The Sci-Files – 11/15/2020 – Marissa and Emily – The Use of Electric and Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Depression

Chelsie Boodoo and Daniel Puentes

Marissa Cortright
Marissa Cortright
Emily Castillo
Emily Castillo

On this week’s The Sci-Files, your hosts Chelsie and Danny interview Marissa Cortright and Emily Castillo. Emily and Marissa investigate the views of psychiatrists, patients with depression, and the general public on Psychiatric Electroceutical Interventions (PEIs), or technologies that use electrical or magnetic stimulation in the treatment of depression. These PEIs include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), and adaptive brain implants (ABI). They study various neuroethical themes, including perceived invasiveness and the effect on personality/sense of self. Their research is part of an NIH BRAIN grant and will be used to inform a national survey. Understanding these perceptions about invasiveness and sense of self is important because it will help improve clinician’s conversations with patients, inform policies surrounding their use, and contribute to public understanding of these interventions. If you’re interested in talking about your MSU research on the radio or nominating a student, please email Chelsie and Danny at [email protected]. You can ask questions about future episodes here. Check The Sci-Files out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!