I want to discuss something that does not directly deal with neuroscience, at least not immediately. It’s something that has been on my mind lately and I ask myself, “Why not blog about it?” What I’ve been thinking about is the idea of thought insertion. In psychiatry, thought insertion is a symptom where the patient reports feeling like certain thoughts are not their thoughts. For them, it feels like the thought is being inserted into their mind against their will. This is common in some cases of OCD, other mental disorders involving some sort of psychosis, and less known about disorders involving thought disturbances. These thoughts are nonvolitional and can supposedly be contrasted with the volitional thinking we do otherwise.
What is the difference between a nonvolitional and a volitional thought? The answer might at first appear obvious. Well, in the former case the thought occurs without our willing it, and in the later case the thought is willed. How do we know this? Let us take a look at what each thought consists of. Say I have the thought, “The Yankees are based out of New York City.” And then later I have the thought, “chicken, chicken, cow, disease, dirt.” I report the first thought as volitional. It arose spontaneously in my mind. It caused no anxiety or any kind of emotional response. Most importantly, although probably not as salient, I, upon thinking the thought, also had the intuition that this was my thought and I willed it. The later thought was not reported as volitional. The later thought also arose spontaneously in my mind. But this thought caused me marked anxiety (only hypothetically. I didn’t actually have either of these thoughts. Although I could easily think both right now.) It also did not come with the corresponding intuition that it was indeed my thought. Where do both of these intuitions come from? Why do I intuit the first thought as volitional and the second thought as nonvolitional?
If we strip away the intuition from the content of each thought what is left? The thoughts’ spontaneity and the emotion that each involves or causes. Would it be too bold to suggest that neither thought is volitional? Would it be too audacious to suggest that the only reason we have the experience of a free thought at all is because usually, baring any psychological illness, our thoughts are not accompanied by great anxiety? I think some of the diagnostic tools we used, the concepts we use, need to be more thoroughly examined. I also think that, given the recent assault on free will by neuroscience, what we consider volitional and nonvolitional needs to be considered more carefully. Next time you think a thought, ask yourself, “Was that me thinking that or someone else?”
How Far is too Far?
Throughout the course of the semester in neurochemistry we have learned how to dissect, interpret, and form opinions on research articles dealing the neurological problems. Taking this knowledge and expanding it to broader “big picture” ideas has put both scientific and social issues into context. A common theme present in the papers we have read is the expansion of knowledge. As a society, it’s safe to say that America is a busy country; we are constantly striving for success, working more, harder and pushing the limit further. This “theme” is a general component of science and few fields have exhibited as rapid of expansion. Fifty years ago we discovered DNA, now we are manipulating it to make mice that grow in the dark. We’ve come a long ways as a scientific community in a very short amount of time. The following videos offer some perspective on how science is being applied to deep, philosophical issues.
Free Will and the Brain
Is everything determined for us?
Aliens Exist
As a scientific community we are constantly concerned with gaining more knowledge. We want to know if there are aliens, how to beat every disease, and improve the quality of life in every way possible. At what point does this become counterproductive and even destructive? I have a hard time arguing that cancer research should not take place to develop a cure for such a terrible illness. I also believe that an enjoyable part of life is not knowing everything. It would be interesting to see if there ever comes a time when we know everything. This seems like a ridiculous proposition, but think of how far we have come in the last one hundred years. The more we know, the more complicated things become, and the more complicated things become the less we seem to be able to sit back and enjoy life.
The Balance of Autism
Autism is a neurodevelopmental which presents in early in childhood. While the symptoms vary, it is characterized by a general in ability to effectively communicate and interact with other people. The causes of autism are currently unknown. Autism is diagnosed off of behavioral, communicative, and social observation. Genetics have been suggested to play a role due to the increased chances of risk when a family history of autism is present Due to the recent increases in the number of diagnosis made, it has been said that an environmental factor may be involved. The following video presents a further introduction to autism.
