reTHINK

Discover inspiring and novel perspectives as new voices hit our stage for the first time to share their passion, research, and breakout ideas for the evolving field. Robin Carhart-Harris, PhD speaking on Psychedelic Drugs Heather Berlin, PhD speaking on Deep Brain Stimulation and Neural Implants Mary-Frances O'Connor, PhD speaking on Prolonged Grief Disorder Sheryl Gonzalez Ziegler, PsyD speaking on Burnout Robin Carhart Harris, PhD: This talk will take a multi-level view of the brain action of classic psychedelic drugs, i.e., drugs that share the property of activating the serotonin 2A receptor. Beginning at the receptor level, it moves through a developmental and evolutionary understanding of serotonergic functioning and brain plasticity, placing emphasis on the context dependency of responses to classic psychedelic compounds. It will review the dynamic, whole-brain action of psychedelics and how this relates to knowledge of the development and evolution of global brain function and anatomy. It couches our understanding of the therapeutic action of psychedelic therapy within a predictive coding framework and reviews recent trial and imaging results from a double-blind randomized controlled trial of psilocybin therapy vs escitalopram for depression. Realise the role of the serotonin 2A receptor in the action of classic psychedelics Review the context dependency of responses to psychedelics Compare the action of psilocybin with that of conventional antidepressants. Heather Berlin, PhD: This talk will review what is currently achievable with brain/computer interfaces and deep brain stimulation and the ways we are learning to change ourselves with the push of a button. Do we really have control over our decisions and behaviors? And if so, which parts of our brains constitute the “we” and which parts submit themselves to “our” will? Complex cognitive and emotional processing at the unconscious level significantly affects how humans behave, think and feel. Scientists are beginning to understand how this occurs at the neural level. Understanding these mechanisms also allows us to influence the brain in more direct ways, culminating in the advent of brain/computer interfaces and neural implants. Each advance in our understanding and capacities reasserts age-old questions like, “who’s really in control?” and “what does it mean to be human?” Sheryl Gonzalez Ziegler: In this session, clinicians will learn how to uniquely identify and manage chronic stress and be able to conduct a differential diagnosis between burnout and depression in mothers. Mary Francis-O'Connor: This talk will discuss the role the brain plays in shaping our experience of bereavement, diving into neuroimaging studies that have investigated bereavement in general and prolonged grief disorder specifically. Bonding and separation in animal neurobiology is compared to what happens in humans during acute grief. The talk culminates in clinical considerations that might be useful in light of neuroscientific research on grief.