Neuroscience Perspectives

Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester
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Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of neuroscience with our expert guests as they explore the mysteries of the brain and the latest breakthroughs in research with our host, John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester Medicine. Each episode features in-depth conversations with leading scientists, who unravel complex topics and tackle intriguing questions like: How does the brain shape our behavior? What role do genetics play in our health? How do early life experiences shape brain function and critical periods of brain development? Listen as they share their unique journeys to neuroscience research, lessons learned from the bench, and discoveries that transform our understanding of neurodevelopmental diseases and disorders like autism and Rett syndrome and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Whether you’re a seasoned scientist or just curious about the brain, our podcast will spark your interest, expand your understanding of this dynamic field, and lift the veil on how leaders in brain research made it to where they are today. Don’t miss out on your journey into the depths of neuroscience with experts from around the world—subscribe now!

  1. 2h ago

    Why can making something bigger make it harder to see? | Duje Tadin, PhD

    In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, Dr. Duje Tadin, professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ophthalmology, and Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, explores the neuroscience of visual perception and motion processing, revealing how the brain interprets visual information and shapes our perception of reality. Dr. Tadin shares how an unexpected result during his graduate research led to discoveries about motion perception, contrast, and the brain's ability to distinguish meaningful visual signals from the background. He explains why the brain doesn't simply create an accurate copy of everything we see, but instead prioritizes information that is useful to us. He reveals his approach to studying visual illusions and his work investigating differences in visual perception in conditions including autism, schizophrenia, stroke, and low vision. Dr. Tadin's scientific journey is filled with curiosity and saying yes. He first came to the U.S. as an exchange student in high school, which set him on a trajectory toward academia. Join Dr. Tadin and our podcast host Dr. John Foxe, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience for a conversation about the surprising science of seeing, how the brain makes sense of a complex visual world, and the discoveries that emerge when researchers question what seems obvious. Subscribe for more conversations with leading neuroscientists about the research shaping our understanding of the brain. #Neuroscience #VisualPerception #MotionPerception #BrainScience #NeurosciencePerspectives

    Why can making something bigger make it harder to see? | Duje Tadin, PhD

  2. Sep 24

    How Microglia Influence Brain Development and Disease | Ania Majewska

    On this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, John Foxe, PhD, talks with Ania Majewska, PhD, professor of neuroscience and co-director of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at the University of Rochester. Majewska studies microglia—immune cells in the brain—and how they interact with synapses during development, learning, and disease. Using advanced two-photon microscopy and in-vivo imaging, Majewska and her team can watch microglia and synapses interact in the living brain. Her landmark research has helped shift how we think about microglia, showing that they are not just passive responders to injury but active, dynamic participants in normal brain wiring and plasticity. Majewska also discusses her path into neuroscience, the evolution of two-photon imaging, and the importance of mentorship in scientific research. Listen and learn more about microglia, synapses, brain plasticity, neurodevelopment, and the technologies helping scientists see the brain in action. Subscribe to Neuroscience Perspectives for conversations with leading neuroscientists and researchers from the University of Rochester and beyond.

    How Microglia Influence Brain Development and Disease | Ania Majewska

  3. Aug 27

    RE-RELEASE: Why the Brain is Smarter than AI

    Dr. Doris Tsao shares how her pioneering research has transformed our understanding of how the brain processes visual information. Her lab helped discover that it only takes a few hundred neurons to encode any face – for reference, there are more than a few billion neurons in the brain. This conversation explores the intersection of neuroscience, math, and AI. We also discuss her academic journey—from Caltech to Harvard, and her current role at UC Berkeley. Dr. Tsao shares the importance of science communication and what it means to pursue truth in a world shaped by both neural networks and human curiosity. Join Dr. John Foxe, Director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at University of Rochester Medicine on Neuroscience Perspectives. #podcast #science #AI #brain #neuroscience

    RE-RELEASE: Why the Brain is Smarter than AI

  4. Jul 23

    RE-RELEASE: Lisa Genova Novels and Neuroscience

    Revisit the fascinating conversation with best-selling author and neuroscientist Lisa Genova, PhD. Her groundbreaking novel, Still Alice, coupled powerful storytelling with the reality of Alzheimer's disease. It launched Lisa Genova into the spotlight and Hollywood, but most importantly, it deepened the public’s understanding of the neurological condition. Lisa Genova continues to bridge science and storytelling, writing books about left neglect, Huntington’s, ALS, autism, and bipolar disorder. In doing so, she inspires empathy for those affected and reshapes how these diseases are perceived beyond the lab and clinic. Dr. Genova was a headline speaker at the University of Rochester's Meliora Weekend: https://www.rochester.edu/melioraweekend/meliora-2025-announcement/#lisa #neuroscience #BrainHealth #LisaGenova 🧠Stay Connected Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@URNeuroscience X: https://x.com/URNeuroscience BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/urneuroscience.bsky.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/urneuroscience/ 🧠Experts in this Episode: Lisa Genova, PhD: https://www.lisagenova.com/ John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe

    RE-RELEASE: Lisa Genova Novels and Neuroscience

  5. Jun 25

    How can a microscopic roundworm help researchers understand the brain?

