Topic: Brain Matters
This is the beginning of a site where pre-college students can post questions about the brain and we will respond to the best of our ability. Please feel free to use it at any time.
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Serendip's forums sometimes get longer than what can conveniently be accessed and displayed. They are, at the same time, in their entirety an important part of what Serendip has become at any given time (and, of course, particular contributions may well be of lasting significance). To try and balance needs for easy display and those of continuous and permanent record, only this year's forum comments are displayed on this page with earlier comments being preserved elsewhere. To go to the forum for prior years, click on the year below.
Year:
Serendip's forums sometimes get longer than what can conveniently be accessed and displayed. They are, at the same time, in their entirety an important part of what Serendip has become at any given time (and, of course, particular contributions may well be of lasting significance). To try and balance needs for easy display and those of continuous and permanent record, only this year's forum comments are displayed on this page with earlier comments being preserved elsewhere. To go to the forum for prior years, click on the year below.
Year:
- Current postings - 1999/2002 - 1998/1999 - 1997 - 1996 -
1995
Name: Ann
Username: ann@serendip.brynmawr.edu
Subject: recognition of faces
Date: Fri Jun 16 15:00:29 EDT 1995
Comments:
Is there a limit on the number of people's faces that a brain can recognize?
Name: E K Bricknell
Username: brickne@ibm.net
Subject: vagal reactors
Date: Sun Jul 16 02:26:42 EDT 1995
Comments:
Information about people that become oddly calm when perpetrating violence on others. What's the machanism?
Name: Blair Janis
Username: blair@media.com
Subject: Brain Matter
Date: Mon Aug 14 11:21:36 EDT 1995
Comments:
Some friends and I are not sure if the brain is made up of
fat or muscle tissues. Do you know?
Name: Jolene
Username: jjager@zaphod.wayne.esu1.k12.ne.us
Subject: Procrastination
Date: Fri Sep 15 14:06:01 EDT 1995
Comments:
I am interested in the role the brain plays in procrastination. I am currently working on a reserach paper related to this subject, and any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Name: gary steinle
Username: gsteinle@nctcog.dst.tx.us
Subject: brain damage
Date: Mon Oct 2 13:36:15 EDT 1995
Comments:
My mother had a severe case of meningitis 13 years ago which resulted in an almost complete loss of sight. Doctors have examined her eyes and found them undamaged but say the part of the brain that interprets the images is damaged. I am looking for info/contacts regarding any hope of repairing the damage and returning her sight. All replys are tremendously appreciated.
Name: Julie Vivas
Username: j.vivas@unsw.edu.au
Subject: brain damage
Date: Mon Oct 9 08:29:33 EDT 1995
Comments:
A 2.5 year old child fell, into swimming pool. Was under the water for at least 5 minutes. When pulled out was dead but father did CPR and child survived.
Now more than a week later the child cannot see, is having convulsions (body goes rigid, bites down hard on the teeth, back arches), is breathing very heavy and needs oxygen. What part of the brain
are the dead cells, what are the chances of recovery, is there anything that can be done.
The child is currently on a muscle relaxant, but the child is extremely hard to settle.
I may be able to provide further information as required.
I would appreciate it if you could advise me of any articles specifically on brain damage caused by
lack of oxygen due to swimming pool or drowning accidents. I am desparately trying to help the parents of this boy.
Name: Roel Seegers
Username: R.S.M.Seegers@student.utwente.nl
Subject: cut
Date: Tue Oct 10 07:24:45 EDT 1995
Comments:
Dear Sir,
I cut away the left part of my brain. Is this dangerous?
Name: L.S. Daniels
Username: daniels@lasalle.edu
Subject: weight of brain
Date: Sat Oct 21 16:31:56 EDT 1995
Comments:
Does protein affect the weight of the brain?
Name: anonymous
Username:
Subject: left-right brain
Date: Sun Oct 22 19:19:12 EDT 1995
Comments:
Name: kevin kud
Username: kudball@ix.netcom.com
Subject: right-left brain
Date: Sun Oct 22 19:30:11 EDT 1995
Comments:
I am I am am elementary school student who would like to know if since the
brain has two sides and math skills are on one side and music skills
are on the other, that it means that you most likely can't be both
musically and mathematically inclined.or is advanced musical ability
on the same side of the brain as mathematics, and if we are good at
mathematics we would most likely be good musically. Also any
suggestions on how I could test a person's musical ability(special
tests?)thank you
Name: Paul Grobstein
Username: pgrobste@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Questions and answers
Date: Mon Oct 23 21:52:22 EDT 1995
Comments:
Thanks to everyone who has written, and sorry for delays in responding.
