scholarly journals Brain Mass (Energy) Resistant to Hyperglycaemic Oversupply: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Sprengell ◽  
Britta Kubera ◽  
Achim Peters
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
The Body ◽  
Mass Energy ◽  
Primary Position ◽  
Brain Mass ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Brain Theory ◽  
The Brain

Cerebral energy supply is determined by the energy content of the blood. Accordingly, the brain is undersupplied during hypoglycaemia. Whether or not there is an additional cerebral energy demand that depends upon the energy content of the brain is considered differently in two opposing theoretical approaches. The Selfish-Brain theory postulates that the brain actively demands energy from the body when needed, while long-held theories, the gluco-lipostatic theory and its variants, deny such active brain involvement and view the brain as purely passively supplied. Here we put the competing theories to the test. We conducted a systematic review of a condition in which the rival theories make opposite predictions, i.e., experimental T1DM. The Selfish-Brain theory predicts that induction of experimental type 1 diabetes causes minor mass (energy) changes in the brain as opposed to major glucose changes in the blood. This prediction becomes our hypothesis to be tested here. A total of 608 works were screened by title and abstract, and 64 were analysed in full text. According to strict selection criteria defined in our PROSPERO preannouncement and complying with PRISMA guidelines, 18 studies met all inclusion criteria. Thirteen studies provided sufficient data to test our hypothesis. The 13 evaluable studies (15 experiments) showed that the diabetic groups had blood glucose concentrations that differed from controls by +294 ± 96% (mean ± standard deviation) and brain mass (energy) that differed from controls by −4 ± 13%, such that blood changes were an order of magnitude greater than brain changes (T = 11.5, df = 14, p < 0.001). This finding confirms not only our hypothesis but also the prediction of the Selfish-Brain theory, while the predictions of the gluco-lipostatic theory and its variants were violated. The current paper completes a three-part series of systematic reviews, the two previous papers deal with a distal and a proximal bottleneck in the cerebral brain supply, i.e., caloric restriction and cerebral artery occlusion. All three papers demonstrate that accurate predictions are only possible if one regards the brain as an organ that regulates its energy concentrations independently and occupies a primary position in a hierarchically organised energy metabolism.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=156816, PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42020156816.

scholarly journals Brain More Resistant to Energy Restriction Than Body: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Sprengell ◽  
Britta Kubera ◽  
Achim Peters
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Caloric Restriction ◽  
High Energy ◽  
The Body ◽  
Energy Concentration ◽  
High Energy Phosphates ◽  
Decision Algorithm ◽  
Brain Theory ◽  
The Brain

The gluco-lipostatic theory and its modern variants assume that blood glucose and energy stores are controlled in closed-loop feedback processes. The Selfish Brain theory is based on the same assumptions, but additionally postulates that the brain, as an independent energy compartment, self-regulates its energy concentration with the highest priority. In some clinical situations these two theories make opposite predictions. To investigate one of these situations, namely caloric restriction, we formulated a hypothesis which, if confirmed, would match the predictions of the Selfish Brain theory—but not those of the gluco-lipostatic theory. Hypothesis: Calorie restriction causes minor mass (energy) changes in the brain as opposed to major changes in the body. We conducted a systematic review of caloric-restriction studies to test whether or not the evaluated studies confirmed this hypothesis. We identified 3,157 records, screened 2,804 works by title or abstract, and analyzed 232 by full text. According to strict selection criteria (set out in our PROSPERO preregistration, complying with PRISMA guidelines, and the pre-defined hypothesis-decision algorithm), 8 papers provided enough information to decide on the hypothesis: In animals, high-energy phosphates were measured by 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance, and organ and total body weights were measured by scales, while in humans organ sizes were determined by magnetic resonance imaging. All 8 decidable papers confirmed the hypothesis, none spoke against it. The evidence presented here clearly shows that the most accurate predictions are possible with a theory that regards the brain as independently self-regulating and as occupying a primary position in a hierarchically organized energy metabolism.

