Share

cover art for 1.17 - Adam Gazzaley MD, PhD: Bridging Between The Molecular And Neurophysiological Mechanisms Of Psychedelics To Clinical Outcomes

Mind Medicine Australia

1.17 - Adam Gazzaley MD, PhD: Bridging Between The Molecular And Neurophysiological Mechanisms Of Psychedelics To Clinical Outcomes

Season 1, Ep. 17

Adam Gazzaley MD, PhD is a neuroscientist, neurologist, inventor, author, photographer, entrepreneur and investor.


Adam obtained an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, completed Neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania, and postdoctoral training in cognitive neuroscience at University of California, Berkeley. He is now the David Dolby Distinguished Professor in Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry at University of California, San Francisco and the Founder / Executive Director of Neuroscape, a translational neuroscience center engaged in technology creation and scientific research.


In this episode:

  • Humans as information seeking creatures
  • How technology has challenged our brain
  • Bottom-up and top-down attention
  • Advancing psychedelic research
  • The role of context in experience outcomes
  • The mind as a functional product of the brain
  • Neuroplasticity (experience-dependent plasticity and self-directed plasticity)
  • Creating an interpretable real-time experience landscape
  • Psychedelics in neurodegenerative illness


Links:

Neuroscape

Adam Gazzaley


Support the podcast:

Support the podcast (Patreon)


Support the mission:

Mind Medicine Australia

Donate to Mind Medicine Australia

Join a local chapter



More episodes

View all episodes

  • 32. 2.32: Dr Suzy Green

    52:55||Season 2, Ep. 32
    In this episode, Deb talks with Dr Suzy Green, founder of The Positivity Institute, about the profound links between mental health, personal growth, and positive psychology. They discuss nature’s role in mental well-being, the evolving use of psychedelics in therapy, and insights from adult development theory on wisdom and resilience. Dr. Green shares her journey into Positive Psychology, the importance of balancing positivity with life’s struggles, and how her work is transforming corporate well-being.Your HostDr Deb Roberts, PhD is the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast host for Season 2 and has been a MMA volunteer, guides the weekly staff meditation, on the MMA Lived Experience Panel and has a life-long relationship with mental (ill) health yet been able to navigate a fulfilling existence through various means.She is deeply passionate about conversations related to wellbeing. She uses her own lived experience as well as the reality of having two family members who ended their life seeing no treatment pathway forward. One was her older sister who tried countless medicine combinations, therapies and facilities over 30 years.--Mind Medicine Australia exists to help alleviate the suffering and suicides caused by mental illness in Australia through expanding the treatment options available to medical practitioners and their patients. We will establish safe and effective psychedelic-assisted treatments to treat a range of mental illnesses.In furtherance of this mission, The Mind Medicine Australia Podcast ‘Season 2’ aims to connect, listen and share the power of lived experience stories of mental health challenges and altered states that cultivate wellbeing and utilise the collective voices to inform research directions, policy and system change. This podcast will explore modalities including but not limited to altered states from the use of psychedelics, breath work, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, nutrition, sleep and exercise.--Thank you for listening to the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast.You can support Mind Medicine’s work by making a tax-deductible donation to us and more specifically you can support the Patient Support Fund. Your donation will support research, access and affordability for psychedelic medicine.The information provided in this podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services including the giving of medical advice.The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional and medical recommendation, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at one’s own discretion and is not an endorsement of use given the complexity inherent in this medicine under the current viable widespread illegality of their usage.
  • 31. 2.31: Dr Mario Alam

