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What happens to the female brain during midlife? In this episode, we welcome Associate Professor Genevieve Steiner-Lim, a cognitive neuroscientist and researcher in translational neuroscience, to talk about brain aging, the menopausal transition, and females long-term brain health. We explore whether male and female brains age differently, what females experience during the menopausal transition, and what qualitative research from Australia can teach us about the lived experience of menopause. We also compare perspectives on menopause research and healthcare in Australia and Germany, and discuss why females are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Finally, Genevieve takes us into her latest research, including the MenoStim Trial investigating non-invasive brain stimulation and the MenoCog Trial exploring whether creatine could support cognition, mood, and brain health during and after the menopausal transition. From understanding the female brain in midlife and aging to developing new preventive approaches — join us for this engaging discussion on the future direction of research! If you would like to get in touch with Genevieve, you can find her & her group here: https://gensteiner.com/ ... or reach her at: [email protected] Timestamps: 00:27: Introduction to our guest Assoc. Prof. Genevieve Steiner-Lim and her field of research 01:40: Brain aging 03:01: Do male and female brains age differently? 05:13: The menopausal transition: beyond reproductive health 10:22: Qualitative study on the lived experience of the menopausal transition in Australia 18:13: Australia vs. Germany: differences in menopausal healthcare and research 23:22: Current state of Alzheimer's disease research in females 30:12: MenoStim Trial: can non-invasive brain stimulation improve thinking, memory and mood during menopause? 35:38: MenoCog Trial: can creatine support brain health and mood in postmenopausal women with an elevated risk of dementia? 45:05: Gaps and future directions in research and clinical translation 49:16: What could the future for women's brain health look like? 52:10: Wrap up and thank you Outline & questions: Franziska Weinmar Sound recording & Editing: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804 Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Light does much more than help us see - it directly influences our brain, hormones, sleep, and overall health. In this episode, we welcome PhD researcher Carolina Guidolin, who enlightens us about the world of circadian neuroscience and how light regulates our internal clock. Together we discuss why people respond differently to light exposure, how sex and hormones may shape these responses, and why understanding circadian biology may open important new perspectives for women’s health. Beyond the lab, Carolina also shares why science communication and her podcast have become an essential part of her work as a scientist. Interested in more science communication on circadian neuroscience? Listen in to Carolina's podcast "Light O'Clock": https://www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/lightoclock If you would like to get in touch with Carolina, you can find her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinaguidolin/ ... her lab here: https://www.tscnlab.org/ ... or reach her at: [email protected] Timestamps: 00:26 Introduction to our guest Carolina Guidolin 02:04 What are circadian rhythms? 04:41 Relevance of circadian rhythms for mental health 06:03 Non-visual effects of light 09:05 What is melatonin and what role does it play? 13:07 Melatonin suppression and its effects on brain and body 18:06 What do we know about individual differences in melatonin suppression? 22:30 Sex differences & hormones in melatonin suppression 32:14 Introduction to Carolina’s project on how sex, the menstrual cycle, and oral contraception shape individual differences 40:46 What are potential implications for women’s mental health? 44:39 Carolina’s podcast Light O’Clock – Motivation and key takeaways from science communication 50:22 Summary 51:21 Next steps in circadian neuroscience research 55:05 How close are we to translating these findings into clinical applications? 58:23 Closing remarks   Outline & questions: Franziska Weinmar Sound recording & Editing: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804 Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How are sex and gender differences reflected in mental health research and care - from prevalence and symptoms to diagnosis and treatment? In this episode, Franziska talks to Andreas Fallgatter, Professor and Medical Director at the University Hospital Tübingen and spokesperson of the Tübingen site of the German Center for Mental Health (DZPG). Together, they talk about differences in prevalence and symptoms of mental health disorders between women and men, and discuss how well these differences are currently reflected in clinical practice. Prof. Fallgatter shares insights from both research and patient care, highlighting where psychiatry has made progress - and where important gaps remain. Looking ahead, Prof. Fallgatter outlines how we can better translate research into practice and what is needed to move toward more personalized and sex- and gender-sensitive approaches in psychiatry. Join us for a conversation at the intersection of neuroscience, clinical practice, and the future of mental health care. If you would like to get in touch with Prof. Fallgatter, you can find him here: https://www.