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Self Study
This collection of resources includes brief expert videos and short accessible reviews of cutting edge neuroscience. In this series you will also find brief introductory talks on some of the coolest research happening in neuroscience and psychiatry today. Click the tabs on the left to explore.
Biological Psychiatry Clinical Commentaries
Expert Videos
This "Stuff" Is Really Cool 2016
This "Stuff" Is Really Cool 2017
This "Stuff" Is Really Cool: SOBP 2017
This "Stuff" Is Really Cool: SOBP 2018
This "Stuff" Is Really Cool: Yale 2018
Brief, Accessible Reviews
Reshaping the Depressed Brain: A Focus on
Synaptic Health 12/01/18
Cannabinoids and Pain: Weeding Out Undesired Effects With a Novel Approach to Analgesia 11/15/18
Using Neuroscience to Make Sense of Psychopathy 11/01/18
What We’ve Got Here Is Failure to Communicate: Improving InterventionalPsychiatry With Closed-Loop Stimulation 10/15/18
Guided by Voices: Hallucinations and the Psychosis Spectrum 9/1/18
The Electrochemical Brain: Lessons From The Bell Jar and Interventional Psychiatry 08/01/2018
Poverty, Parenting, and Psychiatry 09/01/2018
Missed Connections: A Network Approach to Understanding Psychiatric Illness 07/15/2018
Polygenic Risk Scores: What Are They Good For? 06/01/2018
So Happy Together: The Storied Marriage Between Mitochondria and the Mind 05/01/2018
Leveraging the Power of Genetics to Bring Precision Medicine to Psychiatry: Too Little of a Good Thing? 04/15/2018
Out of the Cave, Into the Light? Modeling Mental Illness With Organoids 04/1/2018
From “Azalla” to Anandamide: Distilling the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoids 01/15/2018
Small RNAs May Answer Big Questions in Mental Illness 01/01/2018
To Bend and Not Break: The Neurobiology of Stress, Resilience, and Recovery 12/01/2017
Metabolism and Memory: Obesity, Diabetes, and Dementia 12/01/2017
Kraepelin’s Crumbling Twin Pillars: Using Biology to Reconstruct Psychiatric Nosology From the Bottom Up 11/15/2017
Shifting Focus: From Group Patterns to Individual Neurobiological Differences in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder 11/01/2017
Your System Has Been Hijacked: The Neurobiology of Chronic Pain 10/15/2017
Computational Psychiatry: Embracing Uncertainty and Focusing on Individuals, Not Averages 09/15/2017
Scanning for Justice With Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging 08/15/2017
A Fragile Balance: Dendritic Spines, Learning, and Memory 08/15/2017
Genes Orchestrating Brain Function 08/01/2017
The N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor: Memory, Madness, and More 07/01/2017
The Nature of Nurture: How Developmental Experiences Program Adult Stress Circuitry 04/15/2017
Opioid Use Disorder: A Desperate Need for Novel Treatments 04/01/2017
As Hopes Have Flown Before: Toward the Rational Design of Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder 06/01/2017
Predicting Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: From Circuits to Communities 06/15/2017
Eat to Live or Live to Eat? The Neurobiology of Appetite Regulation 05/1/2017
More Than a Gut Feeling: The Implications of the Gut Microbiota in Psychiatry 03/1/2017
The Habenula: Darkness, Disappointment, and Depression 02/15/2017
Oxytocin and the Social Brain 02/1/2017
Checking the Brain's Immune Privilege: Evolving Theories of Brain-Immune Interactions 1/15/17
Addressing Cognitive Deficits in Schizophrenia: Toward a Neurobiologically Informed Approach 1/1/17
The Architecture of Cortex—in Illness and in Health 12/15/16
In the same way that much can be gleaned by simply listening to a patient, much can be gleaned by simply looking at the brain. The expanded cortex in humans enables a range of higher order cognitive functions and, in many ways, can be seen as the defining attribute of what makes us human.Launch Session
Sex Differences and Personalized Psychiatric Care 11/15/16
Personalized medicine—the concept that an individual’s unique characteristics can be used to tailor medical practice—is increasingly recognized as one of the next critical advances in biomedical research and health care. As increasing emphasis is placed on this concept of tailoring treatment based on differential disease susceptibility, risk, and outcome, two of the most globally recognized categories of difference have been previously overlooked:
sex and gender.Launch Commentary
Effects of Maternal Prenatal Stress: Mechanisms, Implications, and Novel Therapeutic Interventions 12/1/16
Current neuroscience is showing us that one of the most vulnerable times may be while an individual is still in utero. Here, however, we will focus more narrowly on a less commonly discussed factor: the influence of maternal stress on long-term outcomes in offspring. Launch Commentary
Synaptic Plasticity: The Role of Learning and Unlearning in Addiction and Beyond 11/1/16
Today we know that the capacity of the brain to physically change throughout our lifetime is the basis of all adaptation, learning, and memory. These changes in neuronal connections are the primary mechanism for learning and memory and are known as “synaptic plasticity.”Launch Commentary
Psychiatric Pharmacogenomics: How Close Are We? 10/15/16
Over the past decade, the field of pharmacogenomics—once the stuff of science fiction—has become a leading topic in the pursuit of precision medicine.Launch Commentary
Modern Microglia: Novel Targets in Psychiatric Neuroscience 10/1/16
Here we focus on historical and current perspectives on the function and significance of microglia, particularly as they relate to mental health and disease.Launch Commentary
Expert Videos
Interviews with leaders in the field of neuroscience and psychiatry.
