EPISODE 1

THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION

We are not alone. The human body is itself an extremely diverse ecosystem of trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms that live on us and in us, especially in the intestines. It’s a two-way, symbiotic relationship that keeps us healthy both physically and mentally.

The microbiome-gut–brain axis (MGB) is a bidirectional communication pathway between the gut and the central nervous system that is significantly influenced by the microorganisms that symbiotically live in our gut. Our bodies are host to an enormous population of these microorganisms, collectively called microbiota or microflora, with the genomes in the microbiota termed the microbiome. These gut microbes outnumber the cells in our bodies by a factor of 10, contain 150 times more genes than our own, and comprise more than 1,000 species and over 7,000 strains.

A growing body of research implicates the gut microbiome in the regulation of the CNS and behaviour in general while the CNS impacts microbiota development and composition—it is a bidirectional communication network.

This episode explores the gut-brain axis through the research of leading scientists in the field.

EPISODE 2

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to interact socially and relate to the world around them. Severity of the disorder is across a wide spectrum, from severe difficulties in communicating to mild symptoms. A disorder that is more common in males than in females.

There are over 74 million people around the world who are affected by autism spectrum disorder and this number is growing. This is a disorder that touches so many lives and for which there is a lot of current research.

This episode looks at some of the recent research into autism spectrum disorder and some clinical perspectives as mental health professionals formulate ways to help people “on the spectrum”.

EPISODE 3

SCHIZOPHRENIA

Schizophrenia is a poorly understood group of mental disorders that disrupt the way in which the brain functions with cognition, behaviour and emotion. Many misunderstandings surround schizophrenia, which contribute to the stigma, isolation and discrimination that can be experienced by people with schizophrenia and their families and carers.

Researchers are making progress in understanding the causes of this disabling disorder and it is now known that genetic factors play a role. Further, there is evidence that the disruption of early brain development may be an implication and that early cannabis use is also a risk factor.

We talk to leading experts in research and treatment of this often debilitating disorder to discover what we know and don’t know about schizophrenia.

EPISODE 4

ADDICTION AND ATTACHMENT

Addiction is such a multifacited complication for many and there have been many different approaches to resolving it. In this episode of The Science of Us we focus on the work of Dr Oliver Morgan and Dr Sherif Darwish who see addiction as an attachment issue.

Dr Oliver Morgan had his own struggle with alcoholism and later became an expert in the psychological approach to healing addiction. Dr Sherif Darwish is a psychiatrist in Alexandria, Egypt, who has developed a paradigm shifting clinic for addicts. Both Dr Morgan and Dr Sherif focus on interpersonal attachment as the key to recovery from all sorts of addictive behaviours.

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EPISODE 4

LOSS AND GRIEF

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