Stimulating Brains

Author: Andreas Horn

Andreas Horn interviews experts in the field of deep brain stimulation, noninvasive neuromodulation, functional brain imaging and neuroanatomy. Join us on our quest to interact with the human brain and thank you for your interest in science! Andreas Horn, M.D., Ph.D., is a neuroscientist and associate professor for neurology at Harvard Medical School.
Be a guest on this podcast

Language: en

Genres: Natural Sciences, Science

Contact email: Get it

Feed URL: Get it

iTunes ID: Get it

Get all podcast data

Listen Now...

#71: Harold Sackeim - The founding editor of Brain Stimulation and a founding figure in modern electroconvulsive therapy
Thursday, 24 April, 2025

Today we had the privilege of speaking with a true pioneer in the field of neuropsychiatry and brain stimulation— Dr. Harold Sackeim.Dr. Sackeim is perhaps best known for his extensive research on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), but his contributions span a wide range of topics from treatment-resistant depression to the placebo effect in neurostimulation. As a founding figure in modern ECT research, he has played a central role in shaping both the science and the clinical practice of brain stimulation therapies.In this episode, we explored the history and future of ECT, the controversies surrounding it, and Dr. Sackeim’s insights on the direction of neuromodulation. He explains how ECT has long been the most effective treatment for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While once overlooked in favor of medication, we now know that both the placement and intensity of stimulation are key—challenging the old belief that seizures alone drive its effects.