Let's Talk About Women

Let's Talk WITH Young Researchers: our new podcast sideline in which we give the word to young researchers in the field of women's mental health! We kick-off with our very own Gloria Matte Bon, PhD Candidate in the IRTG2804, who is working with Prof. Tobias Kaufmann, applying computational models to investigate sex differences in brain structure, with particular focus on hormonal transition periods and women’s mental health.We end this podcast by introducing a new closing category and Gloria is the first one to answer our "3 Burning Questions":Who is your science crush? What did you not know/expect before starting a PhD? What do you enjoy most about your work as a PhD researcher? Gloria's hot-off-the-press-paper: Modeling brain sex in the limbic system as phenotype for female-prevalent mental disorders (Matte Bon, Kraft, Comasco, Derntl, & Kaufmann, 2024). https://bsd.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13293-024-00615-1Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804

Computational methods and machine learning are currently THE hot-topics and they are also applied in neuroscience research, showing us where the field is heading in the future. If you have ever wondered how these methods work, what their advantages - but also limitations - are and how they are implemented in research on women's mental health: We got you!In this episode Franziska is hosting Tobias Kaufmann, professor of neurotechnology and computational psychiatry at the University of Tübingen, who is also part of the IRTG2804. Tobias explains the basics of computational methods and gives us concrete examples of his own work, providing a first glimpse into the computational world. Also, we hear about his new ERC project: "HealthyMom: Modeling and maintaining maternal mental health".Timestamps:00:25 Introduction01:18 Computational psychiatry: Advantages & limitations10:15 Tobias' computational methods & examples: Prediction & classification models21:14 Computational methods in women's (mental) health: Focus on adolescence30:11 HealthyMom Project: Brain plasticity during pregnancy loss40:26 Recruitment information for Healthy Mom Study41:30 Summary43:40 Next steps in computational psychiatry and women's mental healthWebsite to Kaufmann Lab: https://www.kaufmannlab.org/About the HealthyMom Project: https://www.kaufmannlab.org/post/20230202-erc-consolidator-grant/References:Population-based neuroimaging reveals traces of childbirth in the maternal brain (de Lange, Kaufmann et al., 2019). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910666116Menarche, pubertal timing and the brain: female-specific patterns of brain maturation beyond age-related development (Gottschwesky, Kraft, & Kaufmann, 2024). https://bsd.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13293-024-00604-4Domain adapted brain network fusion captures variance related to pubertal brain development and mental health (Kraft, Alnaes, & Kaufmann, 2023). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41839-wModeling brain sex in the limbic system as phenotype for female-prevalent mental disorders (Matte Bon, Kraft, Comasco, Derntl, & Kaufmann, 2024). https://bsd.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13293-024-00615-1Outline & questions: Franziska Weinmar & Gloria Matte BonSound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804

Celebrate with us the first anniversary episode of Let's Talk About Women!! - This time as PhD Candidate Franziska is hosting Dr. Nicole Petersen, Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, California. Directing the Translational Neuroimaging Lab, Nicole's research focuses on neuromodulation and neuroendocrinology. Amongst others, she has investigated the effects of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives on brain and behavior.In this episode, Nicole explains what "SHAPERs" are and what we know about their effects on the brain - but also what gaps there are still today. As one of the founding chairs of the ENIGMA Consortium for Neuroendocrinology, Nicole introduces the idea of ENIGMA and the working group and explains how this can contribute to rigorous studies, which will allow us to address exactly these knowledge gaps. Timestamps:02:00 - Introduction of our guest Dr. Nicole Petersen and her field of research02:30 - Explaining underlying concepts: What are hormones?04:22 - Do sex hormones have functions beyond reproduction?05:44 - The acronym SHAPERs & how it emphasizes on the dual role of sex hormones08:38 - How are sex hormones associated with specific psychological aspects?10:29 - Example: The influence of sensitivity to sex hormones on emotions12:26 - Mysteries in neuroscience: How exactly are psychological conditions related to sex hormones?14:18 - Why are some women more sensitive to hormones & mental health disorders? 17:20 - What does research say about the effects of SHAPERs on the brain?23:20 - Is it especially important to investigate SHAPERs in women?26:44 - The ENIGMA Neuroendocrinology consortium: aims & how to join!34:26 - Summary36:20 – Future directions in research & next steps for investigating women’s mental health41:09 – Closing remarksWebsite to the ENIGMA consortium: https://enigma.ini.usc.edu/Website to the ENIGMA Neuroendocrinology workgroup: https://enigma.ini.usc.edu/ongoing/enigma-neuroendocrinology/If you would like to get in touch with Nicole, you can reach her at: npetersen@ucla.edu... or find her research group here: https://www.translational-neuroimaging.com/homeSound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804

