25 posts · 2,728 views
"Neuro" + "orexia" = An appetite for neuroscience. All about the noggin. With a little body thrown in.
Shelly Fan
25 posts
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- May 19, 2013
- 11:52 PM
- 39 views
Blood magic: old blood ages the young
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
“Our ancient countess was refused her desires will To bathe in pure fresh blood She’d peasant virgins killed Elizabeth, in the chasm where was my soul Forever young, Elizabeth Bathorii in the castle of your death You’re still alive, Elizabeth” -“Elizabeth”, Ghost As folklore has it, Elizabeth Bathorii, Countess of Hungary, often bath........ Read more »
Villeda SA, Luo J, Mosher KI, Zou B, Britschgi M, Bieri G, Stan TM, Fainberg N, Ding Z, Eggel A.... (2011) The ageing systemic milieu negatively regulates neurogenesis and cognitive function. Nature, 477(7362), 90-4. PMID: 21886162
Loffredo FS, Steinhauser ML, Jay SM, Gannon J, Pancoast JR, Yalamanchi P, Sinha M, Dall'osso C, Khong D, Shadrach JL.... (2013) Growth Differentiation Factor 11 Is a Circulating Factor that Reverses Age-Related Cardiac Hypertrophy. Cell, 153(4), 828-39. PMID: 23663781
Zhang G, Li J, Purkayastha S, Tang Y, Zhang H, Yin Y, Li B, Liu G, & Cai D. (2013) Hypothalamic programming of systemic ageing involving IKK-β, NF-κB and GnRH. Nature, 497(7448), 211-6. PMID: 23636330
- May 15, 2013
- 10:01 PM
- 47 views
Ladies: why Ritalin may not always be helpful. (Hint: sex, genes and dem hormones)
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
Little note: Since this post, I’ve been mulling over why Ritalin/Adderall don’t affect cognitive performance of healthy volunteers. Several reasons come to mind. I wasn’t reading the “right” literature (ie studies with positive results – any suggestions?). Stimulants may only influence brain activation patterns, but not performance. In this case, we can only detect differences […]... Read more »
Jacobs E, & D'Esposito M. (2011) Estrogen shapes dopamine-dependent cognitive processes: implications for women's health. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 31(14), 5286-93. PMID: 21471363
- May 10, 2013
- 07:05 PM
- 65 views
What makes me, me? The cellular correlates of individuality
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
Somewhere in Germany, a group of 40 genetically identical females are being constantly watched. Implanted with radio-frequency identification transponders (RFID) since 4 weeks old, they are allowed to roam free in a rich, 5-storey mansion, with 20 antennas monitoring and recording their whereabouts. 3 months later their brains will be examined for traces of emerging […]... Read more »
Freund, J., Brandmaier, A., Lewejohann, L., Kirste, I., Kritzler, M., Kruger, A., Sachser, N., Lindenberger, U., & Kempermann, G. (2013) Emergence of Individuality in Genetically Identical Mice. Science, 340(6133), 756-759. DOI: 10.1126/science.1235294
- May 7, 2013
- 06:16 PM
- 45 views
Shot for shot: a vaccine against heroin relapse?
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
A particularly sinister aspect of drug addiction is relapse. To the ex-addict, environmental cues, life stressors and even the drug itself serve as the sirens’ call, beckoning them back into the deadly realm of abuse. Currently, doctors battle heroin temptations with psychotherapy and replacement opioid drugs, such as methadone. While effective, these treatments rely heavily [...]... Read more »
Schlosburg, J., Vendruscolo, L., Bremer, P., Lockner, J., Wade, C., Nunes, A., Stowe, G., Edwards, S., Janda, K., & Koob, G. (2013) Dynamic vaccine blocks relapse to compulsive intake of heroin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1219159110
- May 1, 2013
- 01:35 AM
- 53 views
A “switch” for the winter blues
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
We’ve all been there. Mid-winter morning, you crawl out of bed, slouch towards work, and pass the day in a hazy daze. There seems to be no concept of time, just never-ending darkness and cold. You’re not depressed, just…bleh. Well, rats have that feeling too. Being nocturnal though, they prefer long nights to long days [...]... Read more »
Dulcis D, Jamshidi P, Leutgeb S, & Spitzer NC. (2013) Neurotransmitter switching in the adult brain regulates behavior. Science (New York, N.Y.), 340(6131), 449-53. PMID: 23620046
- April 21, 2013
- 05:39 PM
- 78 views
Urging neurons to self-eat: a therapy for neurodegenerative diseases?
