Brain Facts JMU Brain Bee

Outline

Key Scientific Discoveries

• Brain Prize 2017: Awarded to researchers for their work on the brain’s learning and reward systems, particularly in understanding addiction behaviors and their neurological underpinnings.

• Nobel Prize in Medicine 2017: This prize recognized the groundbreaking research on circadian rhythms, which has illuminated how our body's internal clock regulates various biological functions including sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, and metabolism.

• Brain Prize 2018: Focused on the study of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, contributing valuable knowledge about their progression, underlying mechanisms, and potential treatment approaches.

Brain Basics

Structure of the Brain

• Cerebrum: The largest part of the brain, divided into left and right hemispheres that are connected by the corpus callosum. Each hemisphere is responsible for controlling the opposite side of the body and includes regions specialized for different functions.

• Cerebral Cortex: This outer layer of the cerebrum increases brain processing power significantly due to its depth and the high number of neurons, playing a crucial role in complex functions such as thought, perception, and decision-making.

Lobes of the Brain

• Frontal Lobe: Involved in planning, voluntary movement, memory, language, emotional expression, and the ability to make decisions.

• Parietal Lobe: Processes sensory information related to touch, temperature, pressure, and pain, essential for spatial awareness and navigation.

• Occipital Lobe: Responsible for visual processing, allowing for recognition of shapes, colors, and motion.

• Temporal Lobe: Processes auditory information and is involved in complex visual processes, and plays a significant role in memory formation and emotion.

Brain Functionality

• Complex Functions: The brain’s remarkable ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously (multitasking) showcases its intricate wiring and organization.

• Neuronal Communication: Neurons communicate through synapses, utilizing both electrical signals (action potentials) and chemical signals (neurotransmitters), critical for the functioning of the nervous system.

• Neuronal Plasticity: A vital characteristic, referring to the brain's ability to adapt and change its connections throughout life, essential for learning new skills and recovering from injuries.

Key Concepts of Neuroscience

Core Concepts

These include understanding circuits that process information, the brain's inference capabilities, and the emotional influences on behavior. A detailed understanding of neuronal circuitry is fundamental in areas such as sensory perception, memory, and cognition, providing insights into how we interact with our environment.

The Developing Brain

The brain undergoes extensive development during embryonic stages, characterized by the proliferation of neural cells and complex connections being established.

• Critical Periods: These are specific windows when particular experiences are essential for normal brain development, primarily occurring early in life, impacting long-term cognitive, social, and emotional outcomes.

• Plasticity: This concept highlights the brain's ability to reorganize synaptic connections based on life experiences and environmental factors, allowing for continued learning and memory throughout a person's life.

Neurodegenerative Diseases

• Alzheimer’s Disease: A progressive disorder characterized by the degeneration of neurons, particularly affecting memory and cognitive function. The presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are hallmarks of this disease.

• Parkinson's Disease: Involves the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in motor control and cognitive symptoms, such as tremors and impaired coordination.

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): A progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy. Currently, treatment focuses on symptom management, as there is no known cure.

Addiction

Addiction profoundly affects brain pathways associated with reward and impulse control, highlighting the neurological basis of addictive behaviors.

• Drugs of Abuse: Substances such as opioids and stimulants activate the brain's reward system (dopamine pathways), leading to compulsive behavior.

• Treatment: Successful treatment strategies combine pharmacological therapies with cognitive, behavioral, and supportive strategies tailored to individual needs. Understanding the neurobiology of addiction, including genetic and neurochemical factors, can inform the development of effective treatment approaches.

Conclusion

The interdisciplinary approach of neuroscience emphasizes the necessity for collaboration across various fields, including sociology, policy-making, and ethics, to address the wider implications of new discoveries. The future of neuroscience lies in the continuous effort to understand neural mechanisms, which can lead to more effective treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders, guiding therapeutic interventions and public health policies.

Outline of BrainFacts: A Primer on the Brain and Nervous System with Examples

Chapter 1: Overview of BrainFacts

• Public information initiative of The Kavli Foundation, Gatsby Foundation, and Society for Neuroscience

  • Example: The launch of initiatives like the "Brain Awareness Week" that promote public engagement with brain science.

• Relaunched in Fall 2017 to promote neuroscience literacy

  • Example: The redesigned website features user-friendly navigation tools and diverse content formats, like articles and infographics.

