First break of the morning-  Dr. Amaral is wonderful!  What I'm learning is exciting!  Much of it serves to reinforce things I've learned before- but some of the news regarding research that is underway- unbelievable!  Can't wait to share what I've learned with you in February!  More later!

Brainy Bunch Learning

Hi Everyone!  I wanted to check in with you- from Napa, California!  I've been here since Thursday evening, for additional "brain training" from Pat Wolfe.  We spent the first day with Pat herself, updating us on some of the new information she has added to the 2nd Edition of her book, Brain Matters.  Yesterday, we learned from Dr. Stephen Hinshaw, a leading neuroscientist and researcher of ADHD.  He was fabulous and I learned so much.  The trick will be reviewing my notes and studying them within the next 2 or three days, and figuring out how to articulate a few of the key findings.


Today, we are going to learn from Dr. David Amaral, who is a leader in the field of Autism spectrum disorders.  I feel so lucky to be a part of this group!  There are about 40 of us here this week, so we are able to ask questions of our presenters, and really learn! 

I love it!   More later!

Learning about the brain- through a tragedy

Now that we’re half way through January, I’ll wish you all a Happy New Year!  I hope that you had a relaxing break from the action and got to spend lots of quality time with family and friends. 

While at home over Christmas break, I was telling my son (John) and my daughter (Anne) about my attempt to enter the Web 2.0 world as a blogger.  I told them how excited I was to try my hand at blogging, as a way of maintaining a connection with class participants between sessions, and to pass along information that I’m hearing about and reading about the brain.   Anne, in a very helpful and courteous manner, asked if she could provide me with some “constructive criticism.”  I of course told her “yes”, and she went on to tell me,   “Mom, I think you use too many exclamation points in your blog posts.”  I responded to this very genuine concern by telling her that she’s probably right- but that when I’m writing, I tend to use the punctuation marks that will best communicate in the “voice” I would use if I was actually speaking.  Anne responded by saying, “I know, Mom.  It’s just that you seem overly excited about this brain stuff.”  

Well, after nursing my pride regarding the critique of my punctuation skills, I’ve decided that Anne is probably right.  Guilty, as charged.  I AM excited about anything brain-related.  So… please excuse my excessive use of exclamation marks.  It’s a habit that I’m afraid I won’t be able to break!!!!!!!   (Sorry, Anne!!!!)

I always take a great deal of interest in any story that appears in the media regarding the brain.  The latest “story” however, while interesting, has not been a fun one to follow.  The violence that happened in Arizona over the weekend was senseless and tragic, and once the initial shock has passed, will be the topic of much debate over gun control, political rhetoric, freedom of speech and many other topics.  Words can’t express the feelings that a tragic event like this evokes- certainly anger, disbelief, fear, and sadness.  We can only keep those directly affected in our thoughts and prayers, and search for lessons to be learned from this horrific event.  

I have taken keen interest in the news conferences that have been conducted by medical professionals regarding Congresswoman Giffords’ injuries and treatment.  I appreciate having the knowledge that I have about the brain, as it has made these reports more meaningful to me.  The doctors say that the bullet passed through the left hemisphere of the brain, from back to front.  They stated that while this trajectory has the potential to be life-threatening,  it could have been much worse had the bullet gone from one hemisphere to the other, and through the central structures of Ms. Giffords’ brain.  Injury to the brain stem, or some of the other structures located deep in the center of the brain would have most likely caused total debilitation if not immediate death.  

The left hemisphere (in most people) contains the primary centers for the brain’s processing of language.  This includes areas known as Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area, which are critical for both producing speech, as well as understanding speech.  The medical updates I’ve heard have not made clear how high the bullet’s trajectory was within the left hemisphere.  My understanding (which may or may not be accurate) is that a higher trajectory would be less likely to affect those critical speech areas of the brain.

Also, as you probably know, the left hemisphere of the brain controls functioning of the right side of the body- and vice versa.  While Ms. Giffords’ doctors have been cautiously optimistic about her recovery, it remains to be seen how much damage has been done to the speech centers of her brain, or to the motor cortex that controls movements on the right side of her body.

When neurosurgeon Dr. Lemole talks about his cautious optimism, he relates the seemingly simple but positive signs he has seen when he examines his patient.  When asked to “give a thumbs-up” for example, the fact that Ms. Giffords is able to complete the task indicates that her ability to hear and understand language remains intact.  What may seem like a very simple task, is really a test of many very sophisticated brain processes, all of which provide clues to the medical team regarding which parts of her brain seem to be functioning well, and which have been affected adversely by her injury. 

