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 research

02:30 - 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 hormones

08:38 - How are sex hormones associated with specific psychological aspects?

10:29 - Example: The influence of sensitivity to sex hormones on emotions

12:26 - 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 - Summary

36:20 – Future directions in research & next steps for investigating women’s mental health

41:09 – Closing remarks

Website 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/home

Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804

Editing: Franziska Weinmar

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