the nerve blog |
Less Sleep, Less Friends
Interestingly enough, in today’s society, it seems like depriving oneself of sleep is almost like a trophy to jokingly brag as people attempt to see who slept the least number of hours yesterday or who pulled the most number of all-nighters last week. In addition, with finals season approaching, it becomes tempting for most students […]
Deep Brain Stimulation
Over the past two decades, a neurosurgical technique known as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has revolutionized the fields of both medicine and neuroscience. DBS has been able to accomplish incredible feats once deemed impossible, one of these being the extremely effective treatment of Parkinson’s Disease symptoms. DBS has also opened many doors to a bright […]
Klotho and the Aging Brain
Why does the brain deteriorate with age? Researchers might finally have found a potential cause. The klotho protein has been found to be associated with the aging brain. Specifically, higher levels of klotho have been associated with longevity of the brain. As you grow older, however, your brain’s klotho levels decrease, and researchers believe that […]
FACULTY FEATURE: Arash Yazdanbakhsh
Stepping onto Commonwealth Avenue the Wednesday morning after the Red Sox won the World Series was a thrill. Barricades were already set up along the streets, fans were lining up in their jerseys, and kids were jumping at the bit to see their heroes parade before their eyes through the city streets. And yet, it […]
BU Study Finds First Evidence of Genetic Link to CTE
A new study out of the Boston University School of Medicine shows the first evidence of a genetic link to developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a neurodegenerative disease that may be diagnosed in patients with repeated head trauma. These patients typically exhibit cognitive and emotional issues including difficulty planning, emotional instability, substance abuse, […]
A Value in Old-Fashioned Memorization
With a computer or telephone in hand, it seems pointless to memorize simple facts, lists of things, poems, directions, dates or formulas. From an evolutionary standpoint before modern day technology, people would constantly have to exercise their mind and memorize what we currently leave the task for our computer or telephone in hand to remember. […]
FACULTY FEATURE: Mario Muscedere
For Dr. Mario Muscedere, it all started with animals. During the weekends and summers of his childhood, the Baltimore, Maryland native would rise with the sun and escape with his dog, a mutt and former stray, to explore the woods and streams surrounding his suburban neighborhood, not returning home to reality until the dark swallowed […]
The Role of Music in Neurodegeneration: How it Can Help
Music is all around us. It’s in our ears as we walk to class with our earbuds in. It’s in the cars we drive and the ubers we take. It’s in malls and grocery stores. It’s even infiltrated the smallest of spaces, like elevators in hotel lobbies. This ubiquity of music may make it lose […]
Unique Folding Patterns in Autism Brains
Recent studies have shown that the brains of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) fold differently than a normal brain—either being unusually smoother or unusually convoluted depending on location and age. Researchers measure the development of neural tissue folds in the cortex as changes in the local gyrification index; a ratio which compares the area […]
STUDENT FEATURE: Radhika Dhanak
College often emits the energy of a coffee shop on a Friday morning: the overwhelming presence of chaos, the necessity of caffeine, and the scarcity of places to fit in. In the midst of this hectic, congested, and high-strung environment sits the unperturbed and poised Radhika Dhanak, senior in the College of Arts and Sciences […]