Introdu
The argument that an environmental factor being the cause behind autism is an interesting one because, if proven true the resolution proves difficult. The environmental hypothesis is that heavy metal exposure leads to autism. Heavy metals bind to proteins leading to their activation and disruption of key cellular pathways. The disruption of these pathways leads to autism. We are exposed to heavy metals through various sources; preservatives in foods, body cleansing products, and the crops we eat. If there is a link found between the food we eat and autism how will we deal with this problem? We can stop eating canned foods loaded with preservatives. This means living off of fresh produce. Produce that is grown in fields, which are sprayed with fertilizers and pesticides, contain heavy metals. If we stop using fertilizers and pesticides, crops are going to grow less efficiently. With the rising world population and growing hunger problem where do we find the balance? The link between heavy metals in our crops and autism has not been made, however the correlation has been suggested for other health issues outside of autism. This issue raises a general problem between science and social issues of where to find the correct “balance”.
ction to Autism
Expanding Alcohol to Addiction
Understanding the biology and chemistry of addiction is pertinent for not only health, but also social reasons. On a personal, level few people do not have friends or family who are addicted to some type of drug, even if it be nicotine. The costs of addiction are spread throughout society via crime and taxes helping cover healthcare and incarceration expenses. Being able control addiction using medical treatment will prove beneficial on an individual level and to society. The first step in this direction is uncovering a disease progression model of addiction using basic scientific research.
One protein of specific interest is cAMP response element binding protein or CREB. CREB is a transcription factor involved in multiple addictive diseases including alcoholism. The following video helps explain transcription factors.
Transciption Factors
CREB is thought to be a major player mediating the effects of tolerance and drug addiction. The production of activated CREB is increased due to the use of many drugs including morphine, cocaine and nicotine. Although it is unknown exactly how CREB mediates the development of addiction, the link between the two is strong. Further research could elucidate pathways harboring new drug targets. Who knows, in the coming years we may be able to successfully curb our addiction with a pill.
The Hendrix Experience: “Manic depression is a frustrating mess”
Manic-depressive disorder is considered the historical name of Bipolar disorder. The two are characterized by episodes of hyperactivity and at least one period of depression. This may seem like a very general description, which is why it is difficult to diagnose such disorders because of the different levels of severity; the disorder needs to be diagnosed carefully. The disorder is complex and emotionally unstable for individuals. The negative symptoms of bipolar are the times of depression that a person is in. And positive symptoms are the periods of hyperactivity associated with the manic state. Bipolar diorder affects about 2.6% of adults in the U.S. and about 84% of those cases are severe.
There are five major types of bipolar disorder and each one has its own description and symptoms associated with it.
- Bipolar disorder I- At least one obvious episode of mania or hyperactivity and sever mood swings to depression.
- Bipolar disorder II- A milder form of Bipolar 1 but still experience mood swings.
- Cyclothymic disorder- Depression and hyperactivity periods aren’t as long or severe.
- Unspecified bipolar disorder- A mix of episodic symptoms. Depression and hyperactivity stages aren’t distinguishable.
- Rapid cycling bipolar disorder- Four or more mood out-bursts happen within a year. This type of Bipolar can worsen and is most prevalent in women causing severe depression.
As I write this blog post, the words and guitar solos James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix bring me a sense of happiness and creativity. One of Jimi’s most famous songs titled “Manic Depression” has a very melancholy feel to it. But we still happily groove to his music. Jimi Hendrix is considered one of the greatest guitarists in history, and his music is still very popular in the present day. His music brings inspiration and happiness to his listeners, but many people look past the events of his life that “inspired” his music. Jimi grew up in a home with alcoholic parents who were abusive to him and to each other. At nine years of age Jimi’s parents divorced and his mother had passed away. He was described as a quiet child that struggled with poverty and family disruption at such a young age. The instability of his life caused him to go into bouts of depression, and episodes of hyperactivity that would get him in trouble during school. The recreational drug use during the era he grew up in also afflicted his life. The events of his life give listeners some insight to his lyrics and the music he has produced. As one source described “The manic end pushed by the music that flowed from his soul and the depression that came from his life”.
