyndrome #Neuroscience #RareDisease #PediatricNeurology #BrainResearch #Neurodevelopment #ClinicalTrials #MedicalResearch #SciencePodcast #Podcast

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🧠Experts in this Episode:

Jeffrey Neul, MD, PhD: https://vkc.vumc.org/people/neul-jeffrey

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

🧠Labs Mentioned:

Neul Lab: http://neullab.com/index.html

Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

Brain Organoids Unlock New Understanding of Developmental Disorders

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT

What the hippocampus tells us about exercise, learning, and memory. How organoids are being used in neurodevelopmental research. And the future of medicine and stem cell therapy. In this episode, Dr. Xinyu Zhao, Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and investigator at the Waisman Center, joins John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester. Dr. Zhao is internationally recognized for groundbreaking research on the molecular mechanisms that regulate neural stem cells, adult neurogenesis, and brain development, including how disruptions in these processes contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism, fragile X syndrome, and Rett syndrome. Dr. Zhao was a keynote speaker at the 2025 Golisano Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Institute and Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Symposium.

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🧠Experts in this Episode:

Xinyu Zhao, PhD: https://neuro.wisc.edu/staff/zhao-xinyu/

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

🧠Labs Mentioned:

Zhao Lab: https://zhao-lab.com/

Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

What the Developing Brain Could Reveal About Autism

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, we speak with Dr. Shafali Jeste, an internationally recognized child neurologist whose research has advanced the identification of early biomarkers that predict autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy in infants with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Dr. Jeste shares how brain imaging and EEG are advancing our understanding of infant brain development. Dr. Jeste is Chair and Executive Medical Director of Pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Executive Director of the Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute. From autism biomarkers to translational research, this conversation highlights how neuroscience is improving care for children with neurodevelopmental disorders and developmental disabilities. Subscribe for more episodes from Neuroscience Perspectives, featuring researchers from the University of Rochester and those who visit.

#neuroscience #podcast #autism #research #Neurodevelopment #braindevelopment #sciencepodcast #womeninscience #autismawareness

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🧠 Experts in this Episode

Shafali Jeste, MD: https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/tarjan/team/shafali-jeste-md

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

Neurons Don't Work Alone: What Neuroscientists Know About Memory Formation

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT

🧠How do memories form in the brain? How do individual neurons create memories? In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, Ueli Rutishauser, PhD, professor of Neurosurgery, Neurology & Biomedical Sciences, and director of Human Neurophysiology Research and the Center for Neural Science and Medicine at Cedars-Sinai, explores groundbreaking neuroscience research on memory formation, learning, and neural activity in the human brain. Using single-neuron recordings, Dr. Rutishauser explains to Dr. John Foxe how the hippocampus and other brain regions encode episodic memory and cognition. This conversation dives into how brain cells communicate, how memories are formed and retrieved, and why studying neurons at the single-cell level is transforming cognitive neuroscience.

We caught up with Dr. Rutishauser in San Diego at the Society for Neuroscience Conference #SfN25

#Brain #Science #HowTheBrainWorks #MindAndBrain #MemoryScience #BrainFacts #NeuroscienceExplained #ScienceEducation #STEM #Research #Podcast #LongFormContent

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🧠Experts in this Episode:

Ueli Rutishauser, PhD: https://researchers.cedars-sinai.edu/Ueli.Rutishauser

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

🧠Labs Mentioned:

Rutishauser Lab: https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/health-sciences-university/research/labs/rutishauser.html

Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

The Role of Neurons in Our Decisions & Behavior

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, Dr. Anne Churchland, professor of Neurobiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine and the Brain Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, explores how the brain transforms sensory information into decisions. Through the use of neuroscience, mouse models, and data analysis, she examines the neural circuits in the cortex that connect perception, attention, learning, and behavior. This conversation highlights cutting-edge brain research, offering insight into how brain signals shape choice and cognition.

