Left Brain Right Brain

When I was in business school, my whole Organizational Behavior class took a personality test.  Without telling us the results, my professor called four of us up front and paired us.  Each pair was tasked with drawing a house, alternating turns with the pen, without speaking at all.  My partner Jenna and I worked so well together, creating straight line after straight line.  Then, the professor switched up the partners, and our groups switched.  My new partner Leticia and I couldn’t figure out how to work together at all.  She would draw a swiggly line, and I would draw a straight line.  Then, the professor told us what had happened.  Jenna and I were the most left-brained people in the class, while Leticia and her partner were the most right-brained people.

I thought about that story last week, when my son had a kindergarten homework assignment due.  He was asked to draw a set of eyes for each member of his family, and he could include pets.  I know exactly what I would draw – six sets of eyes in a row.  If I was feeling especially creative, I may have drawn eyelashes and eyebrows.  Maybe.

Here’s what my son drew:

I’ve always had a difficult time figuring out what makes my son tick, and I finally figured out that he is super right-brained – so different from my husband and me.

I think it’s time to sign him up for an art class!

View the original article here

Left Brain Right Brain

When I was in business school, my whole Organizational Behavior class took a personality test.  Without telling us the results, my professor called four of us up front and paired us.  Each pair was tasked with drawing a house, alternating turns with the pen, without speaking at all.  My partner Jenna and I worked so well together, creating straight line after straight line.  Then, the professor switched up the partners, and our groups switched.  My new partner Leticia and I couldn’t figure out how to work together at all.  She would draw a swiggly line, and I would draw a straight line.  Then, the professor told us what had happened.  Jenna and I were the most left-brained people in the class, while Leticia and her partner were the most right-brained people.

I thought about that story last week, when my son had a kindergarten homework assignment due.  He was asked to draw a set of eyes for each member of his family, and he could include pets.  I know exactly what I would draw – six sets of eyes in a row.  If I was feeling especially creative, I may have drawn eyelashes and eyebrows.  Maybe.

Here’s what my son drew:

I’ve always had a difficult time figuring out what makes my son tick, and I finally figured out that he is super right-brained – so different from my husband and me.

I think it’s time to sign him up for an art class!

View the original article here

Maintain Your Brain

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AppId is over the quota

April 6, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. RR–2
Good Laboratory Practices for Biochemical Genetic Testing and Newborn Screening for Inherited Metabolic Disorders
CE Available

This report provides recommendations for good laboratory practices for biochemical genetic testing and newborn screening for inherited metabolic disorders. The recommended practices address the benefits of using a quality management system approach, factors to consider before introducing new tests, establishment and verification of test performance specifications, the total laboratory testing process, confidentiality of patient information and test results, and personnel qualifications and responsibilities for laboratory testing for inherited metabolic diseases. These recommendations are intended for laboratories that perform biochemical genetic testing to improve the quality of laboratory services and for newborn screening laboratories to ensure the quality of laboratory practices for inherited metabolic disorders. These recommendations also are intended as a resource for medical and public health professionals who evaluate laboratory practices, for users of laboratory services to facilitate their collaboration with newborn screening systems and use of biochemical genetic tests, and for standard-setting organizations and professional societies in developing future laboratory quality standards and practice recommendations.

View the original article here

Battling depression with "battery-powered brains" - CNN report on deep brain stimulation (DBS)

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota CNN reports on treating severe depression with electrodes inside the brain:

The procedure -- called deep brain stimulation, or DBS -- targets a small brain structure known as Area 25, the "ringleader" for the brain circuits that control our moods.

Area 25 is relatively overactive in depressed patients. One hypothesis is that in patients who do not improve with treatments for depression, Area 25 is somehow stuck in overdrive.

DBS had been used since 1997 as a treatment for movement disorders, including essential tremor, Parkinson's disease and dystonia.

References:

Treating depression with electrodes inside the brain. CNN, 2012.

 

Battling depression with "battery-powered brains" - CNN report on deep brain stimulation (DBS)

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota CNN reports on treating severe depression with electrodes inside the brain:

The procedure -- called deep brain stimulation, or DBS -- targets a small brain structure known as Area 25, the "ringleader" for the brain circuits that control our moods.

Area 25 is relatively overactive in depressed patients. One hypothesis is that in patients who do not improve with treatments for depression, Area 25 is somehow stuck in overdrive.

DBS had been used since 1997 as a treatment for movement disorders, including essential tremor, Parkinson's disease and dystonia.

References:

Treating depression with electrodes inside the brain. CNN, 2012.

 

Battling depression with "battery-powered brains" - CNN report on deep brain stimulation (DBS)

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota CNN reports on treating severe depression with electrodes inside the brain:

The procedure -- called deep brain stimulation, or DBS -- targets a small brain structure known as Area 25, the "ringleader" for the brain circuits that control our moods.

Area 25 is relatively overactive in depressed patients. One hypothesis is that in patients who do not improve with treatments for depression, Area 25 is somehow stuck in overdrive.

DBS had been used since 1997 as a treatment for movement disorders, including essential tremor, Parkinson's disease and dystonia.

References:

Treating depression with electrodes inside the brain. CNN, 2012.