Newsline — Monday, September 30, 2013 13:00
Study: Brain’s Misperception of Size, Time Linked to Prevalence of Auto/Motorcycle Accidents
Ted Talk: The Mystery of Chronic Pain
Monday, September 30, 2013 9:00
From Ted.com: We think of pain as a symptom, but there are cases where the nervous system develops feedback loops and pain becomes a terrifying disease in itself. Starting with the story of a girl whose sprained wrist turned into a nightmare, Elliot Krane talks about the complex mystery of chronic pain, and reviews the facts we’re just learning about how it works and how to treat it. Click here if are you unable to view the video above.
Researchers Find Proteins That May Aid in the Spread of Brain Tumors
Friday, September 27, 2013 13:00
Research findings published in a recent issue of PLOS ONE have revealed a molecular pathway that seems to aid in malignant glioma cells’ invasion and spread to healthy brain tissue. The discovery of the two proteins that pave this pathway may signal a new treatment target for tumors that have proven resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiation. Click here for the full story.
Examining Medical Students’ Disease
Friday, September 27, 2013 9:00
In a piece for the New York Times’ Well Blog, Barron Lerner, MD, examines the phenomenon of medical students’ disease, cases in which medical students believe they have contracted the ailments they are studying when they have not. Click here to read the story.
Researchers Find Protein that Serves as On/Off Switch for Deadly Brain Tumor
Thursday, September 26, 2013 13:00
A team at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center has identified a cellular switch that can curb the growth of glioblastoma, the most commonly diagnosed and aggressive cancerous brain tumor. The protein RIP1 has been shown to act as a mediator for brain tumor survival, positioning it as a possible target in the drug treatment of glioblastoma. Click here to read the full story.
Ted Talk: Neuroscientist Discusses Proof of Brain Plasticity
Thursday, September 26, 2013 9:30
From Ted.com: Neuroscientist Michael Merzenich looks at one of the secrets of the brain’s incredible power: its ability to actively re-wire itself. He’s researching ways to harness the brain’s plasticity to enhance our skills and recover lost function. Click here if you are unable to view the video above.
A Vacation from Self: Writer Recounts Experience with Transient Global Amnesia
Wednesday, September 25, 2013 13:00
In a piece for New York Times Magazine, writer Tom Fields-Meyer recalls his brief bout with transient global amnesia, an unexplained short-term memory loss that, among other recent occurrences, caused him to forget what he ate for breakfast that morning . He writes, ” The tests confirm that my brain is normal, but that doesn’t help me shake the disconcerting feeling that we are all just one misfiring neuron away from forgetting who the president is or what we did last night or what transpired in our most intimate moments. In an instant, I had become like my grandmothers in their last years, floating through life, uttering the same old phrases as if for the first time.” Click here for the full story.
University of Michigan Researchers Study How Brain Cells Connect Early in Life
Wednesday, September 25, 2013 9:04
In a new paper, a team at the University of Michigan Medical School assesses how neurons stay connected with other cells while allowing inefficient synapses to lapse. How and why does this happen? What happens when this process doesn’t go normally? “For the brain to be really functional, we need to keep the most active and most efficient connections,” says the study’s senior author. “So, during development it’s crucial to establish efficient connections, and to eliminate inactive ones. We have identified a key molecular mechanism that the brain uses to stabilize and maturate the most active connections.” The findings of this study may lead to additional research of conditions such as autism, epilepsy and intellectual dysfunction, conditions that have a basis in abnormal synapse function. Click here to read the full article.
Findings: Brain Cancer Patients Under Age 50 See Improved Survival Rates After Stereotactic Radiosurgery Alone
Tuesday, September 24, 2013 13:00
Research presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO’s) Annual Meeting revealed that adult patients of brain cancer under the age of 50 have improved survival rates when treated with stereotactic radiosurgery that is not combined with whole brain radio therapy (WBRT). The findings also note that patients younger than age 50 are at no greater risk of brain metastases despite forgoing WBRT. Click here for the full story.
Ted Talk: Understanding Consciousness
Tuesday, September 24, 2013 9:04
From Ted.com: Every morning we wake up and regain consciousness — that is a marvelous fact — but what exactly is it that we regain? Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio uses this simple question to give us a glimpse into how our brains create our sense of self. Click here if you are unable to view the video above.