Dr. Peter Kalivas

Laura and Todd talk drugs, rats and addiction with neuroscientist Dr. Peter Kalivas. Peter educates everyone about the process of studying the brain, particularly addiction and behavioral disorders, and the discoveries that have been made as the head of Neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina. Todd struggles with his fear of an AI takeover while the three of them discuss the future of addiction treatment and the positive implications it has on other mental health treatments for disorders like PTSD and depression. Dr. Kalivas' Bio: As a neuroscientist, Dr. Kalivas has focused on the cellular mechanisms and brain circuitry mediating brain and behavior disorders, particularly in research to elucidate the brain molecules and neurocircuitry that underlie addiction, including addiction to alcohol and to cocaine. He moved from Washington State University to take on the position of Chair of Neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina in 1998 where he and his colleagues continue to investigate the cellular and molecular underpinnings of the brain circuits mediating addiction and also schizophrenia. Dr. Kalivas holds the title of Distinguished University Professor at both the Medical University of South Carolina and Washington State University, and is an Honorary Professor of Neuroscience at Nanjing Medical University. In the public arena, he chairs the Scientific Advisory Board for medications development for the National Institute of Drug Abuse.