For questions about the biology of the nervous system.
2
votes
0answers
22 views
How do SSRIs work?
I've found a reasonable explanation on Wikipedia...
SSRIs are believed to increase the extracellular level of the neurotransmitter serotonin by inhibiting its reuptake into the presynaptic cell, ...
-2
votes
2answers
51 views
Does not practicing the brain erode its power?
Does not practicing the brain erode its power? If so, are perpetual brain exercises recommended to prevent (or increase) its power (chess, puzzles, etc)?
5
votes
1answer
61 views
Neurotransmitters appearance in the evolutionary process
Recently I disagreed with the assumption, that lots of neurotransmitters came within recent 10,000 years of Homo Sapiens evolution.
Judging from the available information sources, there is possibility ...
6
votes
1answer
39 views
In a central pattern generator based on reciprocal inhibition, how does one “side” get picked over the other to start out?
Consider two neurons, A and B, which reciprocally inhibit each other. If both of the neurons receive input at the same time, it seems to me that no oscillation will occur between the two. Such would ...
7
votes
0answers
38 views
Have there been any mechanisms proposed for normalization in probabilistic population codes?
I heard a talk yesterday by Dora Angelaki about multi-sensory integration. Part of the talk was about bayesian inference with multiple noisy sources of information. I know that there has been a lot ...
9
votes
1answer
70 views
What is the difference between psychophysics and neurophysiology?
I'm an engineering student who is doing some subjective tests.
What are the difference between psychophysics and neurophysiology?
Is it correct that in the latter case, we have to implant to read ...
7
votes
1answer
47 views
Fusiform Face Area (FFA) for within class recognition?
Is there any evidence (papers, studies, etc) that the Fusiform Face Area is used for any other type of recognition besides facial recognition? I remember hearing or reading a long time ago that ...
3
votes
0answers
26 views
When did neurotransmitters derived from monoamines first appear in evolutionary history?
When did neurotransmitters derived from monoamines first appear in evolutionary history?
What are main the points in evolution for monoamines based on the neurotransmitter system ?
Edition
I'm ...
2
votes
2answers
107 views
Computational Neuroscience software
What are the most common software tools you use in your day to day work in computational neuroscience?
I am referring to neuroscience tools like GENESIS and NOT to generic tools like Excel.
3
votes
0answers
20 views
How many thalamocortical relay cells synapse onto each spiny stellate cell in neocortex?
I am curious about how many different thalamocortical relay cells synapse onto each layer IV spiny stellate cell, on average? The answer is likely to be different per region and species, of course. I ...
3
votes
2answers
67 views
What brain skill does Nonogram (Picross) games develop?
I've been playing Nonogram Picross a lot lately. I really like it and you can always find a harder challenge but I would hate to waste my time for nothing.
What brain skill does Nonogram (Picross) ...
3
votes
0answers
31 views
What are the common nutritional deficiencies in western countries related to reduced mental performance?
What are the common nutritional deficiencies in western countries related to reduced mental performance ? I've heard about omega 3, folid acid, and vitamin D deficiencies, the last two are now reduced ...
-1
votes
1answer
49 views
Practical Use For a Neuroimager [closed]
You may be aware that neuro-imagers have become much cheaper and many are available with a SDK. I think this will open up a huge gateway for much more intimate human interfaces. However, I am stumped ...
2
votes
0answers
33 views
How much information does the somatosensory system produce?
Are there any approximations of how many bits of information human somatosensory system produces? Especially mechano-receptors as measured in average number of bits per area of skin per second?
I've ...
4
votes
1answer
106 views
+50
What are the effects of social rejection on the brain?
What are the effects of social rejection on the brain?
If the external circumstance can not change, how can the impact on the brain be reduced?
What is the average sensitivity to social rejection ...
9
votes
1answer
108 views
In C. elegans, which neuron has the largest span, and why is it this large?
The model organism C. elegans is about 1 mm in length. This is quite small. In fact, some C. elegans neurons span >25% of the length of its body (ref.).
This observation leads me to the following ...
5
votes
1answer
97 views
What computerized EEG analysis algorithms are there?