Dr. Churchland gave the Notter Lecture at the University of Rochester Medical Center in 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8eVajX4ZjA

We caught up with her in San Diego at the Society for Neuroscience Conference #SfN25 #neuroscience #sciencefacts #DecisionMaking #podcast #science #sciencepodcast

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Experts in this Episode: Anne Churchland, PhD: https://bri.ucla.edu/people/anne-churchland/

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

Labs Mentioned: Churchland Lab: https://churchlandlab.dgsom.ucla.edu/

Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

The Future of Memory: Single Neurons, Consciousness & Cognitive Decline

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:01:11 GMT

Join this conversation with the world-renowned neurosurgeon and neuroscientist, Dr. Itzhak Fried. In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, Dr. Fried, professor of neurosurgery, psychiatry, and biobehavioral sciences, and co-director of the UCLA Seizure Disorder Center at the UCLA School of Medicine he is a pioneering researcher and recipient of major international awards, including the Ramon y Cajal and Tsubokawa Awards—joins us to explore the neural basis of memory, will, and human behavior.

From developing methods to record single neurons in the human brain to investigating how we might prevent “cognitive catastrophe” through minimally invasive memory prosthetics, Dr. Fried’s work is reshaping our understanding of consciousness itself. He discusses breakthroughs born from epilepsy surgery, the famous “Jennifer Aniston neuron,” and what his international clinical and research career has taught him about the future of neuroscience.

#Neuroscience #BrainResearch #EpilepsySurgery #Science #memory #memory #CognitiveNeuroscience #NeuralRecording #ConsciousnessStudy #BrainHealth #sciencepodcast #podcast

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🧠Experts in this Episode:

Itzhak Fried, MD, PhD: https://www.uclahealth.org/providers/itzhak-fried

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

🧠Labs Mentioned:

Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory: https://friedcnl.ucla.edu/team/ Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

What Happens When Science Meets Storytelling? With Best-Selling Author & Neuroscientist Lisa Genova

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:30:13 GMT

In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, host John Foxe, PhD, sits down with neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Lisa Genova — acclaimed for her groundbreaking novel Still Alice and her powerful storytelling that brings neurological diseases to life. Dr. Genova bridges science and storytelling to deepen public understanding of conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, ALS, autism, and bipolar disorder, inspiring empathy for those affected and reshaping how these diseases are perceived beyond the lab and clinic. Watch to explore how narrative can be a powerful tool for translating neuroscience, fostering compassion, and influencing the dialogue around brain health. #Neuroscience #BrainHealth #LisaGenova

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Experts in this Episode:

Lisa Genova, PhD: https://www.lisagenova.com/

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

Can the Brain Be Repaired by Replacing Its Cells?

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:01:04 GMT

In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, Steven Goldman, MD, PhD, URMC Distinguished Professor in Neurosciences at the University of Rochester Medical Center, discusses groundbreaking neuroscience research on brain cell repair, stem cell therapy, and regenerative medicine. Learn how his early research in birds has led to research that shows the adult brain can generate new neurons that integrate into key motor circuits. These findings demonstrate that stimulating natural brain processes may help repair damaged neural networks in Huntington's and other diseases. Dr. Goldman described decades of research in glial cells that are shaping our understanding of brain health and allowing the exploration of new approaches to treating Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. #Neuroscience #BrainHealth #StemCells #Alzheimers #MultipleSclerosis #RegenerativeMedicine #Neurodegeneration #Podcast

RE-RELEASE: Jessica Cardin, PhD - From Daydreaming To Laser Focus How Your Brain Changes

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 09:00:45 GMT

In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, take on the complex circuits of the brain with Jessica Cardin, PhD, professor of neuroscience at Yale University School of Medicine. Join host John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, as he and Dr. Cardin discuss how brain states shift—from zoning out to laser focus—and the chemical signals and non-neuronal cells that help drive those changes. Discover how her lab is harnessing new technologies and big data approaches, including machine learning, to unravel how the brain integrates countless signals to guide decision-making and behavior. From exploring autism- and schizophrenia-related genes to studying models of aging and Alzheimer’s disease, Cardin’s research highlights both the promise and the challenges of understanding such a complex system. Subscribe to Neuroscience Perspectives today! #podcast #neuroscience #science #research #brain

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Experts in this Episode: Jessica Cardin, PhD: https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/jess-cardin/ John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

Labs Mentioned: Cardin Lab: https://cardinlab.org Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

Can the Brain Help Predict Chronic Pain Risk

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:20:10 GMT

In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, we explore one of medicine’s most complex and pervasive challenges—chronic pain. Host John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, sits down with Paul Geha, MD, associate professor of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Neurology, and Dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Together, they unpack the ways our brains perceive pain and the impact it can have on well-being.Dr. Geha shares his research into how brain connectivity and structure change in patients with chronic pain—and how these changes might help us predict who is at risk for conditions like low back pain or failed surgery outcomes. They discuss the psychological dimensions of pain, the challenges of diagnosis and treatment, and how research is charting a new course to change traditional injury-based models of pain.Could brain biomarkers reveal who is most vulnerable to chronic pain? Might psychedelics offer a new avenue for relief? And how can science better serve the millions suffering from pain that cannot be quantified in an exam or on a scan?