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/de/das-klinikum/mitarbeiter/profil/1572 ... or reach him at: [email protected] Timestamps: 00:26: Introduction of our guest Prof. Dr. Andreas Fallgatter 01:53: Importance of sex/gender in mental health research & practice 03:34: Prevalence differences in mental health disorders 04:24: Examples of symptom differences in women vs. men across mental health disorders 05:42: Risks of not recognizing sex/gender differences 06:56: How the field has dealt with sex/gender differences in the past 07:45: Has understanding of sex/gender influences in mental health changed? 10:56: To what extent is sex/gender considered in diagnoses and treatment?  15:22: Overview of current projects on women’s mental health disorders 18:19: The German Center for Mental Health (DZPG): Aims and goals 21:58: Sex/gender sensitive approaches in the German Center for Mental Health 22:54: Summary & key takeaways 24:01: Research gaps and future directions in sex/gender differences in mental health 27:32: Thank you and wrap up   Outline & questions: Franziska Weinmar Sound recording & Editing: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804 Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we decide what is right or wrong? And how are these decisions shaped? In this episode, Franziska speaks with Aiste Ambrase, doctoral researcher in the research group Women’s Mental Health and Brain Function at the University of Tübingen, about the fascinating and complex world of moral decision-making. Bringing together moral philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience, Aiste explores how people make difficult value-based choices, why classic moral dilemmas only tell part of the story, and why research in this field faces major methodological challenges. We talk about what moral trade-offs can reveal about human behavior, why the idea of a simple “moral brain” is far more complicated than it sounds, and what current neuroscience can actually tell us. The episode also turns to an important and often neglected question: Whether neurotransmitter systems, sex differences and hormones may play a role in how we make difficult moral choices. This conversation is an invitation to think more deeply about morality, decision-making, and the scientific challenges of studying both. If you would like to get in touch with Aiste, you can find her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aiste-ambrase/ https://www.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/de/das-klinikum/mitarbeiter/profil/3094 ... or reach out to: [email protected] Timestamps: 00:26 Introduction of our guest Aiste Ambrase 01:46 Background on moral decision-making 06:50 Moral interest theories 08:10 Prohibitive norms vs. prescriptive norms 10:15 Moral trade-offs and examples in everyday life 13:50 Morality research and the "Trolley dilemma" 22:50 Cognitive biases and other processes 24:20 Moral injury: Influence of the behavioral gap on mental health 25:50 The Oxford Utilitarianism Scale 30:50 Challenges of neuroscience research on moral decision-making 33:00 Morality in the brain? 36:34 Different neuroimaging approaches on moral decision-making 47:20 Neural networks of moral decision-making 49:50 Sex differences in moral decision-making? 51:20 Influence of hormones and neurotransmitters on moral decision-making 57:10 Moral decision-making across the female lifespan 01:01:04 What should future research on moral decision-making look like? 01:04:50 Thank you and wrap-up Outline & questions: Franziska Weinmar Sound recording & Editing: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804 Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let’s Talk WITH Young Researchers: Welcome to our podcast sideline, in which we give the word to young researchers in the field of women’s mental health! In this episode, meet Iris Hamers, PhD researcher at the University Medical Center Groningen. In her PhD, Iris investigates sex differences in mental health disorders and treatment, with a particular focus on schizophrenia and psychosis, and an expanding interest to other mental health disorders. Her work sits at the intersection of gonadal hormones, pharmacokinetics, and clinical neuroscience, aiming to better understand how biological sex influences symptom