For questions about the biology of the nervous system.
3
votes
1answer
120 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
72 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 ...
13
votes
0answers
334 views
What neural structures motivate humans to decide to “throw it all away”?
In the original formulation of this question, I was trying to understand what motivates "cut and run" behavior in humans. I was defining this anecdotally to include people that have severed ties with ...
9
votes
0answers
57 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 ...
7
votes
0answers
42 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 ...
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., ...
4
votes
0answers
30 views
What is the mechanism behind unihemispheric sleep in animals?
It is known that dolphins have the ability to sleep with only one half of their brain at a time.
According to this popular science source:
Dolphins sleep by resting one half of their brain at a ...
4
votes
0answers
112 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:
...
4
votes
0answers
53 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
46 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, ...
3
votes
0answers
34 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
22 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
0answers
33 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
37 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
0answers
29 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
58 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
140 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
27 views
Are there useful applications for three channel consumer EEG?
I stumbled upon the consumer EEG Melon (at Kickstarter). It has three electrodes and is advertised as measuring how "focused" you are. In the FAQ it says:
The Melon headband has three electrodes. ...
2
votes
0answers
35 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
33 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
42 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
Are there neurological conditions that can be worsened by B group vitamins?
I know that vitamins B6 and B12 are very important for the brain function, and both are involved in metabolism of homocysteine. Buildup of homocysteine has been associated with cognitive impairment. ...
