David Anderson: Your brain is more than a bag of chemicals

Modern psychiatric drugs treat the chemistry of the whole brain, but neurobiologist David Anderson believes in a more nuanced view of how the brain functions. He illuminates new research that could lead to targeted psychiatric medications -- that work better and avoid side effects. How's he doing it? For a start, by making a bunch of fruit flies angry. (Filmed at TEDxCalTech.)

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.

[pchamney]

In some cases a combination approach does actually work. I've had treatment-resistant depression for most of my life, and it runs in my family. Last year, I started on a 'medical food' form of folate, which some people don't metabolize properly. For the first time, an antidepressant, in conjunction with therapy, is working for me. *Really* working; I'm reasonably happy for the first time in years. My mood isn't flat. I'm not having side effects to speak of. It doesn't work for everyone. (contd)

[doomsdayZen]

Fascinating. I'm blown away by a lot of these TED talks but this one especially so. I hope research like this yields new medicines and treatments in the very near future.

[rngouveia]

Our mental states are always changing. Everytime we experience an emotion we basically become someone else. We act differently and act differently. It is so when we drink alcohol, coffe, etc also. The thing is that there is no separation between inner and outer worlds. All the time we see something that makes us anger or sad and therefore changes our mental state. Using substances isnt all that different. The question is if the person is prepared to change its mental state by will.

[Schtofenbach]

Excellent talk! Not only an avarge ted talk that is too vague, but instead specific and shows one point in deeper way.

[martinez]

Agreed. The pharmaceutical companies behind the current psychiatric consesus of "chemical inbalance" are interested mainly in their profits not in the harm they're potentially doing to many people.

I have a person with schizophrenia in my family and the drugs sure make her perhaps somewhat calmer than without drugs, but they also make a vegetable of her, completely unable to function in the society on her own.

I wouldn't call that "curing" or even "helping".

[amiraboussaada]

really loved this talk, putting one of the most complicated concepts in the world into very simple and funny analogies, this is so genius. But turning off and on brain neurones, better see it on fruit flies than on humains. We're talking serious stuff here

[myslnikita]

Thank you so much for this channel ! I am a student of Russia and this is a great opportunity for me to understand more information about different kinds of questions ! I started to show this channel while a lessons at my school .I am going to practice in creating interesting conferences at my school with student because i was pretty interested in it by this channel !

[BasicArray]

Biopsychology doesn't "reduce" or "degrade" the awesomeness of humanity. People in the field are aware that we are very early in discovery, but absolutely do consider cognition, perception, decision, emotion, and all the other components of rich mental life. Developing good models of brain function leads to improved mental agency and experience, not the other way around. Anderson's work is part of a body I'd imagine you'd approve of. You should read about it, rather than misconstruing it. :)

[tabula]

Agreed, to assume the environment doesn't play a part is akin to saying nothing could or should ever effect you in a negative way.

Recent studies in mindfulness meditation have shown dramatic results in people with "mental disorders" such as ADHD, depression, etc, also physical pain.

Apparently it stops 'mind wandering' and because we naturally have a negative bias it prevents the mind wandering into dark places, therefore stopping the emotional and physical reactions this causes.

[melaronvalkorith]

I never got the impression that we were treating the brain as a "bag of chemicals", which makes me think he may have exaggerated a bit. I am by no means an expert in the field, but I think that we use those chemicals because they do work, not always, but enough that they can help a lot of people. I would expect that what he is talking about would come naturally as the next step in neuroscience, but if it hasn't yet I'm glad he's bringing it up.

[realbluemeanie]

There is really no need to be so rude. You are missing the point entirely. I am not saying that Autism isn't a disorder. Of course it is. I have High Functioning Autism and know only too well how disabling it can be. Anyone who is high on the spectrum like your brother is a damn hero in my opinion. I am simply stating that it is a Neuropsychiatric disorder, not a psychiatric disorder. Autistics have a physical dysfunction in the brain. They are not mentally ill in the classic sense.

[AndyJK]

I would suggest that the "new generation of treatments" are all mindfulness/yoga/martial arts based- but that they might just be accelerated by some judicious application of stimulants. (I have ADHD- diagnosed 5 years ago at age 46, and this is the path that seems most promising to me).

[Radjehuty]

Mathematically, "Normal" is often defined in statistics as a range in the in the distribution curve that contains most of the population. Humanistically, "Normal" refers to being at a state where you can perform everyday functions without difficulty or paralyzing negative emotions attached. Everyone gets sad sometimes, but if the sadness overwhelms you and is persistent over long periods of time and prevents you from performing, you can conclude it's not "Normal" and is harmful.

[success_chemistry]

We can also just eat magic mushrooms and regrow and heal them.

[chobitsu]

It's awesome that all these research promote learning in different organisms, it can not be used in human beings. No matter how much we try to use different organisms as a human model, it still only the manipulate chemicals trying to treat us like a more advanced bag of chemicals. Has anyone tried to incorporate chiropractic in these neurochemical testings?

[xamphor]

Even the idea of learning and neuroplasticity that he talked about defines the present as constantly shifting and rewiring.

[xijnnijx]

I've always wondered how studies like this go further? There are so many nearly revolutionary studies like this one, which prove many useful things on animals or insects. How then, are they taken farther to help human beings? If at all?

[theoryaction]

This means so much to me - I'm one of those mutant 'fruit flies', and the prospect of a cure makes me so hyperactive that I remember I didn't take my ritalin this morning! >_<

[pchamney]

(contd) But I think current and future research hold a great deal of promise in treating severe mental illnesses that so many people still can't get relief from.

[TheVervada]

I like the "optimal" solution. It makes a lot of sense because our brain was made for survival needs, and therefore there's no "normal" (except if you think as normal in the sense of something most people have) state of the brain but optimal states for survival, depending on your environment.