Mindset Neuroscience Podcast Our Body Keeps the Score, Our Cells ‘Remember’ with Dr. Nikolay Kukushkin
5 snips
Jun 24, 2025 Dr. Nikolay Kukushkin, a molecular biologist and neuroscientist at NYU, dives into the fascinating concept of cellular memory—how our bodies retain experiences beyond the brain. He discusses his journey from Leningrad to leading research on memory, emphasizing the intersection of biology and philosophy. The conversation reveals how non-neural cells contribute to memory and behavior, insights into learning through cellular adaptations, and the profound implications for health and personal experiences. Kukushkin challenges conventional views on memory, opening a door to new understandings of life.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
From Leningrad To Oxford To NYU
- Nikolay Kukushkin grew up traveling across Europe and Japan, which shaped his cosmopolitan perspective.
- He trained in Russia, did a PhD at Oxford, and moved to the U.S. to work at NYU.
Bottom-Up View Of Mind
- Kukushkin approached neuroscience from cell biology, asking how molecules and cells could build memory and mind.
- Sea slugs provide a practical bridge from molecules to brain-level behaviors in his research.
Protein Quality Control Revelation
- For his PhD Kukushkin studied protein degradation and quality control, focusing on glycoprotein processing tags.
- He found the sugar-branch tagging system that sequentially recruits enzymes especially striking.
