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Your Fantastic Mind

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YOUR FANTASTIC MIND takes viewers on a journey of the final frontier in science, the brain. Mixing cutting edge research with deeply human stories, the show explores every aspect of the brain and mind - from what our dogs think of us, to how we can preserve our memories as we age, to curing depression with experimental deep brain stimulation. Your Fantastic Mind also tackles current brain issues impacting tens of millions of Americans such as the opioid crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, taking a deep dive into the mental and physiological effects of both. Your Fantastic Mind entertains and informs the viewer, providing lasting information they can use to improve their own lives.

Episodes:

• Storms in the Brain

  There is no cure for epilepsy. The best hope is controlling the seizures, but researchers have proven that if you can ablate (destroy) areas of the brain where the seizures happen, you can essentially cure the person. YFM follows a young mother who can no longer work, drive or even care for her child alone, as she tries to reclaim her life.

  Next Airing:	Sun, May 5th, 2024 at 10:30 AM on UEN-TV
  Length:	00:25:15
  Usage rights:	8/30/2021 to 8/29/2024

• Love

  In this episode, we explore the human brain in love and grief and how research is being used to help people with social and emotional disorders. Renowned anthropologist and best-selling author Dr. Helen Fisher shares her decades of research on what happens to the human brain in love. Dr. Larry Young at Yerkes Primate Research Center has studied prairie voles for 25 years and his discoveries have helped us better understand what happens to the brain in love, separation and grief. Prairie voles are one of the few mammals that are monogamous for life. Young's research is being used to conduct clinical studies to see if we can treat people with autism spectrum disorder and mental health disorders, using intra-nasal sprays containing the molecules associated with connection and love.

  Next Airing:	Sun, May 12th, 2024 at 10:30 AM on UEN-TV
  Length:	00:27:42
  Usage rights:	9/1/2022 to 8/31/2025

• Motherhood

  In this episode, we examine trauma and PTSD among African American mothers. The Grady Trauma Project based out of Grady Hospital, Atlanta's safety net hospital, is home to a team of female researchers who have studied 12,000 African American women over 15 years. The researchers found that PTSD impacted almost half of the African American women they studied, at 46%, far higher than the national rate of 6%. This PTSD is from various traumas including those related to childhood trauma, domestic violence and violent crime. Researchers at GTP are conducting new studies to investigate the possibility if they treat mothers for PTSD, it improves the overall health and wellness of their children. African American women also have far less access to mental health assistance and are more likely to suffer intimate partner violence and abuse. We highlight the NIA project which works exclusively with suicidal African American women. The program aims to improve their mental health and help them lead more meaningful and purpose-filled lives free of violence. Over the past 20 years, the NIA project has worked with more than 2,000 suicidal African American women, providing individual and group therapy.

  Next Airing:	Sun, May 19th, 2024 at 10:30 AM on UEN-TV
  Length:	00:23:53
  Usage rights:	9/8/2022 to 9/7/2025

• Long Covid

  It is estimated more than 11 million Americans are living with long Covid. Some people never fully recover from the virus, while others recover and then relapse with the same or new symptoms. With very few clinics dedicated to treating long Covid and with researchers and healthcare professionals still in the early stages of understanding how it manifests, millions of people are living with chronic issues not being addressed. Many can no longer work and function normally. This episode features four different people with long Covid, including an emergency room physician. We learn about research helping us better understand long Covid and the connection it has to other conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome. The episode also looks at how widely available FDA medications can be repurposed and used to treat and help alleviate symptoms for some people fighting long Covid.

  Next Airing:	Sun, May 26th, 2024 at 10:30 AM on UEN-TV
  Length:	00:27:58
  Usage rights:	9/15/2022 to 9/14/2025

• Becoming A Brain Surgeon

  The road to becoming a brain surgeon, or neurosurgeon, is widely known as the most difficult and longest in all of medicine. In the United States, neurosurgery residency training takes seven years after medical school. It is a competitive field where very few make the cut and achieve the dream. In this episode, we embed with the Emory Department of Neurosurgery's newest class of residents, taking viewers behind the curtain through their long days and long nights. From Emory's first African American woman neurosurgery resident to a man motivated to enter the field after lifechanging brain surgery as a child, we shadow these first-year residents as they begin their arduous journey.