    56:08||Season 2, Ep. 31
    Dr. Mario Alam and Deb explore the profound intersections of personal growth, mental health, and societal transformation. They discuss the healing potential of psychedelics, their integration into cultural shifts, and navigating somatic trauma. From leveraging AI-powered mental health tools to creating safe spaces and fostering perseverance, this conversation delves into the transformative power of radical leadership and collective consciousness. Discover how innovative approaches, like the Reset Program, are shaping the future of healing and cultural change.Your HostDr Deb Roberts, PhD is the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast host for Season 2 and has been a MMA volunteer, guides the weekly staff meditation, on the MMA Lived Experience Panel and has a life-long relationship with mental (ill) health yet been able to navigate a fulfilling existence through various means.She is deeply passionate about conversations related to wellbeing. She uses her own lived experience as well as the reality of having two family members who ended their life seeing no treatment pathway forward. One was her older sister who tried countless medicine combinations, therapies and facilities over 30 years.--Mind Medicine Australia exists to help alleviate the suffering and suicides caused by mental illness in Australia through expanding the treatment options available to medical practitioners and their patients. We will establish safe and effective psychedelic-assisted treatments to treat a range of mental illnesses.In furtherance of this mission, The Mind Medicine Australia Podcast ‘Season 2’ aims to connect, listen and share the power of lived experience stories of mental health challenges and altered states that cultivate wellbeing and utilise the collective voices to inform research directions, policy and system change. This podcast will explore modalities including but not limited to altered states from the use of psychedelics, breath work, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, nutrition, sleep and exercise.--Thank you for listening to the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast.You can support Mind Medicine’s work by making a tax-deductible donation to us and more specifically you can support the Patient Support Fund. Your donation will support research, access and affordability for psychedelic medicine.The information provided in this podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services including the giving of medical advice.The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional and medical recommendation, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at one’s own discretion and is not an endorsement of use given the complexity inherent in this medicine under the current viable widespread illegality of their usage.
  • 30. 2.30: Dr Ian Gawler OAM

    01:03:46||Season 2, Ep. 30
    TW: SuicideDr Ian Gawler OAM joins Deb to discuss the profound impact of meditation on life’s challenges. They explore personal connections, silent retreats, and Ian’s health journey, including his battle with cancer and encounters with grief. Ian shares insights on death, dying, and the transformative potential of meditation. The conversation delves into the intersection of psychedelics, meditation, and mental well-being, highlighting the importance of open dialogue and evidence-based practice. Ian also discusses his work with Monash and Melbourne University’s contemplative studies, emphasising the role of meditation and social connection in fostering resilience and healing.Your HostDr Deb Roberts, PhD is the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast host for Season 2 and has been a MMA volunteer, guides the weekly staff meditation, on the MMA Lived Experience Panel and has a life-long relationship with mental (ill) health yet been able to navigate a fulfilling existence through various means.She is deeply passionate about conversations related to wellbeing. She uses her own lived experience as well as the reality of having two family members who ended their life seeing no treatment pathway forward. One was her older sister who tried countless medicine combinations, therapies and facilities over 30 years.--Mind Medicine Australia exists to help alleviate the suffering and suicides caused by mental illness in Australia through expanding the treatment options available to medical practitioners and their patients. We will establish safe and effective psychedelic-assisted treatments to treat a range of mental illnesses.In furtherance of this mission, The Mind Medicine Australia Podcast ‘Season 2’ aims to connect, listen and share the power of lived experience stories of mental health challenges and altered states that cultivate wellbeing and utilise the collective voices to inform research directions, policy and system change. This podcast will explore modalities including but not limited to altered states from the use of psychedelics, breath work, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, nutrition, sleep and exercise.--Thank you for listening to the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast.You can support Mind Medicine’s work by making a tax-deductible donation to us and more specifically you can support the Patient Support Fund. Your donation will support research, access and affordability for psychedelic medicine.The information provided in this podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services including the giving of medical advice.The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional and medical recommendation, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at one’s own discretion and is not an endorsement of use given the complexity inherent in this medicine under the current viable widespread illegality of their usage.
  • 29. 2.29: Prof Ian Brighthope