prevalence and treatment response. Iris’ PhD combines research within a randomized controlled trial on early discontinuation of antipsychotics and large-scale population research on women’s mental health across the lifespan, using nationwide registry data from the Netherlands. In this episode, we discuss key lifespan patterns in mental healthcare, sex-specific vulnerabilities, and what these findings may mean for women’s mental health research and clinical practice. Beyond her scientific work, Iris reflects on her PhD experience and the importance of supportive research communities in women’s mental health. She also shares insights into co-founding the Sex and Gender in Health Research Roundtable, an initiative that has grown into community of young researchers. Wrapping up, Iris answers our renowned closing section — the “Three Burning Questions”: Who is your science crush?What did you not know or expect before starting a PhD?What do you enjoy most about your work as a PhD researcher? Are you interested in the Sex and Gender in Health Research Roundtable? Find them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sex-and-gender-in-health-research-roundtable/ ... and sign-up here: https://forms.gle/pLqosyHTgeHsqkUbA    Do you want to get in touch with Iris? Reach out to: [email protected] ... or find her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/i-hamers/https://umcgresearch.org/w/i-m-h-hamers Here you can learn more about the clinical trail on the early-discontinuation of antipsychotics: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hamlett-ophelia-consortium/ ... as well as first results we discussed: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2839607   Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar Editing: Franziska Weinmar Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sleep is something we all need - but do women and men actually sleep differently? And what happens when we move beyond biological sex to consider gender roles and identity? In this episode we welcome Dr. Lieve van Egmond, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University of Tübingen. Lieve’s work explores how sleep, mental well-being and hormones interact, with a special focus on transgender individuals. From the basics of why sleep is essential for mental health, to state-of-the-art research on sex differences, hormonal transitions, and gender diversity, this conversation takes you from foundational science to the future of inclusive sleep research. We discuss why “sex” alone is not enough to understand sleep and mental health, where current research still falls short, and how new studies are opening up perspectives that have long been overlooked. Along the way, Lieve also shares, what frustrates her about the current state of the field, what motivates her as a scientist, and why science communication is key to improving both healthcare and quality of life of all individuals. If you would like to get in touch with Lieve, you can find her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ltvanegmond/ https://www.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/de/das-klinikum/mitarbeiter/profil/5375 ... or reach out to: [email protected] Timestamps: 00:26: Introduction to our guest Dr. Lieve van Egmond 02:09: Why do we need sleep? 03:41: How do sleep and mental health influence each other? 08:52: Differences between "sex" and "gender" 14:30: Do females and males sleep differently? 18:07: The role of female hormonal transition periods in sleep 21:51: The gap in research on sex differences and sleep 25:08: Why "sex" alone is not enough in sleep research 27:17: Sleep and mental health in transgender individuals 38:55: Where is future research on sleep, sex & gender heading? 42:48: Lieve's frustration and motivation in her field of research 47:49: The importance of science communication 50:45: Closing and take-home messages Outline & questions: Franziska Weinmar Sound recording & Editing: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804 Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's Talk WITH Young Researchers: Welcome to our podcast sideline, in which we give the word to young researchers in the field of women's mental health! In this episode, meet Livia Ruehr, PhD researcher in the Cognitive Neuroendocrinology Group at the Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, who is supervised by Prof. Dr. Julia Sacher. In her research, Livia focuses on understanding how hormonal fluctuations influence the brain across female transition phases - for example, the menstrual cycle - where she investigates both structural and functional connectivity changes. From conducting a systematic review to diving into complex longitudinal analyses on functional connectivity across the menstrual cycle, this episode is packed with research at the frontier of our field. Beyond her scientific work, Livia also opens up about her PhD experience, including the insecurities she faced at the beginning and how her mindset evolved throughout the journey. As a member of the Max Planck School of Cognition, Livia discusses the benefits of a structured PhD program and the value of being part of a diverse cohort of fellow PhD students. Wrapping up, Livia answers our renowned closing section - the “Three Burning Questions.": Who is your science crush? What did you not know/expect before starting a PhD? What do you enjoy most about your work as a PhD researcher?  