The Science of the Hijacked Brain

The human mind is awe-inspiring. Its complex, yet coordinated, web of 86 billion neurons all fire together to help us breath, talk, walk, and experience everyday life.

But the mind is also vulnerable. It takes only a few microscopic molecules out of place to completely disrupt our personalities, shift our perception of reality, and dramatically alter our ability to think and reason. 

We spoke with Sara Manning Peskin, assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, about her book "A Molecule Away from Madness: The Hijacked Brain."

She shares the discoveries and diagnoses that have significantly advanced neuroscience while also illustrating the human component behind the mind's diseases that affect us all.