Acetylcholine

similarities to waking states, including rapid, low-voltage desynchronized brain waves. Electrical and chemical activity regulating this phase seems to originate in the brain stem and is characterized most notably by an abundance of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, combined with a nearly complete absence of monoamine neurotransmitters histamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. The right and left hemispheres of the brain are more coherent in…

Predation is defined as the interspecific interaction in which one species called the predator, eats the other species known as the prey (Reece et al., 2013). Due to these two species interacting with one another, adaptations arise over time in each which help them carry out their niche most efficiently. This paper looks at Mellivora capensis, or honey badger as it is commonly called. It is a predator specie belonging to the family of mustelid, which reside mainly on the continent of Africa…

The cerebellum, on the other hand, is involved in controlling movements through coordination, precision, and accurate timing of movement. Unlike the basal ganglia, it does not directly initiate or suppress movement but works by influencing movements by modifying activity patterns of the upper motor neurons. The cerebellum receives its input from the spinal cord in form of mossy fibers that project from the pons and spinocerebellar pathways. Mossy fibers contribute the information necessary for…

Non–aggressive physical agitation symptoms may present as general restlessness, wandering or pacing, inappropriate dressing or undressing, hiding things, resisting care etc. Such behaviours may occur for a number of reasons such as pain, physical illness, depression, disorientation, separation from family or other unmet needs. Such behaviour can also be a result of acute frustration over reduced capacity to perform simple tasks such as getting dressed, misinterpreting what someone has said or…

Introduction Norway has strong traditional roots that are still reflected to this day throughout their culture. In Northern Norway and other Scandinavian countries, there are still traditional medical practices that occur from day to day (Sexton & Buljo Stabbursvik, 2010). Before the use of modern medicine and health care, the people of Norway used natural healing properties of herbs, roots, and other plants in their traditional healing ways (Ainsworth, 2008). Still to this day, there are some…

We all know that famous saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but have many of us considered why apples? Why not a banana a day or a kiwi a day? Your grandmother may have praised the benefits of apple pectin and told you to eat an apple when you were constipated. And it’s true, the fiber in the pectin is great at getting things moving again. But did you grandmother know apples were actually a superfood? From lowering cholesterol to improving gut health and preventing cancer, apples…

Imagine going through life with no memory of ones loved ones or even of how to perform daily functions. Being unable to go to the bathroom by one’s self or even feed one’s self. This, sadly, is a reality for many of the ageing population. This description describes Alzheimer’s disease. This disease progressively worsens with age, greatly impairing ones quality of life. It is defined as “a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that occurs when nerve cells in the brain die” (JH). It “ranks fourth…

To most of us, our daily coffee, tea or Diet Coke routine is as automatic as breathing. Sure, we know that the stimulating effect of caffeine is part of the equation, but most of us have no idea of the side effects of caffeine are nor how profoundly our buzz of choice has affected our brains. In its purest form, caffeine would be indistinguishable from cocaine and would only take a teaspoon of it to kill you. Now for most of us, our mild addictions won’t put our lives at risk, but this leads…

Organophosphate has been reported to affect the nervous system through disruption of the enzyme responsible for regulating a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. A chemical pesticide produced during World War II and used today on fruits and vegetables because of their chemicals relatively low cost and ability to be applied to varies insects and crops (EPA, 2014; PAN, n.d.). Carbamate is similar to Organophosphate…

Background: Asthma is an international health problem of epidemic proportions that affects around 300 million people worldwide with an estimated 250,000 annual deaths. It is the most common chronic childhood disease, and affects 10% of children in the United States (1). The economic burden of the chronic effects of asthma in the United States is estimated to be over $50 billion per year (2). The hallmark of asthma is hyperresponsiveness of the airway smooth muscle and fluctuating levels of…