    Anne Hart, PhD, professor and Chair of Neuroscience at Brown University, uses C elegans to study genetics, disease, and sleep. In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, she tells Dr. John Foxe about the bold move she made early in her career and how it paid off. She also shares the importance of using these simple animal models to ask complex questions.

    How can a microscopic roundworm help researchers understand the brain?

  6. May 21

    Why Can't You 'See' Everything? The Neuroscience Behind Selective Attention

    Dr. Marlene Cohen, professor of Neurobiology at the University of Chicago's Neuroscience Institute, discusses how selective attention helps us pick out what is important in the world around us. Our eyes are constantly bombarded with information, which then enters the brain for processing. This highlights the intricate work of neuroscience in understanding brain function and how we perceive our environment. She is recognized for using multielectrode array recordings to show that a specific pattern of brain activity is reduced when the brain prioritizes information, and that the same mechanism is used when we learn. Today, her research investigates how neural activity gives rise to behavior, particularly in the context of visual attention, and she has also moved into translational work. #neuroscience #cognitive science #brainscience #selectiveattention #optic 🧠Stay Connected Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@URNeuroscience X: https://x.com/URNeuroscience BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/urneuroscience.bsky.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/urneuroscience/ 🧠Experts in this Episode: Marlene Cohen, PhD: https://neurobiology.uchicago.edu/faculty/marlene-cohen John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe 🧠Labs Mentioned: Marlene Cohen Lab: http://www.cohenlab.com/ Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

    Why Can't You 'See' Everything? The Neuroscience Behind Selective Attention

  7. Apr 23

    Rett Syndrome: Symptoms, Genetics, Science, and Clinical Trials

    What is Rett syndrome—and how close are we to effective treatments? In this episode of Neuroscience Perspectives, Dr. John Foxe, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at University of Rochester Medicine, sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Neul, a leading expert in pediatric neurology and neurodevelopmental disorders, to explore the latest breakthroughs in Rett syndrome research, clinical trials, and biomarker development. Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurological disorder that primarily affects girls and is often caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. Dr. Neul shares how advances in neurogenetics and translational neuroscience are transforming how researchers understand and treat this complex condition. #RettSyndrome #Neuroscience #RareDisease #PediatricNeurology #BrainResearch #Neurodevelopment #ClinicalTrials #MedicalResearch #SciencePodcast #Podcast 🧠Stay Connected Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@URNeuroscience X: https://x.com/URNeuroscience BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/urneuroscience.bsky.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/urneuroscience/ 🧠Experts in this Episode: Jeffrey Neul, MD, PhD: https://vkc.vumc.org/people/neul-jeffrey John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe 🧠Labs Mentioned: Neul Lab: http://neullab.com/index.html Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

    Rett Syndrome: Symptoms, Genetics, Science, and Clinical Trials

  8. Mar 19

    Brain Organoids Unlock New Understanding of Developmental Disorders

    What the hippocampus tells us about exercise, learning, and memory. How organoids are being used in neurodevelopmental research. And the future of medicine and stem cell therapy. In this episode, Dr. Xinyu Zhao, Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and investigator at the Waisman Center, joins John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester. Dr. Zhao is internationally recognized for groundbreaking research on the molecular mechanisms that regulate neural stem cells, adult neurogenesis, and brain development, including how disruptions in these processes contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism, fragile X syndrome, and Rett syndrome. Dr. Zhao was a keynote speaker at the 2025 Golisano Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Institute and Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Symposium. 🧠Stay Connected Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@URNeuroscience X: https://x.com/URNeuroscience BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/urneuroscience.bsky.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/urneuroscience/ 🧠Experts in this Episode: Xinyu Zhao, PhD: https://neuro.wisc.edu/staff/zhao-xinyu/ John Foxe, PhD: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112360965-john-j-foxe 🧠Labs Mentioned: Zhao Lab: https://zhao-lab.com/ Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab: https://urmc.info/1RG

    Brain Organoids Unlock New Understanding of Developmental Disorders
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About

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of neuroscience with our expert guests as they explore the mysteries of the brain and the latest breakthroughs in research with our host, John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester Medicine. Each episode features in-depth conversations with leading scientists, who unravel complex topics and tackle intriguing questions like: How does the brain shape our behavior? What role do genetics play in our health? How do early life experiences shape brain function and critical periods of brain development? Listen as they share their unique journeys to neuroscience research, lessons learned from the bench, and discoveries that transform our understanding of neurodevelopmental diseases and disorders like autism and Rett syndrome and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Whether you’re a seasoned scientist or just curious about the brain, our podcast will spark your interest, expand your understanding of this dynamic field, and lift the veil on how leaders in brain research made it to where they are today. Don’t miss out on your journey into the depths of neuroscience with experts from around the world—subscribe now!

Information

  • Creator
    Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester
  • Show Website
    Neuroscience Perspectives

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