An introduction to neural networks:

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/complexity/...ning1.html


Cheers,
Christina

March 17, 2006

Good Morning,

The time is ripe to take a closer look at the glial cell(s). We have in the past looked at this cell who has a 10 to 1 ratio to the neuron respectively as a supporter of the neuron...cleans up debris etc. We know that the glial cells help greatly in the remyelination of the axon of the neuron and that they [glial cells] do communicate with one another. (Columbia University].

A close look at the glial cells in the central nervous system and that of the PN.....show many similarities and differences. The glial cells are also attacked with disease and cannot remyelinate the axons thus leaving the disease attacked neuron vulnerable to disease that destroys the myelin along the axon and virtually stops the action potential and obviates the neurotransmitter completion of synaptic potential, meaning that the needed chemicals do not reach the post synaptic receptors....Sometimes known as MS.

I am attending a conference at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in July which will cover glial development, genetic analysis of glial function,myelinating cells, astroctye function at synapses and blood vessels, axon- glial interactions, reactive gliosis and CNS regenerative failure, glia and disease and new approaches to understanding glia.

I will share this with all of you who might be interested.
URL retrieve from the internet on March 17, 2006....please read and look and the contrast between a healthy myelin and axon and communcation to a deleterious attach on of the myelin thus causing obviation of communications.
URL: http://www.myelin.org/
This is very exciting to me....be well;remember
Rob

Dear teachers,

Have you tried teaching children about the brain? I'd love to hear about your experiences with this…

Best wishes,
Christina

P.S. A wonderful resource: http://staff.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html

March 11, 2006

Good Morning,

Why do we get depression? Any neurological substrates? Let take a real look at this over the next few weeks, months, whatever.
Retrieved from the interest March 11, 2006....
Be well,
Rob URL: http://www.alphanutrition.com/brain/depr...al%201.htm

March 11, 2006

Good Morning,

Would a scientist with educational practitioner experience, or knowledge, please help us {me} with the Neural Code and how do we learn it? Prior knowledge....I don't think so...
Here is an example of what I am talking about but still cannot get a handle on it. Would really appreciate it. Retrieved from the internet on March 11, 2006.
Thank you,
Rob Url:http://scienceweek.com/2006/sw060317-2.htm

March 11, 2006

Good Morning,

Have you found that your "prior learning" needs a tune up....well what I do is go as far back in my knowledge, learning base, what I really know and sometimes it is really really far back. We know that prior learning is a phyical change in the brain so.....I look a primary material until I have it....understand it and have build a respectable "prior knowledge" to proceed. Don't read stuff you don't understand unless you plan to dig in and go back and build that prior knowledge construct.

Interest Url retrieved from the internet March 11, 2006 regaring science for kids...good read.
Be well,
Rob URL: http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/

March 9, 2006

Good Morning,

We know in medicine that certain symptoms usually mean there is an underlying problem with the person.

How many more symptoms do we need to see that school reform must go hand and glove with family reform. Let talk about this since....that is the tough question that parents and educators avoid....and especially school boards.
Be well,
Rob

A learning disability is situated in that it results from an interaction of an individual and a specific task.

Consider the example of a deficit in the phonological module of the cortex, which often underlies dyslexia. This deficit is not relevant in all circumstances, such as when an individual is drawing. In fact, there may be situations in which this atypical phonological module is actually an asset. Can you think of any such cases?

Many thanks,
Christina

March 2, 2006
Good Day,
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative movement disorder disease with no cure at the present, but good progress is being made in treating the symptoms. Now what does that mean....treat the symptom....well actually it means most everything to a person with PD.

Essentially PD is the death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra...which is part of the basal ganglia area. It is most hard to diagnose since presently most of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra must die before a good clinical dx is made...and then what happens....well you keep on treating the symptoms. Treating the symptoms in this case does not mean something like a placebo....the perscriptive drugs like dopamine agonists can help control many of your symptoms...however...nothing is forever...you do have a wearing off effect of the dopamine agonist, but the good thing is that higher doses can be administered without too many side effects...[does not work for everyone].

Quality of life can be extended and medications prior to the BIG GUN....Leva Dopa which does pass the blood brain barrier is many time held for later when stretching out the quality of life....that is to say...that L'Dopa works very well most of the time, but also has a wearing off effect....etc. etc. Great progress is being made in medications and technology support for PD...and a cure is within reach....most likely this decade if everything goes accordingly.
Enjoy life...
Best,
Rob

Given all we know about the human brain, psychology, and developmental stages; given how the technology explosion has changed information availability, the way people everywhere and anywhere can collaborate on projects and share and access knowledge; given the need for our children (as well as ourselves) to be successful in this “flat world” where many, perhaps most, jobs can be done by any qualified person anywhere; here is the challenge;
Describe what “learning” would look like without using the words education, teacher, student, school, textbook, test, classroom, or class. (You may have a few other words you think should be dropped as well.)
I ask this because I am beginning to believe that for the fantastic strides being made in the above areas to be applied to learning will require this kind of “radical” thinking.

Kepeow