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
Many bloggers like to write about studies that advance our understanding on how the brain FUNCTIONS, including myself. Function, however, depends on the smooth running of processes both between neurons (circuits) and within neurons. Unfortunately things don’t always go smoothly, and sometimes broken, misshapen and aggregated proteins can build up in cells, disrupting their normal [...]... Read more »
Wong E, & Cuervo AM. (2010) Autophagy gone awry in neurodegenerative diseases. Nature neuroscience, 13(7), 805-11. PMID: 20581817
Shoji-Kawata, S., Sumpter, R., Leveno, M., Campbell, G., Zou, Z., Kinch, L., Wilkins, A., Sun, Q., Pallauf, K., MacDuff, D.... (2013) Identification of a candidate therapeutic autophagy-inducing peptide. Nature, 494(7436), 201-206. DOI: 10.1038/nature11866
- April 19, 2013
- 01:50 AM
- 121 views
Do smart drugs ACTUALLY make you smarter?
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
T’is the season of finals again, and with it, a surging interest in prescription “smart drugs” (see Fig 1). High school and college students are increasingly turning to ADHD medicine (Ritalin, Adderall) in hopes of enhancing school and test performance. Intuitively this makes sense: drugs that increase energy, attention and concentration should inevitably lead to [...]... Read more »
Lakhan SE, & Kirchgessner A. (2012) Prescription stimulants in individuals with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: misuse, cognitive impact, and adverse effects. Brain and behavior, 2(5), 661-77. PMID: 23139911
Smith ME, & Farah MJ. (2011) Are prescription stimulants "smart pills"? The epidemiology and cognitive neuroscience of prescription stimulant use by normal healthy individuals. Psychological bulletin, 137(5), 717-41. PMID: 21859174
- April 15, 2013
- 11:42 PM
- 129 views
Why do some memories fade while others endure?
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
Ah, the age-old question: why do we remember what we remember? One possible mechanism is selective “memory replay” during sleep, in which the brain reactivates specific patterns of neuronal firing as seen during learning. In other words, memories that are rehearsed during sleep will most likely be retained (“consolidated” in neurojargon) in the long run. [...]... Read more »
Oudiette D, Antony JW, Creery JD, & Paller KA. (2013) The Role of Memory Reactivation during Wakefulness and Sleep in Determining Which Memories Endure. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 33(15), 6672-8. PMID: 23575863
- April 12, 2013
- 01:28 AM
- 110 views
A new cure for insomnia?
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
Many a nights I’ve tossed and turned, willing my brain to STFU and let me sleep. I’m not alone in this battle. 10-15% of adults suffer from insomnia, and up to a third take prescription sleeping pills to bring on the snooze – for a heavy cognitive price. Current sleeping drugs, such as Ambien and [...]... Read more »
Uslaner JM, Tye SJ, Eddins DM, Wang X, Fox SV, Savitz AT, Binns J, Cannon CE, Garson SL, Yao L.... (2013) Orexin receptor antagonists differ from standard sleep drugs by promoting sleep at doses that do not disrupt cognition. Science translational medicine, 5(179). PMID: 23552372
- April 7, 2013
- 05:22 PM
- 161 views
L-carnitine: good for brains, bad for hearts?
