Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life

Final Project

© Dimitris Nikolis

Dimitis Nikolis

Final Project Instructions

Assignment: Find an example of everyday neurobiology either in your own life or as displayed in some form of media. Using what you have learned in this course,

1. identify the parts of the nervous system that are active in your example,

2. describe the functions of the nervous system that are apparent and/or impaired in your example, and

3. explain in detail the ways in which this course has allowed you to better analyze the events and phenomena around you.

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Case Story

Alex, a close friend of mine, is a karate instructor, approximately 40 years old. While sparring with one of his students, he found himself in a tight neck grasp. As he tried to free himself, he realized that his right arm and leg suddenly went limp and weak, and he was unable to speak.

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Case Story

• After being rushed to the ER, Alex underwent a series of tests, including routine bloodwork, an electrocardiogram, a CAT scan, and an MRI.

• The CAT scan came back normal, but his bloodwork showed elevated cholesterol.

• The MRI showed evidence of cerebral ischemia in the middle cerebral artery. There was no evidence of a cardiac embolism on a subsequent echocardiogram, although further testing showed a plaque in his carotid artery.

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Case Story

Once the doctors removed the plaque from his carotid, both his hemiplegia and his aphasia improved. Alex was placed on a regimen of clopidogrel and Crestor and referred for speech therapy. He was also cautioned to avoid neck holds in the near future.

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…parts of the nervous system that were active …

• Frontal lobe’s Left side– Due to the fact that Alex

was unable to speak which indicates impairment in…

• Broca’s area – Located in the left

hemisphere’s frontal part as perfectly presented by Professor Mason in week 4 lectures

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…parts of the nervous system that were active …

• Primary motor cortex– Since it is very close to

Broca’s area and therefore any blood supply problem causes kinetic impairment

• Middle internal cerebral artery

• Carotid artery

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… functions of the nervous system that are apparent and/or impaired …

• Voluntary movement, body and face for the right side were impaired and that is why Alex felt his right arm and leg suddenly went limp and weak.

• Ability of speech was impaired• Similar symptoms were very well

presented in week 3 lectures of Prof. Mason

• Although not mentioned by Alex vision of the right side as well as touch & pain symptoms might happened but not noticed and immediately repaired.

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… functions of the nervous system that are apparent and/or impaired …

• Plaque in carotid artery which cause ischemic stroke that is an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain.

View animation of an ischemic strokehttp://watchlearnlive.heart.org/CVML_Player.php?moduleSelect=iscstr

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… explain in detail the ways in which this course has allowed you to better analyze the events and phenomena around you.

First of all I have to declare that either my professional or academic

background has any relations with medical and over and above with

neuroscience’s fields. But my strong interest to make my cognitive

fields broader and deeper drove me to follow this course, and I feel

that it goes beyond any expectations of mine.

First of all I have a useful pathway of the brain regarding

neuroanatomy, neural communication, and neural systems. Another

very interesting but and exciting field is the structure of the human

action. Senses and emotions is a crucial part because it demystifies

various issues of our mind and touches several philosophical maters

which is my fundamental interest. Another space that excite my

interest is memory and its interactions with human cognition.

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… explain in detail the ways in which this course has allowed you to better analyze the events and phenomena around you.

Although the human brain has yet a lot of grey or even dark unknown

places and spaces I feel that by finishing this course I have made

important steps to start understanding notions like intellectuality and

consciousness as well as serious diseases and impairments.

As an end I have to express my admiration for Professor Mason

lectures because they were extremely impressive and exciting

As a PS : Please regret my English insufficiency since it is not my native language

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Thank you