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Welcome to the Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter.
In this issue:
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Neuroscience for Kids had several new additions in July including:
A. August Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter was archived
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/news2608.html
B. New Neuroscience in the News
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/inthenews.html
C. Visit or follow my Instagram site with neuroscience facts and
trivia:
https://www.instagram.com/ericchudler/
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The Neuroscience for Kids "Site of the Month" for September is "Foundations of Neuroscience" at:
https://openbooks.lib.msu.edu/neuroscience/
The problem with old-fashioned science textbooks is that once they are printed, they are often already outdated. The Internet has helped solved this problem with online textbooks and "Foundations of Neuroscience" is a great example.
Dr. Casey Henley (Assistant Professor, Physiology Department, Michigan State University) created Foundations of Neuroscience in 2021 as an open education resource (OER) for her students. As an OER, the material is available to anyone with an Internet connection.
The online book is organized like a typical neuroscience textbook with chapters about neuron structure and function, neurotransmission, neuroanatomy, the senses, movement and behavior. To help with your learning, take the short quizzes at the end of many chapters. Dr. Henley plans to add more sections to cover emotions, learning and memory, pain and other topics. Although Foundations of Neuroscience is intended for undergraduate students, the text is easy to read and there are plenty of drawings to illustrate concepts. Foundations of Neuroscience is a great introduction to the subject of neuroscience.
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Are those end-of-summer mosquitoes still bothering you? If you do not like insect repellents containing DEET, perhaps you should try a product with picaridin. Data show that products with picaridin are about as effective at repelling insects as products with DEET.
Picaridin is a synthetic chemical based on piperidine, a chemical found in some black pepper plants. Although the exact mechanisms by which picaridin repels insects is not completely understood, there is some evidence that the chemical blocks the ability of mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers to sense their prey.
In addition to products containing picaridin, a new insect repellent that you might find in stores contains nootkatone. In 2020, a chemical named nootkatone was registered as an insect repellent with the U.S. Environmental and Protection Agency. Nootkatone, found in Alaska yellow cedar trees and grapefruit skin, has a citrusy smell and shows promise in keeping those biting insects away.
References:
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A. "Protect Your Happiness" is the cover story of the September 2022 issue of SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN MIND magazine.
B. "Probing the Complex Influence of Video Games on Young Minds" (DISCOVER magazine, September-October, 2022).
C. "Eye Tests May Help Diagnose Alzheimer's Disease" and "Spiky 'Sleep Spindles' Linked to Acts of Learning" (SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, September, 2022).
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A. "Neuron" is the name of a company in Singapore that builds electric scooters and bicycles.
B. Sigmund Freud wrote: "The dream acts as a safety-valve for the over-burdened brain." (Source: The Interpretation of Dreams, 3rd edition, translated by A. A. Brill, 1911).
C. At least 1 in 4,000 people has a disorder of the corpus callosum, the connection between the right and left cerebral hemispheres (Source: National Institutes of Health, https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/agenesis-corpus-callosum).
D. Gabapentin is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs; this medicine is used to treat seizures, pain and restless legs syndrome.
E. Angel's trumpet (genus: Brugmansia) is a flowering plant in the nightshade family. All parts of the plant, especially the seeds and leaves are extremely dangerous because of their neurotoxic effects.
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to the Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter, send e-mail to Dr. Eric H.
Chudler at: chudler@u.washington.edu
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Your comments and suggestions about this newsletter and the "Neuroscience for Kids" web site are always welcome. If there are any special topics that you would like to see on the web site, just let me know.
Eric
Eric H. Chudler, Ph.D.