UCTV - University of California Television

Welcome to the Brain Channel, a platform to explore research and ideas on the brain and mind, as well as possible treatments for conditions related to the nervous system.

The workings of the brain define us – what we sense, what we know, who we are. In health, the brain functions marvelously. Our goal is to find out why the brain sometimes lets us down and leads to illness.

We are on the cusp of what promises to be an era of unprecedented progress in neurology. Even with current fiscal constraints and serious concerns about how healthcare will be organized and financed, in the next two decades progress in neurology and neurological science will create important new insights into the brain as we decipher its disorders and discover and apply effective treatments.

Please join us on this adventure to learn more about the brain and all its possibilities. Check back often for new programs, news and resources. And if you would like to suggest a topic for us to tackle, please send your ideas to brainchannel@ucsd.edu.

William C. Mobley, MD, PhD
Department of Neurosciences
University of California, San Diego

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Watch all the programs in the On Our Mind series.

Stop, You’re Making Me Blush

05/17/2018

I want to take you back to the most embarrassing moment of your life. Come on, you know what that was. For some people it was giving a presentation in front of a large audience. For some it involved saying or doing something really stupid, perhaps in front of someone you were attracted to; it […]

A Bright Idea: Illuminating the Brain with GCaMP

05/10/2018

You might’ve read stories about some brain region “lighting up” in response to some stimulus. But what does “lighting up” actually mean? Oftentimes it refers to scientists using a fMRI machine that applies sophisticated technology to translate changes in blood flow into pixels on a computer screen. Sometimes though the brain can literally light up, […]

The Neurogenesis Saga: Are new neurons born in the adult human brain?

05/03/2018

One of neuroscience’s most heated debates during the past 50 years has been whether or not new neurons are born (a process called neurogenesis) in the adult mammalian brain. Before the late 1990s, we believed that we were born with all the neurons we would have throughout our lives. However, evidence of adult neurogenesis from […]

Lymph, glymph, sleep, & sickness

04/26/2018

Consider the word “lymph.” What comes to mind? To me, “lymph” sounds like a viscous liquid that might ooze out of the orifices of some terrifying wounded creature. Or perhaps your mind jumps to the term “lymph nodes”, conjuring images of little knobs in your neck bulging with infection, sometimes growing so large that […]

taste of science: a fest to feed your curiosity

04/19/2018

I’m a firm believer that science and beer pair well together. Luckily for me, taste of science San Diego highlights the best of both in a week–long festival. As the city coordinator, I’ve worked with an incredible team to create a festival that provides San Diegans a unique opportunity to get a flavor for the […]

Titrating your trip: Microdosing and mental health

04/12/2018

DISCLAIMER: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to promote or condone the purchase, possession, sale, or consumption of any illicit substances. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. Your alarm goes off, you hit snooze a few times, then roll over and drag yourself out of bed to make some coffee. It’s just another […]

Alzheimer's Disease

The oncoming epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease is staggering to consider. It will have an enormous impact on our personal lives, our communities, and our nation. Join us to explore treatment options, innovations in research, and so much more.

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Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disorders that has a wide range of impacts. William Mobley, PhD interviews clinicians and researchers to learn more about what we know and what we have yet to learn about autism.

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Movement Disorders

UC San Diego physicians and researchers are hard at work uncovering the symptoms, secrets, and progression of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. William Mobley, MD, PhD sits down with those on the front lines to find out what we currently know, where research is trending, and what potential therapies are on the horizon.

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On Our Mind

William C. Mobley, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosciences at UCSD, welcomes experts with wide ranging expertise to discuss the brain. Explore how the brain works, the technologies we can use to harness brain power, and how we can treat disease, and much more.

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