Soul Searching within the Heart (or Brain) June 30, 2009

While reading Stiff, another book authored by Mary Roach [“see Bonk for Oprah’s Book Club], and which explores the practice of using human cadavers for medical research, automobile safety, and military defense, it appears that many ancient civilizations believed that the heart was the center of thought and contained the soul. The brain was just a bowl of mush (clearly there was no need for a neuroscientist, dammit). The Egyptians called the heart ka, and it remained in the person post-mortem so that it would travel with the respective person to the afterlife. While the other organs were additionally preserved and stored for use in the afterlife, the brain was scooped out through the nostrils with a golden ladle. Many of the Greek philosophers, including Aristotle, also believed that the heart was the mecca of thought. Hippocrates “did not comment,” but was closer to the truth as he suspected that the brain did serve a purpose: it was a mucous secreting organ. Wrong, but close enough.

The most absurd hypothesis engendered by one of the world’s most revered thinkers and inventors, however, was that of Thomas Edison. He believed that the brain was controlled by “life units,” as he astutely described in his diaries; “We do not remember [consolidate memories]. A certain group of our little people do this for us. They live in the part of the brain which has become known as the ‘fold of Broca’ [in modern, saner times, the fold of Broca is referred to as Broca’s area and controls speech]. There, may be twelve or fifteen shifts that change about and are on duty at different times like men in a factory. Therefore, it seems likely that remembering a thing is all a matter of getting in touch with the shift that was on duty when the recording was done.”

Clearly, the light bulb never when on in Edison’s head and/or the wattage were too high.

In Memory of Joe (Knows Pole Vault). June 29, 2009

“With the right coaching, it is as safe as running on the track.”-Joe Hammond, Youngstown Vindicator, March, 2002.

Joe Hammond, the pole vault coach of Youngstown-Austintown Fitch High School, recently died after battling with pancreatic cancer for a year. Joe was my pole vault coach, and he certainly knew pole vault (this was iterated  after eating dinner at Joe’s Crab Shack with him where we saw “Joe Knows Crabs” shirts everywhere).

Pole vaulting is a science, and Joe certainly was an expert. To be an above average vaulter, you must be extremely quick, perhaps the fastest on a track and field team, and you must drive your knee. Though Joe scrutinized many other technicalities of the pole vault (planting high, initiating a turn, and throwing the pole) you would always hear DRIVE YOUR KNEE, DRIVE YOUR KNEE on any occasion. Joe had such a devout love for pole vaulting that he constructed a pole vaulting area in his backyard for when the pits were removed from the track in the summer. Though the landing area consisted of “donated” high jump mats, the runway was a dirt path, and the box was rusty, it was awesome. In the fall, we would work on pole vault drills in his garage where a mattress-esque wooden contraption to practice invert drills was housed. In the winter, he would have practice at 5:30 in the morning BEFORE his 7-3 shift at the General Motors car plant where he installed the windshield on Chevy Cavaliers and Cobalts for 35 years. Of course, we would complain at the time, but in hindsight, I am certainly grateful for his commitment. Joe was even interviewed by our local news about the recent freak pole vaulting accidents in 2002 and whether or not a helmet would reduce the risk of related head/neck injuries. They could had interviewed any coach in the area, but they chose him. Note: helmets don’t matter if the fall is greater than 6 feet.

Joe was also the only person I know who could pole vault 13 feet at the age of 52. I’m thankful I had the opportunity to jump with him at an open meet at Kent State a year ago before the pancreatic cancer had spread. He kicked my ass.

You will be missed Joe.

