Nervous system

Have you ever found yourself staring at a math problem that seems impossible to solve? Do you wish there were an easy way to help your brain focus? Aromatherapy might be your answer. This experiment will test if the aromatherapy scents of jasmine and sandalwood help the brain’s speed and accuracy in completing a puzzle. The sense of smell begins in the back of the nose where millions of sensory neurons lie on a tissue called the the olfactory epithelium. As soon as an odor molecule binds to a…

Susan’s main areas of difficulty involve motor speech, which affects her intelligibility. Particularly relating to the larynx, use of the tongue in speech and coordination of the lips and palate. This indicates that Susan is likely experiencing mixed spastic-ataxic dysarthria due to lesions on the upper motor neurone pathway (Wilkinson and Lennox 2005) in the corticobulbar tract which innervates the cranial nerves and the cerebellum (Bethoux et al 2013). Lesions on the upper motor neurone…

Explanation of EMG signals EMG stands for electromyography. Muscle fibres generate tiny electrical currents prior to the production of muscle force. These currents are generated by the exchange of ions across muscle fibres membranes, a part of the signalling process for the muscle fibres to contract. EMG is the signal made, it can be measured by applying conductive elements or electrodes to the skin surface, or invasively with the muscle. When using EMG, tiny devices named electrodes are used…

Phantom sensations is a extraordinary phenomenon that most amputees with experience. One might assume that once their limb has been removed they will no longer feel pain for it, however, individuals who are amputees will suffer pain in places that no longer exist, thus why it's called phantom sensations. There are a couple popular theories to why this happens. The first being that once an amputation is performed all the nerve endings clump together, their clumping causes abnormal pain signals…

Marfan syndrome is a strange disease. It is genetic, and it is very rare. Sadly, it makes leading a normal life harder. On the plus side it can be treated. Marfan syndrome is a disease that affects your connective tissue. Organs and eyes are not held in the correct position and fingers, toes, arms, and legs seem too long for their body. It also can limit the gripping ability in their hands. This disease is not contagious. It is inherited genetically because of nitrogen bases matching…

Alzheimer's Care: The Stages of Alzheimers Alzheimer's disease is a progressive form of dementia that erodes the memories and cogntive skills of tens of millions of Americans every year. While this degenerative brain disorder follows a standard path of progression, no two seniors will have the same experience. For those providing Alzheimer's care, it is important to understand the stages of the disease, although there are a number of factors that impact the speed at which a person will go…

Deconditioning Deconditioning refers to the changes in your body that occur during a period of inactivity. The changes happen in your heart, lungs, and muscles. They decrease your ability to be active and make you feel tired and weak. There are three stages of deconditioning: • Mild deconditioning. At this stage, you will notice a change in your ability to do your usual exercise activities, such as running, biking, or swimming. • Moderate deconditioning. At this stage, you will notice a…

People often take their ability to see for granted. Vision allows a person to appreciate surroundings, makes it easier to perform tasks, and in general, do more, even the dangerous. However, like every other part of the body, the eyes are at risk of impairment resulting in loss of vision. Ageing comes with bodily dysfunctions. Arthritis, hypertension, and memory loss are all examples. So, too, is age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which leads to gradual central vision loss. It might be…

Morton's Neuroma also called Intermetatarsal Neuroma or Plantar Neuroma is a condition that affects the nerves of the feet, usually the area between the third and fourth toe. Neuroma refers to a benign growth that can occur in different parts of the body. Morton's Neuroma strictly affects the feet. This condition causes the tissue around the nerves that lead to the toes to become thick, causing pain in the ball of the foot. This condition can be caused by injury, pressure or irritation.…

Doctors at the University of Munich reported a bizarre case of a 25-year-old student that developed clonic seizures in his left arm. The physical education student was buried in an avalanche while on vacation which resulted in his brain being deprived of oxygen for about 15 minutes. The student developed “shock-like contractions” in both the mouth muscles when trying to talk and in his legs when he would try to walk. Weeks later while the student, who is right-handed, was attempting to solve…