I have been incredibly impressed by the two doctors that have been interviewed regularly since the tragedy on Saturday.  Dr. Lemole and Dr. Rhee, (the trauma physician) are extremely articulate in the way they provide information to the public.  They are able to explain the most complex of topics- the human brain- in a way that lay-people can understand.  Every time they speak, I find myself marveling over first, their knowledge and expertise about the brain and how it works, and second, their ability to communicate with those who don’t share that level of expertise and understanding.   

I will be following Ms. Giffords’ progress over the next several weeks and months through several “lenses”.  First, I’ll watch, listen and pray- that she continues to improve, and that she can triumph over this senseless act by making a full (or nearly full) recovery.  Second, I’ll continue to watch and listen to the updates that are given, and will deepen my own understanding of the brain’s remarkable ability to ‘rewire’ itself in the face of traumatic injury.  Those of us who have a special interest in the human brain will be able to learn a lot from this very tragic event.  

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Gabby!

Super-Memory... A fascinating story on 60 Minutes!

Happy Holidays!  I hope that you find time to relax with family and friends, and truly enjoy the season!  That’s MY plan!

There have been several articles about the brain in the news lately!  Once you begin paying attention, it’s amazing how often you read things in the newspaper or magazines, or see programs on TV that are brain-related!  (This in itself is actually a “brain thing”- sometimes referred to as “the red car phenomenon”).

Here is an excerpt from one of many articles that talks about this:

“When I graduated from college I bought a red Pontiac Grand Am. And from then on I noticed two things while driving around: (1) how many red cars were on the road, and (2) how many Grand Am’s there were of all colors. We notice things that we have some personal connection to, whether that connection is based on our experience, our desires, our knowledge, or something else. Here’s why: because everything we have learned and experienced creates the context or lens through which we relate to the world. It shapes what we pay attention to amidst the daily onslaught of signals and information. It even shapes what we are capable of seeing or observing.”     (from Random Acts of Leadership, by Susan Mazza, February 2009)

So… if your first several sessions of Brain-Based Learning this year have created an interest in the brain and how it works, you may be experiencing the “red car phenomenon”.  In your case and in mine- news of the brain seems to be everywhere!  You could say that we have a “heightened awareness” that makes us notice things that we previously ignored!  I love this hard-wired feature of the human brain!

Last Sunday’s 60 Minutes had an excellent story that some of you may have seen.  It was about people who have “super-memories”.  Instead of discarding the majority of what enters their brain through their senses, these people remember (whether they want to or not) almost everything!  It was an amazing story!  These people have abilities often seen in Autistic Savants- yet they are normal in every other way!  They can remember the details of everyday they have lived.  Given a specific date, each of them could recall what they had done that day, what had happened in the news on that day, etc.  It’s an amazing skill that leaves most of us bewildered! 

The scientists who were interviewed on 60 Minutes, Dr. Larry Cahill and Dr. James McGaugh, spoke of the studies they are conducting on these unique individuals.   Through brain-imaging done on these "super-rememberers",  distinct differences have been noted between their brains and the brains of “average” humans.  These differences have been documented in several areas- deep inside the temporal lobe (where the hippocampus is located), and in another area called the caudate nucleus.  They can’t yet explain these physical differences, or even understand whether the differences are a “result of” the unusual capabilities… or perhaps are “responsible for” the capabilities.  It is a case of the chicken or the egg dilemma, and will require continued study. 

I was particularly interested in this 60 Minutes story, because several years ago, Dr. Larry Cahill was the featured speaker at one of my “Brainy Bunch” renewal sessions.  Each January, Pat Wolfe- my friend and mentor, hosts a renewal session for all who have gone through her training.  She brings in the experts- top neuroscientists, and/or science writers- to talk with us for an entire day.  Larry Cahill was our featured speaker several years ago, so in a small group of about 40 educators, I was able to learn from this expert!  This is, to say the least, a huge privilege and thrill for me! 

To watch the 60 Minutes segment in its entirety, follow this link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/16/60minutes/main7156877.shtml?tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel

There are a few extra segments on this website as well, that weren’t in the program, but that are really interesting!  I highly recommend watching these videos!  They are fascinating! 

 

I’ll end for now and will again wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  I’ll find time to post again between the holidays, and will fill you in on my upcoming trip to Napa, California.  I’ll again be learning from Pat Wolfe and other neuroscience experts--- about the latest news of the brain!