A Tribute to Michael Jackson per Sandy Bee’s Dance and Gymnastics June 26, 2009

With millions mourning the sudden death of Michael Jackson, I’m certain my dance and gymnastics teacher of 16 years is most disheartened. The length, tempo, and rhythm of his songs are perfect for dance choreography at all ages, and have been played at every Sandy Bee dance recital over the past 35 years.  During my senior year, my dance line, the elite line (oooo!), did a tap routine to “Jam.” We wore black spandex pants and iridescent fuschia tops that accentuated our finer teenage curves. I would download a video of the tap routine, but it’s on VHS. I attach the results from our silver recognition at the National competition held in Myrtle Beach in 2003, which somehow I found online. I don’t have any pictures of the costume, however, because I had a 35 mm camera in high school, and therefore, would have had to scan the pictures onto my computer (can you believe we used to do that?!)

Jam  –  Sandy Bee’s Dance & Gym  –  Youngstown, OH

107.6

58

3

Silver Award

Alison Brager, Angela Armstrong, Shannon Hians, Lisa Gouldsberry, Alycia Varga, Brieanne Young, Dana

Rodgers, Kalah Miner

 Following our National competition, we also performed “Jam”  at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland Stage.

Coincidentally, “Jam” was playing during the random shuffle on my iPod this afternoon. I vaguely remember the tap steps. I also enjoyed reading about Michael Jackson in my Abnormal Psychology textbook under a section about eccentric people. He was eccentric indeed.

RSA 2009: Darwinian Medicine and Feeding Hormones June 25, 2009

Today was the last day of the conference. The planning committee certainly expected everyone to be burned out from a week of seminars, plenaries, and poster viewings spanning a good 10 hours of a day. To mitigate this, the morning’s speaker was an expert in Darwinian medicine from the University of Michigan, Randolph Neese, who recently co-authored a book, Why We Get Sick. He was jovial, comical, and most importantly, assuaged any hesitations about awaking at 7AM on the last day of the conference for another talk. He assumed everyone in the room was friends for this reason. Through Darwinian medicine, which was an extraterrestrial field of research to many members of the audience, including myself (what the frack is Darwinian medicine?!), Neese explained how changes in lifestyles, genetic drift and mutations, eating habits, and characteristics of pathogens have predisposed certain groups and individuals to alcohol dependence. Oh, he also saturated his talk with Far Side cartoons for an added bonus.

Following his talk, the posse of researchers from Brown University who study the neuroendocrinology of feeding behaviors and assoicated predispositions to alcoholism presented very interesting data. Some of the basic hormones and neuropeptides that mediate hunger and satiety–ghrelin/thyroid hormones and leptin/insulin, respectively, are intricately tied to the central reward circuit of the brain, and hence, stimulate dopamine: the neurotransmitter with addictive properties. The researchers hope to discover a drug that will modulate the release of each of these hormones, neuropeptides, and assoicated compounds and subsequently, curtail alcohol dependence. My lab mate suggested a cheaper and healthier alternative: exercise. The researchers agreed that exercise may help, but remember, many of these researchers are consultants for pharmaceutical companies. By suggesting that exercise is an effective, nonpharmacological treatment for eating disorders and associated alcohol abuse, they wouldn’t have a job, and I wouldn’t receive an Italian leather bound notebook made in Italy at next year’s meeting.

 The conference ended with a banquet accompanied with wine at the table. Yes, even stuffy researchers who investigate the epidemiology, physiology, and neurobiology of alcoholism, aren’t disinclined to enjoy a drink (or two). To quote Neese, “what is wrong with our species?!”

RSA 2009: Stem Cells and Athletic Recruiting: Alcohol? June 24, 2009

This morning, I attended a talk presented by the 2009 winner of the Young Investigator Award: Dr. Kim Nixon of the University of Kentucky.  In addition to serving as a consultant on our alcohol grant, Kim is involved with exciting, scary, and even controversial research; she investigates the effects of alcohol on adult neural stem cell activity. In fetal tissue, it has been repeatedly shown that alcohol interferes with the migration, proliferation (growth), differentiation (which cell type), and survival of cells. In adults, it appears alcohol exerts a similar effect. Though antidepressants such as exercise are neuroprotective against this neurodegeneration, this research is certainly exciting even in its infant stages.

