Brain Stimulation Research Summary

The Committee are of opinion that as a therapeutic agent hypnotism is frequently effective in relieving pain, procuring sleep, and alleviating many functional ailments [i.e., psycho-somatic complaints and anxiety disorders].( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnotherapy)

The World Health Organization projects that, by 2040, neurodegenerative diseases will become more common than cancer (Cashell, 2014). Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is widely listed as the second most common neurodegenerative disease (Wuong, 2012; Gillies et al., 2014; Cashell, 2014; Walker, Davidson, & Gray, 2012). This disease, usually characterized by a tremor, but featuring systemic effects, has been diagnosed in one to two percent of people over age 65 (Casey, 2013). Parkinson’s disease is incurable; the goal of the healthcare team is to help the patient to maintain function, independence and quality of life (Miertová et al., 2014; Magennis, Lynch, & Corry, 2014). In the discussion that follows, current understanding of the causes and treatment of PD will be summarized, along with examples of nursing interventions.

Hurley’s article didn’t present a compelling argument to Morales-Quezada experiment of sending electrical currents to the brain. The author’s tone of the article was too informal and laid back, it seems as if he was having an underlying conversation regarding a serious matter. The author’s word choice wasn’t clear and the language used wasn’t as professional as it should be. Hurley made countless grammar errors in few of the passages and needed to provide more information about the exact procedures of

I will no doubt treat patients who suffer with Parkinson’s disease. Because the study identified what treatment areas need to changed and researched, other health professionals along with myself, will be able to complete that research and increase care and the success of treatment. The study has shown that exercises need to be developed that focus on specific symptoms patients with PD experience. I can create new exercises that address these concerns and reduce the effect the symptoms have on the patients. Using some of the research suggestions laid out in the article, I could conduct research to further the knowledge on proper and effective treatment for patients with

The brain is one of the most complex organ in our bodies. To learn about the brain scientists use electrical stimulation. Electrical stimulation is the use of electrical probes to determine functions of the brain. Clinical observation of patients have also helped scientists learn more about the brain. Case studies of different patients such as Phineas Gage have helped to learn about the different functions of the brain and how they work together to perform complex activities. (Barron’s AP Psychology 6th Edition)

The above mentioned procedures are known as brain stimulation therapy where electrical and magnetic impulses are administered to the patient. Moreover, the procedures are completely painless and last only a few minutes. The treatments are once a week, usually lasting six to eight weeks. Nowadays, with the advancements in medical and psychological treatment, a combination of both prescription medicine and psychological help, has shown the greatest

Cortical stimulation therapy. This stimulates your brain with electrical currents to make it work better.

Every says new news stories appear about America’s deadly addiction to Opioids. The drugs which may be more commonly recognized by their drug names (eg Morphine, Codeine, Fentanyl) have been overprescribed by Doctors for years. Usually given out to patients with chronic pain, who cannot find relief elsewhere, they were recently withdrawn causing a massive increase in the number of drug overdoses in the United States. The issue is so large it’s even drawn considerable attention from Donald Trump.  Reducing the number of prescriptions for opioids has meant patients seeking out street dealers to fuel their addictions. Many have lost their lives. Clearly, new therapies are urgently needed to reduce the burden of chronic pain - which doctors in the UK estimate that between ⅓ and ⅔ of the population lives with. The numbers are similar across the pond. However new therapies are emerging, including revolutionary new technologies like spinal cord stimulation. Could this help curb America’s Opioid Epidemic?

Many may not know Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world. This disease is most seen in the elderly starting at 62 years of age although, younger individuals can still have the disease it isn’t common. Parkinson’s make it difficult for its victims to carry out everyday activities that might have once been easy for them. As the disease progresses it makes it hard for the patient to do things like walk, stand, swallow and speak. A great deal of people don’t realize how helpful therapy can be when dealing with such disease!

While owning his own Brain Center, Dr. Fotuhi also works along the side of notable universities, “... completing my Ph.D in neuroscience at John Hopkins University before I started medical school. I was actually in the M.D program at Harvard by way of a teaching scholarship offered through Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology…” (11-12). Attending two of the top ten universities in the United States justifies his credibility in the neurology field. Dr. Fotuhi obtained a high level of knowledge of the human brain and is proven by his Ph.D and his accomplishments that were rewarded by a scholarship. Using what Dr. Fotuhi has learned during schooling, he educates us about the topics of neurology while demonstrating expertise by his vocabulary, “... a limbic lobe, a collection of cortical areas in the frontal and temporal lobes, plus some deeper brain structures. One is the amygdala… which is tied to emotions. Another component of the limbic lobe is the hypothalamus, which regulates hormones…” (15). Professionalism is presented as he defines and elaborates about each component of a brain while using scientific terms. Dr. Fotuhi’s tone is serious and indicates his proficiency about neurology which carry on to his novel’s main message and title, Boost Your Brain. Fotuhi’s titles and achievements are never shunned and maintains his professional speech from start to

A spinal cord stimulation trial is a test to see whether a spinal cord stimulator reduces your pain. A spinal cord stimulator is a small device that is attached to your back. The stimulator has small wires (leads) that connect it to your spinal cord. The stimulator sends electrical pulses through the leads to the spinal cord. These electrical pulses block the nerve impulses that cause pain.

To begin with, according to an article written by Lyons, MD, “Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has developed during the past 20 years as a remarkable treatment option for several

Parkinson’s disease is a severe movement disorder that affects 1% of people aged 60 or over (Samii, Nutt, & Ransom, 2004). However, no cure has been found for Parkinson’s disease so far, while different treatments have been constantly trialed to mitigate the disease. Deep brain stimulation is a neurosurgical intervention that has been used in the treatment of movement disorders including Parkinson’s disease over the past three decades. Although it is has been widely used in clinical practice, the safety and efficacy of deep brain stimulation are still being debated.

Parkinson’s disease has a major impact on the quality of life of the patient. As the disease progresses, the symptoms will eventually inhibit patients from performing typical daily activities such as walking, writing, and swallowing. With such an effect on daily life, it is important for those who have Parkinson’s disease to manage their symptoms effectively. The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be managed using medication such as Levodopa, physical therapy, or even deep brain stimulation. These treatments are very beneficial, but rely on the correct diagnosis. There currently is not a definitive cause of Parkinson’s disease, only speculation as to what causes the disease. Since there is no definitive cause, there is no truly conclusive test to lead to an irrefutable diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. This indicates that the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is reliant on the knowledge of the physician

The neurons in the brain tissue communicate with each other via electrical signals, generating measurable action potential activity. Electrophysiological techniques have been developed to measure this electrical activity. Electrophysiological techniques are some of the classic methods of brain research, partly because they are very sensitive and accurate. They provide quite a number of insights into the subject’s mind as well as allow for study of how the brain works. They can be used during brain surgery as well as when the patient is awake and conscious, as the brain itself does not sense pain during the measurements. Although electrophysiology has been around for close to half a century, it has attained appreciable advances only in the last two decades. These advances have revolutionized the study of brain structure and functions, allowing neurophysiologists to monitor the brain’s activities directly during experiments (Sutler et al., 1999). Even with its significant impact in neurology, however, its presence has been so commonplace that many people no longer realize its ubiquity. This essay explores three electrophysiological techniques namely patch clamp, sharp electrodes, and brain slice recording. It describes how each of these techniques works as well as how advances in the techniques have