NeuroRelay

NEURO.tv is a monthly online conversation between scientists and philosophers who try to understand the mind and the brain. It is an initiative of a group of bloggers at the well known BrainFacts.org and they started on June this year to discuss the most recent discoveries in neuroscience and psychology with those who work every day to advance our knowledge. This is a registered non-profit dedicated to public education, presided by Dr. Jean-Francois Gariepy, researcher at Duke University, and all guests appearing on the show are volunteering their time.
NEURO.tv brings neurosciences education closer to us and in order to experience this, here are the first 5 episodes (season 1) of the show:
Episode 1 – Neuron transplantation and how we develop first impressions
Jean-François Gariépy, Leanne Boucher and Steven Miller discuss neuronal transplantation as a potential cure for seizures. We also talk about a study that reveals part of the brain areas activated when developing our first impression of others.

Episode 2 – Light exposure and the brain – Light, Dark and the Switching of Neurotransmitters
Nicholas C. Spitzer joins us to talk about his recent discovery published in Science about neurons that change their neurotransmitters according to the amount of light exposure that animals get in a day.

Episode 3 – The mind, the brain, computational neuroscience and ion channels

Erin C. McKiernan talks about her recent study in Drosophila larvae. She explains her findings in how specific ion channels referred to as BK channels play a role in the generation of movements in these larvae. We also talk about the role of theoretical neuroscience.

Episode 4 -The Evolution of the Synapse

Kenneth S. Kosik describes the spectacular evolutionary history of the genes contributing to the connections between neurons in our brains. Looking at the genes involved in the formation of the synapse in mammals and comparing with animals such as sponges, we see that part of the molecular machine forming the synapse was present before neurons appeared.

Episode 5 – Grid cells and navigation

May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser discuss grid cells, some of the most fascinating neurons in the animal brain. These cells are active when the animal is present in different spots of the space and seem to be involved in the representation of a map of the environment that allows animals to navigate the space.