Neuroscientist often write in the case study format. But, what exactly is a case study. After starting to read the first case study in Oliver Sack's book the general concept behind case studies is obvious. A case study is when a doctor, sociologist, or someone similar to those studies a specific person dealing with an abnormality and trying to either, fix them, learn from them, or understand them. A case study really helps the person conducting it gain insight on an individual, rather than a survey which get the general opinions of a group of people. Case studies are therefor considered qualitative research because it does not use numeric data, its data is very in depth and needs to be analyzed. Those who conduct a case study must be able to be very strong observers. They need to not only ask questions, but observe the emotions and movements in the person as they answer. They also must try to observe and study them in everyday life. It is the job of the one conducting the study to understand what is going through the persons head, and how they think. This is what makes it very interesting for Neuroscientist because they study the brain, so their interpretation of ones possible thoughts behind their actions may be more accurate than other scientist. Using this information I will read a case study and learn the literature aspect behind it.
Work Cited
Sacks, Oliver. An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales. New York: Knopf, 1995. Print.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Reconstruction and Adaptation [An Anthropologist on Mars part 1]
Oliver Sacks is probably one of the most recognized Neurologist, unfortunately he died in 2015. He didn't die without creating a legacy though now only his achievements, but the books he wrote. One of these books is titles An Anthropologist on Mars. This title really got me, why would an anthropologist me on mars? How would they survive? Well these are question I feel Oliver Sacks wants you to ask yourself. In order to understand this more I read the preface to this book. The book as a whole is comprised of a bunch of different case studies all with a similar theme. What is this theme though?
Adaptation.
Oliver Sacks introduces his book with a story about himself. He explains that as he is writing this book he is using his left hand, even though he is right handed. This was because of an injury to his right shoulder. He explains how this new lifestyle with a dominant left hand gets easier every day, but there was some learning curves. Now Sacks walks differently, and developed different patterns to what he is used to, in a way he created a different identity. He then explains that some adaptations are deliberate, while some are through trial and error, but most occur by themselves, unconsciously.
"Defects, disorders, diseases, in this sense can play a paradoxical role, by bringing out latent powers, developments, evolutions, forms of life, that might never be seen, or even be imaginable, in their absence. It is the paradox of disease, in this sense, its "creative" potential, that forms the central theme of this book." This quote is when I started to understand the title of that book. The idea of an anthropologist on mars in almost a contradiction, but what creative ways can the brain problem solve this contradiction to make it work. For example the preface explains that blind and deaf children achieve what other children can do in a different way. They learn to see and hear without the standard ability to. That is what the brain of the anthropologist must adapt to do. They must learn to become an anthropologist on mars, they must adapt.
In this book we will discover stories of people with altered conditions, and how they made survival possible with them. The power of reconstruction and adaptation is going to be an interesting one. The brain is the most "most incredible thing in the universe" for multiple reasons, and this book contains some of them. Everyone creates their own world in their brains and their perception of reality is different depending on multiple factors. That's why it's important to study everyone individually and try to understand their inner thoughts and world. It is impossible to understand a person just on observation of behavior from the outside. That is why each of these case studies are important to understanding the adaptation these people made based on their perceptions of reality.
As I proceed forward into the world of neuroscience literature I will be paying attention to how a neuroscientist writes and thinks. The first story that I will read is called The Case of the Colorblind Painter.
Work Cited
Sacks, Oliver. An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales. New York: Knopf, 1995. Print.
Adaptation.
Oliver Sacks introduces his book with a story about himself. He explains that as he is writing this book he is using his left hand, even though he is right handed. This was because of an injury to his right shoulder. He explains how this new lifestyle with a dominant left hand gets easier every day, but there was some learning curves. Now Sacks walks differently, and developed different patterns to what he is used to, in a way he created a different identity. He then explains that some adaptations are deliberate, while some are through trial and error, but most occur by themselves, unconsciously.
"Defects, disorders, diseases, in this sense can play a paradoxical role, by bringing out latent powers, developments, evolutions, forms of life, that might never be seen, or even be imaginable, in their absence. It is the paradox of disease, in this sense, its "creative" potential, that forms the central theme of this book." This quote is when I started to understand the title of that book. The idea of an anthropologist on mars in almost a contradiction, but what creative ways can the brain problem solve this contradiction to make it work. For example the preface explains that blind and deaf children achieve what other children can do in a different way. They learn to see and hear without the standard ability to. That is what the brain of the anthropologist must adapt to do. They must learn to become an anthropologist on mars, they must adapt.
In this book we will discover stories of people with altered conditions, and how they made survival possible with them. The power of reconstruction and adaptation is going to be an interesting one. The brain is the most "most incredible thing in the universe" for multiple reasons, and this book contains some of them. Everyone creates their own world in their brains and their perception of reality is different depending on multiple factors. That's why it's important to study everyone individually and try to understand their inner thoughts and world. It is impossible to understand a person just on observation of behavior from the outside. That is why each of these case studies are important to understanding the adaptation these people made based on their perceptions of reality.
As I proceed forward into the world of neuroscience literature I will be paying attention to how a neuroscientist writes and thinks. The first story that I will read is called The Case of the Colorblind Painter.
Work Cited
Sacks, Oliver. An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales. New York: Knopf, 1995. Print.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Neuroscience Student Interview
Elizabeth Mooney, a second year neuroscience major in college, has been fascinated with the brain for years. Why? Well I conducted an interview with her so I could understand the concept of neuroscience more before going into intense literary research about the brain.
What is neuroscience?
"Neuroscience is the study of the human brain, including neuroanatomy and brain physiology."
What made you want to study neuroscience?
"I wanted to study to neuroscience because the brain is the most complex and fascinating thing in the universe. It's something we all have but something no one fully understands."
What are some cool things about neuroscience?
"People think that they know the about it but misunderstand it, such as we only use 10 percent of our brains, false, the brain is broken up into parts and each part works almost all of the time. It never completely shuts off. Even blind people use the vision center of their brains, they "see" inside their minds. The brain can compensate for loss in one section by strengthening another. It's cool that so much happens at the same time without you being aware of it. Breathing, blinking, heart beating as well as movement. Imagine if you had to think about picking up a foot in order to walk. In fact you are commanding the action, it just happens so quickly that it's done before you know it. It's so devastating when there is a brain injury or disease because things taken for granted take longer. Taking a minute to move your arm is excruciating to experience. I hope to help people have better life if they suffer any brain function loss."
What are some of the most interesting parts of the brain?
"The most interesting part of the brain to me is the cerebellum, often called the little brain. It is at the back and bottom of the brain. It controls balance and coordination."
What are some important terms neurologist would know?
"Frontal lobe
Temporal lobe
Parietal lobe
Occipital lobe
Synapses (how the brain communicates between different parts)."
After going through this interview it is obvious there is a lot of knowledge I must acquire in order to write like a neuroscience fanatic properly.
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