Ideas change everything

Your brain is more than a bag of chemicals

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David Anderson |

TEDxCaltech

• January 2013

Modern psychiatric drugs treat the chemistry of the whole brain, but neurobiologist David Anderson has a more nuanced view of how the brain functions. He shares new research that could lead to targeted psychiatric medications -- that work better and avoid side effects. How's he doing it? For a start, by making a bunch of fruit flies angry.

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Modern psychiatric drugs treat the chemistry of the whole brain, but neurobiologist David Anderson has a more nuanced view of how the brain functions. He shares new research that could lead to targeted psychiatric medications -- that work better and avoid side effects. How's he doing it? For a start, by making a bunch of fruit flies angry.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxCaltech, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

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About the speaker

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Through his lab at the California Institute of Technology, David Anderson seeks to find the neural underpinnings of emotions like fear, anxiety and anger.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxCaltech, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.