Jimi Hendrix isn’t the only famous person whose life was afflicted with manic depression and known for being musically inclined. Beethoven had a form of bipolar disorder and had composed some of the greatest symphonies ever. Kurt Cobain, who is also a musical inspiration to people, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. If you have ever heard the Hendrix rendition of “ The Star Spangled Banner” you might ask yourself how one could come up with such sounds and why? What inspired Edgar Allan Poe, who also had Bipolar disorder, to come up with the most fascinating mysteries and poems in the world?
Although these people suffered from Manic Depression, a positive thing came from it. These people are remembered for their talents and not for their mental turmoil. Instead of jumping to the conclusion that all mental disorders are negative thing, we should consider the positive aspects of the negative symptoms. There is hope and treatments for those individuals who have severe cases of BP that still hold normal jobs and have families. Most treatments and medications focus on helping with the depression stages because the manic stage can be controlled with counseling instead of medications. Alternative methods include, meditation, counseling and guidance to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
http://www.survivingdepression.net/copying/jimihendrix.html
http://www.poemuseum.org/life.php
http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-forms
Blaming High Fructose Corn Syrup
There have been many harsh words said about high fructose corn syrup as of late. I can only say this from my own experience, but it seems to be the case in general as well. High fructose corn syrup, they say, makes you leptin resistant. Leptin is a protein hormone found in the body that is in charge of regulating food intake and energy expenditure. The idea is this: the amount of Leptin in your body is directly proportional to the amount of fat, or adipose tissue, in your body. So when the levels of adipose tissue rise, the levels of leptin rise causing you to eat less. You can probably guess the content of many of the insults aimed at high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup allows for us to eat more than we “naturally” would.
I’m skeptical. I’m so skeptical that I put “naturally” in scare quotes. I’m not skeptical that high fructose corn syrup does this, nor am I skeptical that leptin does what research suggests it does. I’m skeptical, vaguely skeptical, of the idea that there is some way leptin, and the like, ideally functions. Every individual has different amounts of body fat, and different eating habits. Every individual probably has different naturally occurring levels of leptin. There is little to no research on individual differences in leptin levels. Nature has not provided us with explicit guidelines regarding what to eat. And I think we can do a fair job coming up with these guidelines on our own.
This isn’t to say that there aren’t health risks with over consuming food. But high fructose corn syrup is the straw man everyone’s attacking. High fructose corn syrup, in so far as it allows us to eat more, can have benefits. Especially in cases where individuals are having trouble getting adequate amount of calories, ex. athletes. I don’t want to make the case that high fructose corn syrup is a good thing, but I do want to say that people need to take a responsibility for their own diet. High fructose corn syrup is not the only sweetener out there. It is all too common to blame the food around us for our poor diets, rather than ourselves. The blame game in general has become incredibly popular so it’s no wonder it finds its place in the realm of nutrition. Poor high fructose corn syrup; let’s give it a break. And besides, it just tastes so good. Can something so sweet really be so bad?
Does Sheldon Cooper Have Autism?
“Knock! Knock! Knock! Penny? Knock! Knock! Knock! Penny? Knock! Knock! Knock! Penny?” All you fans out there who watch our beloved Shelly on the CBS sit-com Big Bang Theory should know this line by heart. But why is this a reoccurring event in Sheldon’s life? He does have an IQ of 187 and a photographic memory. But seriously why does he have to have HIS spot? And what’s up with all the kooky mannerisms and rituals and rules? Well here’s one theory: Sheldon Cooper has a form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome.
Image From: http://humordistrict.com/tag/leonard-hofstadter/
This week our neurochemistry class explored the possible causes of autism, which included heavy metal intake, internal methylation, and other external factors such as environment in the womb and other wise unspecified causes. Researchers don’t know what is causing this supposed spike of autism disorders that we are seeing in the younger generations. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 9 in 1000 children are diagnosed with autism in the US. For those of you who don’t know, autism is an overused term to describe a spectrum of autistic-like illnesses under the term autism spectrum disorder. There are varying degrees of severity for autism and five categories have been created for the sake of diagnosis: autistic disorder (classic autism), Asperger’s disorder (Asperger syndrome), pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Rett’s disorder (Rett syndrome), and childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD). Each of these disorders has its own set of symptoms. However each of the disorders include sosme sort of social disability as a symptom in which individuals demonstrate social awkwardness and abnormal social behaviors.