scholarly journals A global framework for a systemic view of brain modeling

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederic Alexandre
Keyword(s):  
Instrumental Conditioning ◽  
The Body ◽  
Posterior Cortex ◽  
Reciprocal Relationships ◽  
Brain Modeling ◽  
Brain Theory ◽  
Habitual Behavior ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Specific Contribution

AbstractThe brain is a complex system, due to the heterogeneity of its structure, the diversity of the functions in which it participates and to its reciprocal relationships with the body and the environment. A systemic description of the brain is presented here, as a contribution to developing a brain theory and as a general framework where specific models in computational neuroscience can be integrated and associated with global information flows and cognitive functions. In an enactive view, this framework integrates the fundamental organization of the brain in sensorimotor loops with the internal and the external worlds, answering four fundamental questions (what, why, where and how). Our survival-oriented definition of behavior gives a prominent role to pavlovian and instrumental conditioning, augmented during phylogeny by the specific contribution of other kinds of learning, related to semantic memory in the posterior cortex, episodic memory in the hippocampus and working memory in the frontal cortex. This framework highlights that responses can be prepared in different ways, from pavlovian reflexes and habitual behavior to deliberations for goal-directed planning and reasoning, and explains that these different kinds of responses coexist, collaborate and compete for the control of behavior. It also lays emphasis on the fact that cognition can be described as a dynamical system of interacting memories, some acting to provide information to others, to replace them when they are not efficient enough, or to help for their improvement. Describing the brain as an architecture of learning systems has also strong implications in Machine Learning. Our biologically informed view of pavlovian and instrumental conditioning can be very precious to revisit classical Reinforcement Learning and provide a basis to ensure really autonomous learning.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of the hydrotherapy in children with chronic encephalopathy no progressive of the childhood: a systematic review

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karoline de Carvalho Jacques ◽  
Nayana Rocha Drumond ◽  
Silmara Aparecida Figueiredo Andrade ◽  
Israel Penaforte Chaves Júnior ◽  
Walesca Carla de Toffol
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Rehabilitation Process ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Body Activity ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Brain

INTRODUCTION: Now Cerebral Palsy is considered like Chronic Encephalopathy no Progressive of the Childhood and defined as any disorder characterized by alteration in the structure and function of the body, activity and participation due to a lesion no progressive of the brain in development. Several techniques physiotherapy exist for individuals rehabilitation with that pathology, however, no technique stands out as more effective in the literature. The use of the approach hydrotherapy becomes viable in several aspects structural, functional and social in the rehabilitation process. OBJETIVE: It is done necessary to evaluate, through the selection and discerning analysis of article, the evidences of the effectiveness of the hydrotherapy in children and/or adolescents with Chronic Encephalopathy no Progressive of the childhood with inferior age to 17 years. METHODS: Research was accomplished at the Virtual Library in Health in the bases of bibliographical data of LILACS, MEDLINE, SciELO, Cochrane Library and search active in national and international newspapers. RESULTS: The databases located only two article of systematic review on the approached theme. Through these, it was possible to locate for search activates six scientific articles. These were analyzed in agreement with the inclusion criteria, and finally, only three articles composed the study, where the same ones were appraised as for the methodological quality. No article of the type randomized controlled trial was found, just an quasy- randomized one. CONCLUSION: It had limited evidence of the effects hydrotherapy in that population. Like this being, future studies of the type randomized controlled trial are made necessary for the clinical conduct and for scientific community.

scholarly journals Embodied Interaction and Spatial Skills: A Systematic Review of Empirical Studies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serena Lee-Cultura ◽  
Michail Giannakos
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
The Body ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Embodied Interaction ◽  
Spatial Skills ◽  
Successful Management ◽  
The Past ◽  
Future Work ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Embodied interaction describes the interplay between the brain and the body and its influence on the sharing, creation and manipulation of meaningful interactions with technology. Spatial skills entail the acquisition, organization, utilization and revision of knowledge about spatial environments. Embodied interaction is a rapidly growing topic in human–computer interaction with the potential to amplify human interaction and communication capacities, while spatial skills are regarded as key enablers for the successful management of cognitive tasks. This work provides a systematic review of empirical studies focused on embodied interaction and spatial skills. Thirty-six peer-reviewed articles were systematically collected and analysed according to their main elements. The results summarize and distil the developments concerning embodied interaction and spatial skills over the past decade. We identify embodied interaction capacities found in the literature review that help us to enhance and develop spatial skills. Lastly, we discuss implications for research and practice and highlight directions for future work.

