Ventromedial prefrontal cortex

but also, hearing improved. For the mice placed in darkness, the tested neurons fired faster in response to auditory stimuli and could discriminate sounds better. These mice also developed more synapses between the thalamus and the auditory cortex. The cortex is an advanced sensory processing centre. The fact that neural connections developed in this area suggests that it might…

Primarily, Cerebral Palsy was called “Little disease” because the first medical description of this disorder was written by an English surgeon, William John Little (1810-1894) in late 1830s. Little described it as a brain injury, caused by asphyxia (Oxygen deficiency). He approached that this incidence happened during complicated processes of delivery that suffocated the child, and the child couldn’t get enough oxygen. The lack of oxygen damage the nervous system of the brain and cause spastic…

This is a concise description of the changes that may occur in a person who has suffered damage in a region of their brain. The arear of the brain to be discussed is the Corpus Callosum, with references to Sperry’s split Brain research. The brain is the control centre for the body at the top of the spinal cord. The brain has three main parts, the cerebellum, and the cerebrum which has two parts, the left and right hemispheres and the brain stem. The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve…

There are many studies which suggest that cortical connection mostly occurs through feedback connections. However, feedback connections are not clearly understood. In these research papers, the experimenters focus on the role of feedback in the visual cortex. Although research has been done on this topic, it is difficult to study cortical feedback signals. I will use research by researchers Nassi, Lomber & Born (2013) for the first article. For the second article I will use the work of Bastos,…

The frontal lobe is often the area of the brain that is damaged in motor vehicle accidents as well as sports accidents as it is placed in the front of the skull, an area that could be damaged due to its location. For example, in a motor vehicle accident if the head were to hit the windshield it would be the frontal lobe that hit first. The frontal lobe is responsible for multiple functions of the body such as emotions, motor capabilities and cognitive impairments meaning that if it is injured…

An anatomical change that Addison's disease can have on the nervous system is hyperpigmentation. With the insufficient levels of glucocorticoids, found in the blood, causes the pituitary gland to release more adrenocorticotropic hormone, or ACTH. In some cases, parts of this hormone are converted into melanocytes, which initiates production of melanin. This leads to darkening of skin cells in areas, such as 'Palmar creases, flexural areas, sites of friction, recent scars, vermilion border of the…

gyri. Scientists have certain labels for these bulges and grooves on the top of the brain. Decades of scientific data have unleashed the specific functions of the different regions of the brain. Below the cerebral cortex or top of the brain, connects fibers between neurons forming a whitish look otherwise known white matter. The cerebral hemispheres have several types of fissures. By pin pointing the top of the brain, it can effectively be separated into pairs of so called lobes. Lobes are just…

The structure of the cerebral cortex The cerebral cortex is the cerebrum’s outer layer. It is divided into two cortices, the left and the right cerebral hemispheres divided by the medial longitudinal fissure. The cerebral cortex plays a major role in memory, attention, perception, awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. The human cerebral cortex is thick about 2-4mm.The cerebral cortex is gray matter, consisting mainly of cell bodies and capillaries. It contrasts with the underlying…

The Pedunculopontine nucleus (Pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, PPTN) is considered one of the key elements of the reticular activating system (RAS)[1]. It is located in the mesencephalic tegmentum just caudal to the red nucleus and dorsal to the substantia nigra; Laterally it is surrounded by the medial lemniscus and medially by fibers of the superior cerebellar peduncle[2]. PPTN has a cluster of cells that exhibit a wide heterogeneity in terms of their neurochemical nature, their discharge…

The Controversy behind Endocrine Disruptors Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can cause an individual’s endocrine, neurological or immune system to not function properly. Many chemicals have been deemed endocrine disruptors but are still used heavily today. They can be seen in things such as, plastics, cosmetics and pesticides among other products. Whether or not the benefits that using certain compounds affords us is worth the damage they can potentially cause is the basis for the…