We're still getting organized here, and still pretty much in the phase of
seeing what kinds of questions we'll get and figuring out how best to post
questions and responses. Let me though try and deal quickly with a few
questions. I hope Gary and Julie's questions may have elicited some direct
responses to them from neurologists, doctors with specific expertise in
therapies for human brain damage. Those of us here tend to think more
about how brains work in general, and to be less knowledgable about how to
help in particular cases of trauma. Both meningitis and anoxia tend to
produce diffuse and relatively unpredictable sorts of brain damage, which
need to be evaluated individually in each case. An optimistic generality
is that the brain has a very substantial capacity to correct functional
disturbances due to damage, so things often improve with time (and therapy).
But it is also true that some kinds of damage lead to pretty permanent
deficits (like difficulties seeing even though the eyes may be intact).
For LS Daniels: the brain is made of special cells called neurons which,
like all cells, are themselves made of large numbers of different molecules.
The latter include large numbers of proteins, so when one weighs the brain
a part of that measured weight is the weight of protein molecules. Kevin:
the idea of math on one side and music on the other side of the brain has
some truth to it, but like most such statements is also an oversimplification.
In any case, lots of people are pretty good both musically and
mathematically, so if you're inclined in that direction, don't let what we
know (or think we know) about the brain inhibit you.
Name: eugene etheredge jr
Username: gene@unm.edu
Subject: brain leisons
Date: Mon Oct 30 22:39:36 EST 1995
Comments:
MY FATHER WAS JUST TOLD HE HAS A CUT OR LEISON ON THE BOTTOM OF HIS BRAIN
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AND CAN IT BE TREATED? IF SO WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR
WAY OF DEALING WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM? THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
Name: C.H. Billington
Username: billchb@nwlink.com
Subject: Right Brain
Date: Sun Nov 5 08:33:43 EST 1995
Comments:
Do you know of any short (1 tp 10) page article that covers
the latest research and information regarding right/left
brain function?
Name: Hemant Jain
Username: hjain@m-net.arbornet.org
Subject: Difference in Men and Women
Date: Mon Nov 6 09:55:31 EST 1995
Comments:
Is there a difference in brain waves/patterns between Men and Women?...
..any info would be appreaciated.
...thanx, Hemant Jain
Name: Gabe Dewey
Username: G_dewey@cariboocollege
Subject: The fluid surrounding the brain
Date: Tue Nov 7 18:23:19 EST 1995
Comments:
The fluid surrounding your brain has a density that is very close to the density of your brain. When doing brain surgery, the paitent must be extremely careful after the operation until this fluid is restored. Why? Relate this to the bouyancy principle
Name: Lamar Grube
Username: lgrube@cln.etc.bc.ca
Subject: ADD / Severe Behavior Disorders
Date: Fri Nov 10 23:56:50 EST 1995
Comments:
I am teaching a small class of 7-9 year old children with severe behavior
disorders and often ADHD. Our school district is presently reviewing it's entire model of
service to these children and is interested in viewing a variety of
program models and belief statements about delivery of educational services
to such children within the public school system. Can anyone there point me
to articles, and related info which might help us come to some informed
choices in this matter?
Name: d.reynolds
Username: 71035.2761@compuserve.com
Subject: Art and the Right Brain
Date: Mon Nov 27 21:30:33 EST 1995
Comments:
Looking for on-line references dealing with art and the right brain.
got lot's of responses from yahoo, but not much info. can you help? thnx.
Name: JULIAN
Username: 103034.3062@COMPUSERVE.COM
Subject: FIRING PATTERNS
Date: Tue Dec 12 19:33:54 EST 1995
Comments:
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FIRING PATTERNS IN GENERAL, AND SPECIFICALLY WHERE CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT THE FIRING PATTERNS OF NEW BORN BABIES AS COMPARED TO THOSE OF ADULTS?
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