scholarly journals Educational Interventions for Women based on the Behavioral model/theory concerning Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-154
Author(s):  
Ali Asadian ◽  
Seyed Saeed Mazloomy Mahmoodabad ◽  
Hossein Fallahzadeh ◽  
Minoo Rajaei
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Transtheoretical Model ◽  
Pap Smear ◽  
Search Time ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
The Body ◽  
Second Primary ◽  
Change Models ◽  
Theoretical Approaches

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer worldwide among women and is also the second primary cause of cancer-induced mortalities among women at a global scale. The most effective educational programs are based on theoretical approaches derived from behavior change models. The present systematic review aimed to explore and identify the body of research with educational interventions based on a particular behavioral or cognitive model of cervical cancer. Methods: A number of keywords were search in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus, Biomedcentral, IranMedex, SID and Magiran. These keywords were: Cervix cancer, uterine cervical neoplasms, screening, prevention and control, Papaniocolaou Test, Pap test, Pap smear, education, intervention, cervical cancer, theory and model, behavior model. The search time span was restricted to 2005 to 2020. Results: From among all the published academic papers with educational interventions, finally 22 papers were selected based on a particular theory or model. Among these papers, those based on the health belief model outnumbered the rest concerning cervical cancer. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) model was the second most prevalent model adopted in the theory-based educational interventions. Conclusions: Educational interventions based on the behavioral theory or model showed to be effective on the target group concerning screening (secondary behavior) for cervical cancer. To further increase the effectiveness of the educational interventions, there is a need for a combination of new methods and theory-laden education to enhance the primary preventive behaviors of cervical cancer.

scholarly journals The Soul and Personal Identity. Derek Parfit’s Arguments in the Substance Dualist Perspective

Perichoresis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 3-23
Author(s):  
Dmytro Sepetyi
Keyword(s):  
Personal Identity ◽  
Human Life ◽  
The Body ◽  
Psychological Profile ◽  
Temporal Continuity ◽  
Brain Theory ◽  
Body Theory ◽  
Humean Theory ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Humean View

AbstractThis paper re-evaluates Derek Parfit’s attack on the commonly held view that personal identity is necessarily determinate and that it is what matters. In the first part we first argue against the Humean view of personal identity; secondly, we classify the remaining alternatives into three kinds: the body theory and the brain theory, the quasi-Humean theory, and the soul theory, and thirdly we deploy Parfit’s arguments and related considerations to the point that none of the materialistic alternatives is consistent with the commonly held view. This leaves us with the alternative: either we accept the radical and highly implausible materialistic view Parfit calls ‘Reductionism’, or we accept the view that we are nonphysical indivisible entities—Cartesian egos, or souls. The second part of the paper discusses Parfit’s objections against the Cartesian view: that there is no reason to believe in the existence of such nonphysical entities; that if such entities exist, there is no evidence that they are enduring (to span a human life); that even if they exist and are enduring, they are irrelevant for the psychological profile and temporal continuity of a person; that experiments with ‘brain-splitted’ patients provide strong evidence against the Cartesian view. We argue that these objections are in part mistaken, and that the remaining (sound) part is not strong enough to make the Cartesian view less plausible than Reductionism.

scholarly journals A Model for Brain Life History Evolution

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio González-Forero ◽  
Timm Faulwasser ◽  
Laurent Lehmann
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Modeling ◽  
Life History ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Brain Evolution ◽  
The Body ◽  
Brain Mass ◽  
History Evolution ◽  
The Brain

