mri links and cool other thingsmri links and cool other thingsThis is a Medical blog dealing with Diagnostic Imaging, Surgery, Anatomy, Virtual 3d recunstruction of Cat Scan and MRI images, and Many links to medical websites. 
Articles
Iphone and MRI its here ! as seen on television
2009-05-29 00:34:00 AMAZON search for Iphone GOOGLE search for iphones OsiriX , the wonderful open-source Mac image viewer, just announced the availability of an iPhone version.Like a lot of imaging software, OsiriX lets one look at X-rays, ultrasounds, CT and MR images. Besides merely viewing, it also lets one reconstruct 3D images and rotate them around.Unlike most imaging software, OsiriX is written by radiologists who also happen to be clever programmers. Also unlike most imaging software, OsiriX doesn?t require a second mortgage. The full Mac-based version is free, and the iPhone app is $20.Why should a non-physician care about Osirix? Because this little app will let you carry around a library of your own personal medical images. Even in my prior life as an internist, I always urged patients to keep their own copy of their more important images. The OsiriX app finally makes this easy and portable. In the radiology biz, we call prior imaging exams ?old films?, and they can be staggeringly useful ... More About: Television
Philips Panorama High Field Open
2009-05-29 00:25:00 Comfortable, high field open MRIOur Panorama high field Open MRI appeals to both patients and referring physicians alike with it?s wide-open design, high image quality, large field of view and broad coverage of clinical applications. Thanks to it?s unique features, the Panorama HFO provides the potential for you to attract more patients and increase your referral area. The Panorama HFO provides a 360-degree panoramic viewing angle and spacious 160 cm-wide patient aperture ensuring a comfortable, relaxing MRI experience for anxious, elderly, obese or claustrophobic patients. While covering all routine applications, it is especially ideal for orthopedic, pediatric and bariatric imaging. The wide-open patient space allows you to explore new clinical applications such as biopsy procedures and kinematic joint studies. High Field Performance comparable to 1.5T in a truly open configurationSolenoid Technology coilsSuperb coverage and comfortHigh SNRFully SENSE compatibleExcellent homogenei... More About: Philips
Hitachi Oasis 1.2 Tesla open MRI
2009-05-29 00:21:00 I have worked on the Aries II this looks like a high field version of that scanner if anyone has Experience with this scanner please post a comment. Good or bad. Thankshttp://www.oasismri.com/ OASIS? featured on National Medical Report OASIS? provides maximum diagnostic performance and uncompromised patient comfort. Combining high-performance MR electronics of the best high-field equipment ? fast gradients and multi-channel RF technology with Hitachi -designed Zenith RF coils ? with Hitachi?s proprietary 1.2T open architecture vertical-field magnet, Oasis is a new generation of MR systems providing diagnostic confidence, patient comfort and investment value.Oasis supports demanding workflow, features Hitachi?s legendary reliability, is easy to learn and use, and provides powerful differentiating features for you MR imaging services. More About: Tesla , Open
join coolmristuff's facebook group
2009-05-28 03:50:00 Click this lick below to join one of the fastest growing MRI groups on Facebook .http://www.facebook.com/group.ph p?gid=9583543297 More About: Join , Group
BrainLab AG is releasing Digital Lightbox A giant Iphone for the OR
2009-05-28 01:09:00 BrainLab AG is planning on releasing an updated version of its Digital Lightbox multitouch clinical display. Still reminding us of a giant iPhone, the unit interfaces with EMRs to display and manipulate clinical images easily and intuitively, essentially making the keyboard or any other interface device unnecessary. More About: Iphone , Giant
High field Extremity MRI
2009-05-28 00:59:00 High Field (1.0 T) Extremity MRIThe dedicated extremity MR scanner at Mass General Imaging West, Waltham, is designed forscanning the hand, wrist, elbow, foot, ankle, and kneeThe diagnostic quality is comparable to 1.5 T conventional whole-body MR scannersThe maximum field of view of the extremity MR is 16 cm, which limits visualization oflongitudinal structures such as the quadriceps muscle and Achilles tendonThe bore size (18 cm) is too small for some applications (e.g. large knees) and is not suitable forpatients with leg or ankle casts or patients with limited flexibilityThe 1.0 T MR dedicated extremity scanner (Figure 1),installed at Mass General West Imaging, Waltham, isdesigned to image the bones, joints, and soft tissues ofthe hand, wrist (Figure 2), elbow, foot, ankle, andknee. Because the joint of interest is centered in theextremity scanner, it is always at the ?sweet spot? ofthe magnet, optimizing image quality, which is notpossible for elbow, wrist, or hand images in ac... More About: High
