tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post5304048964853545522..comments2024-03-24T05:50:07.033-07:00Comments on Biologizing: NeurogenesisPeter Houlihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-36579886817481267572010-03-26T16:24:26.521-07:002010-03-26T16:24:26.521-07:00Recently in my physiology class we had an extra cr...Recently in my physiology class we had an extra credit assignment due about neurogenesis and what can help to facilitate this process. It was interesting to find that cannaboid compounds are chemicals that can help to stimulate neurogenesis in the brain. Firstly it's very interesting and promising to know that some damage done to the brain is not entirely irreverible. The study about neurogenesis helping to cure addiction is something that I wouldn't have really expected. I feel as though these disease such as Parkinson's or alzheimers would be the first thing to come to mind when we talk about disrupted neuron functions. Obviously there is a lot more to addiction than decreased neurogenesis, but anything that might be able to help ease cravings and reduce the possibility of relapse are great advances. I'm not sure i understand just how this works...are they suggesting that old neurons present during drug use are programmed to send certain "addicted" or alternate signals than cells that were not present? In this case are the rats being radiated getting rid of their old pathways related to cocaine use and growing all together new neurons whereas the other rats just have faulty wiring in their hippocampus?<br /><br />-Tom RoperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-15381996089060858742010-03-11T17:14:30.767-08:002010-03-11T17:14:30.767-08:00I too have always been taught that new brain cells...I too have always been taught that new brain cells can not be made, so if one dies, another does not replace it. Last semester i thought i heard my teacher give an example of certain brain cells that divide again but i thought i had just mistaken what he had said. My only question with the article is what do they do with the old neurons that were dependent on or signaling for addiction (if this is what happens). I can't understand how just making new neurons stops a person from being addicted to a drug but am interested to know. I agree with you that if a drug affects many areas of the brain then neurogenesis would also have to be performed on those areas as well.<br /><br />Posted by Kayla PerryKaylanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-57139270799750611592010-03-11T08:45:08.764-08:002010-03-11T08:45:08.764-08:00I have read a similar article to this one before, ...I have read a similar article to this one before, but it did not include a study on cocaine and neurogenesis. I find it quite informative to know that there is a correlation between the rate of neurogenesis and the prevention of cocaine addiction and relapse through drug context relationship. I would think that other drug addictions can be preventable to use methods similar to the one used in the article. This exemplifies psychological biology, which is one of the areas that truly grasps my interest in biology.<br /><br />Posted by Vinh TranPeter Houlihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.com