Dr. Adrienne Lahti on Neuroscience and Schizophrenia
Adrienne Lahti, MD, is a Professor & Division Director of Behavioral Neurobiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and clinical director at UAB’s First Episode Schizophrenia Clinic. In these videos, Dr. Lahti discusses the neuroscience involved in schizophrenia. Launch Session
Dr. Brian Dias on Intergenerational Trauma
Brian Dias, PhD, is a research specialist at Emory University. Dr. Dias’ current research seeks to understand how trauma impacts the nervous system, physiology and reproductive biology of generations that have directly experienced trauma, as well as descendant generations. Launch Session
Dr. Carlos Bolaños on Stress
Carlos Bolaños, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience at Florida State University. His research focuses on studying how exposure to antidepressants, stimulants, and other psychotropic drugs, as well as physical and emotional stress, leads to neurobiological adaptations of brain pathways involved in regulating reward, mood, and motivation in developmentally immature and adult animal models. In these videos, Dr. Bolaños discusses his work and the neuroscience involved in stress with mice. Launch Session
Dr. Carrie McAdams on Eating Disorders
Carrie McAdams, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. McAdams has been fascinated by the relationship between the mind and the brain for over 20 years. Her current research examines the connections between biological and psychological aspects of eating disorders using functional neuroimaging. She has focused on understanding the neurodevelopmental changes related to identity formation and social cognition. These constructs are closely related to long-term psychotherapeutic interventions in eating disorders. Launch Session
Dr. Demian Rose on Hallucinations 11/4/16
Demian Rose, M.D., Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UCSF. In the following videos Dr. Rose describes how he talks to patients about such topics as perception, salience, and hallucinations.Launch Session
Dr. Etienne Sibille on the Cellular & Molecular Basis of Depression
Dr. Etienne L. Sibille is Chair of the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute and Senior Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. He is also a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Toronto. In these videos, Dr. Sibille discusses the implications of molecular subtyping and cellular refinement of local circuitry on depression. Launch Session
Dr. Demian Rose on Hallucinations 11/4/16
Demian Rose, M.D., Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UCSF. In the following videos Dr. Rose describes how he talks to patients about such topics as perception, salience, and hallucinations.Launch Session
Dr. Flavio Frohlich, Mechanisms of Brain Stimulation
Flavio Fröhlich, PhD is an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry, Cell Biology and Physiology, Biomedical Engineering, and Neurology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Launch Session
Dr. Kerry Ressler on Fear & PTSD
Kerry Ressler MD, PhD, is Chief Scientific Officer and the Patricia and James Poitras Endowed Chair in Psychiatry at McLean Hospital. Dr. Ressler discusses his and his lab’s current work learning to understand the neural basis of fear processing specifically as this relates to PTSD. Launch Session
Dr. Nii Addy on the Dopamine System & New Therapeutic Targets
Nii Antie Addy, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and of Cellular And Molecular Physiology at Yale School of Medicine. In these videos, Dr. Addy discusses circuitry and receptors involved in the dopamine reward pathway related to addiction and depression. Launch Session
Dr. Oliver Howes on First Episode Psychosis
Oliver Howes, MD, PhD, is from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College in London and is a faculty of medicine at the Psychiatric Imaging, Medical Research Council Clinical Sciences Centre at Imperial College in London. In these videos, Dr. Howes discusses the neuroscience behind first episode psychosis. Launch Session
Dr. Paul Holtzheimer on Neuroscience & Depression
Paul Holtzheimer, MD, is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Surgery and Director of the Mood Disorders Service at Dartmouth Medical School and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. His research program at Dartmouth is focused on the neurobiology and treatment of mood disorders, primarily treatment-resistant depression. Current methodologies include functional and structural neuroimaging and focal neuromodulation techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and deep brain stimulation. Launch Session
Dr. Philip Shaw on Childhood ADHD
Philip Shaw, BM, BCh (Medicine), PhD, is a principle investigator at the National Institutes of Health Intramural Research Program. He is also an investigator at the Social Behavioral Research Branch and head of the Neurobehavioral Clinical Research Section at the National Human Genome Research Institute. In these videos, Dr. Shaw discusses the neuroscience of childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Launch Session
Dr. Sarah H. Lisanby on Electroconvulsive Therapy and Neuromodulation
Sarah H. Lisanby, MD, is at Duke and director of the Division of Translational Research at the National Institute of Mental Health. In these videos, Dr. Lisanby discusses the neuroscience of electroconvulsive therapy and other treatments in the field of neuromodulation. Launch Session
Dr. Stacy Drury on Genetics, Neurodevelopment & Child Psychiatry
Stacy Drury, MD, PhD, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Tulane University, School of Medicine, explores how the interaction of genetic and epigenetic factors with early experience shapes neurodevelopment and long term health outcomes in children. Launch Session
This “Stuff” Is Really Cool
Brief talks that each convey one point on the topic of neuroscience and psychiatry, presented at an introductory level.