During the poster sessions in the afternoon, I was appalled to learn that the “awesomeness” of a collegiate team’s party/social life is heavily factored into the decision of high school recruits! I almost want to mail a copy of the poster to my college coach since he has had difficulty with recruiting. 

Though there were certainly many other interesting posters on the role of stress hormones and cytokines in alcohol consummatory behavior, the following data of the day win for shock value.

I’m going out for a beer now (seriously), but perhaps I should exercise first…

RSA 2009: Navy Training on the USS Midway, Dopamine Expression across the Border, and Glutamatergic Controversy June 23, 2009

Four days ago, the 32^nd Annual Research Society on Alcoholism meeting commenced with an opening reception on the USS Midway docked in the San Diego Harbor. The massive ship was utilized as a maritime airport (i.e. planes were housed and a landing strip was provided) during the Vietnam War. In addition to having worldly themed hors devours, my lab mates and I rode a flight simulator which mimicked the taking off, combat, and landing of an F-16 during the Gulf War.

On Sunday, the symposia, plenary, and posters began. Eliana Howard, a recent doctoral graduate from the University of Texas, presented interesting work on dopamine release in the central drug reward circuit in the brain that is closely associated with alcohol use. In addition to viewing a video in which a rat licked its water bottle 1300 times (yes, I have the correct amount of zeros) in 5 minutes during limited access to alcohol, I learned about a new neuroanatomical “zone:” the shell-core border in the nucleus accumbens. For background, the nucleus accumbens is a structure within the central reward circuit that is divided into two distinctive areas—the shell and the core. It appears, however, that dopamine neurotransmission within these two areas is quite different from dopamine neurotransmission in areas bordering the shell and the core. Hence, the name shell-core border. This disparity was confounding for Eliana as it yielded significance or insignificance if the probe was or wasn’t within the border zone, respectively!

Yesterday, I went to two 2-hour symposia on the associated role of glutamate in alcohol dependence, addiction, relapse, and recovery. Alcohol-induced blockades of glutamate release not only determine one’s sensitivity to the intoxicating effects of alcohol and subsequent drive to consume more, but also determine the severity of withdrawal. Glutamate neurotransmission during alcohol withdrawal is vastly different from alcohol use; glutamate inhibition is reversed, and more glutamate is released relative to before alcohol use. This effect, in turn, facilitates neurotoxicity: the death of neurons from over-stimulation by glutamate (this is why MSG, an additive in Chinese food, is unhealthy. It does kill brain cells!). Though there were many discussions in today’s symposia over the time-course of glutamate release during this withdrawal period and additionally, the efficacy of glutamate antagonists currently available for recovering alcoholics, there certainly is no question that glutamate is critically involved.

Until next time, ask for NO MSG. Your brain will be happy.

San Francisco: Origin of the Cable Car and Engineering Awes June 20, 2009

While adventuring in San Francisco, I rode the infamous cable cars seen in Hollywood movies and on Rice-A-Roni commercials. Of course, the jingle from “Rice-a-Roni [the San Francisco treat]” re-played in my head the entire time I rode up and down San Francisco’s hills. Though it was difficult to balance myself as I stood along the edge of car attempting to high five pedestrians, the ending destination was amazing: the cable car museum. Here, underground cable lines are continuously spooled along 8.5 foot diameter wooden wheels, and are attached to the above ground cable cars that zoom up and down San Francisco’s monstrous hills at a whopping speed of 9.5 mph. The inventor and engineer of this unique and fascinating mode of transportation is Andrew Hallidie.

 

From there, Erin and I walked to Chinatown where we were once again mesmerized by the finite detail and crafting of Chinese wood and jade carvings (Thanks Erin, for finding it!).

