Seminar 6 - Nov. 9, 2009

This week's topic on neuroscience is by far one of my absolute favourites. I have always been fascinated by the inner workings of the brain. The concept that such a simple mushy collection of specialized cells can control and affect so much, I find astounding. The research by Dr. Doidge on brain neuroplasticity is no exception. It further depicts the capabilities that we possess in controlling and proactively changing the way we think, feel and act. I feel that his revolutionary methods and the field in general will discover more and more unbelievable feats that we humans are capable of performing. It is shocking that only a couple of decades ago, we viewed the brain as a wholly non-malleable, stationary device.

I visited the show BODYWORLDS 3 last week at the Ontario Science Centre, I recall watching most of the visitors walk right past the brain section, with only a couple of people taking a quick glance. Why? Because, in truth, it did not appear so exciting. It was a round convoluted pinkish mass of... not too much. I remember just staring at the beautiful sulci and gyri, and the cerebellar hemispheres and the layers of cortex. Almost every part of the body is so easy to understand, the stomach has gastric juices, breaks down food with enzymes and acids and then sends it off for further processing; the intestines, slightly more complex, but still merely an absorption system with mesentery around to transport the nutrients and fluids to other parts of the body. The brain, however, is absolutely indecipherable. For as long as I stared at it, I think more questions arose than answers. Simply axons that interconnect to produce consciousness and control more things than I can even imagine. For the past three years, I have taken courses that focus on the brain and on human vision, and I still have so little idea on the workings of our minds. Although there are so many incredibly smart individuals working of deciphering the brain including some at the pinnacle of their respective fields (many were shown in the film, ie. V. S. Ramachandran) we still know so little. I can only anticipate the wonders that we will discover in the future.

In terms of the mirror neurons that were discussed in class, I see this as a very interesting addition to the way we view the brain. The debate as to whether humans are born with such a system or if it develops as we grow seems to be one that may go unsolved for quite some time. Until we can replicate even a single neuronal circuit, it seems likely that we continue to fruitlessly debate.

I also find the concept of synesthesia to be of particular interest, the idea that senses can be integrated is most literally inconceivable to any non-synesthete.

When I was a kid I remember dreaming of one day having superpowers, in my opinion the field of brain research and most especially neuroplasticity may in fact discover human abilities that we once considered to be 'super human'.