____________________________________________________________
Welcome to the Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter.
In this issue:
____________________________________________________________
Neuroscience for Kids had several new additions in April including:
A. April Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter was archived
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/news2704.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/
D. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/cte.html
E. Bell's Palsy
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/bellsp.html
__________________________________________________________
The Neuroscience for Kids "Site of the Month" for May is the web site of "Matteo Farinella" at:
Matteo Farinella is a neuroscientist and artist who has written several neuroscience comic books including Neurocomic and The Senses. You can see samples of Dr. Farinella's book illustrations by clicking on the "Books" link on his web site, but I would suggest finding a copy of Neurocomic or The Senses to really appreciate his work. I also suggest that you have a look at his comics, illustrations and blog to see how he uses art to communicate ideas about scientific concepts.
__________________________________________________________
The International Neuroethics Society and the International Youth Neuroscience Association are sponsoring a Neuroethics Essay Contest for high school students. Essays must be submitted by July 7, 2023. For rules and more information, see:
https://neuroethicsessaycontest.com/call/
__________________________________________________________
The Brain Computer Interface Exhibit opened last month in the lobby of the AAAS in Washington, DC. This exhibit displays how the brain can be connected to machines to allow thoughts to control devices. I have not yet visited the exhibit, but will be sure to stop by the next time I am in Washington, DC. More information:
https://www.aaas.org/events/brain-computer-interface-exhibit
__________________________________________________________
Last month I needed some minor surgery on the inside of my mouth. Nothing serious and I am fine. Certainly, I was not looking forward to the surgery, but it was a necessary procedure and I thought it could be an interesting experience. The doctor told me that I would have a local anesthetic to numb my mouth and that I could breathe nitrous oxide for additional sedation and relaxation.
Local anesthetics, such as lidocaine, work by blocking voltage-gated sodium ion channels on nerve cells. Because these channels are blocked, neurons cannot generate action potentials and signals related to pain are not sent to the brain. Nitrous oxide, sometimes called laughing gas, is commonly used during dental procedures. Exactly how nitrous oxide works is a bit of a mystery: some evidence suggests that it interacts with several neurotransmitter systems in the brain including those that use dopamine, GABA, norepinephrine, endorphin and enkephalin. I was curious to experience the effects of this gas (and have a good story for this newsletter).
At the start of the surgery, a small mask was placed over my nose and I was told to breathe normally. I could feel a small rush of air coming from the mask, but I did not smell anything. This was expected because nitrous oxide has little, if any, odor. A few minutes later I received a topical anesthetic and then several injections of local anesthetic (lidocaine). A short time later I could not feel the roof of my mouth or my gums. When I was asked how I felt, I said "fine." When asked if I felt more relaxed, I said, "No, I feel the same as before." So, the assistant turned up the concentration of the nitrous oxide. Even with this increase in concentration, I never felt any relaxation. I also never felt light-headed, sleepy, euphoric, or dizzy. Perhaps the concentration of nitrous oxide was too low or maybe some of the gas escaped through the sides of the mask.
The procedure went fine and I have about eight stiches in my mouth. To treat post-operative pain I was given a prescription for codeine. Codeine reduces pain by activating opioid receptors in the central nervous system. But because I did not have any significant post-operative pain, I did not take any of the codeine pills.
Although I was disappointed with my experience with nitrous oxide, I am glad the local anesthetic worked because there was no pain at all.
__________________________________________________________
A. "How Migrating Birds Use Quantum Effects to Navigate," "How the Brain 'Constructs' the Outside World" and "The Neuroscience of Reality" (SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, Special Edition, March, 2023).
B. "No One Knows How the Biggest Animals on Earth - Baleen Whales - Find Their Food" (SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, April, 2023).
C. "The Power of Eye Contact" and "Dream Weavers" (DISCOVER magazine, May-June, 2023).
_________________________________________________________
A. African elephants (Loxodonta africana) use their sense of smell to tell the difference between elephants who they are related to from those who are strangers (Source: von Dürckheim, K.E.M., et al. A pachyderm perfume: odour encodes identity and group membership in African elephants. Sci Rep 12, 16768 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-20920-2).
B. Antlers amplify sounds and boost the hearing ability of moose (Source: Bubenik, G. and Bubenik, P.G., Palmated antlers of moose may serve as a parabolic reflector of sounds, Euro. J. Wildlife Res., 54:533-535, 2008).
C. Robert Pemell, an English country physician, is credited with writing the first neurology book in English. His book, titled De Morbis Capitis; or, Of the Chief Internal Diseases of the Head, was published in 1650 (Source: Pestronk, A., The first neurology book written in English (1650) by Robert Pemell: De Morbis Capitis, Arch. Neurol. 46:215-220, 1989).
D. An octopus can taste objects with its arms. (Nature, April 12, 2023).
E. Maranta leuconeura is a plant found in Brazilian tropical forests. The name "leuconeura" comes from Greek meaning "with white nerves."
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
To remove yourself from this mailing list and stop your subscription
to the Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter, send e-mail to Dr. Eric H.
Chudler at: chudler@u.washington.edu
_________________________________________________________
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.