Smart Drug Smarts: Brain Optimization | Nootropics | Neuroscience
Latest Episodes
#230: Measuring Intuition with Dr. Joel Pearson
Some aspects of our internal mental life seem to defy measurement. "Intuition" seems like a prime example of something impossible to quantify... But what if it's not? Dr. Joel Pearson tells us about his ingenious studies putting a value on human intu...
#229: Learning to Learn
Last-minute cramming (even on lots of nootropics) isn't the best gameplan for effective learning. So what is? Learning researchers explain the theory and practice of efficiently building your mental toolkit.
#228: Perception as a Controlled Hallucination
Our senses provide us with a best-guess interpretation of reality -- but it's only a guess. Dr. Anil Seth explains how perception and consciousness interact, and how we can intentionally shift our "reality filter" with methods like induced synesthesia.
#227: How Language Affects Thought
Is "a rose by any other name" still a rose... to your brain? Dr. Viorica Marian explains how the language that we use affects how we actually think.
#226: The Return of Metabolism
You don't think much about your electricity until the power goes out. And human metabolism is kind of the same way. Dr. Navdeep Chandel explains why metabolism is worth paying attention to -- for lifespan, healthspan, and for dodging disease.
#225: Schizophrenia with Dr. Tyrone Cannon
"Schizophrenia" is a word that strikes fear in the hearts (and minds) of those who have seen its effects. It's often misunderstood -- but one aspect that's universally recognized is that it's a *big deal.* And it affects nearly 1% of the adult populat...
#224: Don’t forget about Prospective Memory
Prospective Memory is something we notice most when it fails -- when we recall (too late!) something we meant to remember. Dr. Michael Scullin tells us how to keep ideas top-of-mind.
#223: Ketone Esters with Dr. Brianna Stubbs
Ketogenic Diets, Ketone Salts, Ketone Esters... What does all this mean -- and which ones will help turn your brain into a well-lubricated fat-burning engine most easily? Dr. Brianna Stubbs -- who is a biohacker and world-class athlete as well as a re...
#222: What are “Fast-Spiking Interneurons”?
What are "interneurons" and how do they affect our brains' ability to function, to change, and to learn? Research scientist Dr. Scott Owen explains the latest findings.
#221: Marijuana, the Non-Medical Kind ;)
It's easier to smoke marijuana legally these days than it is to study it. Strange, but true. But with tens of millions of Americans using recreational marijuana regularly...isn't it time we learned what it's doing to our brains?