Talking Anxiety, Appetite, and Courage with a Peking University Neuroscientist

"The brain is what I am. The rest of me is merely an appendix." — So declared Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle's great detective.

The human brain weighs a mere 1.3 kilograms on average, yet it contains roughly 86 billion neurons and 10^14 to 10^15 synapses, governing everything we perceive, remember, learn, and feel. Despite its profound importance, the brain's workings remain something of a "black box" — we know startlingly little about it. Neuroscience thus beckons scientists much like the Golden Fleece of myth. As the final frontier of life sciences, brain research will ultimately help us live better lives.

For this episode, we are joined by Dr. Zheng Wang from Peking University's School of Psychological and Cognitive Science. Dr. Wang's research focuses on neuroimaging and neuromodulation, working with both non-human primate models and human subjects. He is driven by the scientific challenges in neuroscience and brain disorders, and throughout his career has dedicated himself to developing new tools and technologies to help improve or resolve issues in mental health and psychiatric care.

In this episode, you'll hear about: How can computers help explore human anxiety? What effects does smartphone addiction have on the brain? How has the brain's unique architecture advanced modern imaging technology? What is neuromodulation, and how does it work? And what are the opportunities and challenges facing Chinese neuroscience?

Guest

Zheng Wang — Researcher, Peking University School of Psychological and Cognitive Science; McGovern Institute for Brain Research; PKU-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences

Timeline

03:12 How should we view the rising incidence of mental illness?

08:13 How computers can be used to explore human decision-making under anxiety

14:15 Fragmented information deprives people of the ability to choose and explore

19:57 The history of modern imaging technology and possible future directions

24:23 How MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) technology is applied in research

29:21 The "One Body, Two Wings" of neuroscience: the ultimate frontier, brain-inspired intelligence, and brain disorders

33:22 Neuromodulation methods for anxiety

36:52 How gut microbiota influence the brain and, in turn, body weight

41:38 What is the significance of simulating DBS (deep brain stimulation) network effects?

44:16 How to select intervention targets for DBS (deep brain stimulation)

48:07 The state of neuroscience research in China

48:41 Commercial opportunities and challenges in Chinese neuroscience

54:44 Considerations for young people before entering neuroscience research

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Production

Post-production: Keyone Studio

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