Anatomy, Physiology and Neuroscience

Ok, so I was wondering what makes a coma different from being brain dead. I always thought brain death was just a poetic way to describe the condition of no brain activity - although I'm sure something is going on. And I thought a coma was the same thing, neurologically, except for the implication that the individual will eventually come out of it. So what is exactly going on? How come we don't consider a coma to be temporary brain death?

I recently heard someone giving a speech on the brain and they said 'there are more connections in the brain than atoms in the universe'. I started to think about it and i can't get my head around it becasue surely for a connection at the very least 2 atoms are needed, therefore there can't be more connections than half the number of atoms in the brain. Anyone know if what he said was true or is he speaking crap??

HAs sexual activation in te brain something to do with biophysics? Test: You are heterosexual guy and you see a attractice woman with tits. So why you get a hard dick automatcally. How does the brain calcuate this information? Has this something to do with biophysics?

Hello everyone, In metabolic acidosis, normal anion gap means cholride has increased causing hypercholaemic acidosis. My question is how can Chloride increase in metabolic acidosis, because in such a case chloride shift strongly favours chloride going inside the RBC, decreasing plasma chloride concentration. Thanks

The Human Brain Project (http://www.humanbrainproject.eu/) is competing for a large grant (1 billion Euro over 10 years) under the FET Flagship Programme. In their proposal the HBP claims that if they get the funding they can have a full human brain simulation at the cellular level by the end of the 10 year period. The project is led by Henry Markram, who is also the director of the Blue Brain Project. The BBP has successfully simulated several neocortical columns from the rat brain and as far as I can tell they claim that their model has been validated by comparing the produced oscillations with those measured in real experiments but I don't know the details. I thin…

Are there any chemicals produced in human brain/body when people interact with each other? By interaction I mean having a conversation, cooperation on some task, or just being in one room with other people.

I was wondering if dendrites grow in response to the electrical stimulus between neurons. If so, what is the mechanism of action? How exactly does it stimulate growth. Also, what are some things that can cause decay of dendrites and an increased bridging distance between neurons?

Hi! Question: I am looking for the specific muscles activated in the described exercise and also, how it might possibly affect turn out. Here is the exercise: Sit on the floor, erect on the sitz bones. Lengthen the spine. Pull your feet in towards your body, keeping your knees as close to the floor as possible. Allow your big toes to touch. Remaining tall, pull your sits bones together, squeeze - hold for ten seconds and release. Repeat. I was told these work the lower pelvic muscles related to core and can assist in turn out/rotation of the hips desired for ballet. After doing a few of the exercises, I see and feel a result. I cannot figure out w…

Lets say I sleep at 12:00 AM... Then, I wake up at 3:00 AM, Go surf the web for an hour, Then go back to sleep at 4 til 8:00 AM is this equilivalent to sleeping at 12:00 AM, then waking up at 7:00 AM?

I was flipping through my A&P book, couldn't get a direct answer on it. Could someone confirm it? Thanks

Can someone please confirm if the amount of neurons are fixed at birth, as in all that changes throughout life is the neural connections? I ask because topics of neurogenesis keep coming up, and if creating neurons isn't possible then why is the term not simply called synapticgenesis?

Hi, I'm studying the nervous system and I have a few questions. I understand that this is a lot, but if you can confirm and answer any of them then I would be very much appreciative. 1) Given two neurons and their relative synaptic cleft, can the neurotransmitters from this given cleft ever leak out of the cleft and effect adjacent/or other neurons? 2) Related to the above question, and if true and neurons can leak out then is it also possible that similar chemicals like norephiephrine and epinephrine can leak out and bind to receptors of non-neuron cells? 3) Are neurons specific in their release of neurotransmitters? What I mean is do neurons have the abilit…

is there any way to stop the flow of the electrons coming from ur brain . if so could u stop them at the top of the spine where the brain meets with the spine . if u know anythingon this topic and are willing to help me then please post back to me and have a chat with me to explain some stuff to me . thanx to onw that xan help

Okay, so thermogenin (UCP1) increases heat production, but how does it changed the ATP produced per oxygen used and how does it change the amount of ATP made per mole of a given fuel? I believe that thermogenin just imports H+ atoms back into the matrix and lowers the H+ gradient in the mitochondria. So I would think the rate that ATP synthase would be slowed by a weaker H+ gradient, which would in turn, reduce the rate of ATP production, but wouldn't change the efficiency of the production (it would make it slower, but make just as much ATP with the same input). Can anyone clarify for me? Thanks! -Ricardo

Hi everybody! I was wondering, if performing an experiment to measure metabolic heat production with varying temps from -20 to 50 degrees C in a mammal, what would be the effect if you shaved off its fur? Would convective forces play a larger role even if there is no wind? Would the lower critical limit have a greater slope after shaving the fur off? Or would the lower critical limit just occur at a higher temp (rather than 10 C it occurs at 20 C)? Because there is no wind, I'm wondering if the ambient temperature would cause a steeper slope in the lower critical limit, or if the slope would only be steeper once applying wind. Thanks!

