Thalamus

Term Paper Proposal: Clinical Case Assessment Research Paper Introduction The character, Melvin Udall, from the film As Good As It Gets (1997), played by Jack Nicholson, will serve as the client for this case study. Previously, Melvin, a successful author, received a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder by his psychiatrist, Dr. Green. Recent changes in his life provoked a desire within Melvin to take his medication, and reestablish therapeutic sessions, after abandoning them two years…

Shaywitz, Virginia Beringer, and Bruce Pennington believe that certain parts of the brain are more important than other parts of the brain for language acquisition. For example, areas such as Broca’s area, Wernicke’s area, the temporo-occiptal lobe, the thalamus, and cerebellum are most important for language and literacy. The development of these areas are due to biological factors such as genetics, and in George’s case, his mother drank alcohol and smoked cigarettes while pregnant, which…

cortical-cortical connections (Lezak, Howieson& Loring, 2004). Brain atrophy is found to be a more powerful predictor of cognitive impairment than lesion volume (Benedict et al., 2004). Studies have shown that third ventricle width, related to atrophy of the thalamus, has been shown to explain significant variance in neuropsychological outcomes. Other MRI parameters include brain parenchymal fraction (Benedict et al., 2004) and neocortical gray matter volume (Benedict et al., 2006). Cortical…

olfaction and memory emotionality may be that the olfactory bulb is linked to the amygdala, associated with emotional experience, and the hippocampus, associated with memory (Reid, Green, Wildshut, and Sedkides). The other senses are processed by the thalamus (Jones). In addition, scent can also aid in triggering nostalgia (Reid, Green, Wildshut, and Sedkides). When I smell cinnamon, I can clearly relive the moment I first entered my house and the moment I made a new…

The complexity of the human mind exemplifies through two main components: the rational and emotional mind. While the rational mind derives from scientific reasoning and past experiences, the emotional mind emerges reactive and centers on bodily emotions. When effectively balanced, the rational and emotional minds create a sense of harmony, through making decisions that satisfy both the head and the heart. The amygdala, a key component of the emotional mind, “ is an almond shaped cluster of…

Alien Hand Syndrome is a neurological disorder in which a person cannot control their hand motion, of which usually occurs in one hand. Usually, the afflicted hand attempts to reach for an object against the will of the person, often restraining the afflicted hand with their own controlled hand. This syndrome usually occurs after a surgery that separates the two hemispheres of the brain. It also has been observed to occur after brain surgery, stroke, infection, tumor, aneurysms, as well as other…

Introduction Although there has been little research to date involving the somatosensory system and seizures, a group of researcher’s in 2004 conducted a case study involving childhood epilepsy and the possible trigger coming through the somatosensory system. An overview of the case study will be discussed as well as what the somatosensory system is, and how it functions. In addition, the psychological effect on a person who has lived with seizures and the effect it has had on relationships…

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…

Depression is a serious mental Illness that effects millions lives as well as people from all walks of life. Regardless of rather a person is a rich, poor, or somewhere in between, depression can takes its toll on anyone. There is an interesting paradox surrounding depression. That it is a “disease of poverty” that it only effects those on the lower rungs of society. However many wealthy and successful people also suffer from depression. J.K Rowling, whose bestselling series Harry…

reticular theory during the mid 1880’s. Forel began his work with Johan von Gudden, assisting Gudden in the creation of “Gudden’s microtome”, a microtome able to house the entire human brain (3, pp 92). This allowed Forel to study the anatomy of the thalamus in-depth, along with its connections to the basal ganglia (3, pp 85). Gudden also taught Forel the degeneration method of studying connections in the brain, a technique pioneered by Augustus Waller in 1850. Waller would cut nerves to various…