Teaching in Symbiosis with the Needs of the Brain

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-78
Author(s):  
Monika Máčajová
Keyword(s):  
Brain Activity ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Effective Learning ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
Evaluation Procedures ◽  
Learning Principles ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

Despite of many worldwide economic problems, every developed society focuses its interest on education. This is undoubtedly caused by the fact that the societies have realized that education is the only way to progress and life quality improvement. Therefore, all educational systems in any period of their development have been making their efforts to seek and find newer approaches to more effective learning and teaching. The present study contributes to the line of works that look for new ways of education through discovering and learning principles of the functioning of the human brain. The paper introduces and explains teaching procedures which respect the needs of the brain. A specific emphasis is put on a) brain activity in various periods; b) evaluation procedures related to the theory of brain‑compatible learning; c) the need to articulate new knowledge and problem solving procedures with respect to optimal stimulation of the brain.

scholarly journals Parylene photonics: a flexible, broadband optical waveguide platform with integrated micromirrors for biointerfaces

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay W. Reddy ◽  
Maya Lassiter ◽  
Maysamreza Chamanzar
Keyword(s):  
Optical Waveguides ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Low Loss ◽  
Parylene C ◽  
Optogenetic Stimulation ◽  
Patterned Illumination ◽  
The Brain ◽  
532 Nm ◽  
Stimulation Of

Abstract Targeted light delivery into biological tissue is needed in applications such as optogenetic stimulation of the brain and in vivo functional or structural imaging of tissue. These applications require very compact, soft, and flexible implants that minimize damage to the tissue. Here, we demonstrate a novel implantable photonic platform based on a high-density, flexible array of ultracompact (30 μm × 5 μm), low-loss (3.2 dB/cm at λ = 680 nm, 4.1 dB/cm at λ = 633 nm, 4.9 dB/cm at λ = 532 nm, 6.1 dB/cm at λ = 450 nm) optical waveguides composed of biocompatible polymers Parylene C and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This photonic platform features unique embedded input/output micromirrors that redirect light from the waveguides perpendicularly to the surface of the array for localized, patterned illumination in tissue. This architecture enables the design of a fully flexible, compact integrated photonic system for applications such as in vivo chronic optogenetic stimulation of brain activity.

scholarly journals Understanding the brain by controlling neural activity

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1677) ◽  
pp. 20140201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine Krug ◽  
C. Daniel Salzman ◽  
Scott Waddell
Keyword(s):  
Brain Function ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Clinical Intervention ◽  
Technical Developments ◽  
Control Brain ◽  
Electrical Devices ◽  
Behavioural Experiments ◽  
Brain Processing ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

Causal methods to interrogate brain function have been employed since the advent of modern neuroscience in the nineteenth century. Initially, randomly placed electrodes and stimulation of parts of the living brain were used to localize specific functions to these areas. Recent technical developments have rejuvenated this approach by providing more precise tools to dissect the neural circuits underlying behaviour, perception and cognition. Carefully controlled behavioural experiments have been combined with electrical devices, targeted genetically encoded tools and neurochemical approaches to manipulate information processing in the brain. The ability to control brain activity in these ways not only deepens our understanding of brain function but also provides new avenues for clinical intervention, particularly in conditions where brain processing has gone awry.

scholarly journals Biological and bionic hands: natural neural coding and artificial perception

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1677) ◽  
pp. 20140209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sliman J. Bensmaia
Keyword(s):  
Upper Limb ◽  
Neural Coding ◽  
Neural Circuits ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
First Century ◽  
Somatosensory Feedback ◽  
Human Arm ◽  
Tactile Sensations ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

The first decade and a half of the twenty-first century brought about two major innovations in neuroprosthetics: the development of anthropomorphic robotic limbs that replicate much of the function of a native human arm and the refinement of algorithms that decode intended movements from brain activity. However, skilled manipulation of objects requires somatosensory feedback, for which vision is a poor substitute. For upper-limb neuroprostheses to be clinically viable, they must therefore provide for the restoration of touch and proprioception. In this review, I discuss efforts to elicit meaningful tactile sensations through stimulation of neurons in somatosensory cortex. I focus on biomimetic approaches to sensory restoration, which leverage our current understanding about how information about grasped objects is encoded in the brain of intact individuals. I argue that not only can sensory neuroscience inform the development of sensory neuroprostheses, but also that the converse is true: stimulating the brain offers an exceptional opportunity to causally interrogate neural circuits and test hypotheses about natural neural coding.