Blog Post #1- Erasing Traumatic Memories

Hi everyone!  I hope you had a wonderfully relaxing Thanksgiving break with your families!  I did- both of my kids were home- and we also hosted my friend Laura, who visited from Connecticut!  We are friends from high school who have kept in touch for all of these years, and we have such fun when we get together!  We are 'shopping buddies' so we set out on Friday morning and hit all of the little towns around CF.  We stayed away from the malls and big box stores- in favor of boutiques and gift shops.  We had a grand time!

There have been several "brain in the news" stories in the media recently!  One of the most intriguing is one that was printed in the Waterloo-CF Courier last week- but originated from the Baltimore Sun.  The title is "Way to Erase Traumatic Memories May be on the Horizon".  I had heard of this particular drug therapy several years ago- through Pat Wolfe- but this article makes it sound as if testing is continuing, and it may become a reality.

I'll let you read the article yourself, but the gist is that they have discovered a way to actually erase traumatic memories, by asking the person to recall the memory, and then identifying a "window of vulnerability" when the brain produces certain proteins.  The theory is (and trials with mice have been successful) that if a particular drug is administered during that window- as a person is actually recalling the memory- that the traumatic memory will be erased.  Unbelievable!  Of course, there are huge ethical considerations to deal with here!  But researchers are hoping that additional therapies can be developed to help Post Traumatic Stress victims.  The therapy holds the most promise (at least at this point in time) for victims of a single violent act-  such as a rape or an assault-  and who suffer from "flashbacks".  There are more uncertainties about how to treat those victims (such as soldiers) who witnessed multiple traumatic events- or those who were traumatized by sustained stressful situations.

I'll include the link to the article.  I hope you'll take a moment to read it.  You'll notice references to the amygdala that should strike a chord with you.  (remember- it is the inner brain structure that scans all incoming information and determines what should be paid attention to-  thus... it is a survival structure within the brain)  When a person experiences a traumatic event, such as an attack, a car accident, or war...   the amygdala does exactly what it is supposed to do-  it alerts the person to the danger, causes them to act "instinctively" to either fight, flee, or freeze-  and creates a "hypersensitivity" to future situations that are similar.  (example-  veterans who experienced combat are often hypersensitive to loud bangs-  the backfire of a car's engine, etc- as their amygdalae are programmed to respond to gunfire and explosives.)  So... the amygdala doing exactly what it is supposed to do in a stressful situation, can actually cause problems when the danger has passed-  thus-  PTSD.

Here is the link to the article:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-erasing-memories-20101122,0,342650.story

It's a fascinating study-  and the ethical considerations it raises are fascinating, as well.  For those of you who teach older students, an article such as this one would make great fodder for a debate.  Is this type of drug therapy ethical?  Is the promise of help it could give to some... worth the risk for abuse?  Seems like it could make for a great project that would include research, some really good thought-provoking essential questions, persuasive writing, persuasive speaking, debate, etc.

More later... enjoy the season!

Blogging between now and February 17, 2011

I've decided to try my hand at blogging!  My intent is to use this venue to maintain a connection to all of you BBLers between now and the next time we meet in mid-February.  I'm not going to give you a new assignment to do between now and then, but hope that you will use our time apart to work on the assignments that we discussed on the first day of class.  These would be:

1)  Try out the Sampling strategy with your students, and then post a reflection about your experience on the "Sampling" page of our Wiki.

2)  Create a 'synthesis sheet' that pulls together the concepts about the brain that are most meaningful to you-  and then post your creation on the "Synthesis Sheet" page of our Wiki.

3)  Read one self-selected "brain book" and post a reflection on the "Book Reflection" page of our Wiki.

Completing those tasks, formulating ideas for your final showcase-day project, and oh yes, teaching- will keep you plenty busy over the next few months.  But... I don't want to deprive you of new information about the brain, just because we won't be meeting for awhile!    :-)   So... I'm going to use this blog to keep you posted on what I'm hearing and/or reading in the news about the brain.  I'll make brief but (hopefully) frequent posts to this blog that will keep you updated.  You may respond to any of my posts, but you need not respond to all of them. I will include links to articles or websites whenever possible.  If the topic I'm blogging about raises a question, please post it.  Or... if YOU come across any "brain in the news" topics and want to share them, feel free to respond to my posts at anytime with your own topics.

Please "follow" my Brain in the News Blog, so that you'll know when a new post has been made.  This is the first time that I've tried this- using a blog to stay connected during these long winter months apart.  My hope is that when we come back together in February, that it will be easier to pick up where we left off.