    01:20:25||Season 2, Ep. 29
    TW: SuicideProfessor Ian Brighthope joins Deb to discuss his journey in founding the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine and his concerns about the medical and pharmaceutical industries. They explore the benefits of whole foods, essential vitamins, and minerals, the role of nutrition in mental health, and the therapeutic use of cannabis and psychedelics. Prof Brighthope also shares insights into a "low-stress diet," Indigenous health wisdom, and the importance of system-wide healthcare reform to prioritize natural therapies.Your HostDr Deb Roberts, PhD is the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast host for Season 2 and has been a MMA volunteer, guides the weekly staff meditation, on the MMA Lived Experience Panel and has a life-long relationship with mental (ill) health yet been able to navigate a fulfilling existence through various means.She is deeply passionate about conversations related to wellbeing. She uses her own lived experience as well as the reality of having two family members who ended their life seeing no treatment pathway forward. One was her older sister who tried countless medicine combinations, therapies and facilities over 30 years.--Mind Medicine Australia exists to help alleviate the suffering and suicides caused by mental illness in Australia through expanding the treatment options available to medical practitioners and their patients. We will establish safe and effective psychedelic-assisted treatments to treat a range of mental illnesses.In furtherance of this mission, The Mind Medicine Australia Podcast ‘Season 2’ aims to connect, listen and share the power of lived experience stories of mental health challenges and altered states that cultivate wellbeing and utilise the collective voices to inform research directions, policy and system change. This podcast will explore modalities including but not limited to altered states from the use of psychedelics, breath work, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, nutrition, sleep and exercise.--Thank you for listening to the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast.You can support Mind Medicine’s work by making a tax-deductible donation to us and more specifically you can support the Patient Support Fund. Your donation will support research, access and affordability for psychedelic medicine.The information provided in this podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services including the giving of medical advice.The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional and medical recommendation, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at one’s own discretion and is not an endorsement of use given the complexity inherent in this medicine under the current viable widespread illegality of their usage.
  • 28. 2.28: Sara Reed

    01:07:25||Season 2, Ep. 28
    TW: SuicideThis episode is a deep dive into the intersection of family, connection, and community within the context of psychedelic therapy. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Sara Reed, shares her personal journey with psychedelics and the role they’ve played in her therapeutic practice. The conversation explores the importance of language and communication in understanding client experiences, the role of nature in psychedelic integration, and the need for culturally sensitive training. They also discuss diverse models of psychedelic care, inclusivity within the global psychedelic movement, and fostering trust and safety in diverse environments.Your HostDr Deb Roberts, PhD is the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast host for Season 2 and has been a MMA volunteer, guides the weekly staff meditation, on the MMA Lived Experience Panel and has a life-long relationship with mental (ill) health yet been able to navigate a fulfilling existence through various means.She is deeply passionate about conversations related to wellbeing. She uses her own lived experience as well as the reality of having two family members who ended their life seeing no treatment pathway forward. One was her older sister who tried countless medicine combinations, therapies and facilities over 30 years.--Mind Medicine Australia exists to help alleviate the suffering and suicides caused by mental illness in Australia through expanding the treatment options available to medical practitioners and their patients. We will establish safe and effective psychedelic-assisted treatments to treat a range of mental illnesses.In furtherance of this mission, The Mind Medicine Australia Podcast ‘Season 2’ aims to connect, listen and share the power of lived experience stories of mental health challenges and altered states that cultivate wellbeing and utilise the collective voices to inform research directions, policy and system change. This podcast will explore modalities including but not limited to altered states from the use of psychedelics, breath work, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, nutrition, sleep and exercise.--Thank you for listening to the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast.You can support Mind Medicine’s work by making a tax-deductible donation to us and more specifically you can support the Patient Support Fund. Your donation will support research, access and affordability for psychedelic medicine.The information provided in this podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services including the giving of medical advice.The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional and medical recommendation, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at one’s own discretion and is not an endorsement of use given the complexity inherent in this medicine under the current viable widespread illegality of their usage.
  • 27. 2.27: Dr Kim Hutchison

