BSP 60: Stuart Brown, MD talks about “Play”
In Episode 60 of the Brain Science Podcast Ginger Campbell, MD interviews Dr. Stuart Brown, author of Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. Our focus is on the importance of play for normal mental development and psychological health. We also explore the importance of play in adults.
Listen to Episode 60Episode Transcript (Download PDF)
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SHOW NOTES
Scientists Mentioned in the Podcast:
- Anthony Pellegrini, PhD (University of Minnesota): Studies rough and tumble play.
- Brian Sutton-Smith, PhD (Strong Museum of Play, NY): studies the storytelling aspects of play.
- John Ratey, MD (Harvard Medical School): author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.
- Sergio Pellis, PhD (Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience): has studied rough and tumble play in mice and rats for many years.
- Marian C Diamond, PhD (University of California-Berkeley): pioneer in the study of effects of enrichment on the mammalian brain. Recent Video.
- Richard Feynman, PhD (1918-1988): Nobel physicist who is also remembered for finding the cause of the Challenger disaster. (see the video)
- Roger Guillimen, PhD (The Salk Institute): won the 1977 Nobel Prize in Medicine for “discoveries concerning the peptide hormone production of the brain.”
Books about Play and Related Topics:
- Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown, MD with Christopher Vaughn
- A Nation of Wimps: The High Cost of Invasive Parenting by Hara Estroff Marano
- The Gift of Play: Why Adult Women Stop Playing And How To Start Again by Barbara Brannen
- Exuberant Animal: The Power of Health, Play, and Joyfill Movement by Frank Forenich
- Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey
Useful Links:
- National Institute of Play
- The Association for the Study of Play
- Alliance for Childhood
- Sports for Kids Foundation
- KaBoom!
Episode Transcript (Download PDF)
Subscribe to the Brain Science Podcast:
Send email to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac.com.
Join our Discussion Forum:
Join our new Brain Science Podcast Fan Page on Facebook
Filed under: Podcast Show Notes, brain science, developmental psychology
great episode! thanks so much for the reminder that we don’t start dying until we stop playing…
and nice work on this website btw. love all these links you post with each show.
What a great podcast. I think that our schools have changed so dramatically and are requiring our kids to grow up so fast these days. It is taking away from their play time. I agree that the kids today don’t get to have as much free independent play. I am one of those parents that don’t feel comfortable letting my kids play out front by themselves without my supervision. I am starting to let my kids go out together, so they can watch out for each other. When I was young I used to go play by myself in an open field and I loved it. I think you are right that the media makes it sound like the world is so scary and unsafe.
I am dealing with my mom’s Parkinsonism. She’s wheelchair-bound and some of her repetitive behaviors (OCD) are making her very unpopular. These include changing TV channels back and forth; kicking off her slippers which requires people picking them up so that she won’t start crying; etc. I am looking for positive “plays”. One option is a string of beads that Buddhism practitioners use. Any suggestions?
Geordie,
I don’t know if the Buddhist pray beads (similar to the Catholic rosary) will help, but it seems worth a try.
You might want to post something in our Discussion Forum or on the Facebook Fan Page to see if other listeners can help.
Ginger