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
Remember this study from a week ago, where researchers showed L-acetyl carnitine rapidly alleviating depression symptoms by changing DNA expression? Well, a new study in Nature Medicine now identified a compound in red meat that can be metabolized by our gut microbiota into TMAO, which promotes atherosceleosis. And the culprit? L-carnitine, the parent compound of [...]... Read more »
Koeth, R., Wang, Z., Levison, B., Buffa, J., Org, E., Sheehy, B., Britt, E., Fu, X., Wu, Y., Li, L.... (2013) Intestinal microbiota metabolism of l-carnitine, a nutrient in red meat, promotes atherosclerosis. Nature Medicine. DOI: 10.1038/nm.3145
- April 2, 2013
- 07:52 PM
- 167 views
Antidepressant epigenetic action of a common fitness supplement
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
A short note on the history of antidepressant research: From MAOIs/SSRIs to ketamine and BDNF Traditional antidepressants, like Prozac, don’t work too well. Back in the 50s, researchers thought that depression was caused by a depletion of a group of neurotransmitters in the brain known chemically as the monoamines (i.e. serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine). Hence, the [...]... Read more »
Nasca C, Xenos D, Barone Y, Caruso A, Scaccianoce S, Matrisciano F, Battaglia G, Mathé AA, Pittaluga A, Lionetto L.... (2013) L-acetylcarnitine causes rapid antidepressant effects through the epigenetic induction of mGlu2 receptors. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110(12), 4804-9. PMID: 23382250
- March 25, 2013
- 01:55 AM
- 152 views
Brain, livin’ on ketones – a molecular neuroscience look at the ketogenic diet
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
WARNING: Wall of text on the yummy neuroprotective effect of ketosis from a molecular neuroscience point of view. Proceed with caution. Remember when your high school biology teacher said that the brain absolutely NEEDS glucose to function? Well, that’s not entirely true. Under severe carbohydrate restriction, the brain can adapt and start burning ketones as [...]... Read more »
Hallböök T, Ji S, Maudsley S, & Martin B. (2012) The effects of the ketogenic diet on behavior and cognition. Epilepsy research, 100(3), 304-9. PMID: 21872440
Rho, J., & Sankar, R. (2008) The ketogenic diet in a pill: Is this possible?. Epilepsia, 127-133. DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01857.x
Phelps, J., Siemers, S., & El-Mallakh, R. (2012) The ketogenic diet for type II bipolar disorder. Neurocase, 1-4. DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2012.690421
Ruskin DN, Ross JL, Kawamura M Jr, Ruiz TL, Geiger JD, & Masino SA. (2011) A ketogenic diet delays weight loss and does not impair working memory or motor function in the R6/2 1J mouse model of Huntington's disease. Physiology , 103(5), 501-7. PMID: 21501628
Krikorian R, Shidler MD, Dangelo K, Couch SC, Benoit SC, & Clegg DJ. (2012) Dietary ketosis enhances memory in mild cognitive impairment. Neurobiology of aging, 33(2), 2147483647-27. PMID: 21130529
Denke, M. (2001) Metabolic effects of high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets. The American Journal of Cardiology, 88(1), 59-61. DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9149(01)01586-7
- March 19, 2013
- 11:47 PM
- 75 views
A snake bit me, now I’m afraid of rope?
