Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Search Results for 'rett syndrome'

podcast: Rett Syndrome Research Trust

Posted in MECP2, tagged , , , , , , , , on October 1, 2009| Leave a Comment »

It was a delight today to chat with Monica Coenraads, Executive Director of the Rett Syndrome Research Trust.  The RSRT has teamed up with a deeply focused world-class team of research scientists to translate the fruits of basic research on Rett syndrome into viable cures.   Whether you are a scientist, student or concerned family member, […]

Read Full Post »

Support staff deserves some of the blame for Rett syndrome deficits

Posted in MECP2, White matter, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 28, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Celebrities and politicians are known for their love of the spotlight.  “Me, me, me!”  are the words to get ahead by in our modern media circus.   As well, it can even be – in the unglamorous world of science – where, in characteristically geeky form, the conventional wisdom is to shout, “my hypothesis, my […]

Read Full Post »

Genes for Down syndrome isolated in mouse model

Posted in DYRK1A, KCNJ6, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 2, 2009| Leave a Comment »

The human brain is renown for its complexity.  Indeed, while we often marvel at the mature brain in its splendid form and capability, its even more staggering to consider how to build such a powerful computing machine.  Admittedly, mother nature has been working on this for a long time – perhaps since the first neuronal […]

Read Full Post »

Epigenetics and cognitive development – quick sketch overview

Posted in BDNF, MECP2, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 16, 2009| 2 Comments »

Some quick sketches that might help put the fast-growing epigenetics and cognitive development literature into context.  Visit the University of Utah’s Epigenetics training site for more background! The genome is just the A,G,T,C bases that encode proteins and other mRNA molecules.  The “epi”genome are various modification to the DNA – such as methylation (at C […]

Read Full Post »

Epigenetic loss of an insensitive period of cognitive development

Posted in Hippocampus, Hypothalamus, NRXB1, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 4, 2009| Leave a Comment »

We are all familiar with the notion that genes are NOT destiny and that the development of an individual’s mind and body occur in a manner that is sensitive to the environment (e.g. children who eat lots of healthy food grow bigger and stronger than those who have little or no access to food).  In […]

Read Full Post »

Nature meets nurture on BDNF promoter IV

Posted in BDNF, tagged , , , , , , , , , on October 5, 2009| Leave a Comment »

According to Joseph LeDoux, “One of the most important contributions of modern neuroscience has been to show that the nature/nurture debate operates around a false dichotomy: the assumption that biology, on one hand, and lived experience, on the other, affect us in fundamentally different ways” (ref).  Indeed.  While I know not where the current debate […]

Read Full Post »

Too much yin and not enough yang in cortical networks of MeCP2 mutant mice

Posted in MECP2, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 30, 2009| 1 Comment »

Image via Wikipedia In previous posts, we have explored some of the basic molecular (de-repression of chromatin structure) and cellular (excess synaptogenesis) consequences of mutations in the MeCP2 gene – a.k.a the gene whose loss of function gives rise to Rett syndrome.  One of the more difficult aspects of understanding how a mutation in a […]

Read Full Post »

resourceblog: Understanding the molecular basis of cognitive and social impairment in the autism spectrum disorders

Posted in HDACs, MECP2, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 24, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Image via Wikipedia The cognitive and emotional impairments in the autism spectrum disorders can be difficult for parents and siblings to understand and cope with.  Here are some graphics and videos that might assist in understanding how genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications can lead to various forms of social withdrawl commonly observed in the autism […]

Read Full Post »

Epigenetic puppetmasters pull strings of cognitive development from a safe distance

Posted in HDACs, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 21, 2009| 2 Comments »

Image by eugene via Flickr The homunculus (argument) is a pesky problem in cognitive science – a little guy who might suddenly appear when you propose a mechanism for decision making, spontaneous action or forethought  etc. – and would take credit for the origination of the neural impulse.  While there are many mechanistic models of […]

Read Full Post »

Podcasts

Posted in on August 18, 2009| Leave a Comment »

  Below are links to the posts that point to interviews & DIRECT LINK to the main podcast page. 1. Michael Corbin – EveryMinute.org – suicide awareness and prevention 2. Dr. Michael Frank – Brown University – genetics and decision making 3. Monica Coenraads – Rett Syndrome Research Trust 4. Dr. Christina Barr – NIAAA (email interview) – genetics […]

Read Full Post »

Timing is everything – K+ channel bears the evidence across milliseconds and millenia

Posted in KCNH2, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 22, 2009| Leave a Comment »

**PODCAST accompanies this post** In the brain, as in other aspects of life, timing is everything.  On an intuitive level, its pretty clear, that, since neurons have to work together in widely distributed networks, they have a lot of incentive to talk to each other in a rhythmic, organized way. Think of a choir that […]

Read Full Post »

Noradrenergic relief of problematic impulses can be seen through the slit(rk1)

Posted in ADRA2A, Locus coeruleus, Noradrenaline, SLITRK1, tagged , , , , , on January 9, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Image via Wikipedia A recent report by Katayama and colleagues [doi 10.1038/mp.2008.97] shows that the the gene slitrk1 – a known risk factor for the developmental disorders  Tourette’s syndrome and trichotillomania gives rise to increased levels of noradrenaline when the gene is inactivated in a developing mouse model.  In the U. S., the most frequently […]

Read Full Post »