Sea Lions Amore! June 17, 2009

Today, my friend Erin and I saw at least fifty (yes, this isn’t a hyperbole) sea lions in the San Francisco harbor. Though they are an attraction of the aquarium, the public can view them for free. Many were resting on the wooden pallets, while a few were play fighting or wiggling around.

The sight of these sea lions in their respective resting stupors reminded me of two featured talks on fur seal and walrus sleep at the last two SLEEP meetings. In 2007, a research group from Russia discovered that walrus not only enter REM sleep, but  reduce the risk of drowning during REM-induced muscle atonia by means of digging their tusks into the ice! Though one member in the audience was vocally baffled by the fact that this study was fundable (no joke), I thought it was one of the most interesting talks of the meeting. This year, another, but unrelated group, presented characteristics of NREM and REM sleep in the fur seal.

I do not believe many of today’s sea lions were in REM sleep when we saw them, but I ask, what unique and species-specific behaviors do these sea lions exhibit during respective stages of NREM and REM sleep?

Greetings from Hayward Field Updated June 14, 2009

Hayward Field is located at the University of Oregon in Eugene. It is the mecca of track and field. In fact, the city of Eugene is nicknamed TrackTown, USA. There are many professional distance runners who train here along the neighboring Amazon Trails. This is also the stadium where the legendary Steve Prefontaine ran. Prefontaine’s coach, Bill Bowerman, was the co-founder of Nike. He made Pre’s shoes on a waffle iron. This waffle tread design is still found on all Nike running shoes today.

Hayward Field is also where the Olympic Trials are hosted. There was a sign on the far end of the stadium that read “Home of the Hardest Team to Make,” which recapitulates the fact that only three people represent the USA from each respective track and field event in the Olympic Games.

The finish line of this stadium, photographed below, is also a site of the country’s most remembered victories, comebacks, and heartbreaks in the sport of track and field. Not everyone who competes in the Trials goes to the Olympics, of course.

Outside the stadium was a post with arrows pointing in the proper cardinal directions and traveling distances of previously hosted Olympic Games.

I did a workout today on the track that neighbored the Hayward Track. It is used as a warm up track during the Oympic Trials. Though I was certainly motivated to do an intense workout (I brought my track spikes in my camping bag just for this occassion), it was even harder to breathe. Eugene is 3,000 feet above sea level. Boo to my sea level acclimated lungs.

RECENT NEWS: Following yesterday’s attempt to work out on Hayward Field, I was successful today! There were some steeple chase runners training. Because I did not want to risk being asked to leave, I tried to be as professional as possible and did an intense workout. It was also easier to breathe today, thank goodness.  I am on cloud nine at the moment.

Science Fiction and Society June 14, 2009

Yesterday, I went to the Science Fiction Museum in downtown Seattle. It neighbors the Space Needle and the Experience Music Project. Needless to say, it is a very futuristic place. The museum not only featured ammunition (hand guns, bows and arrows, M16 rifles, etc.) from some of the classic science fiction movies and television series (of course, Star Trek was one), but also showcased some of the most revolutionary science fiction novels to date. Many books, such as those authored by H.G. Wells, foreboded an apocalypse of nature due to human intervention, while others commented on rising ethical and moral issues. One such work was a short story titled The World Well Lost written by Theodore Sturgeon. The story describes a homosexual alien race that invades Planet Earth. Of course, this work was an allegorical reference to the outing of homosexuals at the time. In fact, a print copy of this short story in the showcase was accompanied by a letter from an Episcopalian priest who not only idolized Sturgeon’s work, but broadcasted his own outing.

At the Jim Henson exhibit, I saw many of Henson’s first storyboard and film productions, which were mainly short independent projects and television commercials. Of course, the exhibit also had an authentic Kermit, Bert, Ernie, Animal, and Fraggle that Henson had crafted and used over the years, and for additional trips down memory lane, music from The Muppet Show, which I used to listen to on my Fisher Price record player, was played throughout the exhibition.

 

 

Until next time, Muhnamama.