Summary
In this episode of The Huberman Lab podcast, Dr. Casey Halpern, a neurosurgeon, discusses the use of deep brain stimulation surgery to treat conditions like Parkinson's disease, psychiatric comorbidities, and binge eating disorder. He explains that deep brain stimulation involves placing a wire into a specific part of the brain and delivering electrical stimulation through it to alleviate symptoms. Dr. Halpern also discusses the challenges of treating OCD and the potential benefits of understanding the circuits in the brain associated with obsessions and compulsions. He mentions that medications are not always effective in treating OCD, but deep brain stimulation can assay in real-time how the patient feels about binging.
The episode also covers the development of binge eating disorder and how it is related to a predisposition to certain types of food, societal pressures, and recurring stressors. Dr. Halpern discusses ongoing research on identifying specific regions of the brain involved in reward-seeking behavior and using a tool typically used for Parkinson's patients to identify these regions in the nucleus accumbens. The goal is to disrupt the circuit responsible for binge eating by stimulating or quieting the identified cells. He also discusses the similarities between anorexia and obesity and the need for non-invasive approaches to brain stimulation and blocking activity, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and ultrasound, and the potential for these methods to be used in the treatment of anorexia and obesity.
Dr. Halpern also shares personal experiences related to hand health for neurosurgeons, the potential risks of heavy grip activity, and the importance of exercise and meditation in coping with stress and maintaining mental health. He emphasizes the importance of patient awareness and cognitive behavioral therapy in treating mental health conditions, but for severe cases, restoring control over behavior is necessary. The episode concludes with a discussion of the challenges and skills required in the field of neurosurgery, including the stress and long hours that come with the profession. Overall, the episode provides valuable insights into the future of brain modification and the potential for novel therapies to address neurological problems affecting millions of Americans.
