Stuck in this rut, I cannot escape
Remembering Judy @DREDF
Last year, I had been invited to join the DREDF board, my response to joining was a resounding YES.
At the first board meeting on Aug 12,2022, it was the late Judy Heumann who nominated me to the board and the motion was seconded by Christina Mills. The board voted unanimously to have me join the board.
Thinking of you Judy, as we head into the next board meeting without you today. You were there at start of DREDF to make it a reality and later on its board, and we will miss your presence.
Testing Neural Knowledge
Sharpen your mind, it's time for a quiz
Neuroscience is the topic, don't you miss
Clear those distractions, focus your wit
Perk up and prepare, let's get on with it
Getting mentally ready for the tough Neuroscience quiz on Fridays.
Empathy is the bridge that closes the gap between us and them
Contemplation, one line a day.Towards a more humane society, an empathic society.
The Three T's
My classmate James and I met with Prof Christine Konradi to discuss our presentation strategy for the paper on the CRH-PVN neuron for our neuroscience class next friday.
"You start out by you telling them what you're going to tell them, then tell them, and then you tell them what you told them," was her starting advice.
She was referring to the Three T's approach - Tell Them, Tell Them, Tell Them - a strategy for organizing a speech or presentation into three parts:
"You start out by you telling them what you're going to tell them, then tell them, and then you tell them what you told them," was her starting advice.
She was referring to the Three T's approach - Tell Them, Tell Them, Tell Them - a strategy for organizing a speech or presentation into three parts:
- introduction where you preview what you will discuss
- the body of content /message
- Conclusion where you summarize what you covered.
Next week we'll be learning about mood disorders, the HPA axis, which the CRH neurons are part of.
Each week, we have a different professor teaching the class in an area that's their specialty. Next week its with Professor Konradi who also picks the paper that we present.
I asked what had motivated her to pick this paper. She said, we were learning about mood disorders this week and the HPA axis which the CRH neurons were part of. So not only is this topic related to what we have been learning for the week but also it is relevant for us in neuroscience because the kind of tools and methods used are very state of the art.
So fingers crossed we do a good job. It's a lot of work putting a presentation together. and i've noticed my other classmates looking absolutely worn out during their presentation week.
The politics of studying the brain
I learned a little bit about the politics of research during a conversation with a professor, for instance researching the dopaminergic system belongs to people studying strictly study movement disorders.
Which is a real pity really. I have wondered why that is not looked at in the context of autism. Its like the two are never considered together for autism. But disabilities like autism have so many areas involved. Like challenges in movement, is such a critical piece for autistics like me, and worth investigating. How else will we get to solutions.
Autistic Cre v Autism Mouse Models
Autistic Cre mice are genetically modified mice that express mutations or deletions of specific genes that have been associated with human autism. These mice are created by introducing a Cre recombinase gene under the control of a promoter specific to the gene of interest. The Cre recombinase then catalyzes the recombination of loxP sites, leading to the deletion or mutation of the targeted gene.
On the other hand, autism mouse models are created through a variety of methods, including genetic manipulation, exposure to environmental toxins, or maternal infection during pregnancy. These models aim to replicate some of the behavioral and neurobiological features of autism in humans, such as impaired social interaction and communication, repetitive behaviors, and altered brain development and function.
One of the main differences between the two is the level of specificity in targeting autism-related genes. Autistic Cre mice allow researchers to study the effects of specific gene mutations or deletions on behavior and brain function, whereas autism mouse models often involve a broader range of genetic or environmental factors that may contribute to the development of autism.
Additionally, autistic Cre mice are often used to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying autism, such as changes in synaptic function or neurotransmitter signaling, whereas autism mouse models may focus more on behavioral and phenotypic characteristics of the disorder.
Autistic Cre
(Understanding Cre rats for my upcoming presentation, and why not learn which ones are used in autism space while I am at it)
First, what is a Cre-rat?
Empathy is the light that shines in the darkness of misunderstanding
Contemplation, one line a day.Towards a more humane society, an empathic society.
In limbo
Stuck in endless hesitation,
Mind and body trapped in ambivalence's sensation.
Can't move forward, can't step back,
Caught in a loop of indecision, what do I lack?
Mind and body trapped in ambivalence's sensation.
Can't move forward, can't step back,
Caught in a loop of indecision, what do I lack?
Fruit Fly Connectome
Lay Summary: Scientists have now mapped all the neural connections/pathways of a fruit fly (connectome). Why is this important? Fruit fly model is used in autism research, so this advance potentially helps autism research.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add9330
ITAKOM
Some nice comments about my talk "Redefine The Table" at the @ITAKOM conference
And again, the solution is system change. Individual approaches for the people who need it more, which means centering the most disenfranchised ND people... This benefits everyone.
Empathy is the oxygen that breathes life into relationships
Contemplation, one line a day.Towards a more humane society, an empathic society.
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