Related Brain Function Research Articles

APOLOGIA PRO SCRIPTURA SUA, OR MAYBE WE GOT IT RIGHT AFTER ALL

Abstract. A summary of the progress of biogenetic structuralism as an approach to the social and behavioral sciences is presented, from the publication of Biogenetic Structuralism in 1974 to the present. The difficulty that many scholars have found integrating neuroan‐thropology and comparative ethology into an understanding of cultural, and particularly of religious, phenomena over the past almost two decades is considered. More specifically, the articles of James Ashbrook and Mary Lynn Dell published in the same June 1993 issue of Zygon as this article are analyzed and responded to. These authors critique Eugene d'Aquili's work of integrating neuropsychology and religious experience primarily by analyzing Brain, Symbol & Experience, which d'Aquili co‐authored with Charles Laughlin, Jr., and John McManus, H. Rodney Holmes's article in the same issue of Zygon analyzes the whole corpus of d'Aquili's religion and science work as it appeared over the years in the pages of Zygon and in other articles and books as well as in Brain, Symbol & Experience. This critique is likewise carefully considered and responded to. Finally a proposed trajectory of d'Aquili's (and Andrew Newberg's) future work in their ongoing project integrating neuropsychology and religious experience is elaborated. This involves, not only expansion of their general theoretical approach, but also empirical testing of hypotheses relating brain function to religious experience using PET scanning and some newer MRI visualization techniques.

Therapy of age related cerebral insufficiency with citidine diphosphocholine

Citidine diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) probably acts through pharmacological compensation for the presumed deficiency of phospholipids and neurotransmitter metabolism, which are important in the development of age related brain function disorders. This placebo controlled double-blind cross-over study ~was performed to assess the effectiveness of CDPcholine in geriatric patients with cerebral insufficiency, i.e, dementia of different etiology. After an initial wash-out period of two weeks the patients received according to randomized order either CDP-choline or placebo for 5 weeks; after a second wash-out period of further two weeks the patients received the alternative drug for additional 5 weeks. 6 psychometric and clinical tests (Nuremberg Geriatric Inventory, SCAG) were performed at the end of each medication period with CDP-choline or placebo treatment. The statistical evaluation of all tests revealed: CDP-choline as first treatment improved significantly the results of all 6 tests compared to baseline wheras placebo as first treatment leads to a significant improvement of the results in 4 of the 6 tests. The further improvement during the 2nd cross-over phase in comparison to the 1st phase was more distinct and significantly better during CDP-choline administration for all 6 tests whereas placebo did not show further statistically significant improvement for any test. These results indicate that the status of disease was improved during both cross-over phases by CDP-choline only.

Human Genetics As a Bridging Science

The history of the biological sciences since 1900 shows that genetic theory has to act as a unifying principle bringing together various, and sometimes quite different, fields in the analysis of common problems. This historical process can be studied especially well in the development of human genetics – a branch of science that, mainly through hybridisation, first with biochemistry, then with cytogenetics, and recently with molecular biology, developed from an outsider's hobby into one of the most challenging fields of biological and medical research. Concepts and approaches derived from genetic theory are now influencing and, in part, determining the structure of an increasing number of scientific specialities – especially in medicine – leading to important practical applications. Genetic theory and methods might also become increasingly useful for analysis of brain function in relation to behaviour.

Human Genetics As a Bridging Science

The history of the biological sciences since 1900 shows that genetic theory has to act as a unifying principle bringing together various, and sometimes quite different, fields in the analysis of common problems. This historical process can be studied especially well in the development of human genetics – a branch of science that, mainly through hybridisation, first with biochemistry, then with cytogenetics, and recently with molecular biology, developed from an outsider's hobby into one of the most challenging fields of biological and medical research. Concepts and approaches derived from genetic theory are now influencing and, in part, determining the structure of an increasing number of scientific specialities – especially in medicine – leading to important practical applications. Genetic theory and methods might also become increasingly useful for analysis of brain function in relation to behaviour.

The European training programme in brain and behaviour research

The key to the activities of the European Training Programme in Brain and Behaviour Research (ETP) lies in the title ‘Brain and Behaviour’ which relates to the classical Cartesian dualism in brain function. It is relatively easy to persuade scientists working on neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, or neurophysiology that there are merits in collaborative research; this is also the case for scientists in the behaviuoral sciences. The interface between these two groups is a very much more difficult area to develop, yet the solution of the problem relating brain function to behaviour, and to thought, represent one of the most challenging of scientific problems. A major success of the ETP is in bringing together scientists on either side of the brain-behaviuor frontier and persuading them to discuss each other's problems and to work together.