The reason I bring up the question about Sheldon Cooper is that he displays many of the symptoms that individuals with Asperger syndrome appear to exhibit. Unlike children with classic autism (who tend to show signs of intellectual disability), people with Asperger’s tend to have a normal or higher than normal cognitive ability. Other symptoms or tendencies of individuals with Asperger’s include obsessive or repetitive routines and rituals, motor-skill problems, such as clumsy or uncoordinated movements and delays in motor skills, social-skill problems, especially related to communicating with others, sensitivity to sensory information, such as light, sound, texture, and taste. Sheldon doesn’t demonstrate all of these severely however his serious obsessive compulsive tendencies such as sitting in HIS spot on the couch or his strict weekly schedule of events such as what he eats on each day of the week or having a different set of pajamas for each night of the week do demonstrate tendencies of a person with Asperger’s. We can also note that Sheldon struggles to pick up sarcasm in conversation and most non-verbal cues. And most importantly Sheldon has a way-above-average intelligence which is a common characteristic of individuals with Asperger’s. His capacity to hold information such as vocabulary and solve mathematical problems that a computer struggles to do, as well as his photographic memory all point to Asperger’s. It’s also important to note that Sheldon Cooper is actually a successful theoretical physicist as well. This means that many of these individuals with milder forms of autism are able to maintain jobs and live their lives as normally as possible.
It’s important that the media is incorporating characters with syndromes such as autism. It brings awareness of its prevalence in our society today.
Bazinga!
For more information about Autism or Asperger’s please visit:
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/asperger_syndrome.cfm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html
http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/autism-spectrum-disorders
Neurochemistry and the Importance of Communicating Science to the World
I ended up taking neurochemistry as a class not because I necessarily wanted to, but because I needed the course in order to graduate. During the course I was amazed at how much I learned and how much this class has benefited me. Not only was I able to gain insight on the inter-workings of the brain and nervous system, I was also able to responsibly engage myself into the world around me. It’s exciting when you know that people outside your classroom are reading your opinions and your work. It’s a satisfying feeling to know that you are actually impacting the lives of the people that come across what you publish online.
Image from:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/04/cooperation-brain-work-together_n_1076233.html
During this semester I gained knowledge about all types of drug addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, autism spectrum disorders, bi-polar, etc., and learned about possible causes, possible treatments, as well as what more needs to be researched to find cures for these problems. As a class we tried to fit the pieces together of each disorder and figure out the chemical and environmental causes and suggest the best targets for treatments. It’s amazing how tightly the chemistry of the brain is linked with habits and behaviors as well as environment. The environment someone is living in affects the brain just as much as genetics does. All these disorders are not even slightly straight forward. There is no exact determination that if you have this gene you will get this disease or, if you live in this environment you will get this disorder. All the disorders we studied had multiple hypotheses of how each came to be a disorder. And each individual case tends be different from the next. Common links of these diseases are often difficult to pin point and can change as more research is conducted. This class opened my eyes to see the complexities of the brain and brain disorders and gave me a new outlook on research.
In addition to the science I learned, this course also gave me the opportunity to give my personal, educated opinion to the public and bring awareness to the issues we discussed in class. The course “Neurochemistry 475” integrated complex science with communication and allowed my peers and I to communicate to the public in English about science through the World Wide Web. Technology has allowed this class to expand its possibilities. Communicating to the public about science is a very difficult and sometimes daunting task, because science is so easy to miscommunicate. For those of you who don’t know, scientists in almost all fields tend to struggle in the communication of their work to people who are not scientific fields. And we as undergraduate students have been introduced early to real public communication which does both us and our audience a world of good. We were given the opportunity to learn how to communicate science while our audience gets to hear, learn, and understand varying opinions on scientific issues.
