neurology

The neurons that shaped civilization

Video of the functions of the Limbic system

This is a very good video of a lecture by Rhawn Joseph about functions of the limbic system and the hypothalamus. It is 55 minutes in length. Contains some nudity appropriate for the context.

Video of a split-brain patient

This is a very interesting video on Youtube featuring a patient with intractable epilepsy had his corpus callosum cut.

The Corpus Callosum is very high density collection of nerve fibers that transmit information to and fro both right and left hemispheres.

He was cured from the epilepsy but he remained with a split-brain. A right hemisphere disconnected from the left one and both working independent of each other.

Joe, the patient, doesn't feel this or recognize it at all. However, the condition could be demonstrated experimentally.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

I sat down facing the machine with its hand-held coil pointed to my head and I started receiving few pulses of magnetic stimulation. Both doctors said almost at the same time "We reached the motor threshold." and they stopped cranking up the Amps. I asked for explanation. They said to me that my hand is twitching in reaction to the impulses. I tried to explain that those few twitches were voluntary and I made them. "Wait for the repetitive stimulation then." one of them said.

My right arm started twitching once per second, it felt strange. A machine taking control of my own hand movements. And no matter how I tried to resist it, it responds to the magnetic stimulation.

TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) is a noninvasive method to excite neurons in the brain. The excitation is caused by weak electric currents induced in the tissue by rapidly changing magnetic fields (electromagnetic induction).

Currently, TMS is used for research and in few centers for therapy.

What I received was repetitive TMS (rTMS) its effects outlast the period of stimulation and they are either excitatory or inhibitory. I got about 3 minutes of inhibitory stimulation on my dominant hemisphere. This way my right hemisphere would take a more leading role regarding motor activity.

I felt left handed for the couple of hours afterwards, but this might be due to suggestion. Or basically the repetitive stimulation exhausted my right hand. There was no objective test, I tried the TMS just for the fun of it.

I wonder if I will choose to stimulate my frontal lobes next time. They basically control behavior, judgment and personality.

Koro vs. Kuru

__Koro__: A culture bound syndrome in which a male falsly believes that his genitals are retracting into his body and the condition will cause eventual death. Usually affects a population and causes mass panic. Happens in south east Asia and similar syndromes occur in Africa. Koro in Malay means "retracting head of a turtle".[1|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koro_%28penis_panic%29]

__Kuru__: A prion disease that causes a progressive neurological disorder that leads to death. Symptoms include dementia, behavioral changes (out bursts of laughter), weakness and ataxia. Thought to have spread by the cannibalistic rituals in New Guinea in the 20th century. Kuru in native New Guinea means "trembling with cold and fever".[2|http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1248.htm]

Departure: PSY | Arrival: NEU

All passengers are strongly advised to fasten their seat belts in the Neurology department.

After living 8 months (officially 6) in Psychiatry, I will have to start a new life in the land of Neurology.