Do you want to get in touch with Livia? Reach out to: [email protected] ... or find her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liviaruehr/https://www.cbs.mpg.de/mitarbeitende/ruehrhttps://cognition.maxplanckschools.org/doktoranden/livia-ruehr Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar Editing: Franziska Weinmar Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if we could peek into the developing brain before birth? In this episode we welcome Prof. Hubert Preissl, head of the research group Metabolic Neuroimaging at the University of Tübingen, who talks about the fascinating science of fetal brain development. Using fetal magnetoencephalography (fMEG) - with one of two systems worldwide right in Tübingen - researchers can measure fetal brain activity and uncover how a mother’s metabolic health and stress influence fetal development. Besides talking about early recordings of sex differences in brain development, we consider clinical implications and how insights into fetal brain activity may transform our understanding of mental health across the lifespan. From the origins of brain function to lifelong (mental) health, this conversation will change how you think about the very beginning of life. If you would like to get in touch with Hubert, you can find him here: https://preissl-lab.net/de/people/prof-dr-hubert-preissl/ ... or reach him at: [email protected] Timestamps: 00:26: Introduction of our guest Prof. Hubert Preissl and his field of research 01:49: When does the fetal brain start to develop? 02:37: How do scientists study fetal brain activity? 06:54: How does fetal magnetoencephalography work & what are challenges? 14:05: The concept of developmental origins of health & disease 20:20: Maternal metabolic health & the influence on fetal brain activity 26:58: Maternal psychological stress & the influence on fetal brain activity 29:40: Longterm consequences of metabolic & psychological health on cognitive & emotional development in offspring 32:57: Sex differences in fetal brain development 38:01: Summary 38:58: What are clinical implications for maternal health interventions? 43:32: How might our understanding of the fetal brain impact our perspective on mental health across the lifespan? 45:50: Call for applications! 46:50: Closing remarks Outline & questions: Franziska Weinmar Sound recording & Editing: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804 Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's Talk WITH Young Researchers: our podcast sideline in which we give the word to young researchers in the field of women's mental health! In this episode, meet Romina Garcia de leon, PhD researcher at the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto and part of the Laboratory of Behavioural Neuroendocrinology at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, where she works under the supervision of the one-and-only Dr. Liisa Galea. We discuss Romina's preclinical research on the heterogeneity of peripartum depression and the role hormones and immune signaling play - including in treatment. Romina also speaks openly about the challenges of pursuing a PhD, but also about what she loves about it. At the end of the podcast, Romina answers our renowned "3 burning questions": Who is your science crush? What did you not know/expect before starting a PhD? What do you enjoy most about your work as a PhD researcher?  Do you want to get in touch with Romina? Reach out to: [email protected] ... or find her here: https://www.galealab.com/rominagarciahttps://womenshealthresearchcluster.com/profile/romina-garcia-de-leon/https://www.linkedin.com/in/romina-garcia-de-leon-7b2976149/ Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar Editing: Franziska Weinmar Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How are metabolism, cognition, mood, and overall health connected - and do these interactions differ between women and men across the lifespan? In this episode, Franziska talks to Prof. Manfred Hallschmid from the University of Tübingen, where he researches the links between brain function, metabolic processes, and sleep. Manfred explains how our brain and body communicate when it comes to food intake and mental well-being - and how these processes shift during major hormonal transition phases such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. What role do sex hormones play in these changes? In the outlook, Manfred shares the key questions he believes the field needs to tackle next and what’s the one thing he wishes more people understood about metabolism and well-being. The topic of metabolism has never been this fascinating - join us as Manfred connects the dots of food intake, hormones, and mental health across the lifespan. If you would like to get in touch with Manfred, you can find him here: https://www.