    01:07:02||Season 2, Ep. 27
    TW: SuicideIn today's episode we dive into the fascinating world of altered states of consciousness with Dr Kim Hutchison, a neurologist and sleep doctor whose personal journey has led to a deep exploration of plant medicine and its potential to heal and transform. Kim's curiosity about mental frameworks, universal energy, and the boundaries of the self has brought her to uncover how plant medicine can break down barriers, elevate consciousness, and create new channels for healing and growth. We'll also discuss the role of plant medicine in addressing polypharmacy and the mental health challenges facing society, and how these experiences can shape a more interconnected collective consciousness.Your HostDr Deb Roberts, PhD is the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast host for Season 2 and has been a MMA volunteer, guides the weekly staff meditation, on the MMA Lived Experience Panel and has a life-long relationship with mental (ill) health yet been able to navigate a fulfilling existence through various means.She is deeply passionate about conversations related to wellbeing. She uses her own lived experience as well as the reality of having two family members who ended their life seeing no treatment pathway forward. One was her older sister who tried countless medicine combinations, therapies and facilities over 30 years.--Mind Medicine Australia exists to help alleviate the suffering and suicides caused by mental illness in Australia through expanding the treatment options available to medical practitioners and their patients. We will establish safe and effective psychedelic-assisted treatments to treat a range of mental illnesses.In furtherance of this mission, The Mind Medicine Australia Podcast ‘Season 2’ aims to connect, listen and share the power of lived experience stories of mental health challenges and altered states that cultivate wellbeing and utilise the collective voices to inform research directions, policy and system change. This podcast will explore modalities including but not limited to altered states from the use of psychedelics, breath work, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, nutrition, sleep and exercise.--Thank you for listening to the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast.You can support Mind Medicine’s work by making a tax-deductible donation to us and more specifically you can support the Patient Support Fund. Your donation will support research, access and affordability for psychedelic medicine.The information provided in this podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services including the giving of medical advice.The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional and medical recommendation, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at one’s own discretion and is not an endorsement of use given the complexity inherent in this medicine under the current viable widespread illegality of their usage.
  • 26. 2.26: Robert Falconer

    01:14:51||Season 2, Ep. 26
    TW: SuicideRobert Falconer overcame an incredibly difficult childhood as a troubled young man who battled suicidal thoughts and addictions. Despite these challenges, he not only survived but also flourished. While he has undoubtedly achieved tremendous success in material terms, what truly matters to him is his development into a compassionate individual. He has found purpose in the pain he has experienced by supporting other survivors, earning a Master’s degree in psychology, leading a non-profit organisation, writing, and becoming a public speaker. In this episode, Robert chats to Deb about the transformative healing power psychedelics can play on healing trauma, addictions and achieving personal transformation.Your HostDr Deb Roberts, PhD is the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast host for Season 2 and has been a MMA volunteer, guides the weekly staff meditation, on the MMA Lived Experience Panel and has a life-long relationship with mental (ill) health yet been able to navigate a fulfilling existence through various means.She is deeply passionate about conversations related to wellbeing. She uses her own lived experience as well as the reality of having two family members who ended their life seeing no treatment pathway forward. One was her older sister who tried countless medicine combinations, therapies and facilities over 30 years.--Mind Medicine Australia exists to help alleviate the suffering and suicides caused by mental illness in Australia through expanding the treatment options available to medical practitioners and their patients. We will establish safe and effective psychedelic-assisted treatments to treat a range of mental illnesses.In furtherance of this mission, The Mind Medicine Australia Podcast ‘Season 2’ aims to connect, listen and share the power of lived experience stories of mental health challenges and altered states that cultivate wellbeing and utilise the collective voices to inform research directions, policy and system change. This podcast will explore modalities including but not limited to altered states from the use of psychedelics, breath work, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, nutrition, sleep and exercise.--Thank you for listening to the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast.You can support Mind Medicine’s work by making a tax-deductible donation to us and more specifically you can support the Patient Support Fund. Your donation will support research, access and affordability for psychedelic medicine.The information provided in this podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services including the giving of medical advice.The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional and medical recommendation, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at one’s own discretion and is not an endorsement of use given the complexity inherent in this medicine under the current viable widespread illegality of their usage.
  • 25. 2.25: Dr Reid Robison

