ASCEND Brain Bites
ASCEND Brain Bites
Ascend Program
Brain Bites is the bite-size neuroscience podcast of the ASCEND program (Advancing STEM Community Engagement through Neuroscience) where we explore the depths of your brain in a fun, digestible format. Brain Bites is written and produced by Dan Nemeth and Christian Holt. Theme Music by Max Hentosh Find us on Facebook and Instagram at ascendneuroscience and on twitter @ascendneuroscience. Feel free to send us questions and comments on social media or email us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!
How immune cells can cause brain disease - Multiple Sclerosis w/ Mireia Guerau-de-Arellano, PhD
Dr. Dan Nemeth sits down with Mireia Guerau-de-Arellano, PhD to talk about how intricate your immune system is and how, when it goes wrong, can lead to a serious disease called Multiple Sclerosis.    Host/Producer: Dan Nemeth, PhD Cohost/Editor: Christian Holt     
Aug 13, 2024
16 min
Why Crows are SUPER SMART!! w/ Dr. John Marzluff
Dr. Nemeth and Sam McGovern chat with crow behavior expert, Dr. John Marzluff, about why and how our neighborhood crow friends are so gosh darn smart! We discuss the neuroscience behind crow behavior! 
Mar 14, 2023
19 min
Neuroscience of Addiction with Dr. Judith Grisel
Parental Warning: This episode contains themes and discussions of drug use, addiction, and its concequences.  Dr. Dan and Dr. Lorena talk with NYT-bestselling author and world leading addiciton neuroscientist, Judith Grisel, about the neuroscience of addiction.  If you want to learn more about addiction, check out https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/parents-educators for more info!  Also if you or a loved one is strugglng with addiciton contact SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or a local addiction drug and rehab facility. 
Jun 13, 2022
16 min
Neuroscience of Illusions with Dr. Stephen Macknik- Full Interview
You may have gotten a taste of how your brain can trick you in our Illusions episode! Here is a full-feature release of the entire interview we had with Dr. Macknik! Hope you enjoy!
Mar 31, 2022
42 min
Episode 9 - Music and Memory
Our special guest, Mia Amato, tells Dan and Dr. Lorena Areal all about how our brains perceive music and how music is connected to our memory!! 
Oct 16, 2021
13 min
Neuroscience of Illusions!
Danny and new co-host, Dr. Lorena Areal, dive into the wild world of illusions and how your brain processes sensory information! We interview a world expert neuroscientist specialized in visual illusions, Dr. Stephen Macknik!
Nov 10, 2020
19 min
Episode 7 -  Memory and ....Flies?
Melissa and Danny delve into how memory is formed and how neuroscientists can study memory formation. How did scientists find this out and how are flies involved?  
Feb 3, 2020
20 min
Episode 6: Happy BRAINSgiving!
Melissa and Danny wish you a Happy Thanksgiving by deciphering the age old myth about Thanksgiving: Does the tryptophan in turkey really make you sleepy? We also talk about how gratitude and Black Friday shopping affect your brain!
Nov 28, 2019
15 min
Episode 5: Fear, BRAINS! and Zombies!
Melissa and Danny discuss the neuroscience of Halloween! Such as how you get scared, if Zombies are plausible, and why eating human brains is bad!
Oct 31, 2019
19 min
The Senses, Pt. 2
This time we talk about the senses of hearing, sight, and touch. Our hearing changes over our lives, as evidenced by the high-pitched sounds that adults can't hear. We also talk about how our eyes see color and why some people are color blind. Have you ever felt your phone vibrate, but when you check it, there's no message? Listen to hear about the recent theories behind the phantom vibration phenomenon! Join us to hear our interview with Brock Grill, PhD, from The Scripps Research Institute Florida! We talk about how the tiny worm, C. elegans, senses touch and what that tells us about the human nervous system!
Oct 30, 2019
27 min
Load more