BrainAndSpinalCord.Org Blog
Researchers have discovered that there’s a major difference between the hub areas in a normal brain and a comatose brain, according to the Las Angeles Times. Although previous studies have shown that the brain is a small-world network comprised of specific hub areas, a new finding shows that injury can lead the brain to a major reorganization of its traffic patterns and might give doctors a new way to determine if comatose patients are likely to recover.
Graph theory has been used to study social networks like Facebook, as well as electronic circuit engineering, but now scientists have utilized the technology to determine the connections between areas of the brain. Human brain networks...
Read More »Although there have been many studies on how to reverse damage in the brain, new research shows that the brain may be able to heal itself after an injury, according to Diagnostic Imaging. Results show that doctors may be able to use diffusion tensor imaging, along with other imaging techniques, to help doctors enhance the brain’s ability to compensate for the damage in the patients.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) looks at the brain on the molecular level and enables physicians to study the brain’s white matter in two and three dimensions. It’s been used to study both normal and diseased brains by providing insight into the neuronal pathways of the brain. DTI is becoming an increasingly popular MRI...
Read More »Inflatable bouncers, more commonly known as “bounce houses,” are popular among parties and fairs, but a recent report reveals that the number of child injuries increased 1,500 percent from 1995 to 2010, according to CNN. Although trampolines have posed similar risks for children, trampoline injuries are declining while bounce house injuries continues to rise and can lead to hospitalization for sprains, head and neck injuries.
After treating numerous children who came into the emergency room with inflatable bouncer injuries, Dr. Gary Smith of Nationwide Children’s Hospital launched a study to track the number of injuries from this popular form of entertainment. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS)...
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