OnTheShelf » Medical Science

Inside the Head of a Hoarder

jeff — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:27:48 +0000

Everyone knows someone who may be an over-the-top collector. There are no stones being thrown in this cluttered glass house, many of us have our secret junk closets or garage-brimming sets of collections. It appears, however, there may be a fine line between serial collectors and true hoarders. This short article from DISCOVER Magazine was a fascinating glimpse into hoarders and includes some recommendations for helping them. At the end there is a link to what looks like a new book for those interested in the deeper topic.

What Quirk of the Brain Turns People Into Compulsive Hoarders?
Mental Health | DISCOVER Magazine

“Hoarders cannot stop themselves from accumulating stuff—even if they live in fetid, rotting homes that ruin their lives. Visit Discover Magazine to read this article and other exclusive science and technology news stories.” – DiscoverMag

Direct Brain-Computer Interfaces – No longer science fiction

jeff — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 01:33:46 +0000

Every young geek at some point has longed for the ‘direct brain to computer’ interface. The Matrix movie series took the concept to science fantasy. Now super-heroes of science are connecting computers directly to the brain, and the brain… is typing. This short and approachable video presentation from Stanford University is equally scientifically fascinating and an inspiring message to those who need these interfaces to fully communicate.

Krishna Shenoy is creating “brain-computer interfaces” that will enable paralyzed patients to control prosthetic arms and computer cursors. In this short talk, Shenoy describes how his team of Stanford researchers has built a system that achieves typing at 15 words-per-minute, just by “thinking about it”.

Watch it on Academic Earth

I may have spoken too soon! It turns out science has created the Matrix-like fiber optic connection to control our brain. That’s the ‘good’ news. The bad news is they discovered our brain is wired for BlueRay. This equally scientifically fascinating video, though by a slightly less interesting presenter, is well worth the fifteen minutes of your life to watch a genuinely brilliant presenter talk about the breakthroughs in how he and his colleagues are able to communicate directly to the brain using fiber optics and blue light.

Watch it on Academic Earth

Emerging Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids:

jeff — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:50:33 +0000

Emerging Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids: A Review of the Recent Scientific Literature, 2000 – 2009

Clinical_Applications_for_Cannabis_and_Cannabinoids.pdf

Hemp and Flax Seeds and Oil in Modern Nutrition An Overview

jeff — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:36:36 +0000

About the Author:
Dr. Gero Leson, D.Env. works as environmental researcher and consultant in Berkeley, CA. He has specialized in the food and technical uses of agricultural crops, such as flax, hemp, and coconut.

http://ontheshelf.com/attached-file/hempandflax.pdf

Migraine – Medical Cannabis Information

jeff — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:28:43 +0000

Hemp for Headache: An in-depth historical and scientific review of cannabis in migraine treatment,
by Ethan Russo, MD, a clinical child and adult neurologist.

One of the more interesting aspects of Dr. Russo’s paper is his remarkably detailed section entitled, THE HISTORY AND ETHNOBOTANY OF CANNABIS IN HEADACHE TREATMENT (emphasis his). The good doctor has reason to be proud of his research, as it describes and documents cannabis (hemp) usage back through seven thousand years of human history. Really, seven thousand. Enjoy the read.

http://ontheshelf.com/attached-file/MigraineStudy.pdf

Growing New Body Parts | Anthony Atala

jeff — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:44:24 +0000

I especially encourage people who think growing a new heart or liver from your own cells is still science fiction to watch this one. (Hint: don’t take that bet.)