• Aims to educate on brain complexities and role in behavior and health

  • Example: Resources that discuss the effects of sleep on brain health and cognitive function.

Chapter 2: Key Features of BrainFacts

• Core Concepts: Eight essential ideas about brain functions

  • Example: Concepts like "The Brain is a Social Organ" that explores how social interactions affect brain development.

• Interactive Learning: Multimedia tools (videos, puzzles, etc.) for visualization

  • Example: Interactive brain models where users can click on different areas to learn more about their functions.

• Glossary: Updated with nearly 80 new key terms for better understanding

  • Example: Terms like "neuroplasticity" are defined to help users grasp the importance of brain adaptability.

Chapter 3: Introduction to Neuroscience

• Rapid evolution and groundbreaking insights in brain science

  • Example: Advances in neuroimaging technologies like fMRI that allow for real-time visualization of brain activity.

• Understanding learning, reward systems, and neurological disorders

  • Example: Studies showing how the brain's reward system is affected in addiction and how this knowledge informs treatment.

• Educational framework by the Society for Neuroscience for better public comprehension

  • Example: Workshops and online courses offered to educators to improve their teaching of neuroscience topics.

Chapter 4: Key Scientific Discoveries

• 2017 Brain Prize: Research on learning and reward systems

  • Example: Studies that mapped the neural circuitry involved in how rewards shape behavior in animals.

• 2017 Nobel Prize in Medicine: Research on circadian rhythms

  • Example: Research identifying key genes involved in regulating sleep cycles, contributing to sleep disorder treatments.

• 2018 Brain Prize: Advances in studying neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

  • Example: Research that identified specific biomarkers for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Chapter 5: Brain Basics

• Structure: Cerebrum and its hemispheres; role of cerebral cortex

  • Example: The left hemisphere is often associated with logical reasoning, while the right hemisphere is linked to creativity.

• Lobes of the Brain: Frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal

  • Example: The occipital lobe processes visual information, such as identifying objects and colors.

• Brain Functionality: Multitasking capabilities, neuronal communication, plasticity

  • Example: Studies that demonstrate how practicing a new skill results in changes in brain structures through neuroplasticity.

Chapter 6: Key Concepts of Neuroscience

• Core concepts: Information processing, inference, emotional influences

  • Example: Research illustrating how emotions can bias decision-making processes, such as in gambling behavior.

• Importance of understanding neuronal circuitry in behavior and cognition

  • Example: Mapping studies that show specific circuits involved in memory formation and retrieval.

Chapter 7: The Developing Brain

• Significant transformations during embryonic and early childhood stages

  • Example: Critical windows for language acquisition that highlight the brain's plasticity in early years.

• Critical periods for essential experiences and their long-term impact

  • Example: Research showing how neglect during early childhood can lead to lasting cognitive deficits.

• Plasticity: Brain adaptability based on experiences

  • Example: Rehabilitation exercises post-stroke that utilize the brain's plasticity to recover lost functionalities.

Chapter 8: Neurodegenerative Diseases

• Overview of Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and ALS

  • Example: Alzheimer’s is often characterized by memory loss and difficulty with cognitive tasks; Parkinson’s involves tremors and stiffness; ALS is marked by muscle weakness leading to mobility impairment.

• Mechanisms and symptoms of each disease

  • Example: Alzheimer’s disease progression can involve the accumulation of amyloid plaques, while Parkinson’s features dopaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra.

• Importance of understanding these diseases for research and treatment solutions

  • Example: Investigating potential gene therapies that may slow down or halt the progression of these diseases.

Chapter 9: Addiction

• Impact of addiction on reward and impulse control pathways

  • Example: Research indicating how chronic drug use alters dopamine signaling, leading to compulsive drug-seeking behavior.

• Substances of abuse and their effect on the brain

  • Example: Opioids mimic natural neurotransmitters, binding to the brain's opioid receptors and resulting in intense feelings of pleasure.

• Treatment approaches: Combination of pharmacological and behavioral therapies

  • Example: Approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy combined with medications such as methadone for opioid addiction treatment.

Chapter 10: Conclusion

• Importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in neuroscience

  • Example: Collaborative projects between neuroscientists, psychologists, and sociologists to understand the impacts of social environments on brain health.

• Exploration of neural mechanisms for effective treatments

  • Example: Investigating brain mechanisms in PTSD to tailor therapies that address specific symptoms more effectively.

