Newest - Brain Stuff

Answer: The open field test is a behavioral test that measures overall locomotion. It can also be used as a measure of anxiety. From DataBase Center for Life Science (DBCLS) In the open field paradigm, an animal is placed in a large square box with walls. The animal (often a rodent, such as a rat or mouse) is free to move about the box for a set amount of time. The experimental design was develop…

Answer: While both routes of administration involve getting the drug across the skin, a drug is considered to be delivered transdermally only if it has central effects. Drugs can be delivered into the body through several different routes of administration - oral, intravenous, and inhalation being the most common. Although the skin is very effective at keeping chemicals out, some chemicals are ab…

Answer: The uncinate fasciculus is a white matter tract in the brain that connects the anterior temporal lobe and the frontal lobes of the cortex. In the nervous system, the color of the tissue gives information about the function of those areas of the brain. Gray matter contains mostly the cell bodies of neurons. On the other hand, white matter contains the axons of those neurons . White matter …

Answer: Von Frey fibers are a neurophysiological examination tool used for determining mechanical pain threshold in humans and nonhumans. Also called von Frey filaments or von Frey hairs, von Frey fibers are a diagnostic tool designed for examining pain threshold at different parts of the skin. They were developed by Maximilian von Frey in 1896. The von Frey filament itself is a long, thin elasti…

Answer: Long term depression is a reduction in synaptic efficiency that persists for hours or longer. Recall that long term potentiation is the strengthening of synapses in response to repeated stimulation. LTP is an important process which models learning in the hippocampus. Alternatively, long term depression (LTD) is the weakening of synapses which accompanies little or no stimulation; LTD can…

Answer: The ability for opioid medications to stop pain depends on certain liver enzymes, among other factors. Opioid painkillers, such as morphine, are commonly used in the clinic. These drugs work by blocking the sensation of pain through activating brain circuits that communicate with the spinal cord. When recovering from a major surgery, a patient might be given a morphine drip or a pill cont…

Answer: Both AMPA and NMDA are glutamate receptors, but they play different roles in neuronal communication. In the central nervous system, the main excitatory neurotransmitter is glutamate . Glutamate signals to the postsynaptic cell by activating different types of receptors. Although there are several glutamate receptors, two important types are called the AMPA receptors and NMDA receptors. Th…

Answer : Neurocysticercosis is a potentially fatal parasitic infection that affects the brain. CT scan showing cysts The pork tapeworm Taenia solium is a parasite that can live in the human body. When the infection spreads to the central nervous system, it is called neurocysticercosis. The infection begins when a person ingests the tapeworm eggs, which are often found in contaminated food and wat…

Answer: Antiepileptic medications are drugs with different mechanisms of action that all lead to decreased electrical activity of neurons in the brain. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are widely prescribed to help treat patients with epilepsy or other difficult to diagnose seizure disorders . They are sometimes called anticonvulsants. Since epilepsy leads to uncontrolled activity of the brain’s neuron…

Answer: Epilepsy is the long term chronic neurological disorder, while a seizure is an occurrence that may indicate epilepsy or another underlying neurological condition. Electrical activity as measured by an EEG of atypical activity patterns that may predict epilepsy Often times, people confuse the words epilepsy and seizure. They may mistakenly use the two interchangeably, but they are very dif…

Answer: Ganglia are mostly made up of neuronal cell bodies and dendrites, while nerves are mostly made up of the axons. When dissecting the nervous system outside of the brain, it is common to come across large clumps of neuronal cell bodies (also called soma). These clumps are called ganglia (the singular form is ganglion). Ganglia are a part of the peripheral nervous system, or the PNS. The PNS…

Answer: The Barnes maze is a rodent behavioral test used in the research laboratory for studying memory. In neuroscience research, sometimes scientists develop new techniques to study specific cognitive outcomes. Learning and memory are very important tasks that are important for humans, especially in the context of brain injury or Alzheimer’s disease. It is therefore helpful to invent memory tes…

Answer: A cenesthetic hallucination is the false sensation of an internal organ. Hallucinations, broadly speaking, are false sensations or perceptions. When people think of hallucinations, they commonly think about auditory hallucinations, such as when a patient hears voices in their head, or visual hallucinations, such as seeing things that aren’t there. Charles Bonnet syndrome, which may happen…

Answer: The anterolateral system is an ascending somatosensation tract that carries pain and temperature information from the skin to the brain. The anterolateral system refers to a set of neurons that send signals towards the brain. These neurons carry information regarding temperature and pain, but also crude touch. Activity at this pathway often has a salient motivational component, since pain…

Serious games are making a big impact in the world of education. Using board and card games are a great way to engage students on a more interactive level. Just like traditional board and card games, serious games have been designed for a wide audience, ranging from high school through college and medical school. Some designers have even build simulations using VR technology! Serious games have b…

Answer: Cocaethylene is an addictive substance produced by the body when both cocaine and ethyl alcohol are processed by the liver. Both ethanol (alcohol) and cocaine are addictive substances that are commonly used. Alcohol and cocaine misuse both contribute to tremendous drug related costs, which include harms to both the individual and to society. Both alcohol and cocaine are broken down after …

Answer: Dyscalculia is a learning disorder resulting in difficulty in understanding concepts in math. Learning disorders are brain disorders characterized by difficulty with processing some aspect of academic study, such as math, reading comprehension, or writing. Learning disorders are lifelong challenges, and are not necessarily a result of low IQ. The best known learning disability is dyslexia…