Listen Now

Bo and I discuss some of the leading candidates for extending both human lifespan and “health-span”, including metformin, nicotinamide riboside & nicotinamide mononucleotide, and caloric restriction. We also chat about some of the companies working in this area, as well as novel business models that may or may not be a strategy to enable rigorous research of something as difficult to study as human lifespan. References: https://anthropoid.squarespace.com/podcast  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/anthropoid/support

In preparation for the upcoming mid-term elections in the United States (REMEMBER TO VOTE ON NOVEMBER 6TH !), Bo and I chat about how much of a person’s politics are inherited genetically from their parents, as well as some companies that are entirely devoted to trying to make you vote in a certain way. I learned quite a bit prepping for this conversation, and suffice it to say that I was pretty surprised with what I learned. Note about the recording: if you can’t tell, we’re using a new audio set-up (thank you Patreon & Twitter supporters!!!). While we have gotten rid of some of the ambient noise – at least as much noise as you can in a Philly apartment – we’re clearly lacking pop-filters on this recording. So, apologies for the heavy Ps and Bs on this one; a pop-filter has been ordered, and I tried to edit out the worst of them. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/anthropoid/support

Another multi-topic episode. We discuss the recent approval of a new treatment for migraines, then some evidence suggesting a certain kind of exercise may be therapeutic for Alzheimer's disease, and finally some work that suggests there may be universal & cross-cultural features of music. We open, however, on the debate between the Laurel & Yanni people. See web page for references & figures: http://anthropoid.science/podcast/2018/5/29/laurel-yanni-migraine-treatment-alzheimers-excersize-universality-of-music --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/anthropoid/support

A discussion of a study at least partly monitored by one of Ian's college mentors that explored whether there might be a relationship between high IQ scores and psychiatric & physiological diagnoses. We then discuss a study that blew Ian's mind, showing that some cases of dyslexia may be attributable to some unique structures within the eyes. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/anthropoid/support

Bo and I discuss the evidence that supports and refutes a role played by pheromones in guiding human attraction - as well as a potential role played by the immune system in making some people more attractive than others, guiding human attraction and even human evolution. Episode webpage (for references): http://anthropoid.science/podcast/2018/3/24/do-humans-use-pheromones We know not everyone has the funds to spare, but if you're willing to support us, we deeply appreciate any contributions. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/anthropoid PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/anthropoidpaypal/5 Bitcoin: 33j4jfScigjaK9BY8BgiRW1QfK69qpGRuS --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/anthropoid/support

A general discussion of what addiction means from the perspective of clinicians and scientists, how it comes about, and what goes on in the brain to result in addiction and withdrawal. In future episodes, we'll delve into the specific circuitry underlying these processes - as well as novel strategies to develop therapeutics that more specifically target this circuitry, avoiding the ineffectiveness and side-effects of current treatments. Here are some of the references we used: 1. Wise RA, Koob GF. The development and maintenance of drug addiction. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014 Jan;39(2):254-62. doi: 10.1038/npp.2013.261. Epub 2013 Oct 11. Review. PubMed PMID: 24121188; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3870778. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=24121188) 2. Goldman D, Oroszi G, Ducci F. The genetics of addictions: uncovering the genes. Nat Rev Genet. 2005 Jul;6(7):521-32. Review. PubMed PMID: 15995696. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=15995696) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/anthropoid/support

Today, Bo and I chatted about two of the most widely known studies of human behavior in modern history - the Marshmallow Test and the Stanford Prisoner Experiment. New data and interviews have emerged that fundamentally redefine how we ought to interpret these classic studies. Also, we discuss whether kids have been getting better or worse at delaying gratification since the 1960s. It's a fun conversation, and we hope you enjoy! We will be covering Philip Zimbardo's (lead scientist on Stanford Prison Experiment) response to these critiques of the study in an upcoming episode. References (in short-hand; I'm swamped right now!): See episode website for citations. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/anthropoid/support

Bo and I go into a fair bit of depth regarding how the brain works - the intention of which is to provide a functional foundation for the episodes to come. I promise the next episodes will be less lecture, more conversation. Here are some of the references I used in this episode: 1. David J. Chalmers. Consciousness and Cognition, 1990 (http://consc.net/papers/c-and-c.html) 2. Erwin D, Davidson E. The last common bilaterian ancestor. Development. 2002 129: 3021-3032 (http://dev.biologists.org/content/129/13/3021.long) 3. van der Bijl W, Thyselius M, Kotrschal A, Kolm N. Brain size affects the behavioural response to predators in female guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Proc Biol Sci. 2015 Aug 7;282(1812):20151132. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2015.1132. PubMed PMID: 26203003 (http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/282/1812/20151132) 4. Møller AP, Erritzøe J. Predator-prey interactions, flight initiation distance and brain size. J Evol Biol. 2014 Jan;27(1):34-42. doi: 10.1111/jeb.12272. E --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/anthropoid/support