Neuroscience Mechanisms and Disorders
Neuroscience Mechanisms and Disorders
(Neuroscience Mechanisms and Disorders)
Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system, encompassing the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. It aims to understand the mechanisms underlying brain function, behavior, and neurological disorders. Key mechanisms include synaptic transmission, neural plasticity, and neurogenesis. Synaptic transmission is the process by which neurons communicate through neurotransmitters, while neural plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. Neurogenesis is the generation of new neurons, which is crucial for learning and memory.
Neurological disorders arise from disruptions in these mechanisms. For example, Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that impair synaptic function and lead to cognitive decline. Parkinson’s disease results from the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, affecting motor control. Multiple sclerosis involves the immune system attacking the myelin sheath, disrupting nerve signal transmission. Epilepsy is marked by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, causing seizures.
Understanding these mechanisms is vital for developing treatments. Advances in neuroimaging, molecular biology, and genetics are enhancing our knowledge of the brain, paving the way for innovative therapies and improved outcomes for individuals with neurological disorders.
Intro Neuroscience Paper
- Students will be given the option to research a topic from Chapters 12, 13, or 14 and write a 10 page paper on a chosen topic within one of those chapters. [Note: title page and reference page(s) do not count toward the page limit]. You may choose one specific topic in the chapter or more than one topic, as long as the material is written in a cohesive way. Papers should be uploaded to Blackboard’s Safe Assign by 12/07/17, 11:59pm. Safe Assign is Blackboard’s program for detecting plagiarism; therefore all papers should be written and cited in APA format prior to submission. Some examples or topics for this Extra Credit Research Paper are as follows:
Chapters 12 (Ingestive Behavior)
- Physiological regulatory mechanisms of drinking & eating
- Metabolic signals of eating , drinking & thirst
- Brain Mechanisms associated with obesity and anorexia and bulimia
- Factors involved in stopping a meal (insulin, long-term satiety and signals from adipose tissue).
Chapt 13 (Learning & Memory)
- synaptic plasticity & long-term potentiation
- perceptual & Relational learning
- classical & instrumental conditioning
Chapt 14:(Human Communication)
- brain mechanisms assoc with speech production & comprehension
- aphasia in deaf people
- brain areas involved in stuttering
- disorders of reading & writing
- speech production & brain lateralization
Details of 10 Page Research Paper: The paper must be completed in APA format, double-spaced typed, and include the following: cover page, background/etiology of the topic or disorder, mechanism of action, identifying areas and/or receptors involved in the topic at-hand, current news associated with your topic area which should include the most recent advances, medications and/or potential treatments for the chosen topic.
