Off-Label
Off Label is an AI-hosted podcast by Dr. Steve Rondeau’s digital twin. It explores the limits of DSM-based diagnosis and the promise of brain-informed psychiatry. From mislabeled symptoms to overlooked patterns, we examine how mental health can evolve beyond outdated frameworks toward something more precise, personal, and real.
Off-Label
Wired for Connection: The Neuroscience of Why We Love Animals
In this episode, your AI hosts unpack a fascinating hypothesis from Dr. Steven Rondeau, exploring the neural and hormonal basis behind our deep emotional bonds with animals. Why do so many of us feel comfort, joy, or even healing when we interact with pets? The answer may lie in a unique intersection of brainwave patterns, emotional perception, and oxytocin—the “love hormone.”
We’ll explore how mu rhythm suppression, a brainwave linked to social cognition, mirrors our ability to connect emotionally—not just with people, but with companion animals. Paired with oxytocin’s powerful role in trust, bonding, and emotional regulation, this conversation dives into the emerging neuroscience of human-animal relationships.
From mirror neurons to multisensory embodiment and the role of the amygdala, we look at how interacting with animals might not only change our emotional state—but our brains themselves. This episode is perfect for animal lovers, clinicians, and anyone curious about the healing potential of the human-animal bond.