    01:08:56||Season 2, Ep. 25
    TW: SuicideReid Robison, MD MBA, is a Psychiatrist, Researcher & Chief Medical Officer at Novamind. He has led over 100 clinical trials in neuropsychiatry and co-directed the molecular genetics laboratory at the University of Utah Department of Psychiatry. Reid is co-founder at Cedar Psychiatry, and serves as Medical Director of Center for Change, a top Eating Disorder treatment program. He was the coordinating investigator for the MAPS MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy study of Eating Disorders. He was one of the first clinicians to use Ketamine off label for depression in Utah and obtained his first grant to study Ketamine in 2011. He also led the Utah site for the pivotal IV Ketamine study for treatment-resistant depression by Janssen, leading up to the company’s recent FDA-approval of Spravato (esketamine) via breakthrough therapy designation in 2019.Your HostDr Deb Roberts, PhD is the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast host for Season 2 and has been a MMA volunteer, guides the weekly staff meditation, on the MMA Lived Experience Panel and has a life-long relationship with mental (ill) health yet been able to navigate a fulfilling existence through various means.She is deeply passionate about conversations related to wellbeing. She uses her own lived experience as well as the reality of having two family members who ended their life seeing no treatment pathway forward. One was her older sister who tried countless medicine combinations, therapies and facilities over 30 years.--Mind Medicine Australia exists to help alleviate the suffering and suicides caused by mental illness in Australia through expanding the treatment options available to medical practitioners and their patients. We will establish safe and effective psychedelic-assisted treatments to treat a range of mental illnesses.In furtherance of this mission, The Mind Medicine Australia Podcast ‘Season 2’ aims to connect, listen and share the power of lived experience stories of mental health challenges and altered states that cultivate wellbeing and utilise the collective voices to inform research directions, policy and system change. This podcast will explore modalities including but not limited to altered states from the use of psychedelics, breath work, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, nutrition, sleep and exercise.--Thank you for listening to the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast.You can support Mind Medicine’s work by making a tax-deductible donation to us and more specifically you can support the Patient Support Fund. Your donation will support research, access and affordability for psychedelic medicine.The information provided in this podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services including the giving of medical advice.The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional and medical recommendation, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at one’s own discretion and is not an endorsement of use given the complexity inherent in this medicine under the current viable widespread illegality of their usage.
  • 24. 2.24: David Heilpern

    01:04:01||Season 2, Ep. 24
    TW: SuicideDavid Heilpern was appointed as a Magistrate in 1998, and was at the time the youngest magistrate in Australia. He ‘retired’ in May 2020. He sat in the criminal, mining, family, industrial, coronial and children’s jurisdictions of the Local Court, and was the Senior Civil Magistrate for five years. During his time on the bench, David was the principal educator for new magistrates throughout Australia and the Pacific and made several important reported decisions on criminal, environmental and evidence law.Prior to his appointment, David was a litigation lawyer on the North Coast where he co-founded the law school at Southern Cross University, rising to becoming the Acting Dean in 1996. He maintained a litigation practice throughout this time, representing a wide range of defendants including high profile clients North East Forrest Alliance and Nimbin Hemp. During this time David graduated with a Masters in Law and was pronounced the Alumni of the Decade for the University in 2005. David has written four published books, three of which have now had multiple editions, dozens of refereed journal articles, and is a prize-winning short story writer and poet.Your HostDr Deb Roberts, PhD is the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast host for Season 2 and has been a MMA volunteer, guides the weekly staff meditation, on the MMA Lived Experience Panel and has a life-long relationship with mental (ill) health yet been able to navigate a fulfilling existence through various means.She is deeply passionate about conversations related to wellbeing. She uses her own lived experience as well as the reality of having two family members who ended their life seeing no treatment pathway forward. One was her older sister who tried countless medicine combinations, therapies and facilities over 30 years.--Mind Medicine Australia exists to help alleviate the suffering and suicides caused by mental illness in Australia through expanding the treatment options available to medical practitioners and their patients. We will establish safe and effective psychedelic-assisted treatments to treat a range of mental illnesses.In furtherance of this mission, The Mind Medicine Australia Podcast ‘Season 2’ aims to connect, listen and share the power of lived experience stories of mental health challenges and altered states that cultivate wellbeing and utilise the collective voices to inform research directions, policy and system change. This podcast will explore modalities including but not limited to altered states from the use of psychedelics, breath work, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, nutrition, sleep and exercise.--Thank you for listening to the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast. You can support Mind Medicine’s work by making a tax deductible donation to us and more specifically you can support the Patient Support Fund. Your donation will support research, access and affordability for psychedelic medicine.The information provided in this podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services including the giving of medical advice. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional and medical recommendation, diagnosis or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at one’s own discretion and is not an endorsement of use given the complexity inherent in this medicine under the current viable widespread illegality of their usage.