Images of the Future in Neurology

Brain research like this generally requires a live subject whether it is to be an animal or a human. Any experimental medical testing is always an ethical issue because of the potential risks that it poses such as pain, discomfort, death, or altercations to the subjects current state. There are many risks with brain research involving what might happen in the present and what could happen in the future.

“There is no known cause of autism. Current research links autism to biological or neurological differences in the brain – although at this time no gene has been directly linked to autism.”(2, pg 105) Several theories, which exist, link the disorder to environmental and genetic factors. One such research project, performed by Vijendra K. Singh, Ph.D., is based on the concept of “Neuro-immunopathogenesis in Autism.” (1, pg. 26) Doctor Vijendra K. Singh identified his research and resolution as follows:

What makes a Neurosurgeon? The money? The type of houses they get to live in? The places they get to go? The car they drive? Sure it could be all of those things. But what really makes a Neurosurgeon? Is it ambition? Is it courage? Is it the aspiration to save lives? Is it the reaction they get after a successful operation? Or is it a dream that they have dreamt of becoming a Neurosurgeon? Well, it's all of those things. I’ve dreamt of becoming a Neurosurgeon since I was in 6th grade. Ambition is one of my traits. I’ve always had the aspiration to help others, but to save lives that’s another level I want to achieve. The reaction I get when I do something great internally is something that I cannot explain. That’s a Neurosurgeon. Neurosurgeons are specialized physicians and their specialty is doing surgery on the Nervous System. Let’s look more in depth at becoming a Neurosurgeon.

Some researchers even believe that stimulating the mirror neuron system in patients that suffer from epileptic seizures or strokes may help with the rehabilitation of motor responses. One conclusive theory is that Autistic patients may suffer from mirror neuron defects or “broken mirror neurons” (video). Ultimately, mirror neurons are important because they help us to understand the emotional difficulties of mental health behaviors and other disorders of an individual as they relate to the

Lawrence fiddled with a toy while listening to the radio. After the broadcast was over, he softly mumbled something, though he generally kept to himself. I listened closely since his autism typically prevented Lawrence from stringing even two words together. He had recited the entire radio program, virtually word for word, even mimicking the tone of the broadcaster's voice. My jaw dropped. At that moment I knew that I wanted to learn more about Lawrence’s autism condition so that I could help him grow, but I also hoped to dedicate myself to studying the brain both from a physiological and psychological standpoint.

In a research project monitoring the brain waves of a child observing a task and completing a task, it was found that the two sets of brain waves were almost identical. However, when testing an autistic child, it was found that two different sets of brain waves were created. This research suggests that autistic children have a lower number of mirror neurons, which would help explain their deficiency in social interaction, imitation, and empathy.

Did you know that there are about 100,000 miles of blood vessels in the brain (Neurologist 2011)? It is true, which is why neurosurgeons must take special care when operating procedures in this vital part of our body. Neurosurgeons, equally known as brain surgeons, specialize in the activities occurring in the brain and nervous system. Training to become a brain surgeon requires a 6-7 year neurosurgical residency following four years of medical school (citation). Brain surgeons primarily perform complex surgeries on the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Becoming a brain surgeon result in significant benefits such as they heal problems in one of the most complex parts of the body, the brain, they help all

The sound of the sirens were trapped in her head. Meanwhile, she sat in the emergency room waiting area praying for good news. “How did this happen?” she thought over and over again. After what seemed like forever, the neurosurgeon came out and broke the news to her and her family. Her father’s car accident had broken his spine in three different places, broke a couple of ribs, and left him bruised and scratched all over. The neurosurgeon said it was a miracle that he had no actual brain damage. The neurosurgeon operated on her father’s spine and put him back together with a rod. After the surgery, she couldn’t thank the neurosurgeon enough for all she had done for her father. From that day on, she knew she wanted to be a neurosurgeon so she could help people the way a neurosurgeon helped her father. Neurosurgeons are everyday heroes that have worked very hard to get to where they are, for this

Temple Grandin is an inspiration to all. Autism spectrum disorders are caused by abnormalities in the brain that affect the neurodevelopmental system. Temple tells in her interviews that she is an autistic who thinks in pictures. I tried doing this for a couple hours before writing this paper. I am sure that it is not confusing to Temple, but I would invite anyone to try it who is not autistic.

4.Hegarty, S. (2011, December 05). What phantom limbs and mirrors teach us about the brain. Retrieved February 25, 2017, from http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-15938103

“A wealth of new brain research is lifting the veil” on Autism and revealing its effects on a child`s mind (Cray and Wallis 43). Neuroscientist Eric Courchesne at Children`s Hospital of San Diego revealed that “while children with autism are born with ordinary-size brains, they experience a rapid expansion by age two” (Cray and Wallis 45). Much of this growth is due to the excessive amount of white matter, the nerve fibers that link various areas of the brain. The abundance of white matter has doctors convinced that Autism is a problem with the way the brain is wired. Marcel Just, director of Carnegie Mellon`s Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, wrote that “there is a lack of synchronization” between the different areas of the brain (Cray and Wallis 46). Local areas of the brain, such as the frontal lobes and the amygdala, are over-connected while links between more distant regions, such as the right and left hemispheres, are poorly connected. One area of the

Neurological disorders are complex in nature and often the least understood. Given the recent boom in imaging technology and other diagnostic methods, it is now possible to see more clearly into the scope of neurological development and accurately determine the etiology of these diseases. One of such disorders is Autism; a multifactorial condition impairing normal brain development. It affects many aspects of development, including social behavior, cognitive ability and communication skills1 and is commonly diagnosed in children before the age of three1. The symptoms of this condition can vary greatly between individuals; hence its classification as a spectrum disorder. Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome and pervasive

In order to find this, he conducted the mirror neuron experiment in which he used an electroencephalogram, or EEG brain scan to measure brain waves in autistics, and specifically the mu wave, which is “suppressed” when completing motor/voluntary actions as well as when watching these actions completed (in normally developing people). In those with autism, researchers found that their mu waves were not suppressed in watching these actions completed (reflective of trouble mimicking and copying observed social interactions/practices) evidencing the deficiency/abnormality of the mirror-neuron system in

With the advancement in technology, neuroimaging has led to the discovery of male brains containing a greater amount of white matter, while female brains contain more gray matter (Gur et al., 1999). Sun et al. (2015) collected imaging data to track the progress of brain network topology over a five-year period and compared the results between gender differences. Participants in the study included 43 males ranging from ages 22-53, and 28 females from ages 21-59. Only those having no brain disorders, mental illnesses, substance abuse, or first-degree family members with mental illnesses were included in the research. Twenty-eight subjects completed the study and received scans over 5 years. The results supported findings from previous

My top career choice is a neurologist. I have chosen this career because not only is it financially rewarding, I can help people live a better life like I always dreamed of doing as a kid. I want to be the person to be recognized for saving lives. I know that this job would be a lot of hard work, but I think all my time would be worth it saving lives. The brain has always fascinated me since I was little, I was always eager to learn more, and discover more things. I realize that this would be a challenge, but it is a challenge I am up for!