• Need for informed public health policies to improve brain health

  • Example: Public health campaigns designed to educate the community on the importance of mental health and preventive care.

Key Vocabulary Terms Related to Major Parts of the Brain and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Major Parts of the Brain

1. Cerebrum

• Definition: The largest part of the brain, responsible for higher cognitive functions, sensory perception, and voluntary motor activity.

• Key Information: The cerebrum is divided into two hemispheres—left and right, and is further divided into lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal.

• Example: In patients who have undergone a stroke affecting the left cerebrum, they may experience difficulties with tasks requiring logic and reasoning due to left hemisphere functions being compromised.

2. Frontal Lobe

• Definition: The front region of the brain, involved in reasoning, problem-solving, planning, emotional regulation, and voluntary movement.

• Key Information: The frontal lobe plays a critical role in executive functions and personality.

• Example: Damage to the frontal lobe can lead to changes in behavior or personality, as seen in some patients with traumatic brain injuries.

3. Parietal Lobe

• Definition: Located near the top of the brain, it processes sensory information related to touch, temperature, and pain, as well as spatial orientation.

• Key Information: The parietal lobe integrates sensory data and is essential for identifying body parts and movements.

• Example: A patient with a stroke affecting the parietal lobe may exhibit difficulties in sensing and recognizing touch sensations on one side of their body.

4. Occipital Lobe

• Definition: The rear part of the brain, primarily responsible for visual processing.

• Key Information: The occipital lobe interprets visual information received from the eyes, playing a crucial role in recognizing shapes, colors, and motion.

• Example: Patients suffering from damage to the occipital lobe may experience visual impairments, such as difficulty recognizing faces or objects (a condition known as prosopagnosia).

5. Temporal Lobe

• Definition: Located on the sides of the brain, this lobe processes auditory information and is critical for memory formation and language comprehension.

• Key Information: The temporal lobe is also involved in the formation of visual memories and emotions.

• Example: Individuals with damage to the temporal lobe may have trouble remembering names or may struggle to understand spoken language (a condition known as Wernicke's aphasia).

6. Cerebellum

• Definition: The brain region located at the back of the skull, responsible for coordination, balance, and fine motor control.

• Key Information: The cerebellum helps in the planning and executing of movements and plays a role in learning voluntary movements.

• Example: Damage to the cerebellum may result in ataxia, characterized by clumsiness and impaired balance.

7. Brainstem

• Definition: Consisting of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata, this structure connects the brain to the spinal cord and regulates essential physiological functions.

• Key Information: The brainstem controls involuntary actions such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion.

• Example: Brianstem damage can lead to life-threatening conditions due to the loss of automatic functions such as breathing or heart rate regulation.

Examples of Neurodegenerative Diseases

1. Alzheimer’s Disease

• Definition: A progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes.

• Key Information: Often marked by the presence of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, Alzheimer's leads to the degradation of neural connections over time.

• Example: Early signs of Alzheimer's may include forgetfulness and confusion about recent events or familiar tasks.

2. Parkinson’s Disease

• Definition: A neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, affecting motor control and coordination.

• Key Information: Symptoms include tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with movement and balance.

• Example: A hallmark of Parkinson's is the presence of a resting tremor, which may first appear in one hand or limb.

3. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

• Definition: A progressive disease affecting motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy.

• Key Information: Patients eventually lose the ability to control voluntary muscle movements, resulting in difficulties with speaking, swallowing, and breathing.

• Example: Individuals with ALS may first notice difficulty in performing routine physical activities, such as buttoning a shirt or walking.

4. Huntington’s Disease

• Definition: An inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor dysfunction, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms.

• Key Information: The disease typically presents in mid-adulthood and is caused by genetic mutations leading to neuronal loss, particularly in the basal ganglia.

• Example: Symptoms may begin with subtle changes in mood and cognition, progressing to chorea (involuntary jerky movements) and severe cognitive decline.

5. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

• Definition: A chronic disease impacting the central nervous system, where the immune system attacks the protective myelin sheath covering nerve fibers.

• Key Information: MS can cause various symptoms, including fatigue, motor and sensory disturbances, and cognitive dysfunction.

• Example: Individuals with MS may experience periods of relapses and remissions with varying severity of symptoms throughout their lifetime.