Ask a (pending) neuroscientist

By AA1989 - 12-18-2012, 09:13 PM - Boxden > The Faculty of Science

Hello all. I'm a neuroscience phd candidate and have noticed a lack of posting in this section. Since many people are curious with regards to how the brain works I thought it ,iChat generate posts here. So to procrastinate during finals week and to liven this section up. ill answer any questions to the best of my ability.

12-18-2012, 10:09 PM

I've been studying a lot of neuroscience lately, mostly about the autonomic nervous system and how it plays into our stress and anxiety that some of us suffer from. I've had IBS and social/general anxiety disorder since I was very young, early elementary school age to be exact. From what I can understand, these can be attributed to overactive sympathetic nervous system functions as well as chronically elevated stress levels.

My question is, what sort of medical treatments, drugs, and therapies can help with these problems? I have medications that treat some of the symptoms, but are there any drugs or therapies that exist that actually treat the cause of these problems? If this isn't really your area of expertise, I understand. Thank you.

12-18-2012, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by N/A

I've been studying a lot of neuroscience lately, mostly about the autonomic nervous system and how it plays into our stress and anxiety that some of us suffer from. I've had IBS and social/general anxiety disorder since I was very young, early elementary school age to be exact. From what I can understand, these can be attributed to overactive sympathetic nervous system functions as well as chronically elevated stress levels.

My question is, what sort of medical treatments, drugs, and therapies can help with these problems? I have medications that treat some of the symptoms, but are there any drugs or therapies that exist that actually treat the cause of these problems? If this isn't really your area of expertise, I understand. Thank you.

Usually issues like this are psychological and if you've been diagnosed then you've already been through therapy or seen someone. What were the results of your previous treatment?

12-18-2012, 10:59 PM

Most basic question you'll probably get and I don't even know if it has anything to do with neuroscience....I get headaches 4-5 times a week. What could be some of the reasons why this happens?

12-18-2012, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by N/A

I've been studying a lot of neuroscience lately, mostly about the autonomic nervous system and how it plays into our stress and anxiety that some of us suffer from. I've had IBS and social/general anxiety disorder since I was very young, early elementary school age to be exact. From what I can understand, these can be attributed to overactive sympathetic nervous system functions as well as chronically elevated stress levels.

My question is, what sort of medical treatments, drugs, and therapies can help with these problems? I have medications that treat some of the symptoms, but are there any drugs or therapies that exist that actually treat the cause of these problems? If this isn't really your area of expertise, I understand. Thank you.

SSRIs and Benzodiazapine are common therapies that are used to treat social anxiety; I should know, have it myself. SSRI stands selective serotonin re-uptake inhibiter. Serotonin is an excitaory monoamine which is transfered from cell to cell in circuits that processes emotional information. By inhibiting its re-uptake you are allowing the molecule to stay in contact with the cell for a long period of time. Why does this work? I don't know. I'm not a clinician. Benzodiazipine act on GABA receptors, which in contract to serotonin, allow influx of inhibtiory molecules (it prevents the cell from firing). These drugs bind on these receptors and allow chloride ions to penetrate the cell, thus keeping it from firing. This is how the 'overractivity' you mentioned is countered.

12-18-2012, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by 123456

Most basic question you'll probably get and I don't even know if it has anything to do with neuroscience....I get headaches 4-5 times a week. What could be some of the reasons why this happens?

I can tell you what is this physiological reason for headaches in general but I can't tell you why you have chronic headaches.

12-18-2012, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by Blood Edge

Usually issues like this are psychological and if you've been diagnosed then you've already been through therapy or seen someone. What were the results of your previous treatment?

Never needed therapy, meds specifically for the IBS help some. The SSRI that I'm on helps with the GAD as well. From what I can tell, my maternal family has a history of high blood pressure and chronic stress (overactive norepinephrine levels?), which would lead me to believe that most of it actually isn't psychological, since I had a decent childhood when these issues first began to take place. Western diet, maybe? Or a majority of it could possibly be genetics, from the trends I'm noticing.