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/de/das-klinikum/mitarbeiter/profil/1965 ... or reach him at: [email protected] Timestamps: 00:25: Introduction of our guest Manfred Hallschmid and his field of research 01:17: What is metabolism? 02:25: Which systems in the body and the brain are involved in food intake? 06:25: Top-down and bottom-up pathways linking metabolism with cognitive function, mental health, and mood 14:44: Key sex differences in metabolism and their onset 21:03: Influence of sex hormones on metabolism 27:10: How do the hormonal fluctuations across the female life span impact metabolism? 42:42: Summary 45:00: Future directions in research 48:05: Take home message 49:55: Closing remarks Outline & questions: Nina Goll & Franziska Weinmar Sound recording: Nina Goll with the equipment of the IRTG2804 Editing: Franziska Weinmar Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome Prof. Dr. Pia Schober, who brings us a sociological perspective on our field of research! Pia is a professor at the University of Tübingen, where she leads the Chair of Microsociology in the Department of Sociology and is also part of our IRTG 2804. As an expert on gender-specific and social inequalities focusing on the impact of childcare and education policies, Pia talks about historic and current trends of the gender revolution in this podcast. Why does the gender revolution seem to be stalling? Is there a "paradox in women's well-being" - and how could we explain it? Listen to explore a different perspective and gather food for thought to start a discussion in your circles too!  If you would like to get in touch with Pia, you can find her here: https://uni-tuebingen.de/fakultaeten/wirtschafts-und-sozialwissenschaftliche-fakultaet/faecher/fachbereich-sozialwissenschaften/soziologie/institut/personen/prof-pia-s-schober/ ... or reach her at: [email protected] Timestamps: 00:25: Introduction of our Guest Pia Schober and her field of research 01:47: How is gender defined in sociology? 02:50: What kind of social inequalities are related to gender and how has this changed over time? 08:14: Factors, phases and current trends of the gender revolution 17:00: Benefits of the gender revolution 23:44: The longitudinal female well-being paradox 36:33: Summary 39:00: How can we move towards a less polarized discussion around gender, while acknowledging the effect that gender has on mental health & well-being? 47:01: What methods does Pia Schober use in her research? 49:21: Closing remarks Outline & questions: Hanna Wierenga & Franziska Weinmar Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804 Editing: Franziska Weinmar Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's Talk WITH Young Researchers: our podcast sideline in which we give the word to young researchers in the field of women's mental health! In this episode, meet Zoé Bürger, PhD researcher in the Women's Mental Health and Brain Function lab in Tübingen, where she has been working with Prof. Birgit Derntl. We talk about Zoé's research on hormonal contraception, specifically the hormonal IUD, and stress. Besides, Zoé shares her PhD journey over the past years, how she faced challenges, and found her "village". In the end of the podcast, Zoé answers our famous quick "3 Burning Questions": Who is your science crush? What did you not know/expect before starting a PhD? What do you enjoy most about your work as a PhD researcher?  Do you want to get in touch with Zoé? Reach out to: [email protected] ... or find her on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoebuerger/ Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar Editing: Franziska Weinmar Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month - so Let's Talk About Endometriosis! In this conversation, Elle Murata, PhD researcher in the Cognitive Neuroendocrinology Lab at the University of California, is sharing insights into neuroscience research on endometriosis. What is endometriosis? Why is it important to consider endometriosis in neuroscience research? How are Elle and her research group exploring the topic? Elle is here to answer all these questions!  In addition, she talks about the challenges of this research, her experiences as a young researcher and what she envisions for the future field. Visit the Cognitive Neuroendocrinology Jacob's Lab website here: https://jacobs.psych.ucsb.edu/ If you would like to get in touch with Elle, you can find her here: https://jacobs.psych.ucsb.edu/people/elle-murata ... or reach her at: [email protected] Timestamps: 00:26 Introduction of our guest Elle Murata and her field of research 01:48 What is endometriosis? 