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🧠 Experts in this Episode:

Paul Geha, MD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112361971-paul-geha

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe🧠

Labs Mentioned:

Geha Lab: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/labs/geha

Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

The Brain vs AI: Dr. Doris Tsao & Why the Brain is More Efficient than AI

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:01:21 GMT

Join Dr. John Foxe, Director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, as he welcomes renowned neuroscientist Dr. Doris Tsao to Neuroscience Perspectives. Dr. Tsao shares how her pioneering research has transformed our understanding of how the brain processes visual information. Her lab helped discover that it only takes a few hundred neurons to encode any face – for reference, there are more than a few billion neurons in the brain. This conversation explores the intersection of neuroscience, math, and AI. We also discuss her academic journey—from Caltech to Harvard, and her current role at UC Berkeley. She also shares how having the right mentor was pivotal to her scientific training. Dr. Tsao shares the importance of science communication and what it means to pursue truth in a world shaped by both neural networks and human curiosity.

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🧠Experts in this Episode:

Doris Tsao, PhD: https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/doris-tsao

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

🧠Labs Mentioned:

Tsao Lab: https://tsaolab.berkeley.edu/

Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

RE-RELEASE: Kia Nobre, PhD - How Is the Brain Organized for Adaptive Thinking and Behavior?

Thu, 22 May 2025 09:01:15 GMT

Kia Nobre, PhD, is the director of the Center for Neurocognition and Behavior at the Wu Tsai Institute at Yale University. Her discoveries have revolutionized our scientific understanding of the human mind and brain. This episode was originally released on 6/20/2024. She tells John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, about the great gift she acquired as a child that leveraged her education at an early age. Nobre recently returned to her alma mater after spending the majority of her career at Oxford University where she held several leadership roles, including the director of the Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity. #podcast #brain #neuroscience #humanbrain #humanbehavior #understanding #yaleuniversity #oxford

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🧠Experts in this Episode:

Kia Nobre, PhD: https://psychology.yale.edu/people/kia-nobre

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

🧠Labs Mentioned:

Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

Brain & Cognition Laboratory: https://www.brainandcognition.org/

Exploring the Impact of Environmental Chemicals on Brain Health

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:01:01 GMT

Dr. Deborah Cory-Slechta is a leading researcher at the University of Rochester. She is a professor with appointments in Environmental Medicine, Neuroscience, and Public Health Sciences. She co-leads the University’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center Animal Behavior and Neurophysiology Core. She has chaired the Department of Environmental Medicine and led its National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Core Center Grant. Her research explores the effects of environmental chemicals—such as air pollution, metals, and pesticides—on brain health. With decades of expertise, Dr. Cory-Slechta discusses the impact that exposures to chemicals in our environment have on neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. Learn about the crucial intersection of neuroscience, toxicology, and public health. And how the passion to give back drives Dr. Cory-Slechta. #neuroscience #environmentalhealth #toxicology #podcast

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🧠Experts in this Episode:

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

Deborah Cory-Slechta, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112358303-deborah-a-slechta

🧠Labs & Institutes Mentioned:

Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

Cory-Slechta Lab: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/labs/cory-slechta

Institute for Human Health and the Environment: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/institute-for-human-health-and-the-environment

Environmental Health Sciences Center: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/environmental-health-sciences

Neuroscience & RNA Biology: How mRNA Decay Shapes Health & Disease

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:12:25 GMT

How does RNA biology influence cell function, gene expression, and disease mechanisms? In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, host John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester (UR), sits down with Lynne Maquat, PhD, director of the Center for RNA Biology at UR, and J. Lowell Orbison Endowed Chair and Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics, to explore groundbreaking research in mRNA decay, cellular quality control, and translational research. Dr. Maquat, a world-renowned scientist, shares insights into how fundamental biochemistry, molecular biology, and biophysics drive scientific discovery—from understanding cystic fibrosis, fragile X syndrome, and intellectual disabilities to advancing cancer research, autism studies, and stem cell research. They also discuss the impact of mRNA vaccines, vaccine development, and COVID-19 on modern medicine. Beyond the lab, they dive into the importance of scientific integrity, mentoring scientists, research collaboration, and science education.