I got a commercial-grade EEG headband and am trying to look at the data it outputs. The headband quantifies raw EEG signal from a single forehead dry sensor into a range of EEG bands (alpha, beta, ...
2
votes
0answers
32 views
How do humans perceive height or vertical drop?
I'm looking at this video: Neil Burgess: How your brain tells you where you are, which discusses neurons within the brain that help people remember where stuff is in relation to other objects.
I'm ...
4
votes
1answer
67 views
Does the Hodgkin-Huxley Model take into account the action of the ion pumps (e.g., Na-K-ATPase)?
After the firing of a neuron, the sodium and potassium concentration differences vanish.
It requires some time for cell to actively transport the ions in and out to re-establish the balance.
Does ...
8
votes
1answer
139 views
What causes short-term dysphoria following intense pleasure?
I'm interested in the phenomenon of short term Dysphoria:
Dysphoria is a state of feeling unwell or unhappy; a feeling of emotional and mental discomfort as a symptom of discontentment, ...
4
votes
1answer
46 views
How can the aversion response be explained neurologically?
If Dopamine and Dopamine D2 receptor is involved in craving, wanting and clinging towards something or incentive salience
Dopamine is closely associated with reward-seeking behaviors, such as
...
1
vote
0answers
39 views
Do widespread brain toxins explain violence rates?
Saw this: http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/01/lead-crime-link-gasoline
Lead emissions from tailpipes rose steadily from the early '40s
through the early '70s, nearly quadrupling over ...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
Is the energy of an action potential divided among multiple axon terminals?
My understanding is that the bulk of an axon is myelinated, greatly adding to the efficiency of transmitting action potentials. However, the axon terminals are not myelinated. I'm wondering if the ...
3
votes
0answers
36 views
Structural descriptions of neuronal networks are important for understanding brain dysfunctions; which dysfunctions, in particular?
In a recent paper, we find this quote:
The brain contains vast numbers of interconnected neurons that constitute anatomical and functional networks. Structural descriptions of neuronal network ...
3
votes
1answer
112 views
How are qualia localized in consciousness?
I understand that evolution incorporated arbitrary qualia into the default network to inform consciousness (the largest cranial global processing information subnetwork) about properties and qualities ...
7
votes
1answer
62 views
How does one study the effect of a dietary supplement on cognition?
I've really enjoyed this talk by Molly Crockett: Beware neuro-bunk. The speaker outlines the limitations of modern neuroscience when accessing the effectiveness of dietary supplements intended to ...
7
votes
2answers
89 views
What neural mechanism explains the tendency to visually attend to the whole scene before attending to details?
I have the intuition that human vision first attends to large-scale objects and then small-scale details. Is there any mechanism in the visual cortex that will explain this phenomenon? Is there a ...
1
vote
1answer
122 views
Possibility of perfect virtual reality [closed]
Is it biologically possible to build a "perfect" virtual reality, in which the person in that world cannot distinguish it from the real world? (e.g. as in the movie The Matrix)
From my knowledge ...
0
votes
1answer
86 views
Do internet memes say something about how the brain works? [closed]
I've been thinking about what the current internet memes, most notably the "advice animals" can say about the human brain/mind. I know that in the "old days", there were folk sayings and folk wisdom, ...
3
votes
0answers
28 views
What regulates the strength of motoric signals?
I've seen cognitive/roboter models where the input signals from the sensors are directly used as the signal for outgoing motoric control.
This doesn't make much sense, because obviously we're able ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
How can pain sensations appear to originate within the person's skull?
I've read that humans have some sort of a kinesthetic model of their body and muscles. This internal representation of the body is used to control and coordinate locomotion. I don't remember if ...
2
votes
0answers
73 views
Is happiness a result of cognitive or a side effect of neurobiological processes? [closed]
This morning I've heard this talk on Ted.com:
Matt Killingsworth: Want to be happier? Stay in the moment
The presenter is discussing an iPhone app used to track happiness, and seems to draw a ...
4
votes
0answers
111 views
What happens neurobiologically when people “think fast”?
This question is related to this one: How long can a person stay happy, excited and motivated about something new?
I found a couple of references to research that links "thinking fast" to mood lift:
...
3
votes
1answer
71 views
Abstract idealized mental visualization improves motor task performance
I practice martial arts (Aikido), which involves a lot of rotation.