12-18-2012, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by AA1989

SSRIs and Benzodiazapine are common therapies that are used to treat social anxiety; I should know, have it myself. SSRI stands selective serotonin re-uptake inhibiter. Serotonin is an excitaory monoamine which is transfered from cell to cell in circuits that processes emotional information. By inhibiting its re-uptake you are allowing the molecule to stay in contact with the cell for a long period of time. Why does this work? I don't know. I'm not a clinician. Benzodiazipine act on GABA receptors, which in contract to serotonin, allow influx of inhibtiory molecules (it prevents the cell from firing). These drugs bind on these receptors and allow chloride ions to penetrate the cell, thus keeping it from firing. This is how the 'overractivity' you mentioned is countered.

Thanks for the breakdown. I've actually found L-Theanine to help a good deal with acute anxiety, especially for relaxation before bedtime. It's supposed to be non-drowsy but if I take it during the day it calms me down so much that I actually get a great urge to sleep.

12-19-2012, 02:50 PM

why do i fall asleep when i try to read...laying down

12-19-2012, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by AA1989

I can tell you what is this physiological reason for headaches in general but I can't tell you why you have chronic headaches.

So what's the physiological reason? Put it in a way that I can understand please haha

12-19-2012, 04:39 PM

What do you think about memories? Do you think information can be placed and erased in someones mind? And what do you think about mind control devices?

04:47 PM

Originally Posted by N/A

Never needed therapy, meds specifically for the IBS help some. The SSRI that I'm on helps with the GAD as well. From what I can tell, my maternal family has a history of high blood pressure and chronic stress (overactive norepinephrine levels?), which would lead me to believe that most of it actually isn't psychological, since I had a decent childhood when these issues first began to take place. Western diet, maybe? Or a majority of it could possibly be genetics, from the trends I'm noticing.

Anyone can suffer from mental illnesses or psychological stressors. Decent, excellent, or !!ty childhood. For clarity, maladaptive psychological factors include learned behavior. Also, stressors are passed down in families. It's slick how it happens. Even if they don't mean to treat you unfairly, your family will instill negative things that they've learned in you when you're still a small child. It's a cycle of bs until you learn to end it.

You mentioned Western diet, so I'm[..]uming that your diet does not take in to consideration your family's history of cardiovascular problems. Also, do you remember any traumatic events in your childhood? What's the earliest meaningful in your life that you remember? If you don't mind, could you share it?

The reason going down the psychological road instead of the physiological road is because of your perceived anxiety. The SSRI you're using is just a bandaid for deeper issues that you will most likely need to talk to a professional about.

12-19-2012, 05:19 PM

What did you get your bachelors and/or masters in? And what are your plans after you acquire your phd? If you don't mind me asking

12-19-2012, 08:14 PM

Don't take pharmaceutical drugs like SSRI's or Benzo's.

Just burn one...[pic]

12-19-2012, 09:15 PM

how do you increase memory and attention in the brain these people be blaming !! on weed to the ponit i bought in i thought maybe it was my weed but then people around me forget !! in the same ways like going to your room and not remebering what you went in there for ppl who dont smoke weed do the same !! as me i always call them out it cant be weed other excuse hear are age or the fact the womens memory goes as they become mother

is it the weed?

12-19-2012, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by TimeIsAVirus

What do you think about memories? Do you think information can be placed and erased in someones mind? And what do you think about mind control devices?

Memory is my speciality. Yes information can be placed in and later release by injecting a peptide inhibiter. Mind control devices?

12-19-2012, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by StandUpNigguh

how do you increase memory and attention in the brain these people be blaming !! on weed to the ponit i bought in i thought maybe it was my weed but then people around me forget !! in the same ways like going to your room and not remebering what you went in there for ppl who dont smoke weed do the same !! as me i always call them out it cant be weed other excuse hear are age or the fact the womens memory goes as they become mother

is it the weed?

THC imparirs short term memory. THC binds to endocanbinoid receptors which inhibits the production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) which is responsible for modulatating proteins that are activated during the formation of a short term memory.

12-19-2012, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by fetmod

Emotions: simple electro-chemical responses or something deeper..?

The former.

12-19-2012, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by WhiteBoy773

Don't take pharmaceutical drugs like SSRI's or Benzo's.

Just burn one...[pic]

Thanks, Doc.

12-19-2012, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by 123456

So what's the physiological reason? Put it in a way that I can understand please haha

It's the repeated contraction and dilation of blood vessels.

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