A Study on the Brain’s Addiction to Drugs

What happens in your brain when you ingest a drug? Some drugs, such as marijuana and heroin, have a similar structure to chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, which are naturally produced by the brain. Because of this similarity, these drugs are able to “fool” the brain's receptors and activate nerve cells to send abnormal messages. A study conducted by Dr. Jodi Gilman at Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard...

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Scientists Convert Human Skin Cells Directly Into Brain Cells

Scientists are making steady progress on Huntington’s, a genetically inherited disorder that gradually weakens patients' muscle control and cognitive capacity until they die- usually some 20 or so years after initial symptoms. This week, a breakthrough has been discovered that involves converting human skin cells into a specific type of brain cell that is affected by Huntington's.  Usually, stem cells (‘blank’, unspecialized cells) have been...

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Cure for Spinal Cord Paralysis: World First as Man with Completely Severed Spine Walks Again

British Doctors have managed to stimulate the regeneration of spinal cord neurons to enable sensation in paralyzed Darek Fidyk’s lower body. This new technique may lead millions of paralyzed people around the world on a new road for treatment and improvement. A revolutionary implant of regenerative cells has knitted back together the spinal cord of wheelchair-bound firefighter, Fidyk, who was paralyzed from the chest down in a knife attack, restoring...

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Parts of the Brain: The Brainstem

Now for even more neuroscience! What are the basic parts of the brain, and what functions do they serve? This post will attempt to summarize the importance of the brain stem. We will pick up again with neuroanatomy and describe the basic functions of the brain stem. There are mainly three different parts of the brain - the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. The brain stem is the “simplest” part of the three complex brain structures....

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Parts of the Brain: Cerebellum

Now for some more neuroscience! What are the basic parts of the brain, and what functions do they serve? This post will attempt to summarize the importance of the cerebellum. And by summarize, this would be akin to writing a book for teens – this post will not go in depth into neuro-anatomy of the cerebellum (rather the important functions the cerebellum serves). There are mainly three different parts of the brain - the cerebrum, the cerebellum,...

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Parts of the Brain: Cerebrum

Now for some neuro-anatomy. What are the basic parts of the brain, and what functions do they serve? This post and the following two posts will together attempt to provide a basic description of the parts of our brain. There are mainly three different parts of the brain - the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. The cerebrum. It is the largest part of our brain by far, and it is also responsible for most of the processes that occur...

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Development of the Brain

Your brain continuously perceives information coming from all parts of your body. As it perceives this information, it learns and continues to grow. You continue to learn more and more throughout most of your life. But when does the brain stop developing? Most, if not all, cultures recognize the age of adulthood to be 18 years old. It is widely held that at this point in one’s life, the brain stops developing and you are “mature”at that point. However, many studies suggest otherwise. A new directive is being initiated for psychiatrists which increases...

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The Cognitive Neuroscience of Sleep and the Consequences of Sleep Deprivation

All animals need sleep. Why? To be honest, we don't know for sure. Sleeping, however, is essential for regulating our bodily functions. We need it for functioning efficiently and productively. But what happens when you don't get enough sleep?  Many of us wake up feeling groggy and exhausted, often prone to uncontrollable yawning. We begin to accumulate what is known as "sleep debt" - if we continue to sleep less (Under 7-8 hours for teenagers),...

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Obama BRAIN Initiative Backs Technology and Research in Neuroscience

One of President Obama's most altruistic scientific advancement efforts - a story that has been receiving minimal coverage in the face of fatuous celebrity gossip - involves the BRAIN initiative (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies). Last April, Obama announced the BRAIN initiative with its mission statement to revolutionize our understanding of the human brain. This year, he followed up with additional news :  “Last...

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