🔬 Discover how basic and applied research pave the way for personalized treatments, neurobiology breakthroughs, and scientific innovation. #Neuroscience #RNABiology #ScientificDiscovery

#mRNADecay #GeneExpression #TranslationalResearch #CancerResearch #VaccineDevelopment #AutismResearch #StemCellResearch #ScienceEducation #ScienceCommunication

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🧠 Experts in this Episode:

Lynne Maquat, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112359023-lynne-e-maquat John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

🧠 Labs Mentioned:

Maquat Lab: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/labs/maquat

Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

Your Brain & Perception: Using Science to Understand How We See the World

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:00:45 GMT

How brain dynamics, perception, and neural processing offer a deeper understanding of how brain activity shapes our understanding of the world. Christopher Moore, PhD, associate director of the Carnegie Institute of Brain Science and professor of Neuroscience at Brown University, joins Neuroscience Perspectives host John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, in a fascinating discussion that includes why the term neuroscience may be outdated. Dive into Moore’s research that studies neocortical dynamics – changes in brain activity at the millisecond to the second timescale—and how his lab aims to understand the mechanisms at play and what these changes mean for perception. He and Dr. Foxe also share how they met during a pivotal moment in their careers, which was also a profound moment in neuroscience research. #neuroscience #brainscience #perception #podcast

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🧠Experts in this Episode:

Christopher Moore, PhD: https://vivo.brown.edu/display/cm78

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

🧠Labs Mentioned:

The Moore Lab: https://www.themoorelab.org/

Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

Recovering From Stroke - How Physical Therapy & Neuroscience are Advancing Care

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 10:40:07 GMT

The intersection of stroke rehabilitation & neuroscience research is transforming our understanding of the brain and recovery after a stroke.

Catherine Lang, PT, PhD, Barbara J Norton Professor of Physical Therapy, Professor of Neurology and Occupational Therapy, and Associate Director of the Movement Science Program at the University of Washington in St. Louis, shares expert insights into stroke therapy, the challenges of regaining motor function, and how personal and environmental factors impact rehabilitation outcomes. Dr. Lang is a WashU graduate who completed her postdoctoral studies in a neuroscience lab at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. She shares how the education and mentorship she received played a role in the mentor she is today. She also gives insight into how growing up in rural Vermont influenced her interest in movement.

Join Dr. Lang, and guest host, Jeff Koslofsky, host of The Next Steps Podcast from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, for this enlightening conversation. Don’t forget to like, comment, and follow!

#neuroscience #stroke #réhabilitation #brain #motorcontrol #neuroplasticity #therapy #strokerecovery

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🧠Check out The Next Steps Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhIRpvrMLisrZXbvS3wDHGp_Ke9NE167u

🧠Experts in this Episode Catherine Lang, PT, PhD: https://pt.wustl.edu/people/catherine-lang-pt-phd-fapta/ Lang Research Profile: https://profiles.wustl.edu/en/persons/catherine-lang

What Happens When You Combine AI and Neuroscience?

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 10:10:16 GMT

Can we predict brain health across a lifetime? Just as a knee injury at 20 might cause problems later, researchers are exploring how early brain experiences shape future brain health. In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, Dr. Randy McIntosh, Professor and Director at the Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology at Simon Fraser University, discusses groundbreaking insights into brain health, neuroscience, and AI with Dr. John Foxe, Director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience. Learn about the Virtual Brain, an open-source neuroscience platform that simulates human brain function, offering new ways to understand conditions like stroke, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases. Discover how technology, artificial intelligence, and neuroscience are converging to unlock the secrets of the human brain.