Statistical Evaluation of Polygraphic Investigations of Pentoxifylline

1976 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 211-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
U J Jovanović
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Beneficial Effect ◽  
Statistical Evaluation ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Metabolic Effects ◽  
Electrical Brain Activity ◽  
Wave Patterns ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Electrical Skin ◽  
Stimulation Of

Changes in the electro-encephalogram, and in the electro-oculogram electromyogram, ECG, blood supply, blood pressure, electrical skin activity and neurological/psychiatric findings, were investigated in 100 patients given single administrations of 200 mg of pentoxifylline (BL 191). It is concluded from the changes in the EEG wave patterns that pentoxifylline produces a beneficial effect on the cerebral processes contributing to bio-electrical brain activity. Pentoxifylline can be classed as a substance with microcirculatory/metabolic effects on the brain, which lead to stimulation of psychomotor behaviour.

Peripheral endotoxin causes long-lasting changes in locus coeruleus activity via IL-1 in the brain

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 303-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark K. Borsody ◽  
Jay M. Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Locus Coeruleus ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Interleukin 1 ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Polycytidylic Acid ◽  
Increased Activity ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

Activity of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons, the major noradrenergic cell-body group in the brain whose axons give rise to approximately 70% of norepinephrine (NE) in the brain, is believed to play an important role in attention/vigilance, cognitive functions and behavioral disorders, particularly depression. Results described here show that in the rat, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, a bacterial endotoxin) causes long-lasting changes in electrophysiological activity of LC neurons that are mediated by interleukin-1 (IL-1) acting locally in the LC region. First, it was found that IL-1, when microinjected into the LC region or stimulated/expressed in that brain region, increased activity of LC neurons. The only exception to this was that a very low dose of microinjected IL-1 (5 pg) decreased LC activity, which could be blocked by an antagonist to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), thus suggesting that the decrease was due to IL-1 stimulation of CRH release. All of these effects could be blocked by injection and/or infusion of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) specifically into the LC region. Next, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of a low dose of LPS(10 µg/kg or 100 ng/kg) was also found to increase LC activity. The excitation of LC produced by 10 µg/kg i.p. LPS increased progressively for at least 1 week, with LC neurons firing at more than twice their normal rate at 1 week after the i.p. LPS injection. Alteration of LC activity lasted for 3 weeks after a single i.p. injection of 10 µg/kg LPS. The effects of i.p. LPS on LC activity at any time after i.p. injection could be blocked by a brief microinfusion of IL-1RA into the LC region, thereby indicating that changes in LC activity seen after the i.p. LPS were caused by IL-1 acting in the LC region. Finally, i.p. injection of peptidoglycan, representing gram-positive bacteria, and polyinsinic-polycytidylic acid [poly(I):(C)], representing viral infection, also caused increases in LC activity, and the effects of peptidoglycan [but not those of poly(I):(C)] were blocked by microinfusion of IL-1RA into LC. These findings suggest that bacterial infections can give rise to prolonged changes in brain activity through cytokine action in brain.

scholarly journals Coordination of brain wide activity dynamics by dopaminergic neurons

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garret Stuber ◽  
Heather Decot ◽  
Vijay Namboodiri ◽  
Wei Gao ◽  
Jenna McHenry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dopaminergic Neurons ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cerebral Blood Volume ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Transgenic Rats ◽  
Optogenetic Stimulation ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Conditions ◽  
Stimulation Of

Several neuropsychiatric conditions, such as addiction, schizophrenia, and depression may arise in part from dysregulated activity of ventral tegmental area dopaminergic (THVTA) neurons, as well as from more global maladaptation in neurocircuit function. However, whether THVTA activity affects large-scale brain-wide function remains unknown. Here, we selectively activated THVTA neurons in transgenic rats and measured resulting changes in whole-brain activity using stimulus-evoked functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Selective optogenetic stimulation of THVTA neurons not only enhanced cerebral blood volume (CBV) signals in striatal target regions in a dopamine receptor dependent fashion, but also engaged many additional anatomically defined regions throughout the brain. In addition, repeated pairing of THVTA neuronal activity with forepaw stimulation, produced an expanded brain-wide sensory representation. These data suggest that modulation of THVTA neurons can impact brain dynamics across many distributed anatomically distinct regions, even those that receive little to no direct THVTA input.

