The first episode of a new TV neurosurgery drama, 3 Lbs, will premier this Tuesday, November 14, at 10:00 p.m. EST. If you haven't already previewed it, you can do so here. The show stars Stanley Tucci as neurosurgeon Doug Hanson and Mark Feuerstein as his protege Dr. Jonathan Seger. Doug focuses only on the inner workings of the brain, while Jonathan focuses on the psychological health of his patients. I can't wait to see when fMRI will make its first appearance.
According to a November 10 report, teenagers on a Toronto bantam hockey team are participating in a study examining how concussions affect young brains. The announcement of this study comes only eleven days after the Brain Injury Association of New York State asked the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force to conduct hearings regarding the allegedly fraudulent medical research designed by the National Football League, the results of which are used to determine when injured players can return to play.
Before CT and MRI scanning, brain surgeons struggled with how best to target with precision small areas of the brain. Gifted neurosurgeon John Gleave, who made major contributions to the field of stereotaxis, died on August 6 at age 81.
We talk about fMRI so much that sometimes we forget how expensive the machines are. As a reminder, the Australian Capital Territory Government is spending $2 million to install a new MRI machine at its Canberra Hospital to help with brain imaging. A November 8 report discussing the small purchase is available here.
The reported benefits of meditation, including a reduction in the brain's reaction to pain and the suppression and control of the flow of emotions and thoughts in the mind, are discussed in a November 8 report available here.
A November 8 online essay in The Lancet ("Developmental Neurotoxicity of Industry Chemicals," accessible with free registration) suggests that a "silent pandemic" of brain development disorders, including autism, attention deficit disorder, mental retardation, and cerebral palsy, may have been triggered by industrial pollution. Reasoning that, "The human brain is a precious and vulnerable organ," the authors call for more stringent worldwide controls on chemicals and the establishment of chemical limits. CBS' report regarding the essay is here. Other reports suggest that the essay verges on scaremongering.
Just for information, John Gleave was my father and died on 6th August 2006, not 10 November.
Posted by: Emily Ludwig | 11/29/2006 at 03:20 AM
Thank you -- I have corrected the post!
Posted by: Stacey Tovino | 11/29/2006 at 09:50 AM