Think Twice Podcast

The idea that technology may be able to directly capture and control our thoughts is both fascinating and scary. But this type of technology has been around and is continues to be developed for a variety of applications. In this episode, we speak to Dr. Susan Boehnke about brain computer interfaces and neuromarketing. We dive into the ethical implications of brain-computer interface (BCI) applicat...

Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) allow us to connect the brain directly to an external device. By implanting some electrodes in certain regions of the brain, we can record brain activity and connect it to a computer or prosthetic that can then carry out the action that is being decoded based on the neural activity. Cool, huh? But before we get carried away by all the potential these technologies ha...

DNA is the code for life, it's in all of our cells and it makes us who we are. But, it can also make things go terribly wrong, leading to genetic diseases and predispositions to other diseases like cancer. A cutting-edge field known as gene therapy is focused on manipulating that code to study diseases and develop novel therapeutics that rely on genetic engineering techniques. So how does it all w...

Did you know that your eye is actually an extension of your brain? Ever heard of an eye microbiome? Why do you have to sneeze when you go into the sun? Can vitamin D supplements really replace the vitamin D you get from the sun? What role do your eyes play in vitamin D levels and why do we even care about Vitamin D anyway? How is the risk of developing multiple sclerosis or optic neuropathy relate...

Have you ever thought about how your brain makes decisions? How does your brain decide if you should go out with your friends for a drink instead of studying for a midterm or even how does it decide what political party to vote for when elections come around? Is there such a thing as free will or is it merely an illusion? In this graduate student interview episode, Julien Milosz discusses computat...

Curious about what bees and humans have in common when it comes to cocaine and reward circuits? Wondering what this all means for addiction research or even saving the bees? In this journal club-style episode, we are covering a recent paper on the effects of cocaine on honeybees and you won't BEE-lieve what it showed. We break down the methods and results of this fascinating research, from dopamin...

Have you every wondered how exactly drugs are designed to access the brain? The answer usually revolves around one very important part of the central nervous system. The blood brain barrier is the layer of cells that protects the brain from pathogens while still allowing for the removal of toxins. From pain medications to ozempic, several drugs have been designed to get across this barrier in one...

Have you ever wondered what makes a person capable of heinous acts such as murder? Are their brains different from the rest of us? Do they feel remorse or guilt? What about how to predict if someone will grow up to be a psychopath? In this episode, we explore the dark yet intriguing realm of psychopathy and the neuroscience behind it all! We answer your burning questions on the topic, including po...

Would you trust an AI chatbot with your mental health? The lack of accessible and effective interventions for mental health continues to be a worldwide problem. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) represent a potential solution, including the rise of 24-hour AI chatbots as a support tool. However, with all new technologies there is concern about the lack of regulatory oversight, po...

Did you know that there are cells in your brain that decide when you should feel hungry and when you should feel full? And in some people, those cells don't work and the feeling of hunger never disappears regardless of how much they eat. Understanding how these cells work and what key mechanisms regulate satiety in humans is crucial to combat the global obesity epidemic. In this graduate student i...

Did you know that reading isn't only for fun, but it can also have several health benefits like improving sleep quality, cognitive function, and stress relief? Self-help is a genre that is quickly rising in popularity but, unfortunately, a lot of self-help content is not actually backed by neuroscience. So, which ones should you read and which ones should you avoid? In this episode, professor and...

Have you ever wondered how lucid dreaming is even possible; being aware that you’re dreaming and also having the ability to control your dreams? Well, researchers are using cutting-edge techniques to figure it out, including how they can communicate with lucid dreamers, the brain mechanisms responsible for these experiences, and how people can teach themselves to lucid dream. It might sound a lot...

Did you know there is a link between hormonal changes and seizures? New research is demonstrating a bi-directional relationship between hormones like estrogen and progesterone with electrical activity in the brain. We know there are vast differences in hormonal cycles between men and women, so why are standard epilepsy treatments not considering this? In this episode, we chatted with Dr. Lata Vadl...

