Nervous system

The New Brain by Richard Restak is book generically discussing the human brain and its functional development. Restak is a neurosurgeon and popular science writer focuses on new technology for examining the physiology of the brain. He discusses things such as MRI and how it allows us to monitor and control a wide range of activities than was formerly possible before. It is an interesting read however I was not keen on it. To me personally reads more like a series of unconnected, popular media…

Moving Day Moving Day, it’s an event organized by the Parkinson’s Foundation with the help of other partners to remember and celebrate those people living with this progressing disease that affects many of our elderly. It’s also an opportunity to create awareness, to educate the people about the effects of this disease that not only affects the elderly but can also have a slowly progression of symptoms in an early age, and it’s as well a great opportunity for funding. So, what is Parkinson’s…

Planaria are triploblastic acoelmate flatworms that inahabit marine and terrestrial environments and belong to the phylum Platyhelminthes. Though they are relatively complex creatures, as they possess an extremely branched gastrovascular cavity, a brain, hermaphroditic reproductive abilities, Planaria are best known for their regenerative capabilities (Rink, 2012). This is not a recent discovery, however. Peter Simon Pallas first described this regeneration 230 years ago in 1766, and Dalyell…

Developing of the brain starts as early as three weeks of conception. It is a lifelong process where the brain will continue to develop, store any new information, and retain memories. Both a child’s brain and adult’s brain has the ability to restructure and be flexible, which is also known as neuroplasticity. It is when the brain has the capability to be bendable and be able to alter the relations in experiences, learning, or even after an injury. It allows the opportunity for nerve cells…

Mirror Neurons: Discussion and Debates The average human brain weighs only three pounds, yet the intricacy surrounding its capabilities are one of the most sought after mysteries, with regard to human anatomy. Dr. V.S. Ramachandran (2010) explains that the brain is the housing for approximately 100 billion neurons all interacting in a phenomenal number of differing connections. In studying how neural processes develop, mirror neurons were identified. Although this is a complex topic which…

A myloidosis (am-uh-loi-doh-sis) results from mutational folds of the immunoglobulin protein, forming a fibril. A fibril is a product of protein aggregation. It is still unknown what causes these fibrils to form, however scientists know that the folds are found in the light chains, also known as the Lambda chains. This specific immunoglobulinic amyloidosis is also referred to as AL or “primary” amyloidosis. AL amyloidosis is considered to be the most common type of systemic amyloidosis in…

Affecting more than 10 million people worldwide, Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic disorder that causes progressive movement debilitation. It has been found that this progressive impairment is due to deterioration of neurons in the substantia nigra; this consequently suppresses the production of dopamine. Because this chemical messenger is what initiates movement, those that suffer from Parkinson’s experience symptoms such as tremors, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability.…

example, strategic neuromuscular electrical stimulation of muscles allows people with SCI to cycle or row. However, the high cost and typical absence of insurance coverage for FES systems make them an unfeasible option for at-home use for most people with SCI. Training at a rehabilitation facility equipped with an FES system is an alternative, but engaging in routine training outside of the home adds logistical challenges with transportation and scheduling. An added difficulty with training via…

Morgellons disease Morgellons disease is a poorly understood condition which a growing number of physicians believe to be a chronic infectious disease. The disease can be both disabling and disfiguring. The side effects incorporate tingling, gnawing and creeping sensations, "fibers" or strands which rise up out of the skin, skin injuries which run from minor to distorting, joint agony, weakening weariness, changes in insight, memory misfortune, inclination unsettling influence and genuine…

Peer Assessment 2 Choose one out of paracrine signalling, endocrine signalling, autocrine signalling and direct signalling and describe brie y the process by which this occurs. The Endocrine signalling occurs over long distances in the body and the signal is sent through the blood. Firstly, the cell inside the pituitary gland sends hormones into the blood stream over a long distance and once it gets reaches to a cell with the right receptor, the hormones will attach themselves to the receptor…