Mind the 'synaptic' gap: The chemistry of the brain with Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore (University of Cambridge)

Summary

People with mental health challenges were for a very long time completely misunderstood, but science is changing our knowledge of the brain. What causes issues with mental health in young people? How can chemistry contribute to treatments for mental health problems? We speak with Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore leader of a research group at the University of Cambridge, about current research on mental health and the adolescent brain.

Meet our expert

Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

Sarah-Jayne Blakemore is Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, and leader of the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Group. Her group's research focuses on the development of social cognition and decision making in the human adolescent brain, and adolescent mental health. Her group runs behavioural studies in schools and in the lab, as well as neuroimaging studies, with adolescents and adults.

Credits

Producer: Shazia Ur-Rehman (CTVC)

Content Producer: Stevie Strowman (CTVC)

Hosts: Mariama Ifode-Blease and Samuel Dada

Guest: Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

Guest student: William Terry-Wright

Writer: Alastair Collinson (CTVC)

Researchers: William Terry-Wright, Bairavee R T Ravindran

Sound mixer: Pat Pretorius (CTVC)

Cover art: Sam Osbourne