Becoming Responsibly Engaged in the World or B.R.E.W. has become a pillar of Concordia College’s education program. This course is the epitome of B.R.E.W. What better at Concordia than to have a class that takes the best of science and the best of communication and put them together into one? My peers and I have not only gained insightful scientific knowledge but also groomed our speech skills, writing skills and technological skills. These skills will make us all better employees, better students, and better people in general. With these skills we can improve society and maybe even improve life as we know it, because we are learning to communicate with the public about hard topics to discuss.
Im bored… Lets eat!
Obesity has become quite a problem in America in the last decade. In fact, obesity is the leading preventable cause of death in America, and is stigmatized as a serious public health problem. Obesity is a MEDICAL CONDITION in which excess fat on the body accumulates eventually causing health complications; the list of complications is very extensive. Our nation is becoming known for our poor, excessive eating habits. Should we be disappointed about that fact? Or should we celebrate? It seems that whenever either situation arises, sadness or cheer, we indulge ourselves and eat whatever we want. The satisfaction of having that comfort food or celebratory meal is what we as humans are adapt to achieve. Some individuals don’t achieve the feeling of satisfaction and result in eating more.
The feeling of satisfaction is achieved when we eat enough food. But when do we know we have had enough? Our stomach releases chemicals when food is being eaten and is partially responsible for telling us that we are full. The other signals that are functioning in our bodies are the release of insulin and leptin. Leptin and Insulin are of concern when talking about the regulation of food intake. The amount of fat a person harbors determines the amount of leptin and insulin signaling to the brain. What is understood about these chemical signals is that when they are increased, food intake is decreased and energy expenditure is increased. And when leptin and insulin signaling are decreased food intake is increased and energy expenditure in decreased.
Obese individuals show a developed resistance to leptin due to an overabundance of adipose tissue that secretes leptin in the body. The highly sustained concentrations of leptin from the adipose tissue cause the leptin desensitization in the body. Leptin acts in the hypothalamus of the brain to reduce intake and increase energy. The problem, as mentioned before, is that these individuals don’t receive the feeling of fullness that is supposed to follow eating. Hence, if the effects of leptin are desensitized in the hypothalamus, feeding will continue without the feeling of getting full and increase fat stores even more.
I had capitalized the words “medical condition” in the beginning because I would have never thought that being overweight is now being stigmatized and classified as a medical condition. It turns out that throughout history obesity has had mixed interpretations. The Greeks were the first to recognize obesity as a negative attribute, followed by the Native Americans who had recommended physical labor to cure the obese ailment. During the Middle Ages and renaissance obesity was seen as a sign of common wealth. And now, in 2011 Obesity is at the top of the charts for preventable deaths. As a young individual in America I suggest staying away from fast food restaurants. Instead, exert some energy preparing a meal that will appropriately satisfy your stomach and brain.
Neurochemistry: It's all over the place!
What is a capstone? Maybe a more appropriate question would be what should a capstone course be? In my opinion, a capstone course should be an integration of many fields into a single course. But also, a capstone must involve the community, for that is part of Concordia’s motto. For me, neurochemistry has provided just such an experience.
By reading articles weekly, I have become a more thoughtful and informed citizen. In addition to that, I have also learned so much! Our articles were very interdisciplinary. Not only were they biochemistry intensive, but we also managed to get philosophy and ethics in the discussion almost every Friday. This class has taught me to think deeply about course material, and what our culture is really about. For example, when we discussed aging and how it can be stopped, ethical issues arose. Would it be okay to synthetically raise the life expectancy of everyone? What would that do to our retirement plans? How would that change ages at which we mature? There are so many things to think about besides the in-depth biochemistry.
But this was not the only thing I enjoyed from our excursion into neurochemistry. I also enjoyed the blogging. This has really been a fun way to reach out to the community with our knowledge. Plus it was a fun way to think about our audience and learn how to communicate science to the community. This is an invaluable tool for me since I will be going into chemistry research. If you cannot explain your research to those around you outside your specific field, then what is the point? This is a great way to get involved with the community. I hope many people read our blogs. I know at least somebody did since a psychologist commented on one of my blogs on bipolar.
This class has taught me many things, and improved my scientific reading skills. This class is a capstone, and most definitely should be continued to be offered as one here at Concordia College. As you can see from the above picture, my brain was activated all over while taking the class!