Virtual Brain: https://www.thevirtualbrain.org/tvb/zwei

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🧠 Experts in this Episode

John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

Randy McIntosh, PhD: https://www.sfu.ca/bpk/about/people/faculty/randy-mcintosh.html

🧠Labs Mentioned

Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

McIntosh Lab: https://www.armcintosh.com/home

#brain #science #podcast

Unlocking the Brain's Communication Hub: The Power of the Thalamus with Dr. S. Murray Sherman

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 19:12:13 GMT

In this special episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, host John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, sits down with S. Murray Sherman, PhD, Maurice Goldblatt Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Chicago, in Chicago at the annual Society for Neuroscience (SfN) conference. Sherman is a neuroscientist known for his groundbreaking work on the thalamus. Dive into a compelling conversation that unravels how the thalamus plays a pivotal role as the brain's relay center, transforming sensory input into meaningful perceptions and actions.

Discover how Dr. Sherman's research sheds light on the thalamus's intricate connections to cortical regions, revealing its role in shaping critical cognitive functions. From vision to decision-making, his work was integral in informing the understanding of the visual pathway from the retina through the thalamus to the cortex, and it also revealed other cortical areas organized in parallel to direct connections.

Learn how mentors and a bit of luck played critical roles in his journey, including Nobel laureates Richard Feynman, PhD, Roger Sperry, PhD, and Ray Guillery, PhD, who would become Sherman's longtime collaborator.

Link to Sherman's SfN profile piece.

Whether you're a neuroscientist or just interested in the brain —listen, learn, and subscribe to Neuroscience Perspectives today!

Exploring the Genetic Dance of Neurons: What Roundworms Reveal About Behavior

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 09:00:55 GMT

In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, we dive into the microscopic world of C. elegans—tiny roundworms that are revolutionizing our understanding of genetics and behavior. Join host John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester as he chats with Doug Portman, PhD, the Donald M. Foster Professor of Biomedical Genetics, Biology, and Neuroscience, at URMC. Portman’s research unravels the intriguing ways that biological sex shapes neural development and influences behaviors, like the eternal quest for food versus the search for a mate.

Discover how these unassuming creatures serve as a powerful model for understanding complex questions about the brain. What happens in the male C. elegans brain when the urge to find a mate overrides the basic need to eat? And how can these insights inform our understanding of sex differences in human health and disease susceptibility?

Whether you’re a neuroscience enthusiast or just curious about how tiny organisms can help answer big questions—listen, learn, and subscribe to Neuroscience Perspectives today!

How a quest to find solutions for vision loss- turned a clinician into a scientist

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:01:16 GMT

José Alain Sahel, MD, is a distinguished professor, eye and ear foundation professor, and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is also the director of the UPMC Vision Institute. Dr. Sahel is a leading expert in retinal diseases and vision restoration research and is a pioneer in optogenetic vision restoration. This therapeutic technique uses genetically modified cells in the retina to express light-sensitive proteins and could help patients who are blind or visually impaired because of a genetic defect. His research has also helped to develop several other interventions for vision impairment—including stem cell implantation, gene therapy, innovative pharmacologic approaches, and the artificial retina.

Dr. Sahel was the keynote speaker at the 33rd Biennial Center for Visual Science Symposium at the University of Rochester. He joins John Foxe, PhD, for this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives.

What helped launch leaders in neuroscience into a lifetime of learning

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:54:46 GMT

Is there a defining moment that set you on your current path? In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, we’re revisiting origin stories – what launched leading neuroscientists into a lifetime of learning and interest in the brain. Host: John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience

Guests (in order of appearance):

Nathan A. Smith, PhD, associate dean for Equity & Inclusion for Research and Research Education and associate professor of Neuroscience at the University of Rochester School of Medicine School of Medicine and Dentistry, Full Episode: https://urmc.info/1G5

Fan Wang, PhD, professor, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute, MIT, Full Episode: https://urmc.info/1G7

Takao Hensch, PhD, professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School at Boston Children’s Hospital and of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard’s Center for Brain Science, Full Episode: https://urmc.info/1G4

Jessica Cardin, PhD, associate professor, and vice chair of the Neuroscience Department at Yale School of Medicine, Full Episode: https://urmc.info/1G6

Kia Nobre, PhD, director of the Center for Neurocognition and Behavior at the Wu Tsai Institute at Yale University, Full Episode: https://urmc.info/1G3

Neuroscience insights: How to steer toward success in science

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:00:00 GMT

How often do you think about science fits into your life and how you fit into the field? For our 20th episode we are looking back at some of the advice that’s been shared by our guests on Neuroscience Perspectives.

