Making Your Mind: Molecules, Motion, and Memory

Discussion – Neurobiology and Mental Illness

Experts on autism and bipolar illness answer students' questions about mental illness.
  1.  1.  Start of discussion session
  2.  2.  Introductory remarks by Dr. Kay Jamison
  3.  3.  Introductory remarks by Dr. Gerald Fischbach
  4.  4.  Are vaccinations related to the rise in autism?
  5.  5.  Is there a limit on the types of memories that can become implicit?
  6.  6.  How has the definition of autism changed over the years?
  7.  7.  Could autism be related to couples having children later in life?
  8.  8.  What is the range of diagnosing bipolar disorder?
  9.  9.  Is there a relationship between neurotransmitters and bipolar disorder?
  10. 10.  What is the connection between autism and savant ability?
  11. 11.  Why does bipolar disorder arise during the teenage years?
  12. 12.  How does bipolar disorder affect emotions and thinking?
  13. 13.  What are the treatments for bipolar disorder?
  14. 14.  What environmental factors increase the chance of autism?
  15. 15.  Are synapses broken in autism?
  16. 16.  Can autism develop due to the lack of a stimulating environment?
  17. 17.  Is there a connection between brain development and autism?
  18. 18.  Why is autism more prevalent in males than females?
  19. 19.  Is there a link between illegal drug use and autism?
  20. 20.  Is there a connection between bipolar disorder and Alzheimer?
  21. 21.  Can you describe the mood swings in bipolar disorder?
  22. 22.  Are all depression disorders linked to the same area of the brain?
  23. 23.  How is deep-brain stimulation being used to treat depression?
  24. 24.  What specifically causes bipolar disorder?
  25. 25.  How can you justify drugs that suppress a manic depressive's creativity?
  26. 26.  How does bipolar disorder increase the risk of heart disease?
  27. 27.  Do bipolar people "cling" to their depression?
  28. 28.  Have any differences in brain structure been found in autistic children?
  29. 29.  Does autism promote intelligence to compensate for lack of social skills?
  30. 30.  Has the molecular action of lithium been well-studied?
  31. 31.  Is there a relationship between bipolar disorder onset and traumatic experiences?
  32. 32.  What lifestyle adjustments can be made to help with bipolar disorder?
  33. 33.  What is happening in a person with synesthesia?
  34. 34.  How do you draw the line between having and not having a disorder?
  35. 35.  How does one part of the brain compensate for loss of another part?
  36. 36.  Has autism been diagnosed in primitive environments?


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