Neuroscience

Complex Machinery in the Neuron, Vesicle Budding and Fusion, Transcription, and More

The neuron performs an incredible job in maintaining the mechanics of the cell while still being responsible for the transmission of mental function.  Its responsibilities include: building structures to maintain its long axon, building and rebuilding the ...

Blog Post - Jon Lieff MD - Mar 12 2012 - 5:21pm

Human Brain and Mind 2: More Neuroplasticity

For many years, it was thought that new brain cells could not develop in adulthood and that the connections between nerves were fairly static after childhood. ...

Blog Post - Jon Lieff MD - Mar 19 2012 - 10:27am

The Plant “Brain”: The Dodder Attacks

Most of the time, we do not think of plants as having the ability to plan, move, and attack. Certain behaviors of plants have been known for many years, such as the ability to turn to face sunlight, to open and close leaves each day and night, and to catch ...

Article - Jon Lieff MD - Mar 21 2012 - 2:43pm

The Plant “Brain” 2: Communication among Plants and with Other Species

Plants, while not generally thought of as being intelligent, do exhibit problem solving, planning, communication, and defensive behavior.  Plants actively search for nutrients and for sunlight. They move their leaves and stems in response to light and can ...

Blog Post - Jon Lieff MD - Mar 23 2012 - 9:50am

Human Brain and Mind 3: the Limits of the Senses, Top Down Control of Perception

In a now-famous experiment, people are told to carefully look for and count certain details of a performance.  During the performance, a man in a gorilla suit walks across the stage, bows, and walks off.  Almost no one sees it.  Why?  Because it wasn’t one ...

Blog Post - Jon Lieff MD - Mar 26 2012 - 9:41am

The Plant "Brain" 3: Defense, Avoiding Predators, Attracting Insects, Timed Gene Synthesis

Previous posts, examined possible plant cognitive functions with the Dodder’s parasitism and the complex ability plants have to communicate with other plants and fungi.   More impressive are the elaborate abilities of plants to defend themselves. Traps and ...

Blog Post - Jon Lieff MD - Mar 28 2012 - 3:53pm

Solved: The Mystery Of Human Consciousness (Almost)

Researchers have gotten some clues to primitive consciousness- thanks to anesthesia. People are often groggy when waking from anesthesia, and sometimes struggle. A group of  scientists believe they now know why this may occur: primitive consciousness emerg ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 4 2012 - 8:45pm

Judge Rotenberg Trial Ends In Settlement: Nothing Changes For The JRC, Though

Although the jury had the case, the  Judge Rotenberg Center settled with Andre McCollins' mother yesterday. Fox 25 News in Boston has covered this case diligently, and its article about the settlement writes, " But the attorney representing the J ...

Article - Kim Wombles - Apr 25 2012 - 10:32am

New Stem Cell Found In The Brain- And It Can Form New Brain Cells

A new stem cell has been found that can proliferate and form several different cell types, including new brain cells.  This discovery may be used to develop methods that can repair diseases and injury to the brain. Analyzing brain tissue from biopsies, the ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 28 2012 - 9:21pm

Embryo Brains Can Wake Earlier Than Previously Thought

A new imaging study shows the brains of embryonic chicks can 'wake' long before chicks are ready to hatch out of their eggs- but it took loud, meaningful sounds. Playing meaningless sounds wasn't enough to rouse their brains. As modern medic ...

Article - News Staff - May 3 2012 - 7:27pm