Sleep and Dreams

http://www.coolfreeimages.net/images/sleep_well/sleep_well_02.jpg

Since a very long time, people have had a question that has no one hundred percent definite answer; why do we sleep? According to all the tests, analysis, and experiments, it has been concluded that we sleep to recharge the brain. Of course it is not like recharging the mobile phone, but we repair cells and some new cells are born. Mean while the brain repairs itself, neurons are being repaired and by sleeping, we give the brain a chance to shut down. There are many stages of sleep and it is interesting to acknowledge the differences between them. Another appealing fact is that we dream in all of the stages, but in ones we dream more intensely than in others and we would only remember dreams if we are awakened in between them. But… what are dreams? Well, I agree to the idea that dreams are ways to prepare for things that our mind is not prepare, and by dreaming it, it is like if we already lived with it. Once more, sleep enables the opportunity of reorganizing information that has been previously seen. This is important, and more if you are in school because you can study before sleeping and most of the information will be kept instead of forgotten. Finally, not only brain support, but also growth is affected by sleeping. Every kid should get enough sleep because growth hormones are released during this time. Cardiovascular system gets a break and last but not least, metabolic rate and energy consumption lowers. Think of it… GET A GOOD SLEEP every night.

Sensory Deprivation

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When we saw this video, I leaned lots of interesting things about sensory deprivation. Sensory deprivation is a technique used by scientists to see how the brain reacts when people to not see, taste, smell, touch or hear. It is interesting to know that everyone might have a different reaction and by giving a glance to this video, it is understood that extroverted people suffer more. Of course, a radical change causes people to react in certain way, but many times it is possible to see people that can even become crazy by being sensory deprived. Not only scientists use this method, but also other people use it for torture. It this case, people were just left 48 hours with this treatment, and when they came out you can see the difference. Their will to be outside took them to feel extraordinarily good when coming outside, and this is not only a scientific encounter, but an encounter that tells people: “you shall look life as if there was nothing prettier than it.” This is very important since most of us are not optimist people and this is wrong. Finally, I believe that sensory deprivation is not only giving answers to scientists, but also to people.

Synesthesia

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“Synesthesia is a condition in which one sense (for example, hearing) is simultaneously perceived as if by one or more additional senses such as sight.”

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“Grapheme → color synesthesia: is a form of synesthesia in which an individual's perception of numbers and letters is associated with the experience of colors.”

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“Ordinal-linguistic personification is a form of synesthesia in which ordered sequences, such as ordinal numbers, days, months and letters are associated with personalities.”

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“A number form is a mental map of numbers, which automatically and involuntarily appears whenever someone who experiences number-forms thinks of numbers.”

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“According to Richard Cytowic, sound → color synesthesia is "something like fireworks": voice, music, and assorted environmental sounds such as clattering dishes or dog barks trigger color and simple shapes that arise, move around, and then fade when the sound stimulus ends.”

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“In the rare lexical → gustatory synesthesia, individual words and the phonemes of spoken language evoke taste sensations in the mouth.”

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/syne.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grapheme–color_synesthesia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordinal_linguistic_personification

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_form

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia#Sound_.E2.86.92_color_synesthesia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia#Lexical_.E2.86.92_gustatory_synesthesia

Mental Abilities: Genius, Savant and Autism

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Explain in detail what "savant syndrome" means.

“Savant syndrome” is a term used for those people that have rare but spectacular abilities. It is very common that these people suffer from different mental or physical disabilities, but they are able to do extraordinary things. Savant syndrome is according to psychologists, the most fascinating phenomena in the study of human differences and cognitive psychology.

http://www.psy.dmu.ac.uk/drhiles/Savant%20Syndrome.htm

What does genius mean?  Explain the difference between genius and savant.

“Genius is something or someone embodying exceptional intellectual ability, creativity, or originality, typically to a degree that is associated with the achievement of unprecedented insight… Savants are people with a rare condition in which they have developmental disorders in one or more areas of expertise, ability, or brilliance that are in contrast with the individual's overall limitations.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Savant skills appear suddenly and as they appear they can vanish. Savants do not develop or make better any of these rare skills, but they have indeed an outstanding brain that lets them do extra normal things. Many calculate math problems in seconds and others just are extraordinary experts in other areas.

http://science.jrank.org/pages/5977/Savant-Savant-or-genius.html

What is a stroke and how could it affect your mental functioning?

            A stroke is when blood is clogged in an artery and blood cannot go through to a part of the brain. Depending on the area that is affected by a stroke, many different abilities are lost. In most cases there is a loss in language abilities, movement, or memory.

http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=stroke

What is a functional MRI and how does it help us understand brain activity?

            “Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. MRI uses a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency pulses and a computer to produce detailed pictures of organs, soft tissues, bone and virtually all other internal body structures. The images can then be examined on a computer monitor, transmitted electronically, printed or copied to a CD. MRI does not use ionizing radiation (x-rays)”.

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=fmribrain

What is the corpus callosum and what role does it play in your brain's activity?

            “Corpus callosum is a wide, flat bundle of neural fibers beneath the cortex in the brain. It connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres and facilitates inter-hemispheric communication.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpus_callosum

What is epilepsy and how might it affect your brain's abilities?

            Group of disorders that alter the way in which the electric signaling of the brain; this will work in an abnormal way. It may affect senses and movement, also, consciousness.

http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/epilepsy/epi_whatis.html

What is autism?

            “Autism is a moderately rare condition resulting from a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life.” Autism is known as a neurological disorder that affects the brain in many ways, including its development. Sometimes, this disorder affects the way in which carriers (of autism; most are boys rather than girls) communicate and socialize with others. Most of the time, these people are also dealing with another developmental disability or CNS injury.

http://www.psy.dmu.ac.uk/drhiles/Savant%20Syndrome.htm

What is Asperger's Syndrome?

            “Asperger's syndrome, also called Asperger's disorder, is a type of pervasive development disorder (PDD). PDDs are a group of conditions that involve delays in the development of many basic skills, most notably the ability to socialize with others, to communicate, and to use imagination.”

http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/mental-health-aspergers-syndrome