  Next Airing:	Sun, Jun 2nd, 2024 at 10:30 AM on UEN-TV
  Length:	00:27:53
  Usage rights:	9/22/2022 to 9/21/2025

• Balance and Movement

  Cutting edge research that shows how stimulation of the vagus nerve can help patients regain arm function up to a decade after a stroke. Researchers at Emory/Georgia Tech who are studying the science of movement including the neuromechanics of human balance and gait. Their research shows that cognitive stiffness is connected to physical stiffness and vice versa and that improving one area can improve the other.

  Next Airing:	Sun, Jun 9th, 2024 at 10:30 AM on UEN-TV
  Length:	00:23:32
  Usage rights:	9/29/2022 to 9/28/2025

• Game Changers

  This episode features efforts to change huge issues. We take a critical look at disparities in maternal mortality and a new state of Georgia program, Peace for Moms, aimed at bridging the gap to provide mental health support for pre- and post-partum moms. And best-selling author and recovery expert William Cope Moyers, son of legendary journalist Bill Moyers, is featured in a segment about his journey with addiction. The story also features the work of the Clinton Foundation to educate faith leaders on the opioid crisis, so they can be part of a frontline solution. Finally, we take a closer look at new research examining the brain functions of grandmothers that goes a long way in explaining this important intergenerational relationship.

  Next Airing:	Sun, Jun 16th, 2024 at 10:30 AM on UEN-TV
  Length:	00:26:52
  Usage rights:	10/6/2022 to 10/5/2025

• Adolescent Mental Health

  Social media, academic stress and other crucial factors are contributing to an adolescent mental health crisis in America. This episode explores the alarming rise of anxiety, depression and suicide among today's teenagers, addressing causes of the crisis and exploring possible solutions. Viewers will hear from families and teens affected by mental health disorders, as well as psychiatric experts calling for an urgent need for change.

  Next Airing:	Sun, Jun 23rd, 2024 at 10:30 AM on UEN-TV
  Length:	00:29:00
  Usage rights:	9/1/2023 to 8/31/2026

• Ultrasound Treatment for Tremor

  People with tremor issues can have difficulties with basic tasks like eating, writing and speaking. This episode explores a revolutionary, non-invasive treatment for patients living with essential tremor or tremor from Parkinson's disease. Using high intensity focused ultrasound technology, guided by MRI, the treatment does not require brain surgery, sedation or incisions and can be completed in a single outpatient session. Viewers are given an in-depth look at the journey of a 75-year-old man and his transformative experience with this treatment.

  Next Airing:	Sun, Jun 30th, 2024 at 10:30 AM on UEN-TV
  Length:	00:23:44
  Usage rights:	9/8/2023 to 9/7/2026

• Glioblastoma/Proteomics/Brain Science In Cows

  In this episode, discover research being done in the fight against glioblastoma, the deadliest primary brain cancer known to humanity. Explore a clinical trial teaching the brain's immune system to fight this elusive disease. In another story, join researchers as they delve into the fascinating world of proteomics, the study of proteins in living organisms, and its potential to unlock the secrets of neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, take a visit to the farm of renowned neuroscientist Greg Berns best known for his research on dogs' brains. Berns takes viewers on a surprising journey to explore his new study on the brains of cows, shedding light on animal intelligence in ways never before thought possible.

  Next Airing:	Sun, Jul 7th, 2024 at 10:30 AM on UEN-TV
  Length:	00:25:09
  Usage rights:	9/15/2023 to 9/14/2026

• Thrill Seeking/Deep Brain Science/Brain Tumor Rehabilitation

  In this episode, with the backdrop of a building made famous in a popular TV series, viewers will explore the fascinating world of thrill-seeking and risk-taking, and how the answers to why we engage in such behaviors can be found in the brain. Another story highlights the importance of understanding mental health from the perspective of those who live with mental health issues. Lastly, the episode showcases the inspiring story of an orchestra conductor who, after undergoing cancer rehabilitation due to a brain tumor, was able to recover and lead her orchestra once again.

