Neuro Logic

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Wendy Rogers, Professor of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, to talk about human factors—what it really means to design technology with people in mind. We learn how technology is shaping independence, dignity, and well-being as we age, and what happens when design truly reflects human needs. We also explore exciting innovat...

In this episode, we discuss the Cerebellum, or 'Little Brain', with Dr. Jessica Bernard, an Endowed Professor at Texas A & M University. We discuss her work on how cognitive and motor behavior changes with aging, and how the cerebellum, an often overlooked little brain region at the bottom of the brain, plays a big role in how we move, think and age. Dr. Bernard shares research on sex differen...

Welcome to our new ‘Round Table Series’ where Sarah and Amber chat about the latest research in brain health! In this episode we examine the relationship between heart health and brain health, with insights from Dr. Binu Thomas, an Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center whose research focuses on neuroimaging and cerebrovascular physiology. We discuss how physical health impacts brai...

How does the brain know where we are -- and how do we find our way through the world? In this episode, we explore the cognitive neuroscience of spatial navigation with Dr. Steven Weisberg, a cognitive neuroscientist at The University of Texas at Arlington. We discuss how the brain supports navigation, why some people have a better sense of direction than others, how navigation abilities change wit...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Beatriz Luna, Distinguished Professor at the University of Pittsburgh and a pioneer in research on the adolescent brain. We discuss the science behind teenage impulsivity and risk taking and why these behaviors are not only normal. but essential for learning, exploration, and developing independence. Dr. Luna explains the neurobiological changes taking place d...

In this special episode, recorded in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Center for Vital Longevity (CVL), we welcome Dr. Yaakov Stern—recipient of the inaugural Denise C. Park Research Excellence Award. We discuss his influential theory of cognitive reserve and explore how our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease has evolved over the decades. Dr. Stern also shares insights from his longitu...

In this episode, we meet with Dr. Jaime Castrellon, an Assistant Professor at UCLA. We discuss the science of decision-making and how emotions, moral judgments, and social context steer our choices. We also talk about dopamine’s role in choice, why we often go for immediate rewards, and how resisting social pressure may change with age. Our conversation also turns to the courtroom: Dr. Castrellon...

Dr. Michael Rugg, Distinguished Chair at the University of Texas at Dallas, Director of the Center for Vital Longevity, and a leading figure in the cognitive neuroscience of memory, joins us to pay tribute to the life and work of Dr. Eleanor Maguire, an award-winning Professor at the University College London. We discuss her groundbreaking research on memory and spatial navigation and how her inno...

Dr. Louis Renoult, a cognitive neuroscientist and lecturer at the University of East Anglia in the UK,  explores how different types of memory, like episodic and semantic memory, are represented in the brain and how they interact. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Renoult about the distinctions between these memory systems, the key brain networks that support them, and how our memories evolve over...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Audrey Duarte, a cognitive neuroscientist and Professor of Psychology at UT Austin. Dr. Duarte leads the Memory and Aging Lab, where she studies how memory changes with age - and why some people maintain better memory and brain health than others. Her research also examines how factors like sleep, mood, and social stress influence memory across the adult lifesp...

In this episode we meet with Dr. Charan Ranganath, a Professor at UC Davis, director of the Dynamic Memory Lab, and author of the New York Times’ best-seller “Why We Remember”. His research focuses on how memory is affected by emotion, stress, aging and neurological disorders. Dr. Ranganath explains why our brains are designed to forget and shares strategies to improve memory retention. Join us as...

Dr. Daniel Marson is a clinical neuropsychologist, licensed attorney, and Emeritus Professor of Neurology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he directed the Division of Neuropsychology (1995–2016) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Center (2005–2015). He has published extensively and led numerous NIH-funded studies on decisional and functional capacity in aging and neurocognitive disorders...

Dr. Muireann Irish is a Professor at the University of Sydney in the School of Psychology and Brain and Mind Centre. Her research focuses on understanding the neural processes that underpin memory, imagination, and emotional experience, especially in relation to dementia and aging. In this episode we discuss how dementia affects memory, the role of imagination in preserving cognitive function, and...

Dr. Shayna Rosenbaum is a Professor and York Research Chair in the Department of Psychology, as well as a member of the Vision: Science to Applications (VISTA) Program at York University. She is also an Associate Scientist at the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest. Her research explores how memory is represented in the brain, the impact of brain damage on cognitive functions, and strategies for...

Dr. Elizabeth Davenport is an Assistant Professor of Radiology and Technical Director of the MEG Center of Excellence at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Her research focuses on the effects of head impacts on the brain, using cutting edge imaging techniques to explore the relationship between repeated head impacts and neurodegenerative disorders.

Dr. Vishnu Murty is an Assistant Professor at the University of Oregon and Director of the Adaptive Memory Lab. His research focusses on the affect of different motivational and emotional states on memory and decision-making. He also studies the role of memory in adaptive behavior and in the domain of psychosis and post-traumatic stress disorder.

In this episode we meet Dr. Rachel Buckley, an Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on sex differences in risk for Alzheimer’s disease, with a particular focus on women’s brain health in neurodegenerative disease. She holds multiple NIH grants, as well as a fellowship from the Alzheimer’s Association, that seek to examine the role of menopause, sex hormo...

In this episode we meet with Dr. Clayton Curtis, a Professor at New York University’s Department of Psychology and Center for Neural Science. He explores how our brains help us understand and interact with the world around us, particularly in terms of spatial awareness and cognitive control. His research includes topics like working memory, attention, and motor control.

Dr. Aaron Heller is a Clinical Psychologist, Affective Neuroscientist and Associate Professor at the University of Miami's McKnight Brain Institute. His research focusses on the relationship between emotions and psychopathology, understanding how individual differences in emotion processing in the brain are related to depression and well-being.

Dr. Wig is an Associate Professor at UT Dallas and Director of the Wig Neuroimaging Lab at CVL. His research focuses on understanding large scale human brain networks with a focus on memory and attentional processes, and how these are impacted by aging and by the environment.

Dr. Frank R. Lin, MD is a hearing loss expert from Johns Hopkins University. We discuss his pivotal research on the profound implications of adult hearing loss, stimulating advancements in federal policies and initiatives for accessible, affordable, and effective hearing care. We also learn about the connection of hearing loss to brain health and cognitive decline. 

Dr. Lega is a Neurosurgeon and Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery at UT Southwestern. His research involves using advanced techniques to explore the affect of brain conditions on memory function.