None Provided Essay Example
None Provided Essay Example

None Provided Essay Example

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  • Pages: 13 (3464 words)
  • Published: July 27, 2018
  • Type: Essay
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In an experiment involving a blind individual named Guarniero, the aim was to determine whether our eyes or brain process images. To do this, Guarniero was connected to a chair with a pad covered in bumps that replicated the shape of objects. Attached to the chair was a camera that captured images and transferred them onto the bumps. When an item was detected by the camera, the bumps were activated and applied pressure to Guarniero. The success of this experiment demonstrated that visualizing objects through touch is possible as Guarniero was able to accurately identify different items using this method. Notably, he even observed a flame and recognized its unique shape for the first time without physically touching it for heat sensation. This experience highlights the adaptability of our vision and brain, suggesting that alternative sensory experiences can serve as substitutes for sight. Consequently, qu

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estions arise about the true purpose of our eyes as mere sensors transmitting information to our brain. Additionally, understanding how our eyes process visual stimuli reveals their fascinating ability to flip everything upside down initially before crossing signals over in the optic chiasm and ultimately transmitting information through the optic nerve to reach various transformations in the primary visual cortex (also known as strenual cortex).(Dr.) Russell DeValois conducted experiments with monkeys, observing their visual cortex while they viewed pictures in order to understand their perception. The research revealed precision in how our eyes perceive and interpret what we see. Drs. David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel also made significant contributions to understanding vision processing in the brain, both receiving awards for their notable achievements regarding the study of the primary visual cortex.

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primary visual cortex is located at the posterior part of the brain and has a layered structure consisting of loose and tight ends when examined closely. It is about credit card-sized. In the late 1950s, a series of experiments were conducted to assess the impact of different images on this visual cortex. Initially, these experiments yielded mostly unsuccessful results.

However, an unexpected breakthrough occurred during these experiments when researchers moved a glass slide over a projector screen, causing a line to appear. This line turned out to be exactly what they had been searching for and led them to associate the visual cortex with lines, edges, and bars.

Despite this discovery, it is important to note that this simplified understanding of the visual field is inadequate since it can perform numerous more complex tasks and perceive much more than just lines.DeValois argued that certain visual neurons are responsible for processing light rays and their intensity in our brain.Hubel, however, disagrees with this perspective. In the 19th century, Impressionist artists incorporated various shades and dots in their paintings. When closely observed, these artworks appear blurry, making it difficult to distinguish between elements. However, stepping back allows viewers to perceive how all the parts merge to form a unified painting.

Despite extensive research efforts, establishing definitive laws for comprehending the visual cortex remains challenging. Our eyes naturally invert the images we see. But what if everything appeared upside down? To delve deeper into this question, Susan volunteered for an experiment where she wore glasses that inverted her vision.

At first, Susan encountered difficulties with basic tasks such as walking and pouring liquids. Nevertheless, after three days of wearing the glasses, she

managed to write her name while looking at it and even draw a picture and sign her name upright. Initially odd for her to remove the glasses but surprisingly only took an hour for her brain to readjust back to normal.

This experiment effectively demonstrates our vision and brain's adaptability in response to our surroundings. Nonetheless, it is crucial to bear in mind that perception encompasses more than just seeing.Dr.[Last Name] conducted an experiment based on information from Mortimer Mishkin, who explained that the visual cortex transmits information through two parts of our body: the parietal lobe and the ventricle part of the temporal lobe. The parietal lobe is responsible for indicating object location and determining reach distance, while the temporal lobe helps comprehend object characteristics. Faces are believed to stimulate "Grandmother cells," which require cooperation with other cells for task execution. Damage to this brain area can cause difficulties recognizing familiar objects. Seeing and processing something typically takes around three tenths of a second. Movement impulses start at the back of the brain and progress towards the frontal lobe, where perception and responses are determined. This text also discusses how innate movements like walking and sneezing are inherited through genes. Mastering both vertical movements and horizontal vision is crucial for survival as they work together. Dr.Rodolfo Llinas studies large neurons with visible synapses in sea squids that transmit information through the brain stem, cerebellum, and visual cortex. Damage to the cerebellum can cause lifelong depth perception issues.Additionally, there is a lack of dopamine production in individuals with Parkinson's disease caused by failure in the Phazel Ganglia responsible for automatic responses. Terry Thomas, who has Parkinson's