AbstractMathematical modeling of brain evolution is scarce, possibly due in part to the difficulty of describing how brain relates to fitness. Yet such modeling is needed to formalize verbal arguments and deepen our understanding of brain evolution. To address this issue, we combine elements of life history and metabolic theories to formulate a metabolically explicit mathematical model for brain life history evolution. We assume that some of the brain’s energetic expense is due to production (learning) and maintenance (memory) of skills (or cognitive abilities, knowledge, information, etc.). We also assume that individuals use skills to extract energy from the environment, and can allocate this energy to grow and maintain the body, including brain and reproductive tissues. Our model can be used to ask what fraction of growth energy should be allocated to the growth of brain and other tissues at each age under various biological settings as a result of natural selection. We apply the model to find uninvadable allocation strategies under a “me-against-nature” setting, namely when overcoming environmentally determined energy-extraction challenges does not involve any interactions with other individuals (possibly except caregivers), and using parameter values for modern humans. The uninvadable strategies yield predictions for brain and body mass throughout ontogeny, as well as for the ages at maturity, adulthood, and brain growth arrest. We find that (1) a me-against-nature setting is enough to generate adult brain and body mass of ancient human scale, (2) large brains are favored by intermediately challenging environments, moderately effective skills, and metabolically expensive memory, and (3) adult skill number is proportional to brain mass when metabolic costs of memory saturate the brain metabolic rate allocated to skills. Overall, our model is a step towards a quantitative theory of brain life history evolution yielding testable quantitative predictions as ecological, demographic, and social factors vary.Author SummaryUnderstanding what promotes the evolution of a given feature is often helped by mathematical modeling. However, mathematical modeling of brain evolution has remained scarce, possibly because of difficulties describing mathematically how the brain relates to reproductive success, which is the currency of evolution. Here we combine elements of two research fields that have previously been successful at detailing how a feature impacts reproductive success (life history theory) and at predicting the individual’s body mass throughout its life without the need to describe in detail the inner workings of the body (metabolic theory). We apply the model to a setting where individuals must extract energy from the environment without interacting with other individuals except caregivers (“me-against-nature”) and parameterize the model with data from humans. In this setting, the model can correctly predict a variety of human features, including large brain sizes. Our model can be used to obtain testable quantitative predictions in terms of brain mass throughout an individual’s life from assumed hypotheses promoting brain evolution, such as harsh environments or plentiful social interactions.

scholarly journals Proximal Disruption of Brain Energy Supply Raises Systemic Blood Glucose: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Sprengell ◽  
Britta Kubera ◽  
Achim Peters
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Energy Metabolism ◽  
Glucose Uptake ◽  
Caloric Restriction ◽  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Brain Theory ◽  
Cerebral Artery Occlusion ◽  
The Brain

This work joins a series that methodically tests the predictions of the Selfish-Brain theory. The theory postulates a vital ability of the mammalian brain, namely to give priority to its own energy metabolism. The brain behaves “selfishly” in this respect. For the cerebral artery occlusion studied here, the theory predicts an increase in blood glucose concentration, what becomes the hypothesis to be tested. We conducted a systematic review of cerebral-artery-occlusion papers to test whether or not the included studies could confirm this hypothesis. We identified 239 records, screened 231 works by title or abstract, and analyzed 89 by full text. According to strict selection criteria (set out in our PROSPERO preregistration, complying with PRISMA guidelines), 7 papers provided enough information to decide on the hypothesis. Our hypothesis could be fully confirmed for the 3 to 24 h after the onset of a transient 2 h or permanent occlusion. As for the mechanism, the theory predicts that the energy-deprived brain suppresses insulin secretion via the sympathoadrenal system, thereby preventing insulin-mediated glucose uptake into muscle and fat and, as a result, enhancing insulin-independent glucose uptake via the blood-brain barrier. Evidence from our included studies actually demonstrated cerebral insulin suppression. In all, the current work confirms the second major prediction of the Selfish-Brain theory that relates to a proximal bottleneck of the cerebral supply chain, cerebral artery occlusion. Its first major prediction relates to a distal supply bottleneck, caloric restriction, and is fulfilled as shown by our previous work, whereas the prediction of the long held gluco-lipostatic theory, which sees the brain as only passively supplied, is violated (Sprengell et al., 2021). The crucial point was that caloric restriction elicits smaller changes in mass (energy) in the brain than in the body. Taken together, the evidence from the current and previous work clearly shows that the most accurate predictions are possible with a theory that views the brain as an independently self-regulating energy compartment occupying a primary position in energy metabolism.

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