Welcome to this episode with Vibe Froekjaer, Professor in Neuropsychiatry at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Copenhagen University, Denmark. Join us as Vibe and Franziska delve into the question of why some women are more vulnerable to mental health problems during hormonal transitions, unraveling state of the art research on the hypothesis of “hormonal sensitivity”. From discussing the latest findings on genetic and neural mechanisms to the potential of psychoeducation, this episode promises an insightful conversation and valuable takeaways. Discover how understanding hormonal sensitivity can empower women to navigate their mental health journeys more effectively and hear Vibe sharing her vision on the final question: “What is the next question to solve regarding hormonal sensitivity across the female lifespan – and how could we do so?”Timestamps:00:02:10 - The "3 P's" across the female lifespan: puberty, pregnancy & perimenopause00:08:02 - Incidence of mental health problems across the female lifespan: windows of vulnerability?00:09:14 - Why are some women more prone to suffer from hormone-related mental health problems?00:16:57 - Hormonal-related depressive symptoms and the role of serotonin00:19:26 - Hormone variability and gene expression00:26:12 - Large-scale changes in the brain in response to induced hormone variability00:29:02 - Hormonal manipulation effects on reward responses00:33:41 - Is hormonal sensitivity a phenomenon that translates across the lifespan?00:42:03 - What epidemiological data from Denmark tell us about risks for depressive symptoms across transition years00:44:00 - Can we identify women who are hormone sensitive?00:47:41 - What could be preventive and treatment approaches for women identified as hormone-sensitive before hormonal transition phases?00:52:56 - How the concept of hormonal sensitivity can reduce stigma involved in depressive symptoms and empower women00:56:03 - Summary00:58:41 - What is the next question to solve regarding hormonal sensitivity across the female lifespan – and how could we do so?01:03:50 - Closing remarksSound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804

In this episode, PhD candidate Franziska Weinmar interviews Dr. Adriene Beltz, visiting Tübingen from the University of Michigan. The topic of today’s episode are hormonal intrauterine devices, short IUD. From contraceptives beyond the “pill” and hormonal contraceptive trends worldwide, they discuss how the IUD works, why it is important to look at potential effects of IUDs separately from oral contraceptives and what research there is on the IUD and mental health as well as the brain. Further, they discuss how a specific method of research, “intense longitudinal data”, can help understand individual variability within people to do better science and go towards individualized medicine. Timestamps:01:30 Hormonal contraceptives beyond the “pill”05:00 Trends in contraception worldwide / by age06:45: How does the hormonal IUD work?08:15: Hormonal levels in IUDs10:30 Systemic IUD effects?12:30 Combining OC and IUD in research?15:00 IUDs in neuroscience research and types of progestins23:10 IUD & the brain25:50 Why is it so important to investigate hormonal contraceptives and IUDs specifically?29:30: Summary34:00 Outlook with focus on methods37:30 Intense longitudinal data – what is it and why is it important40:00 Paths to individualized medicine?42:00 Diversity in research via intensive longitiudinal data45:00 Summary and teaser for future episodes on stress & the IUDMany thanks to Zoé Bürger for contributing to this episode!Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804

Welcome to a special episode, coming to you live and on-site from the Lorentz Center in Leiden, the Netherlands!The Lorentz Center serves as a dynamic workshop hub, hosting international scientific meetings which bring together brilliant minds and foster an open and interactive atmosphere. In this episode, PhD Candidate Franziska Weinmar is taking you directly to the Lorentz workshop on "Hormonal fluctuations across the female lifespan". With 40 participants including researchers and clinicians from approximately 6 countries, this five-day intensive gathering in February 2024 promises lively exchanges, discussions, and reflections.Join Franziska as she takes you through a series of 9 conversations, capturing the very fresh impressions and thoughts from different participants. Get ready to hear the pulse of the workshop, where ideas converge and minds collide – all in pursuit to move the field of research and clinical practice forward. And stay tuned for the announced outcomes! Speakers, in order of appearance:00:01:38: Ellen de Bruijn, Professor, Leiden University00:10:19: Birit Broekman, Medical Specialist, Amsterdam UMC00:15:33: Anne Marieke Doornweerd, PhD Candidate, Utrecht University00:27:25: Klara Sifalakis-Spalek, Postdoctoral Researcher, Amsterdam UMC00:34:36: Alkistis Skalkidou, Professor, Uppsala University00:40:12: Lotte Gerritsen, Associate Professor, Utrecht University00:46:4: Hanna Wierenga, PhD Candidate, IRTG 2804, University of Tübingen00:52:50: Claudia Barth, PhD, Diakonhjemmet Hospital Oslo01:03:09: Birgit Derntl, Professor, IRTG 2804, University of Tübingen01:12:10 Closing RemarksMany thanks to the Lorentz Center for providing the space and opportunity for this workshop!Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarFollow the FLAME (Female Lifespan Association for Mental Health and Neuroendocrinology) for future updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/female-lifespan-research-initiative?trk=public_post-textDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804

