Thank you so much for posting your comment about the Brain Science Podcast.

I hope you will visit the new Discussion Forum, and if you are so inclined you could start a thread about depression or mental illness. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts about how learning more about the brain affects how you cope with your situation.

There is a book I think you might find particularly interesting, The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force (2003)
by Jeffrey M. Schwartz and Sharon Begley. Dr. Schwartz describes his work with patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but I think you might find his ideas very relevant.

I look forward to hearing what you think about episode Episode 10, which explores neuroplasticity.

I am someone who has been fascinated with understanding what is consciousness and free will. My perspective is of one who is also struggled with depression all my adult life and who has had close personal and family relationships with people that have also had chronic mental disorders.

I use what I learn to better understand myself. But, over and above that, I find the subject of cognition and brain function very interesting. I came accross your podcast on the iTunes directory and have just begun listening. Your interview with Dr. Montague was wonderful and I was so impressed by how lucid his explanations were and the kinds of insights coming from his research. I definately will buy his book.

I also want to say that I find your podcast very illuminating and well-done. I believe I have found an excellent resource to add to my thirst to understand more about how the brain works and what about our brains makes us human. Keep up the good work.

I enjoyed very much your interview of Dr. Montague. As usual, he was allowed to present the gist of his ideas concisely in response to well formulated questions. Sure makes one want to read his book. I too am very interested in knowing more about the “computational model.”

The whole area of how we make the choices we do is an extremely fascinating one. Whether our will is “free” (which I agree is not a well formed question) or not, we certainly seem to have some interesting algorithms for making choices. Just today, Barry Schwartz, another writer of a book on choices that I haven’t read, “The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less,” has an OpEd in the New York Times about the effects of offering money for learning (link is ). The field of behavioral economics (neuroeconomics) seems to be making rapid advances, thanks to advanced technologies in cognitive neuroscience.

I liked what Dr. Montague said about dichotomous thinking, which may be another of those atavistic habits we should strive to overcome when trying to achieve a deeper understanding of ourselves and reality.

Keep up the excellent work!

Leon