disease, experiences challenges like sleep problems and cravings for chocolate. People with Parkinson's struggle with simple tasks and require small goals to accomplish them. In 1970, L-Dopa was introduced as a medication that stimulates excessive dopamine production but does not provide a cure for Parkinson's disease. Brain cell implants were performed in 1982 on one patient who showed visible improvement after surviving the surgery. One advantage of brain cell implants is their reduced likelihood of rejection compared to other body parts; however, critics argue that transplanting brain tissue between individuals is unethical and immoral. As a result, an alternative solution was sought. The adrenal gland, located near the kidneys, presents a promising alternative due to its neurons' composition resembling brain cells and their demonstrated lack of rejection in mouse testing. This procedure brings hope for the future. Currently, two operations have been conducted by responsible doctors. Unfortunately, the first operation on a male patient did not lead to significant improvement as he returned to the same stage of Parkinson's shortly after surgery. Despite this setback, he expressed willingness to undergo another operation if given the opportunity.In contrast, the female patient has experienced enduring changes and has observed slight improvements in her quality of life. Looking ahead, doctors are already planning for patients 3, 4, and even 18. When contemplating the essence of humanity, there are diverse interpretations. One viewpoint suggests that our humanity originates from our inherent animal instincts developed over centuries of evolution. Our human existence relies on the cerebral cortex, responsible for vital bodily functions such as temperature regulation, heart rate, breathing, eating and sleeping patterns, sexual drive, and aggression. If this part

of the brain is damaged or removed, it would essentially erase our existence. An intriguing aspect of the cerebral cortex is its automatic functioning without conscious awareness. The brain consists of three parts: Brain Stem; Hypothalamus (housing the important Limbic System and primarily releasing Melatonin at night); and Pituitary System (controlling various bodily functions through hormone release). Pat Moore is a female who suffers from severe winter depression displaying deep sadness, self-disgust, frequent crying episodes; social withdrawal; excessive sleepiness; and an inability to complete tasks or envision a future for herself. Her depression considerably impairs her normal functioning as a human being.She describes herself as resembling a hibernating bear during winter and an energetic butterfly during summer. In an attempt to alleviate her depression symptoms, Pat participates in an experiment involving large fluorescent lights placed in her living room. Spending three hours daily sitting in front of these lights results in a significant change. Pat, like a new person, gains abundant energy and resumes enjoyable activities such as writing, reading, and painting. This transformation is deeply appreciated by Pat and others alike. The experience highlights the impact of light deprivation on depression and the feeling of endlessness it brings.

Alternatively, sleep can temporarily relieve depression but is not a lasting solution. Medications are available for treating depression; however, their effects may take several weeks to manifest. Nevertheless, once they begin working, the effects are long-lasting.

Our brains have a close connection to nature; our brain's rhythm resembles that of the Earth's.Changes in our brain can be observed during sleep, particularly during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep characterized by increased activity in the frontal lobe.Deep sleep provides us

with the most restful period.Michel Siffre, a French scientist who conducted an experiment living in a cave in Texas for months,studied how the brain responds to environmental changes.He monitored his behavior and collected data on variables such as blood pressure, heart rate,and brain wavesSiffre used the absence of natural light to control his sleep-wake cycle and determine day or night cycles in the cave environment. Our body's Circadian Rhythms dictate our daily activities, including eating. However, Michel discovered that our bodies actually operate on a twenty-five-hour clock instead of traditional rhythms. Understanding the impact of shift work on businesses has been beneficial, with approximately 25% of men and 16.67% of women working shifts. Nevertheless, irregular shifts disrupt our internal clock and create chaos in terms of sleep patterns. Trying to sleep during the day and work at night completely throws off our body's expectations, resulting in issues like sleep disorders and eating disorders.
To address these challenges, Michel was invited to a processing factory in Utah where he suggested a solution involving a three-week clockwise rotation of shifts. This method ensures that workers alternate between night and morning shifts. He also conducted informative sessions on optimizing free time and understanding one's own body.
By the end of the three-week period, significant improvements were observed in worker health, overall well-being, and productivity. When creating work schedules, it is crucial to consider the role of the hypothalamus in regulating sleep-wake cyclesAdditionally, it is important to consider the origins of aggression and violence, including rage. In the 1960s, an experiment with a fighting bull demonstrated that when electrodes were placed near its hypothalamus, the bull exhibited calmer behavior. Similarly, Mark

Larribus confessed to impulsively assaulting his girlfriend's 2-year-old child without thinking about it. After his arrest, Mark experienced depression and suicidal thoughts. A diagnostic study revealed that he had difficulty controlling his increasing outbursts. Subsequent CAT scan results identified a dangerous tumor pressing on Mark's hypothalamus—a fluid-filled cyst that posed significant risks to his well-being.