Host: John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience

Guests (in order of appearance):

Katalin Gothard, PhD, professor of Physiology and Neuroscience at the University of Arizona

Nathan A. Smith, PhD, associate dean for Equity & Inclusion for Research and Research Education and associate professor of Neuroscience at the University of Rochester School of Medicine School of Medicine and Dentistry

Ed Callaway, PhD, professor and Audrey Geisel chair in the systems neurobiology laboratories at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Kia Nobre, PhD, director of the Center for Neurocognition and Behavior at the Wu Tsai Institute at Yale University

Takao Hensch, PhD, professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School at Boston Children’s Hospital and of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard’s Center for Brain Science

Lucina Uddin, PhD, professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA

Yoland Smith, PhD, Division Chief, Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Emory National Primate Research Center

Jessica Cardin, PhD, associate professor, and vice chair of the Neuroscience Department at Yale School of Medicine

Brian Boyd, PhD, William C. Friday Distinguished professor of Education and interim director of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina (UNC)

Jeffrey Macklis, MD, Max and Anne Wien professor of Life Sciences, in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and Center for Brain Science at Harvard University

How are the brain systems that support adaptive human cognition and behavior organized?

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:45:36 GMT

Kia Nobre, PhD, is the director of the Center for Neurocognition and Behavior at the Wu Tsai Institute at Yale University. Her discoveries have revolutionized our scientific understanding of the human mind and #brain. She tells John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, about the great gift she acquired as a child that leveraged her education at an early age. Nobre recently returned to her alma mater after spending most of her career at Oxford University where she held several leadership roles, including the director of the Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity.

#podcast #brain #neuroscience #humanbrain #humanbehavior #understanding #behaviour #behavior #yaleuniversity #oxford

How do early life experiences shape brain function and critical periods of brain development?

Wed, 15 May 2024 09:37:00 GMT

Takao Hensch, PhD, is a professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School at Boston Children’s Hospital and a professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard’s Center for Brain Science. He leads the National Institute of Mental Health Silvio Conte Center on Mental Health Research at Harvard and the International Research Center for Neurointelligence. Dr. Hensch joins John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, on NeURoscience Perspectives to discuss the critical periods of brain development and whether plasticity can be reopened to target and treat disease. He also shares how being multilingual first piqued his interest in how the brain works.

How are injury and illness monitored in the brain? And how can scientists diversify the bench?

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:00:00 GMT

How are injury and illness monitored in the brain? Once thought of as the glue of the brain, glia cells have been proven to play a key role in brain health with astrocytes acting as important messengers. These star-like cells are at the center of the research of Nathan A. Smith, PhD, associate dean for Equity & Inclusion for Research and Research Education and associate professor of Neuroscience at the University of Rochester Medical Center and School of Medicine, who joins John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, on NeURoscience Perspectives. They explore Smith’s journey into science that started with the gift of a microscope from his mother, how research experience shaped his academic career, and why he is steadfast on wearing two hats to transform the future of the field.

How do we learn? How does our brain change between different mental states?

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 10:19:00 GMT

What changes happen at the cellular level in the cerebral cortex between concentration and daydreaming?

Jessica Cardin, PhD, associate professor and vice chair of the Neuroscience Department at Yale School of Medicine, joins John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, on NeURoscience Perspectives. They explore her interest in understanding how we learn, specifically, the flexibility of our brain, and her creative approaches in the lab that aim to improve our understanding of the cellular mechanisms behind neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism or schizophrenia. Dr. Cardin also shares how conducting experiments during childhood helped shape her curiosity.

How does the brain perceive touch? How does it process pain?

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 10:00:00 GMT

How does the brain perceive touch? How does it process pain? Could what we know about pain better inform treatments for addiction? Fan Wang, PhD, professor in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences department at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, joins John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester for this engaging discussion in NeURoscience Perspectives. Hear her journey to research, how the focus of her lab has transformed over time, and how she is using role as a researcher to better the lives of others.

What does the spontaneous activity in the brain tell us?

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 10:23:00 GMT

Lucina Uddin, PhD, professor-in-residence of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at University of California, Los Angeles, joins John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester for this engaging discussion in NeURoscience Perspectives. Hear her journey to research, how she’s taking on diversity and inclusion in the NIH funded largest long-term study of adolescent brain development (the ABCD Study), and her best advice for aspiring scientists.