Hi there all. I'm interested in doing research in neuroscience but I'm kind of confused on what subfield of neuroscience I would be pursuing with the career interests I have. I want to do research on how the mind and brain interact, but more specifically on how they tie together with mental illnesses and the process of thinking. I'm intrigued about how certain areas of the brain influence or create specific functions and how the destruction/damage to those areas could cause mental illness; how our process of thinking occurs and how does the brain control/manage it; and pretty much anything that deals with a combination of the brain, mind, and thinking process (along w…

Hello everyone, Ok my textbook says inhibition of transmitter release, vasoconstriction and more things. Now my question is what does inhibition of transmitter release mean. Since alpha 1 receptor is present on post synaptic membrane, and alpha 2 is present in pre synaptic membrane, does this mean alpha 2 actually controls the action of alpha 1 receptors by inhibiting neurotransmitter release. If that is the case why are there actions similar, shouldn't alpha 2 have oppposite actions of alpha 1 and actually decrease sympathetic activity. Also if you give a non selective alpha agonist which acts on both alpha 1 and alpha 2 receptors does vasodilation occur, how? Thank …

Hello everyone, Ok Acetylchlone is released from postganglionic parasympathetic fibres and preganglionic nerve fibres of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves. It also cause muscle contraction in neuromuscular junction. So anticholinesterase would increase acetylcholine level---> Now what would be the effects of increased acetylcholine. Ok I understand parasympathetic activity would be increased, but if lots of acetylcholine is there in preganglionic nerve fibres of sympathetic fibres now, shouldn't sympathetic activity also increase. So what is the final effect.Also in anticholinesterase poisoning what are the clinical effects. I can't work it out because of…

Is it possible to get tenis elbow from using computer mouse too often , and holding hand in a wrong possition ?

"Acupuncture is an alternative medicine methodology originating in ancient China that treats patients by manipulating thin, solid needles that have been inserted into acupuncture points in the skin. According to Traditional Chinese medicine, stimulating these points can correct imbalances in the flow of Gi through channels known as meridians.[/url] Scientific research has not found any histological or psyhological correlates for qi, meridians and acupuncture points and some contemporary practitioners needle the body without using the traditional theoretical framework." So, my question whould be if anyone has tried this tretman , and if he/she can say couple words abo…

http://www.aaronchiro.com/data/uploads/pastedGraphic.png Strips of elastic tape are placed over muscles that are injured or strained. The tape is meant to support the muscles, improve blood flow, reduce injury, and improve performance. Dr. Kenzo Kase has apparently been developing Kinesio tape since the mid 1970's. So he has had over 30 years to conduct research and convince the medical community that the above claims have merit. In the case of sports injuries, bracing and wrapping the injured limb or joint is often helpful. It can provide support and take some strain off the injured muscle, ligament, or joint. Wrapping may also provide some heat that is hel…

Hi I'm trying to answer these multiple questions from past exam paper. Can anyone help please? there is no answer provided Q1. Predict which one of the following people would initially produce the greatest urine volume? a.A person who is given some synthetic Vasopressin which acts in the same manner as the natural hormone b.A person who drinks 500mL of isotonic sports drink c.A person who drinks 500mL of water d.A person who eats salty chips and then drinks 500mL of isotonic sports drink e.A person who eats salty chips and then drinks 500mL of water For this question, I think correct answer should be (d)....? Q2. I…

Do any of you know why some people are ambidextrous? And also why are some people left- handed or right handed? Can anyone answer these questions?

i wonder why some people with grey hair only on right forehead, does it indicate sth ? cuz it is not on left forehead, not on temples,not on backside, it is JUST on right forehead. what does it imply ? i think in which part of your head the grey hair grows most indicates sth, it is like where your acne grow on your face， the famous Phineas P. Gage ("the American Crowbar Case") case says a lot about. that big iron rod flys into his forehead causing a big change of his personality. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phineas_Gage i relate it to where the grey hair grows on our head. if that iron rod goes through his left forehead not right forehead, Phineas …

Quick question. Is there a general consensus in the community as to how many human biological systems there are? A quick search on google yielded me 10, 11, 12, and 14. Thanks. ...and wikipedia lists 13