Neuroscience
The brain of famous amnesic patient H.M. is being sectioned right now!
Watch it live at The Brain Observatory.They are currently cutting the frontal lobe.UPDATE (Dec. 3, 1:40PM): They've entered the temporal lobes.UPDATE (Dec. 4, 1:35PM): Primary visual cortex has surfaced. The end is in sight!UPDATE (Dec. 4, 11:11PM): They're almost finished!
Below is an MRI of H.M.'s brain when he was still alive.
Figure 1 (Corkin, 2002). Multiplanar views of 18 averaged T1-weighted MRI volumes showing preserved structures in H.M.’s MTL. This magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was obtained on 15 December 1998. The images are based on data averaged over 18 runs; images were motion corrected using the first scan (out of the 18 axials) as a reference. The asterisk marks the intersection of the three viewing planes, just caudal to the left medial temporal lobe (MTL) resection, seen best in the transaxial view. Top left, sagittal view; bottom left, coronal view; bottom right, transaxial view; top right, surface rendering showing locations of transaxial and coronal planes. Abbreviations: CS, collateral sulcus; EC, entorhinal cortex; H, hippocampus; L, left; PH, parahippocampal gyrus; R, right.
Coda (from Corkin, 2002):
An impact he could never appreciate: Henry G. Molaison died a year ago today on Dec. 2, 2008 at the age of 82.
- The Life And Brain Of H.m.
Dr. Suzanne Corkin on H.M. One of the highlights of this year's Cognitive Neuroscience Society Meeting was Dr. Corkin's keynote address about Henry Molaison the person and his lasting contribution to the neurobiology of memory. In her more timely...
- Brain Scans And Lie Detection: True Or False?
Now this is a rapidly expanding area of research (and one that's quite well-funded by the DOD). Wired did a piece on this recently (Don't Even Think About Lying), and there's an AP story that appeared in papers around the country (e.g., the...
- Patient H.m.: The End Of The Week, The End Of The Sectioning
The web feed for the continued brain slicing of Patient H.M. suggests that, to the music of Stan Getz, "Primary visual cortex has surfaced. The end is in sight!" :-) If you have not yet watched some of the web stream, give it a look at this time! http://thebrainobservatory.ucsd.edu/hm_live.php...
- Patient H.m. Update
From the Brain Observatory website at the end of last night's work: "We have reached the corpus callosum. The team is resting for the night. The brain will be safe surrounded by our chillers until tomorrow morning. The cutting will resume again at...
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Mild Cognitive Impairment (mci)
Karas G, Sluimer J, Goekoop R, van der Flier W, Rombouts S, Vrenken H, Scheltens P, Fox N, & Barkhof F. Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: Structural MR Imaging Findings Predictive of Conversion to Alzheimer Disease. American Journal of Neuroradiology....
Neuroscience
The Stanley Cup of Neuroscience
The brain of famous amnesic patient H.M. is being sectioned right now!
Watch it live at The Brain Observatory.They are currently cutting the frontal lobe.UPDATE (Dec. 3, 1:40PM): They've entered the temporal lobes.UPDATE (Dec. 4, 1:35PM): Primary visual cortex has surfaced. The end is in sight!UPDATE (Dec. 4, 11:11PM): They're almost finished!
Below is an MRI of H.M.'s brain when he was still alive.
Figure 1 (Corkin, 2002). Multiplanar views of 18 averaged T1-weighted MRI volumes showing preserved structures in H.M.’s MTL. This magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was obtained on 15 December 1998. The images are based on data averaged over 18 runs; images were motion corrected using the first scan (out of the 18 axials) as a reference. The asterisk marks the intersection of the three viewing planes, just caudal to the left medial temporal lobe (MTL) resection, seen best in the transaxial view. Top left, sagittal view; bottom left, coronal view; bottom right, transaxial view; top right, surface rendering showing locations of transaxial and coronal planes. Abbreviations: CS, collateral sulcus; EC, entorhinal cortex; H, hippocampus; L, left; PH, parahippocampal gyrus; R, right.
Coda (from Corkin, 2002):
ProspectsH.M. is now 75 years old. His mobility is markedly reduced because of osteoporosis, another side effect of phenytoin (Dilantin). Although he is in relatively good health, plans are in place for the post-mortem examination of his brain when he dies. He and his court-appointed conservator have both signed his brain donation form, ensuring that the final chapter in his lifelong contribution to science will include a precise description of his brain and documentation of his lesion. His wish to help other people will have been fulfilled. Sadly, however, he will remain unaware of his fame and of the impact that his participation in research has had on scientific and medical communities internationally.
An impact he could never appreciate: Henry G. Molaison died a year ago today on Dec. 2, 2008 at the age of 82.
- The Life And Brain Of H.m.
Dr. Suzanne Corkin on H.M. One of the highlights of this year's Cognitive Neuroscience Society Meeting was Dr. Corkin's keynote address about Henry Molaison the person and his lasting contribution to the neurobiology of memory. In her more timely...
- Brain Scans And Lie Detection: True Or False?
Now this is a rapidly expanding area of research (and one that's quite well-funded by the DOD). Wired did a piece on this recently (Don't Even Think About Lying), and there's an AP story that appeared in papers around the country (e.g., the...
- Patient H.m.: The End Of The Week, The End Of The Sectioning
The web feed for the continued brain slicing of Patient H.M. suggests that, to the music of Stan Getz, "Primary visual cortex has surfaced. The end is in sight!" :-) If you have not yet watched some of the web stream, give it a look at this time! http://thebrainobservatory.ucsd.edu/hm_live.php...
- Patient H.m. Update
From the Brain Observatory website at the end of last night's work: "We have reached the corpus callosum. The team is resting for the night. The brain will be safe surrounded by our chillers until tomorrow morning. The cutting will resume again at...
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Mild Cognitive Impairment (mci)
Karas G, Sluimer J, Goekoop R, van der Flier W, Rombouts S, Vrenken H, Scheltens P, Fox N, & Barkhof F. Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: Structural MR Imaging Findings Predictive of Conversion to Alzheimer Disease. American Journal of Neuroradiology....