BrainWork
by Carl Sherman
Much of the damage caused by stroke results from gradual processes, which might be reversible. Scientists are trying compounds that block receptors and methods of cooling the overtaxed brain.
Stanley Froehner
by Caitlin Schneider
When Stanley Froehner isn’t in the lab teasing out the finer points of dystrophin, a protein complex implicated in muscular dystrophies, he enjoys taking photos of everything from jazz performers to Alaskan fjords. His work has appeared on the covers of Journal of Neurophysiology and Seattle Real Change newspaper.
See also
New site
The site covers neuroscience basics as well as getting into more detail on topics like disease, memory, and language. Sections of the site are geared towards educators, policymakers, and the press, and all content is reviewed by scientists for accuracy. The Society for Neuroscience, The Kavli Foundation, and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation are founding partners, and several organizations, including the Dana Foundation, are content partners, providing information and articles.
News
by Dirk Hanson
Treatment for smoking cessation is not a priority in psychiatric care, forcing many schizophrenics—who often smoke to manage their symptoms or the side-effects of their medication—to quit cold turkey just when they are having trouble managing their illness.
Primer
by Carl Sherman
A stroke—disrupted circulation that kills brain tissue—can devastate the brain, leaving neurological impairments including paralysis, partial or total language loss, and severe cognitive deficits. Prompt, effective treatment can mean the difference between an optimal recovery and permanent disability or death.
Previous primers have looked at hormones and the brain, brain receptors, neuroanatomy, the synapse, and biomarkers.
The Gestational Environment’s Long-Term Effects on the Brain
by Claudia Buss, Ph.D., Sonja Entringer, Ph.D., James M. Swanson, Ph.D., and Pathik D. Wadhwa, M.D., Ph.D.
During gestation, the fetal brain develops dramatically as structures and connections form, providing the foundation for all future development. Exposure to maternal stress can sometimes have deleterious effects on the fetus, depending on the cause, timing, duration, and intensity of stress. Fortunately, postnatal interventions, such as a secure parent-infant bond and an enriched environment, can buffer the potential negative consequences.
Column
by Guy McKhann, M.D.
A look at the past, present, and future of treating brain injuries.
See also
News
by Tom Valeo
Scottish researchers find ECT quiets the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. This and other recent research might help doctors find an alternate treatment that also relieves depression but without producing memory troubles.
News
by Jim Schnabel
A bone marrow transplant prevents symptoms in young mice.
Q&A
by Barbara Rich, Ed.D
A Q&A with Baroness Susan Greenfield, an Oxford University Professor of Pharmacology and a member of the European Dana Alliance for the Brain, who reflects on the potential of how new digital technologies affect who we are.
Events
This year's global campaign to increase public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research was massive; check out our searchable database of photos, events, and ideas for next year. You can also follow the fun via
Facebook. In 2013, the week will be March 11–17.