News New Understanding Of How Brain’s Frontal Lobes Control Behavior

[anthony]

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, have identified for the first time a cell type in the brain of mice that is integral to attention. By manipulating the activity of this cell type, the scientists were able to enhance attention in mice.

The frontal cortex of the brain plays a crucial part in cognitive functions, including everyday mental processes such as attention, memory, learning, decision-making and problem-solving. However, little is known about how the frontal cortex performs these mental processes, including which neuronal cell types are involved.

http://www.psypost.org/2016/01/atte...w-brains-frontal-lobes-control-behavior-40229

 

[anthony]

Added: think about it like this, by adding a light (optogenetics) to a cap or such that sits on your head, so the light is unseen by others (so you still remain trendy), could literally stimulate PV-cells to increase functioning in these areas, all of which are affected due to PTSD.

 

[mary1979]

Really interesting.

My friend was involved in a car accident age 6.
It was pretty bad, enough so that she was awarded a million plus in compensation at age 21, when they finally finished putting her back together again (yes, literally a humpty dumpty reference, her face and head were obliterated. She face planted a south Aussie stobie pole)
A few years ago we got hold of her records and her frontal lobe sustained 90% of the damage, giving cause for them to say she could never be responsible for that kind of cash so it was put in trust. They basically say she is brain damaged and will never be capable of making healthy decisions for herself in her lifetime.

Which is nonsense.
She is one of the most emotionally mature people I know, grasps concepts way beyond mine and has this presence about her that just makes people feel comfortable.
She is intelligent in many ways most will never comprehend.

But what I have noticed in her is firstly, she has the attention span of a gold fish, quite literally around the bowl once and she is lost.
I cant even tell you how many times she's almost burnt her house down forgetting dinner.

Decision making is not even in her vocabulary, this girl lets life happen TO her, end of.



One not mentioned in the article though, most concerning for me, she has no ability to sense oncoming danger. A murderer could be standing over her, knife at her chest and she'd go 'oh hey, what are you doing here?'
Her survival instincts are shot.

 

[anthony]

will never be capable of making healthy decisions for herself

Based on what you have said, I think the doctors are right. If she made a decision, and then couldn't remember it, or someone with a knife forced her, and she just says no worries with a smile on her face, I would say there is enough issues that she shouldn't be in charge of such monies.