  Next Airing:	Sun, Jul 14th, 2024 at 10:30 AM on UEN-TV
  Length:	00:22:55
  Usage rights:	9/22/2023 to 9/21/2026

• Psychedelics

  After being stigmatized for decades, psychedelic medications are making a comeback on the world stage as the most promising new mental health treatments in the past 50 years. Research indicates psychedelic-assisted therapy may help promote emotional well-being by triggering a variety of experiences, providing people with an enhanced sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. This episode follows a participant in a clinical trial studying the use of psychedelics to alleviate mental suffering and depression. Leading researchers and clinicians discuss the latest scientific breakthroughs and the challenges in bringing this innovative therapy to a wider audience.

  Next Airing:	Sun, Jul 21st, 2024 at 10:30 AM on UEN-TV
  Length:	00:28:43
  Usage rights:	9/29/2023 to 9/28/2026

• Menopause

  Menopause is a natural and inevitable part of aging that affects the vast majority of American women, typically between the ages of 45 and 55. This episode explores what is happening in a woman's brain and body during menopause and its impact on daily life with common symptoms including mood changes, sleep disturbances and vaginal dryness. Experts discuss the latest on the safety and effectiveness of both hormone treatment and non-hormone treatments for managing symptoms, as well as resources to help women navigate this life transition.

  Next Airing:	Sun, Jul 28th, 2024 at 10:30 AM on UEN-TV
  Length:	00:29:00
  Usage rights:	10/6/2023 to 10/5/2026

• Deep Brain Stimulation for Depression

  Millions of Americans have depression. For some it is intractable and often leads to attempted suicide. Deep brain stimulation (DBS), which many people know of because of its use to control tremors in Parkinson's disease, can be life changing when used for depression. Dr. Helen Mayberg of Mount Sinai in New York City, pioneered discovery of an area of the brain that, if stimulated, can alleviate depression. We follow 27-year-old Tyler Hajjar who has suffered debilitating depression for a decade and has made multiple suicide attempts. YFM shadows him during the 12-hour surgery and in the months that follow as he strives to reclaim his life.

  Length:	00:26:37
  Usage rights:	8/2/2021 to 8/1/2024

• Memory

  YFM delves into the science of memory - how it works, how we can retain it and why we lose it. On a trip to Chicago, a group of fascinating research participants are highlighted - elderly nuns who are helping scientists discover the ingredients to a long, healthy dementia-free life. The episode also features the first study in the world that uses flickering lights built into sunglasses to remove amyloid plaque from the brain, and we share a touching love story of a neurologist who is caring for his wife with Alzheimer's, finding joy and peace through their shared love of music.

  Length:	00:27:30
  Usage rights:	8/16/2021 to 8/15/2024

• Second Chances

  In this episode, YFM focuses on three separate stories, connected by the thread that in each one, the person has been given a second chance. The first one highlights a program for adults with autism who are aging out of the system. The show follows them through three weeks of living away from home as they gain independence and begin building what will one day hopefully be an autonomous life. The second story follows a wife and mother, who after a decade of misdiagnoses, learns she has acromegaly, a cyst on the thyroid that can destroy a person's health and appearance. The episode documents her journey to undergo surgery and restore her lost health. The final segment introduces a young mother diagnosed with a rare brain cyst that can be life ending. We are there for the novel surgery and her complete recovery that follows.

  Length:	00:26:44
  Usage rights:	8/9/2021 to 8/8/2024

• Strokes and Strokestra

  A public hospital known as 'the place to go if you get shot', Grady Hospital has become the epicenter for cutting edge stroke treatment. Performed for only a few years, thrombectomy is when a stroke patient is brought in and doctors go into their brain and pluck out the clot that caused the stroke, much like doctors do with heart patients. This was not possible until just recently and is dramatically changing outcomes. YFM is with the thrombectomy team at Grady as patients arrive from around the state, their lives and outcomes hanging in the balance. This episode also features London's famed Royal Philharmonic Orchestra which has launched a nonprofit arm of the orchestra called 'Strokestra,' to help stroke patients rehab more quickly.

  Length:	00:21:06
  Usage rights:	8/23/2021 to 8/22/2024

• The Opioid Crisis

  This episode begins in Appalachia, the geographical birthplace of the opioid crisis, setting up how the use of opioids became rampant and spread. Then we go inside the brain to show how and why the brain becomes quickly addicted to opioids. The episode also features medication assisted treatment, an effective treatment that has been stigmatized.

  Length:	00:27:50
  Usage rights:	7/26/2021 to 7/25/2024

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