Designer DNA Drugs with Don Cleveland
Learn more about designer DNA drugs & how they will impact patient care.
Reconstructing the Brain in a Dish
Rare disorder gives insight into neuroinflamation.
Living with Down Syndrome
Karen Gaffney discusses her life with Down Syndrome and the need for more research.
Advances in Otolaryngology
New developments in inner ear treatments, cochlear implants, hearing loss & more.
  • Welcome
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  • Brain Blog
  • Featured Series
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.
From symptoms to biology: shifting definitions of Alzheimer’s disease
11/15/2018
As a neuroscientist studying Alzheimer’s, I’m reminded of its far-reaching impact each time a barista, cashier, or Lyft driver makes small talk by asking what I do for a living. Unfortunately, this devastating disease needs no introduction. Considering its ubiquity, it’s surprising that a debate broke out recently among leaders in the field over the […]
Did you see that? The Mysteries of Sensory Deprivation
11/08/2018
When I was a kid swimming in the neighbor’s pool, I loved to float on my back, eyes closed, with ears submerged so that I could only hear the muted sounds of the water around me. Though I found the experience relaxing, I also felt profoundly strange. We are constantly bombarded with sensory information from […]
SfN 2018 NeuWriter Picks!
11/01/2018
It’s that time of year again…the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting (SfN) starts on Saturday, and this year it’s happening on our home turf! There are a lot of reasons to be excited about SfN in San Diego…the weather is beautiful (sunny and 79 degrees in November!), neuroscience friends come to town, NeuWriteSD presents a […]
The Science of Stuttering
10/25/2018
A special thank you to Kaja Bajc and Jaymie Horak for their incredibly helpful personal input. How is it that someone can sing fluidly but struggle to introduce herself? Or smoothly imitate a foreign accent without trouble, but get stuck on words when speaking without pretense?  Stuttering is a communication disorder characterized by disruptions (“disfluencies”) […]
Follow the Flock
10/18/2018
[En español] Have you ever tried a cigarette? I have. I was a teen, and holding a cigarette looked pretty cool, but smoking seemed disgusting, and it left a horrible smell in my hair, clothes and fingers. So I didn’t get hooked. But, seriously, why did I even try it in the first place? It […]
The Neuroscience of Mindfulness Meditation
10/11/2018
When I think of meditation, the first image that typically comes to mind is that of a monk in flowing orange robes somewhere in the mountains of Tibet. Meditation has gotten a facelift in the last decade in pop culture, thanks in part to best selling books like 10% happier by the television journalist Dan […]
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.

Browse Alzheimer's Disease >
 
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.

Browse Autism >
 
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.

Browse Movement Disorders >
 
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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