Introduction
Click here to go to session.
Dr. Brandon Kitay — Dude, There’s a Fly in My Beer!
Brandon Kitay, MD, PhD, presents the role of animal models in modern neuroscience research. Launch Session
Dr. Brandon Kitay — Connectome
Brandon Kitay, MD, PhD, presents on the idea of the Connectome and progress that’s been made with current animal models.Launch Session
Dr. Alfred Kaye — Neural Surveillance
Alfred Kaye, MD, PhD, presents on calcium channel imaging. Launch Session
Dr. Alfred Kaye — Computational Approaches to Psychiatric Illness
Alfred Kaye, MD, PhD, presents on the value of computational approaches to conceptualizing psychiatric illness. Launch Session
Dr. Alan Lewis — Your Brain in a Dish
Alan Lewis, MD, PhD, presents on induced pluripotent stem cells. Launch Session
Dr. Daniel Moreno De Luca — Genetic CBT
Daniel Moreno De Luca, MD, MSc, presents on CRISPR and other gene editing approaches. Launch Session
Dr. Youngsun Cho — Circuit Workouts: Feeling Lightheaded?
Youngsun Cho, MD, PhD, presents on potential diagnostic tools that could be used to move Psychiatry towards “precision medicine”.Launch Session
Dr. Youngsun Cho — Precision Medicine
Youngsun Cho, MD, PhD, presents on optogenetics. Launch Session
Dr. Jenny Dwyer — Microglia
Jenny Dwyer, MD, PhD, presents on the role of microglia for both healthy brain function and in psychiatric illness.Launch Session
Dr. Katherine Blackwell — PsyBorg
Katherine Blackwell, MD, PhD, presents on Brain-Machine Interface. Launch Session
This “Stuff” Is Really Cool
Brief talks that each convey one point on the topic of neuroscience and psychiatry, presented at an introductory level.
Introduction
Dr. Jenny Dwyer — Sad Synapses
Dr. Joseph Taylor — Neuroscience of Kafka
Dr. Emily Olson — Moving from Single Genes to Pathways
Dr. Kunmi Sobowale — In Case of Fire
Dr. Noah Philip — Current Reality
This “Stuff” Is Really Cool
Brief talks that each convey one point on the topic of neuroscience and psychiatry, presented at an introductory level.
Dr. Jenny Dwyer — Circuit Workouts: You’d Be Better Off DREADD
Jenny Dwyer, MD, PhD, presents on Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs. Launch Session
Dr. Georgina Burcher — Developing a Picture of PTSD
Dr. Allison Waters — The Ins and Outs of Brain-Based Treatment
Dr. Mahendra Bhati — Psychosurgery, Past & Future
This “Stuff” Is Really Cool
Brief talks that each convey one point on the topic of neuroscience and psychiatry, presented at an introductory level.
Dr. Roel Mocking — Forget Everything
Dr. Joseph Taylor — The Neuroscience of Kafka
Dr. Maria Pico-Perez — Feedback for Lisa
Dr. Amy Margolis — Spoken Word
Dr. Remmelt Shur — Hidden Scars
Dr. Melanie Grubisha — Franklin's Future
Dr. Erica Baller — S.O.S.
This “Stuff” Is Really Cool
Brief talks that each convey one point on the topic of neuroscience and psychiatry, presented at an introductory level.
Dr. Emily Olfson — Far from the Tree
Dr. Kartik Pattabiraman — Mystery of Autism
Dr. Alex Moxam — DoNut Pass Go
Dr. Erica Baller — Menstrual Mysteries
Dr. Tara Thompson-Felix — Crossing Barriers
Dr. Noah Philip — Placebo Effect
Brief, Accessible Reviews
Default Mode Network: The Basics for Psychiatrists
You’ve heard the words “Default Mode Network” and know it has something to do with the brain, but what exactly is it? Why is the default mode network important and what is its clinical relevance? This review provides a conceptual introduction to the default mode network through a brief vignette. Launch Session
Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Psychiatry
You’ve seen the dazzling brain images on PowerPoints, papers, and websites. But what do these pictures mean? What do they represent? And what’s the connection between the giant donut magnet and the images you see? This review provides a conceptual overview of how neuroimaging—specifically magnetic resonance imaging—works and what it sets out to accomplish. Launch Session
Reminiscence of Good Old Times
Wouldn’t it be great if people could just “snap out” of depression, as some friends or family may think they can do? This review describes in understandable language how a recent study used optogenetics to activate memory engrams of positive experiences to reduce depression-like behaviors in mice. Launch Session