Tune in to this episode for an enlightening conversation on the profound transformations of the brain in transition to mother- and parenthood: PhD candidate Franziska is interviewing Dr. Magdalena Martínez-García, researcher in the “Neuromaternal” group in Madrid. Using longitudinal neuroimaging studies, she and her team investigate structural and functional neuroplasticity across different stages of pregnancy and beyond. Don't miss out and join us when we dive into how (and why) both the maternal and paternal/parental brains are shaped by pregnancy, experience as well as time shared with the offspring.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction 01:44 What happens during pregnancy within the mother's body?04:00 What is neuroplasticity?06:05 Neuroplasticity during pregnancy18:18 Do pregnancy-related changes in the brain reverse?23:35 Why does the brain of mothers-to-be change?27:20 Why we should NOT be scared of pregnancy-related neuroplasticity and brain volume shrinkage!32:02 What are neural plasticity mechanisms during pregnancy in human mothers?37:01 Research on brains of fathers and parents42:03 Time spent with the child matters: experience-induced plasticity43:46 What is the importance of research on the parental brain?47:20 Summary 50:25 The next step in research on neuroplasticity of peripartum and parenthoodMany thanks to Julia Siódmiak for contributing to this episode!Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804

With our first episode in 2024, we are back and ready to talk about stress and stress regulation! In this episode PhD candidate Franziska Weinmar hosts Dr. Lydia Kogler, a clinical psychologist by training, expert on the neuroscience of stress and associate of the IRTG2804. Together they dive into the complex world of stress and stress regulation - especially if and how women and men differ in this regard. To this end, this episode leaves us with more insights, a suggestion on how to improve our resilience to stress, and curiosity for future talks on this topic!Stress is part of our everyday life. But what does stress mean and how does the body react to stress? In this episode Lydia explains:01:21: What is stress? (01:21)05:30: How does the stress response leads to behavioural and endocrine adaptations?08:28: The role of cortisol11:49: How do we induce stress in the lab?14:22: What neurological changes come with stress?15:34: How chronic stress affects the body...18:58: ... and mental healthNext, Lydia talks about sex/gender differences:22:58: Sex differences in the stress response...26:25: ... its neural basis....27:17: ... and psychological effects28:00 Sex differences in stress related disorders30:18: Reasons behind sex differences33:50: Consequences of sex differences in stress response35:15: Why is it important to look into sex differences?39:24: Mechanisms of stress regulation44:49: How self-esteem influences the stress response49:00: Sex differences on a neuronal level...50:03: ... and a hormonal level50:18: Implications of coping mechanisms52:00: Summary54:57: What is the next question to ask about sex/gender differences in stress response or regulation, especially considering female-specific processes? Many thanks to Anna Denninger for contributing to this episode!Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804

In this episode, we're hosting cognitive neuroscientist Prof. Sara Mednick who is visiting Tübingen all the way from the University of California, Irvine. Being an expert in biorhythms, she explains the importance of natural up- and downstates such as related to sleep, the menstrual cycle and the transition to menopause. What are biorythms and how can we use especially downstates to improve our wellbeing? How can we use the knowledge on hormonal changes to balance our mood and cognition? Sara is here to give us a new perspective on our natural rhythms!Timestamps: 01:30 What are biorythms?03:31: What is the power of downstates?06:42: How can we use biorythms & downstates for our wellbeing & cognition?08:00: Sleep as restorative downstate12:40: What is the menstrual cycle?14:32: How does the menstrual cycle affect other biorythms?15:50: Sleep as mood buffer during the menstural cylce21:40: A change in prespective on the menstrual cylce30:40: Changes in sleep in the transition to menopause34:22: Subjective vs. objective measures of sleep & cognition39:45: Wellbeing during (the transition) to menopause42:53: Summary44:40: A future vision for women's mental health: awareness, reseach & empowerement.Sara's popular-scientific books: https://www.saramednick.com/books"The Power of the Downstate: Recharge Your Life Using Your Body's Own Restorative Systems" (2022)"Take a Nap! Change Your Life. The Scientific Plan to Make You Smarter, Healthier, More Productive" (2006)Thanks to Nina Röhm for supporting & exchanging ideas in preparation of this episode!Sound recording: Nina Röhm with the equipment of the IRTG2804Editing: Franziska WeinmarDo you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: irtg2804.podcast@gmail.comAre you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804