Some Principles of Brain Research for Challenging Gifted Learners

2001 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Clark
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Brain Research ◽  
Early Experience ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Gifted Learners ◽  
Genetic Potential ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

Evidence from the neurosciences indicates that the potential of brain development is essentially unlimited for most individuals. Children are not born gifted, but with a limitless potential based on the existence of over a hundred billion brain cells. They become gifted only with appropriate stimulation of their vast, unique genetic potential. Intelligence and the growth of the brain have been found to be dynamic with high levels of intelligence actualized only when appropriate challenge is provided. Stimulation, actions, sensations, and memories are constantly shaping both the function and the anatomy of the brain. The static, genetically inherited, immutable view of intelligence can no longer be justified. Also, because of this research the definition of intelligence and its nurture can no longer be restricted to the linear, rational cognitive function, but must include the integration of all of the functions of the brain; the cognitive (both linear and spatial), the emotional-social, the physical, and the intuitive. Parents and educators can now become better informed regarding how the brain develops, the impact of early experience on the brain, and how they might make learning and teaching more effective and efficient. Understanding the implications from brain research allows a clearer understanding of giftedness and its development. The challenge now becomes to provide experiences that can optimize learning and maximize each child's potential. In this article principles of teaching and learning supported by the brain research are discussed so that this potential may be actualized and the challenge of gifted development can be met.

Complexity Measures of Brain Electrophysiological Activity

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Włodzimierz Klonowski ◽  
Pawel Stepien ◽  
Robert Stepien
Keyword(s):  
Brain Activity ◽  
Deterministic Chaos ◽  
Epileptic Seizures ◽  
Eeg Signal ◽  
Eeg Signals ◽  
Complexity Measures ◽  
Electrophysiological Activity ◽  
Signal Complexity ◽  
Physiological Sleep ◽  
The Brain

Over 20 years ago, Watt and Hameroff (1987 ) suggested that consciousness may be described as a manifestation of deterministic chaos in the brain/mind. To analyze EEG-signal complexity, we used Higuchi’s fractal dimension in time domain and symbolic analysis methods. Our results of analysis of EEG-signals under anesthesia, during physiological sleep, and during epileptic seizures lead to a conclusion similar to that of Watt and Hameroff: Brain activity, measured by complexity of the EEG-signal, diminishes (becomes less chaotic) when consciousness is being “switched off”. So, consciousness may be described as a manifestation of deterministic chaos in the brain/mind.

Relation Between Level of Prefrontal Activity and Subject's Performance

1999 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Casini ◽  
Françoise Macar ◽  
Marie-Hélène Giard
Keyword(s):  
Brain Activity ◽  
Sensory Information ◽  
Practice Phase ◽  
Trained Subjects ◽  
Anagram Task ◽  
Economic Information ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Level Of Activity ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Processing Mechanism

Abstract The experiment reported here was aimed at determining whether the level of brain activity can be related to performance in trained subjects. Two tasks were compared: a temporal and a linguistic task. An array of four letters appeared on a screen. In the temporal task, subjects had to decide whether the letters remained on the screen for a short or a long duration as learned in a practice phase. In the linguistic task, they had to determine whether the four letters could form a word or not (anagram task). These tasks allowed us to compare the level of brain activity obtained in correct and incorrect responses. The current density measures recorded over prefrontal areas showed a relationship between the performance and the level of activity in the temporal task only. The level of activity obtained with correct responses was lower than that obtained with incorrect responses. This suggests that a good temporal performance could be the result of an efficacious, but economic, information-processing mechanism in the brain. In addition, the absence of this relation in the anagram task results in the question of whether this relation is specific to the processing of sensory information only.

Chemical Stimulation of the Brain Makes Stimulating Reading

1975 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 923-924
Author(s):  
MADGE E. SCHEIBEL ◽  
ARNOLD B. SCHEIBEL
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Stimulation ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of
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