NeURoscience Perspectives: Brian Boyd, PhD

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 09:34:00 GMT

How a paragraph in a textbook and a summer camp were pivotal to the career of Brian Boyd, PhD, William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education Interim Director of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina (UNC). Boyd has dedicated his career to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). He trained in special education, and much of his research has involved developing and evaluating evidence-based practices for children with ASD in schools and at home. His recent work focuses on how implicit bias and race affect the outcomes of children with and without disabilities. He sat down with John J. Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, on a visit to the Medical Center as one of the keynote speakers of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience and UR-IDDRC annual symposium.

NeURoscience Perspectives: Yoland Smith, PhD

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 10:00:40 GMT

In this episode of NeURoscience Perspectives, John J. Foxe, PhD, the director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, is joined by Yoland Smith, PhD, Division Chief, Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Emory National Primate Research Center. Dr. Smith [https://bit.ly/43TGPwG] seeks to understand the pathophysiology of Parkinson's Disease and characterize changes in the synaptic plasticity of the basal ganglia in normal and pathological conditions. He shares one of the biggest challenges in Parkinson's research. Dr. Smith is a prolific publisher with more than 250 peer-reviewed manuscripts on the pathophysiology of brain networks in Parkinson’s disease and related movement disorders. He is also a senior editor at the European Journal of Neuroscience and discusses why it is a position he has become passionate about. He also discuss the importance of mentorship throughout ones career and why a job in academia research is the best job to have.

A transcript version is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mLVSTiOgOM4

NeURoscience Perspective: Dean Salisbury, PhD

Wed, 24 May 2023 10:44:19 GMT

In this episode of NeURoscience Perspectives, John J. Foxe, PhD, the director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, is joined by Dean Salisbury, PhD, a professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Salisbury [https://www.cnrl.pitt.edu/] helped to change the conceptualization of schizophrenia as a static, perinatal encephalopathy by pioneering the combined use of structural brain imaging and electroencephalographic (EEG) measurement of auditory cortex responses to demonstrate that progressive gray matter loss during the early disease course of schizophrenia is linked to progressive auditory impairment. A transcript version is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hP8m1csJgPE

NeURoscience Perspectives: Katalin Gothard, MD, PhD

Thu, 18 May 2023 09:44:57 GMT

In this episode of NeURoscience Perspectives, John J. Foxe, PhD, the Director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, is joined by Katalin Gothard, MD, PhD, a professor of Physiology and Neuroscience at the University of Arizona. Dr. Gothard's lab [https://gothardlab.org/] studies the neural basis of emotion and social behavior. Originally, from Romania Dr. Gothard worked in the orphanages while she trained to be a physician. Today, her research mostly focuses on touch, and what she experienced with those children early in her career is never far from her mind. Don't miss her incredible story. A transcript version is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JOlDtM7J0es

NeURoscience Perspectives: Qiang Chang, PhD

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 21:44:15 GMT

In this episode of NeURoscience Perspectives with John Foxe, PhD, the Director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, he is joined by Qiang Chang, PhD, a professor of Medical Genetics & Neurology at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Chang's lab studies Rett syndrome, a developmental disorder caused by mutations that deform an essential protein called MeCP2. [https://www.waisman.wisc.edu/stem-cel...]. He is the director of the Waisman Center at and leads the Intellectual and Developmental Research Center at UW-Madison. A transcript version is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PJocpQy-mzA

NeURoscience Perspectives: Helen Barbas, PhD

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 20:43:40 GMT

In this episode of NeURoscience Perspectives with John Foxe, PhD, the Director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, he sits down with Helen Barbas, PhD, a professor of Anatomy & Neurobiology at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Barbas started her lab, Neural Systems Laboratory [https://www.bu.edu/neural/], at BU in the 1980s and has made numerous contributions to our understanding of circuits in the prefrontal cortex in primates. Deemed a pioneer in neuroanatomy of the primate brain, she pursued work in the prefrontal cortex that others though was “too complex to study”.