Can digging for gold cause Alzheimer's disease? A recent review paper published in the journal biomolecules seems to suggest so and media headlines are spreading the word fast and far. But how strong is the scientific evidence? In this journal club-style episode, we break down the neuroscience, provide you with a summary of the paper in question, and critically analyze its limitations and implicat...

Who isn’t stressed these days? Whether you’re a student, working in a hypercompetitive career space, or dealing with trauma, stress has become a normalized experience for all. But, have you ever stopped to consider how stress is impacting your body and brain? Emerging research is demonstrating that, while some stress can be good for us, toxic and chronic levels of stress can contribute to severe a...

Are you interested in publishing your research but don't know how to succeed? Or are you navigating the early years of grad school and don't know what to expect? In this episode, PhD candidates in neuroscience at Queen's University chat about their secrets to success when writing and presenting research in grad school, including topics like what to include in a scientific publication, how to ident...

What's it like to be a woman in neuroscience and STEM? How did a team of 5 manage to plan and execute a ~100 person conference while being full-time graduate students? What's stopping you from making a positive change for future generations in your field? In this episode, we're thrilled to amplify the voices of Women in Neuro (WiN), a recently established outreach program at Queen's University tha...

What is misinformation and why does it have such pervasive effects on society? How do our brain's thinking patterns facilitate the beliefs and consequences of misinformation? In this episode, we explore these questions as well as solutions in an effort to reduce misinformation and the sometimes dangerous effects it can have. Authors: Deane Pinto, Elena Koning, Eve Racette Email: thinktwicepodcast@...

What is generative AI and how is it fuelling the spread of misinformation and public distrust in scientific consensus? How should graduate students be using ChatGPT, if at all? In this episode, we discuss the rise of generative AI and the unique concerns associated with it, including the spread of misinformation, creation of deep fakes and promotion of science denial. We are joined by Dr. Gale Sin...

What are the safety risks of cannabis exposure? Did legalization occur too soon? In part III of the cannabis series, we are joined by Kristen Yeh, a PhD Candidate studying environmental chemistry at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on the chemical evolution of emissions produced from smoking cannabis and the impacts of these emissions on air quality. Authors: Elena Koning Email: thi...

Is cannabis actually effective as a pain management tool or is it all just placebo? How does the media portrayal of cannabis research impact research? In part II of the cannabis series, we are joined by Dr. Filip Gedin, a postdoc in the Pain Neuroimaging Lab at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Dr. Gedin obtained his Ph. D. in health economics from Karolinska Institutet in 2020. In his PhD thesis,...

Weed, Pot, Mary Jane, Dope, Janga, the Devil's Lettuce!! By now, we’re all familiar with what these names are referring to. The cannabis industry is growing worldwide and so is the presence of cannabis-related content on social media. Despite the hype, there is surprisingly little evidence for a beneficial effect of cannabis in humans. In fact, in some cases, it causes more harm than good. So how...

ASMR is all over social media these days, whether it’s someone cooking for you, tapping their fingers on random objects or just comforting whispers. These simple sounds can cause tingly and fuzzy feelings of euphoria, and this response is known as the autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR for short). Some claim that ASMR promotes relaxation, helps sleep, improves mood and even helps combat pa...

Ever wondered how neuroimaging works? The development of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 1990 was revolutionary for the field of neuroscience and has led to groundbreaking discoveries about the brain. However, it has also led to exaggerated claims and misinformation when results are misinterpreted and shared incorrectly in the media. Further, numerous issues and limitations have be...

Can you really be addicted to food? What causes emotional eating? How can simple mindfulness tools improve your relationship with food? Research on the relationship between eating behavior and mood is being increasingly discussed in the media, but it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. We break it all down for you in this deep dive into the neuroscience of eating behavior and mood. We disc...