In 1978, Mitch Heller's life changed dramatically after a car accident. Prior to the accident, Mitch was an active and healthy man who enjoyed sports. However, about a month later, he noticed unexpected changes such as loss of sexual desire and performance issues in bed, higher pitched voice, and facial hair loss. These changes left him confused and terrified. Interestingly enough, just before the accident occurred Mitch and his wife were planning to conceive but faced obstacles due to these developments. Further examination revealed damage to Mitch's hypothalamus caused by the accident—the part of the brain responsible for various physiological processes.
Mitch experienced positive changes and became calmer with fewer outbursts due to his damaged hypothalamus. After the damaged part was removed, he underwent a significant transformation. The physiological processes of sexual urges involve various steps. It starts with the hypothalamus sending a hormone to the Pituitary Gland, which then releases testosterone. This testosterone is sent back to the hypothalamus, creating a repeating cycle. Other brain parts such as the horn-shaped hippocampus and amygdala also play a role in this process. However, due to his brain damage, Mitch was unable to secrete hormones to his pituitary gland, leading to a lack of sexual urges.

To address this issue, Dr.Crowley developed a solution - a portable hypothalamus device attached to Mitch's waist containing a

syringe filled with hormones. Every two hours, Mitch would receive regular injections into his abdomen using this device. Although initially uncomfortable and noticeable, Mitch eventually got used to it and experienced an increase in libido after receiving his first injection. Within five days, he felt completely comfortable with the device.
Upon his return home, he suddenly experienced a strong desire for sexual intercourse with his wife and felt an overall sense of amazingness. The passage emphasizes the importance of a scientific advancement that allowed Mitch and his wife to successfully conceive a healthy baby girl, fulfilling their desire to have children. It illustrates how the human brain has evolved over time, enhancing thinking, feeling, actions, and love. While it is challenging to pinpoint specific brain regions associated with emotions, anxiety stands out as an exception caused by an imbalance between the frontal cortex and limbic system, resulting in feelings of nervousness. The case of Phineas Gage serves as an example of how brain damage can disrupt the connection between these two regions and lead to a loss of emotional control. The brain is compared to a united group of railroad workers who maintain equilibrium between thoughts and emotions through communication between the limbic system and frontal cortex. However, after his accident, Phineas lost this balance as his limbic system functioned without any restrictions from the frontal cortex. During the accident itself, he experienced minimal pain due to the typical transmission of pain signals via the central nervous system to the brain that triggers Substance P release through neuron synapses.Furthermore, in response to pain, our brains release endorphins which provide relief. Additionally, psychological factors can diminish pain

perception by instilling a belief that certain actions or substances bring relief, regardless of medical accuracy. Morphine, a drug, blocks the reaction of Substance P in the brain. Dr. Edward Williams attended to Phineas upon his arrival and diagnosed a severe disconnection between Phineas' frontal cortex and limbic system. The extent of the injury was such that Dr. Williams could physically touch both of Phineas' hands within his skull. This traumatic event resulted in significant changes during Phineas' recovery period; he experienced difficulties with speech and exhibited uncontrollable behavior including slurred words, frequent crying, screaming intensely, and openly expressing emotions at any given moment.

The text explains that this profound shift in Phineas' behavior is caused by the disconnection between the limbic system and frontal cortex. Without being filtered by the frontal cortex, the limbic system is able to freely transmit information and emotions throughout the brain. Despite defying all odds to survive, Phineas only achieved physical recovery while his intellectual and emotional abilities remained impaired. His social interactions were limited; however, he formed a unique bond with animalsClose friends compared him to having "animal emotions in a human body," but unfortunately, he never fully recovered before his passing after 12 years. The brain's behavior is heavily influenced by unknown chemical changes, and both environmental factors and emotions can affect reactions within the brain. Stressful stimuli and anxiety disrupt the body's chemical balance, resulting in physical effects like an accelerated central nervous system, increased heart rate, and elevated blood pressure. However, stress is not solely a physical occurrence; it is also impacted by the environment and an organism's limitations. This triggers the "fight or flight" response,