08:17 Why is it important to investigate endometriosis from a neuroscientific point of view? 14:15 Elle's neuroscience research project on endometriosis 24:39 Aims & hypotheses of the project 26:29 Possible implications 32:35 Challenges of this research topic 35:58 Summary 38:55 Closing remarks & future directions in research 39:50 Elle's experience as a young researcher Outline & questions: Franziska Weinmar Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804 Editing: Franziska Weinmar Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle or when using oral contraceptives ("the pill") affect cognitive functions? In this episode, Franziska speaks with Prof. DDr. MMMag. Belinda Pletzer (Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg), a leading expert in cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology, especially when it comes to hormone-brain interactions. With a diverse background spanning biology, psychology, philosophy, and mathematics, Belinda's research focuses particularly on the effects of sex hormones and gender-related aspects of neuroscience, such as the effects of hormonal contraceptives on the female brain. Together we explore if and how cognitive performance and brain activity are affected by the menstrual cycle, premenstural syndrome (PMS), and oral contraceptives. Belinda also shares her hypothesis on hormonal sensitivity across the female lifespan and whether more or actually less sensitivity could be a risk factor for mental health. As always, we conclude with an outlook on how our guest envisions the future development of the research field.  Join us for a deep dive into this enlightening conversation - and find out if the myth that all women are affected by the menstrual cycle holds true... Visit the website of Belinda's research group: https://ccns.plus.ac.at/labs/sexandgender/ ... and Belinda's profile: https://ccns.plus.ac.at/labs/sexandgender/members/belinda_pletzer/ If you would like to get in touch with Belinda, you can reach her at: [email protected] Timestamps: 00:27 Introduction of Belinda Pletzer and her field of research 02:20 The menstrual cycle and its phases 05:18 Oral contraceptives and their influence on the menstrual cycle 08:20 How do we define cognitive functions? 10:24 Investigating cognitive functions - Belinda's research 12:58 Does the menstrual cycle affect cognitive performance? 22:28 Belinda's research on PMS, mood and cognitive performance 33:08 Do oral contraceptives affect cognitive performance? 41:11 Hot Topic: Hormonal sensitivity - Belinda's hypothesis 46:30 Summary 49:54 Closing remarks and future directions in research  Outline & questions: Franziska Weinmar Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804 Editing: Franziska Weinmar Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) approximately affects 2-5% of women around the world. In this episode we have Dr. Liza Kaltsouni, postdoc at Uppsala University, Department of Women's and Children's Health, as an expert in our podcast. During her PhD, Liza Kaltsouni conducted research on PMDD and collected various data, including brain data in the MRI scanner. This has influenced her holistic perspective on PMDD and the multimodal network approach needed to understand this multimodal disorder. In addition to pursuing such a multimodal approach for future research on PMDD, Liza emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary work and the inclusion of the people for whom the research is intended. Following the motto “nothing good is easy”, Liza calls on us to listen more. And you can start today - by listening to this enlightening conversation! Timestamps: 00:27 Introduction of our guest Dr. Liza Kaltsouni & her field of research 01:46 What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and how is it differed to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) ? 05:57 What do we know about underlying causes of PMDD? 12:13 Hormonal sensitivity hypothesis 18:22 What do we know about PMDD & brain structure + function? 27:57 Multimodal study project & findings of Liza Kaltsouni 37:55 Implications of Liza's research 41:10 Current available treatment for PMDD 44:59 Outlook: Upcoming treatment possibilities for PMDD? 48:50 Summary 52:27 Closing remarks & future directions in research  Want to get in touch with Liza? [email protected] https://www.uu.se/en/contact-and-organisation/staff?query=N19-2428 Sound recording: Franziska Weinmar at Recording Studio Blasenhus, Uppsala University  Editing: Franziska Weinmar Do you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions? Get in touch with us: [email protected] Are you intrigued by this topic and want to be kept updated? Follow us on twitter: @irtg2804 or instagram: @irtg2804 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.