When we talk about the brain, it is anything but unidimensional or simplistic or reductionistic. Thomas R. Insel brainreductionisticsimplistic Change image and share on social
Neuroscientists talk a lot about brain circuits. In fact, the word 'circuit' is probably misleading. We do not know where most circuits begin and end. And unlike an electrical circuit, brain connections are heavily reciprocal and recursive, so that a direction of information flow can be inferred but sometimes not proven. Thomas R. Insel beginbraincircuit share on social
I was sure I was going to be a doctor of global health or tropical medicine in some underdeveloped country. Thomas R. Insel countrydoctorglobal Change image and share on social
Most of our brain cells are glial cells, once thought to be mere support cells, but now understood as having a critical role in brain function. Glial cells in the human brain are markedly different from glial cells in other brains, suggesting that they may be important in the evolution of brain function. Thomas R. Insel braincellcritical share on social
I trained in psychiatry in the 1970s, and much of our training was about what was then psychoanalytic theory, with a little bit of theory from Jungian psychology and a few other places. Thomas R. Insel 1970sbitejungian Change image and share on social
A National Database on Autism Research is fostering sharing of data and collaborations. Scientists are also making great strides at the interface of biology and engineering with new technologies that are laying the groundwork for future advances. Thomas R. Insel advanceautismbiology share on social
As a scientist leading a funding agency for autism research, I think of autism as a neurodevelopmental disorder. Thomas R. Insel agencyautismdisorder Change image and share on social
After a century of studying schizophrenia, the cause of the disorder remains unknown. Thomas R. Insel centurydisorderremain Change image and share on social
In the 1830s, Dorothea Dix revolutionized the care of people with mental illness by taking them out of jails and caring for them in asylums, later known as state hospitals. Thomas R. Insel 1830sasylumcare Change image and share on social
Reports that online cognitive behavioral treatment can be as effective as in-person psychotherapy suggest that technology will expand access, extend the impact of a therapist, and expedite treatment for people who might not find 'seeing' a therapist acceptable. Thomas R. Insel acceptableaccessbehavioral share on social