Friday, September 19, 2008 at 2:00 AM Brain Imaging: Recorded LIVE at Dragon*Con 2008 (BSP 46)
Dragon*Con 2008Brain Science Podcast #46 is a discussion of brain imaging with Dr. Shella Keilholz and Dr. Jason Schneiderman. The focus of our discussion is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which is revolutionizing neuroscience. We talked about both the strengths and weaknesses of this technique. Both of my guests agree that mainstream coverage of this technique tends to exagerate what we can actually tell from this kind of brain scan. An important principle is that the scan of any single individual can vary greatly from day-to-day, which means that valid conclusions require data from a large number of people.
Listen to Episode 46 of the Brain Science Podcast
Since this episode was recorded LIVE in the Podcasting Track at Dragon*Con 2008, it includes audience questions at the end, which helped bring out additional ideas. I have posted an edited version (but there is still some noise from the room next door). If you are interested in hearing the raw unedited version, click here. I also want to thank Swoopy from Skepticality for all the work she did to make the podcasting track a great success.
More about my guests:
Shella Keilholz, PhD is an assistant professor of Biomedical Engineeering at Georgia Tech and the Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. She is doing studies that involve correlating fMRI scans with the reading from electrodes placed in rat brains. This work is fundamental to improving the correlation between fMRI scans, which reflect brain activity only indirectly, and what is actually happening in the neurons of the brain.
Jason Schneiderman, PhD studied psychology before earning his PhD in neuroscience. His dissertation involved the use of diffusion tensor imaging, which is a new method of scanning that is being used to track the axonal connections in the brain. He is currently doing a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School where his team is trying to determine if the connections in the brains of young schizophrenics are different from normal. The goal is to improve early diagnosis because early intervention makes a big difference.
Some recent discussions of fMRI:
- Must Read Paper on fMRI -and- The Worst fMRI Science Journalism Ever (Pure Pedantry, 6/27/08)
- What we can do and what we cannot do with fMRI by Nikos K. Logothetis, Nature 453, 869-878 (12 June 2008). Note: full text is only available to subscribers.
- Can fMRI tell if I secretly love the Yankees? - The Great Beyond (Nature.com) June 16, 2008
Listen to Episode 46 of the Brain Science Podcast
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Reader Comments (5)
thanks for your podcast and efforts.
I don't always understand everything, but then I don't have to :-)
About notes: have you ever listened to the Econtalk podcast (econtalk,org)? The notes to each podcast are stunning in their comprehensiveness. On the other hand, I get it that you might not want to spend the time.
About announcements: you usually mention at the beginning of the podcast that you have announcements at the end of the podcast. Well, it doesn't work for me. Here is why...
I listen to my podcasts on the go, almost never at the PC. My MP3 player is a now old iRiver model, with limited navigation capabilities. So when the podcast is long (more than 20-30 minutes), I have no other choice than go through with it to listen at what is said at the end.
Now, it takes me at most 15 minutes to decide whether I want to stick with the podcast. Combine (a) long podcast, (b) difficult subject, (c) a few main points addressed within the first 15 minutes, and I'm sorry to say that I seldom get to hear those announcements of yours.
Suggestion: get rid of that stuff at the beginning. Also, it is then easier to fast forward them.
Keep up the good work, and greetings from Stuttgart, Germany.
I am not sure I understand what you want me to leave off at the beginning. The one minute intro is about as concise as I know how to make it! (You wouldn't be able to find this website to leave a comment if I didn't tell you where it was!)
On the other hand, I fully understand that many listeners do not get to my closing comments. But as you observed, you are going to decide within a few minutes whether to commit to listening to the episode and I don't want to waste that precious time on announcements.
If you actually care about the announcements perhaps you might want to visit the Discussion Forum at http://brainscienceforum.com" rel="nofollow">http://brainscienceforum.com since I usually post the information there and on this website.
"I am not sure I understand what you want me to leave off at the beginning."
Ideally, I'd like to have:
- a brief intro mentionning what's on the program.
- then the announcements, as they are short enough (easy for me to fast forward through). And/or mention the Discussion Forum in addition/instead.
- then the main subject.
"... visit the Discussion Forum ..."
Perfect! I didn't know they were there, as I seldom visit the web site.
;-) thanks.
Good Grief! Well Doc I think you are doing a wonderful job with your podcasts they're just fine as they are. I can't believe the things people moan about. Please keep up the good work. I only discovered you a few months ago and have been hooked ever since. I'm only sorry I've already worked my way through your archive so I have to wait for future episodes like everyone else. Kindest regards Nikki in Scotland.
I posted here a while ago, I come back now and then to read any new articles :)