Posted on 02/09/2012 3:12:23 PM PST by Dysart
The arrow on this MRI of a brain shows areas where researchers applied electrical stimulation.
In an experiment likely to raise new hopes for those with memory-robbing diseases such as Alzheimer's, researchers have found that sending an electrical jolt to a part of the brain that plays a key role in memory improved people's ability to learn — and remember — their way across an unfamiliar landscape.
The study, conducted at UCLA and published in Thursday's edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, was small and highly preliminary, involving just seven patients with epilepsy. But deep brain stimulation helped all seven subjects — including some who suffered memory impairment— navigate faster and more accurately through a virtual town.
Since the treatment also gave a boost to subjects with no signs of dementia, the study is likely to reignite a simmering debate over the ethics of enhancing the mental capacities of people in perfect cognitive health, experts said.
The new results build on animal studies that found deep brain stimulation not only boosted activity in the brain's memory centers, but spurred the growth of new brain cells when those regions were damaged. The fact that the same technique improved memory performance in humans makes some researchers optimistic that it might be a way to block or reverse the destruction of brain cells in patients with Alzheimer's.
Though physicians are now able to diagnosis Alzheimer's disease earlier than ever — sometimes years before memory lapses and other cognitive changes become evident — they are still at a loss to alter the disease's progress.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Not all shocking that the capable Dr. Fried was called upon to participate in the experiment, if you think about it.
So, all the times I stuck my fingers in electrical sockets when I was less that 6 years old explains why my IQ is over 160 and why I remember things Mrs p6 doesn’t. Like all those trips to Paris and cruises when we were first married...
I used to fall down steps a lot too...head took a beating...it’s just my head...
I suspect that that post is just giving in to a big of bragging.
Maybe. I remember very,very well, in the visceral sense, in my early twenties I using a hairdryer over the sink and decided to turn on the water and rinse the other hand off. (I know. Brilliant; I really had it coming.) It was quite an experience and probably explains a lot.
“I stuck my fingers in electrical sockets when I was less that 6 years old explains why my IQ is over 160”
Same here,,,, exactly! I think I added to the effect in the Eight Grade Science class when I was demonstrating the Van De Graaff generator I’d built. My insulated platform started to wobble when I was showing how it made my hair stand on end. I reached for the closest thing to steady myself, the gooseneck cold water spout on the lab table. That’s a pretty good ground, and a “lightning” bolt shot to the middle of my forehead! 250,00 volts, but near zero amps. Mr. Diuto, the Science teacher, thought I’d probably killed myself in his classroom! I got an A, but then got a weeks detention when I hooked it up to the doorknob in the room.
Since I work overnight I have to head to bed. However do I have a story for you! !
The tease... Mrs p6 and I were newly marrried and still enthralled in carnal desire. It was a no money Sunday and we went to the Hall of Science in the Buhl Planetarium for something inexpensive to get us out of our apartment.
The hall was filled with usually non working dioramas...lined with heavy black curtains and basically we were the only ones there. We got a little “frisky” behind the curtains near a diorama of the solar system.
Behind us and separated by another curtain was a Van De Graf machine that had a show every hour.
As Mrs p6 and I were getting involved the machine operator started the show.
At EXACTLY THE RIGHT MOMENT the machine fired and arced to us behind the curtain.
We call it “Mr Wizard’s Revenge” and it was VERY embarrassing!
“We call it “Mr Wizard’s Revenge” and it was VERY embarrassing!”
Wonderful! Think I better build another one! They’re a lot of fun! As you found out!
Nope I swear it’s true. Later in life I was working with “old school” electricians who thought nothing of working on live 120v circuits. To check if something was hot they’d wet their fingers and brush across the wires. One even did it on higher voltage but 120 was enough for me.
A little dab’ll do ya.
I wonder what happens to people who get hippocampectomies?
That’s interesting. Thanks.
That thing was SO COOL! I would stand and watch it for HOURS!
At Christmas the train layout was a must see. I have a CD video of it somewhere. Think I'll dig it up and watch it Friday.
The planetarium was an annual family outing when our kids were growing up. Must have made an impression because our daughter now works for The Carnegie and is usually at the "new" Science Center or the Sports Center. Oh...and then there was this....
When it came up from the pit the kids would scream, hehehe!
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