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
Memories allow us to survive and adapt in constantly changing environments. Fear memory especially warns us to avoid that jumpy hornet in the garden, or the slithering snake on the hiking trail. These memories aren’t very specific – this is evolutionarily beneficial as it allows us to respond to new but similar threats on the [...]... Read more »
Xu W, & Südhof TC. (2013) A neural circuit for memory specificity and generalization. Science (New York, N.Y.), 339(6125), 1290-5. PMID: 23493706
- March 14, 2013
- 11:30 PM
- 129 views
The frugal brain
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
Long-term memory is costly. To encode a memory, the brain needs to synthesize many proteins that ultimately lead to changes in synaptic strength, which is thought to be the molecular mechanism behind memory storage. So what happens under nutrient starvation? Does memory storage fail? Plaçais, P. -Y. & Preat, T. To favor survival under food shortage, [...]... Read more »
Plaçais PY, & Preat T. (2013) To favor survival under food shortage, the brain disables costly memory. Science (New York, N.Y.), 339(6118), 440-2. PMID: 23349289
- March 11, 2013
- 01:31 AM
- 170 views
Physiological responses to chew & spit – ghrelin and obestatin
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
This is my second guest post for Science of Eating Disorders blog. Tetyana has a lovely piece up looking at Deep Brain Stimulation as a potential therapy for intractable AN. If you haven’t seen it yet, please go check it out and join the discussion! Your body responds to food long before it reaches your [...]... Read more »
Monteleone P, Serritella C, Martiadis V, & Maj M. (2008) Deranged secretion of ghrelin and obestatin in the cephalic phase of vagal stimulation in women with anorexia nervosa. Biological psychiatry, 64(11), 1005-8. PMID: 18474361
Méquinion, M., Langlet, F., Zgheib, S., Dickson, S., Dehouck, B., Chauveau, C., & Viltart, O. (2013) Ghrelin: Central and Peripheral Implications in Anorexia Nervosa. Frontiers in Endocrinology. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2013.00015
- March 8, 2013
- 03:30 AM
- 160 views
The Hidden Cost Towards a “Smarter” You
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
We all want to be smarter. For a while, it looked like science was ready to deliver. Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) is a type of noninvasive brain stimulation that works by placing electrodes over a small area of the brain. Direct current administered through these electrodes can cause the targeted brain area to generate electrical [...]... Read more »
Iuculano, T., & Cohen Kadosh, R. (2013) The Mental Cost of Cognitive Enhancement. Journal of Neuroscience, 33(10), 4482-4486. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4927-12.2013
- March 6, 2013
- 12:46 PM
- 186 views
Chewing and spitting – a neglected symptom?
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
This is a cross-post from the wonderfully informative Science of Eating Disorders blog. ScienceofED covers a broad range of peer-reviewed research articles related to all aspects of eating disorders. Head over and check it out! Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes, but all of them are characterized by the same goal: to avoid weight gain or [...]... Read more »
Guarda AS, Coughlin JW, Cummings M, Marinilli A, Haug N, Boucher M, & Heinberg LJ. (2004) Chewing and spitting in eating disorders and its relationship to binge eating. Eating behaviors, 5(3), 231-9. PMID: 15135335
- February 27, 2013
- 12:48 AM
- 173 views
FOXP2, all sexed up.
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
FOXP2 is the poster child of a sexy gene. In songbirds, decreasing FOXP2 renders a bird incapable of mimicking their tutor, resulting in more variable song. In humans, mutations in the gene is linked to a multitude of language and speech impairments, such as stuttering and trouble with enunciating sounds, syllables and words. There’s no [...]... Read more »
Bowers JM, Perez-Pouchoulen M, Edwards NS, & McCarthy MM. (2013) Foxp2 mediates sex differences in ultrasonic vocalization by rat pups and directs order of maternal retrieval. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 33(8), 3276-83. PMID: 23426656
- February 22, 2013
- 11:50 PM
- 154 views
The complicated science of a simple pleasure (omnomnomnom)
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
Karen K. Ryan and Randy J. Seeley. Food as a Hormone. Science 22 February 2013: 918-919. In an opinion piece in the February 22 issue of Science, KK Ryan and RJ Seeley argue for an alternative approach to look at diet and food – not in terms of nutritional epidemiology (“this is what healthy people [...]... Read more »
Ryan, K., & Seeley, R. (2013) Food as a Hormone. Science, 339(6122), 918-919. DOI: 10.1126/science.1234062
- February 21, 2013
- 12:41 AM
- 94 views
Resisting cocaine: when the tablet is not wiped clean.
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
Long post warning! This post covers some basics of epigenetics. For those that just want the gist, here’s the TLDR: Male rats that shoot up cocaine for 60days sire male (but not female) pups that are more resistant to cocaine addiction. This trait is probably passed through chemical changes to sperm DNA. I argue why [...]... Read more »
Vassoler, F., White, S., Schmidt, H., Sadri-Vakili, G., & Pierce, R. (2012) Epigenetic inheritance of a cocaine-resistance phenotype. Nature Neuroscience, 16(1), 42-47. DOI: 10.1038/nn.3280
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