A transcript version is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mxcU4NhbdvU

NeURoscience Perspectives: Bea Luna, PhD

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 20:42:43 GMT

In this episode of NeURoscience Perspectives with John J. Foxe, PhD, the Director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, he sits down with Bea Luna, PhD, a professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Luna is a developmental neuroscientist known for conducting neuroimaging research on the development of cognitive control, reward, and reinforcement learning from early childhood to adolescence. She shares her journey from Chile to the U.S. as a teen, why she has spent her career dedicated to understanding adolescence brain development, her time working in the White House, and reflects on being a woman and mother in science.

A transcript version is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/b4-8FQq9za0

NeURoscience Perspectives: Tatiana Pasternak, PhD

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:42:19 GMT

In this episode of NeURoscience Perspectives, John Foxe, PhD, the Director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester sits down with Tatiana Pasternak, PhD, a Scientific Review Officer at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Dr. Pasternak spent more than 40-years as a Professor of Neuroscience and researcher at the University of Rochester. Watch to learn about her research and her personal journey from Lativa to the United States, and how she continued her neuroscience education along the way.

A transcript version is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/W-QkpfL_4pM

NeURoscience Perspectives: Ed Callaway, PhD

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 20:41:27 GMT

In this episode of NeURoscience Perspectives, John J. Foxe, PhD, the Director of the Del Monte Institute at the University of Rochester, sits down with Ed Callaway, PhD, professor and Audrey Geisel chair in the systems neurobiology laboratories at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California. A transcript version is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/om3zkpm0AEE

NeURoscience Perspectives: Jeffrey Macklis, MD

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 20:40:31 GMT

In NeURoscience Perspectives, John Foxe, PhD, the Director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, picks the brains of world-renowned neuroscientists. In this episode, Foxe sits down with Jeffrey Macklis, MD, is the Max and Anne Wien Professor of Life Sciences in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science at Harvard University, and Professor of Neurology and of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School. A transcript version is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eBTAVieLPtM

NeURoscience Perspectives: David Amaral, PhD

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 21:39:13 GMT

In NeURoscience Perspectives with John Foxe, PhD, the director of the Del Monte Institute at the University of Rochester, picks the brains of world-renowned neuroscientists. In this episode, Dr. Foxe sits down with David Amaral, PhD, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at University of California, Davis. He is also the Beneto Foundation Chair and Research Director of the MIND Institute which is dedicated to studying autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Amaral explains to Dr. Foxe what lead him to study autism, why most of his work focuses on the disorder, and how he is working to understand it on a cellular level. He also shares the statement he no longer uses in papers about autism and the role it plays in early intervention. As Research Director, he coordinates a multidisciplinary analysis of children with autism called the Autism Phenome Project to define clinically significant sub-types of autism. More recently, Dr. Amaral has become Director of Autism BrainNet, a collaborative effort to solicit postmortem brain tissue to facilitate autism research. In April of 2015, Amaral became Editor-in-Chief of Autism Research, the journal of the International Society for Autism Research. In 2016, he was appointed to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

A transcript version is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HOA1NincHtI

NeURoscience Perspectives: Helen Tager-Flusberg, PhD

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 21:38:33 GMT

In this episode of NeURoscience Perspectives John J. Foxe, PhD, the Director of the Del Monte Institute at the University of Rochester, sits down with Helen Tager-Flusberg, PhD. Dr. Tager-Flusberg is the director and principal investigator at the Center for Autism Research Excellence - CARE at Boston University. She is also a professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at the university and a professor in the Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology and Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine. In this interview, she shares her years of researching language, communication, and associated social-cognitive deficits in Autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. She also gives advice to young women pursuing their PhD in science.

A transcript version is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UVIF-eaL764

NeURoscience Perspectives: Steve Petersen, PhD

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 20:33:13 GMT

In this episode of NeURoscience Perspectives with John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute at the University of Rochester, he is joined by Steven Petersen, PhD, Professor of Radiology, Psychological & Brain Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, and Neuroscience at Washington University in St. Louis Professor Petersen’s lab uses behavioral, functional neuroimaging (fMRI) and functional connectivity (fcMRI) to study the neural mechanisms underlying attention, language, learning and memory. One area of particular research focus is the development of neural mechanisms underlying reading from ages seven to adulthood with an emphasis on how visual regions in the brain change as people become fluent readers. Another major focus is on identifying and characterizing fMRI and fcMRI signals related to task organization and executive control.

A transcript version is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XGNLgICQ1vk