causing individuals to confront or flee challenging situations. Air traffic controllers lead highly stressful lives due to their job nature. Bizzoro, a French air traffic controller based in Quebec, exemplifies the intensity of this profession as he has to proficiently communicate in both English and French languages which adds further stress levels. Some argue that early cave dwellers experienced less pressure compared to today's society with fewer concerns; however, in our modern world we push ourselves excessively at work trying to outperform others but ultimately harming ourselves. In the wilderness our worries focused on finding food and avoiding predators driven by our fight-or-flight instinct; nevertheless, in present times our rational thinking overrides these primal impulses.
An experiment was conducted to demonstrate the concept. Two rats had their tails stimulated with an electric impulse. If one rat managed to spin a wheel within 60 seconds, it would prevent the impulse from being sent. Conversely, if it failed to spin the wheel within that timeframe, the impulse would be delivered at specific intervals. The rat that interacted with the wheel showed control and predictability compared to its counterpart which lacked control. Therefore, succeeding in today's world requires not only good self-control but also predictability.

Another experiment involved subjecting rats to stress by placing them in a cup filled with water and equipping them with water wings. This was done to observe their activity levels. Under stress, undesirable reactions such as constant swimming and attempts to stay afloat were observed. On the other hand, minimal movement and floating were preferred responses. Rats displaying negative reactions experienced changes in sleep patterns, eating habits, and grooming similar to those seen in clinically

depressed individuals.
When the limbic system overwhelms the frontal cortex, communication between these two parts is disrupted, resulting in disturbances throughout. During a flight, there was an incident where the operator's radar malfunctioned. The use of Gaba, a chemical that inhibits neuron firing, helped reduce impulses and minimize nervousness. Valium is classified as a drug that enhances Gaba production and regulates emotional expression. It is commonly prescribed to assist patients with stress. Panic attacks occur when emotions suddenly become uncontrolled in our brains. To gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon, a patient who had previously experienced panic attacks received an injection that induced a stimulated attack. The resulting physical and mental changes were documented. Initially, the patient experienced lightheadedness followed by weakness and other symptoms. During a full-blown panic attack, stimuli overload from the limbic system causes chaos in the frontal cortex. Anna Renaud sought medical attention at her local hospital due to the severity of her panic attacks as she herself suffers from them. Approximately three to four years ago during an Easter dinner, Anna had her first panic attack which resulted in weakness, rapid heartbeat, muscle tension, and difficulty swallowing due to feeling like she had a lump in her esophagus Medication provided some relief but Anna still experienced occasional minor panic attacks.
Anna underwent rehabilitation to train her brain in resisting these attacks, which proved beneficial for her case. However, due to the stressful nature of her job and environment, Anna's heightened anxiety persisted and became more intense than usual for individuals who frequently experience this type of anxiety. People with this condition perceive every aspect of life as highly stressful and often

avoid certain activities.

Valium is often prescribed to effectively alleviate symptoms of this anxiety. Additionally, Anna developed several phobias such as fear of riding the metro and being in large crowds. Fortunately, the duration of her panic attacks has greatly reduced to just one or two minutes.

Despite facing challenges on her first day without medication, Anna has learned new techniques that help overcome these attacks and has been able to return to work without relying on drugs. Engaging in vigorous exercise helps manage unnecessary stress and improves Anna's chances of recovery. Other methods like yoga, faith, and prayer can also be employed for stress reduction purposes.Furthermore, our understanding of brain changes has significantly progressed. While recognizing the potential for misuse, it is believed that the positive outcomes outweigh the negatives. Moreover, an air traffic controller faced increased stress when his wife gave birth to their second child and required careful handling. During labor, she received a spinal tap to alleviate pain but experienced complications leading to elevated stress and blood pressure due to excessive messages from the limbic system to the frontal cortex. However, after a short period, her vital signs returned to normal and balance was restored. Despite a minor delivery complication, the child underwent successful surgery and had excellent health. This raises concerns about whether our knowledge is sufficient to control all aspects of life. It is important to note that behavior plays a crucial role in brain function, and further comprehension will come with time. Currently, we are only just beginning to understand memory through two basic approaches: observing neurons under microscopes for their functioning and studying individuals' behavior, particularly those with amnesia.

The origin of memory remains uncertain as scientist Karl Lashley conducted experiments on lab rats in the 1920s by removing different parts of their brains to observe impact on past memoriesDr. Donald conducted experiments involving rats to study memory retention. Initially, he trained the rats to navigate a specific maze and subsequently performed surgery on their brains by removing a portion of it. Once they were able to easily navigate the maze again after recovery, Dr. Donald reintroduced them into the same maze in order to observe any alterations in their memory. Based on multiple trials, Dr. Donald determined that memories are stored within the temporal lobe of the brain.

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