When practicing, I find that holding an abstract image in my head, instead of thinking about the actual technique, improves my ...
1
vote
0answers
82 views
What is a good beginner level book on neuroanatomy? [closed]
I'm looking for a beginner level book on neuroanatomy. I haven't any background in neuroanatomy, other than what I learnt back at school. I'd like to take up a post grad neuroscience course to help ...
4
votes
0answers
48 views
How can I test whether Dorsal Raphe Nucleus(DRN) activity at night is related to variations in mood?
I'm reading this paper, which discusses Serotonin activity in the Dorsal Ralphe Nucleus(DRN), and even includes some mathematical models of how serotonin is released and reabsorbed. The paper states ...
3
votes
0answers
55 views
How is light processed by the human brain when awake and in dreams?
I've recently seen this great video: How your brain tells you where you are. The video discusses how certain cells within the brain fire based on proximity to objects. There are great examples of ...
4
votes
1answer
177 views
How can motivation be increased by improving brain chemistry with nutrition and activities?
I'm reading some material about motivation and brain chemistry.
One of the interesting articles is "7 Ways to Increase Motivation by Improving your Brain Chemistry". I'm interested in a more ...
9
votes
0answers
50 views
How similar are human brains within the same haplogroup?
I've grown up and went through school with a "politically correct" view on people that we are all "the same". The TED talk that I've listed below hints that this view might've arisen in the post-WW2 ...
5
votes
1answer
334 views
Which neurotransmitters can be measured in a living human brain?
I'm interested in learning more about the modern techniques that are used for scientific studies of neurotransmitters in the living human brain. As far as I know, there are 4 neuromodulator systems ...
11
votes
3answers
223 views
Is there a better way to describe brain activity than EEG “brain waves”
I've been reading about EEG brain waves, which are specific waveforms that are observed on the EEG output, and are usually scored by humans. This concept has been around for quite some time.
Is there ...
6
votes
1answer
148 views
What is the brain power devoted to vision and haptics?
I heard a talk by Vincent Hayward on the sense of touch as a multi-modal system, where he claimed that the brain power devoted to haptics is at least as big as the one devoted to vision. I have found ...
8
votes
1answer
146 views
What causes laughter?
I was looking at this video from VSauce: "Why did the chicken cross the road?", where several facts about this old joke are exposed and explained.
At some point, (6:59) Michael explains that there is ...
8
votes
1answer
106 views
Computational Model Linking Neural Activity to Behavior
A big question in neuroscience is how neural activity represents knowledge. We can use modelling to explore how different levels of neural activity- subthreshold currents, action potentials, local ...
7
votes
0answers
32 views
What are some known roles or correlations of glucocorticoid receptor function to behaviour?
The NR3C1 gene encodes for a neuron-specific glucocorticoid receptor (GR), of which methylation levels have been shown to relate to altered maternal care and stress response in rodents (Weaver et al., ...
5
votes
1answer
113 views
Hebbian Learning Rule, Local or Global?
I just learned about the Hebbian Learning Rule. It essentially says "Neurons that fire together, wire together". I'm wondering if the learning rule is affected by the spatial distance of the two ...
3
votes
0answers
135 views
Is human Central Nervous System arousal related to choice of activity?
I'm interested in learning more about the central nervous system (CNS) arousal and the choice of what people do and how they feel about it.
Lets define CNS arousal in the context of this question as ...
4
votes
2answers
146 views
Does each sensory neuron type have a characteristic spike sequence pattern?
Background
It is known that all sensory information is input to the brain as neural spike sequences. Now, to distinguish between the spike sequences generated by retinal red/blue/green cone cells ...
7
votes
1answer
87 views
Can processing effort for sub-tasks in neural networks be measured?
I often heard statements like:
80% of your brain processing is computing the effect of gravity
or, similarily:
You only use 20% of your brain power
My question isn't about the truth of ...
6
votes
2answers
127 views
What does daytime actigraphy reveal about an active and awake brain?
I have interest in the study of human motion (
Actigraphy), and have built a couple of smartphone apps using its principles. The apps look at gross motor activity of an individual. Up until now, most ...