Neuroimaging at 3T with Phoenix gallery
2009-05-28 00:58:00 Magnetom World is a great source of information for MRI users they have always provided cutting edge techniques and resource for the community check them out. Go to the Phoenix gallery for protocol help. copy images right to your Siemens workstation.Contrast Enhanced MRAngiography (ce-MRA)Superior gradient performance coupled with iPATparallel imaging allows ultrashort TR/TE examswith high SNR. Siemens is a world leader ingradient technology. This is of particular benefitin angiographic applications in which the smallestpossible TE is desired to reduce spin dephasingcaused by field inhomogeneities and acceleration.Routine NeuroimagingThe increased signal at 3 Tesla allows theacquisition of ultra-fast neuro-anatomical images.A 6 minute brain examination illustrates the point.BRAIN MRIContrast Enhanced MRAngiography (ce-MRA)Superior gradient performance coupled with iPATparallel imaging allows ultrashort TR/TE examswith high SNR. Siemens is a world leader ingradient technology. Th... More About: Gallery
MRI guided radiation therapy (MRIgRT)
2009-05-24 19:29:00 At the UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands, we have constructed a prototype MRIaccelerator. The prototype is amodified 6MVElekta (Crawley, UK) acceleratornext to a modified 1.5 T Philips Achieva (Best, The Netherlands) MRI system.From the initial design onwards, modifications to both systems were aimed toyield simultaneous and unhampered operation of the MRI and the accelerator.Indeed, the simultaneous operation is shown by performing diagnostic quality1.5 T MRI with the radiation beam on. No degradation of the performance ofeither system was found. The integrated 1.5 T MRI system and radiotherapyaccelerator allowsimultaneous irradiation andMRimaging. The full diagnosticimaging capacities of the MRI can be used; dedicated sequences for MRIguidedradiotherapy treatments will be developed. This proof of concept opensthe door towards a clinical prototype to start testing MRI-guided radiationtherapy (MRIgRT) in the clinic.The integrated 1.5 T MRI system and radiotherapy accelerator allow simult... More About: Therapy , Radiation
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) raided Siemens Healthcare offices
2009-04-23 21:19:00 APRIL 22, 2009 | SPECIAL EDITION Cardiovascular Business | Portals | Subscribe | Contact Us Breaking News DoD agents raid Siemens Healthcare offices MALVERN, Pa.?The criminal investigation arm of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) raided Siemens Healthcare offices in Malvern, Pa., this morning to secure workstations, and seek out records related to several military contracts. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service appears to be focused on medical imaging contracts that the company has with the DoD. In early April, Siemens won a $267 million contract to supply radiology systems, subsystems and components on behalf of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. At approximately 3:00pm today, the federal agents were seen loading large white file boxes into a van, and the agents confirmed that the boxes contained seized records?both computerized and paper records. Lance Longwell, director of public relations at Siemens, said that the search focused ... More About: Offices
Autism and extraordinary ability
2009-04-22 18:35:00 There is strong evidence for a link between genius and autism. In the first of three articles about the brain this week, we ask how that link works, and whether ?neurotypicals? can benefit from the knowledgeRonald Grant ArchiveSources and Resources(Inclusion in this list does not indicate endorsement.)BrainA Guide to Brain Anatomy, Function and SymptomsGuide to Brain Anatomy, Function and Symptoms: The Cerebellum And The Brain StemAnatomy of the BrainBrain Function: LanguageBrain Functions and MapBroca/Wernicke imageBroca?s Area, Wernicke?s Area, And Other Language Processing Areas In The Brain (1)Broca?s Area, Wernicke?s Area, And Other Language Processing Areas In The Brain (2)Functional Divisions of the Cerebral CortexGlossary of Brain RegionsGlossary of Neurology TermsHypothalamusLimbic SystemWhat is the Cerebellum?Autism Autism and the Cerebellum: A Neurophysiological Basis for InterventionAutism Fact Sheet (NINDS)Autism Fact Sheet (Child Development Institute)Autism For KidsAut... More About: Extraordinary
words of wisdom
2009-03-17 23:30:00 A man may learn wisdom even from a foe. - AristophanesKavala Greece More About: Words , Wisdom , Words of Wisdom
The MRI LIE Detector Who is safe? NO LIE - CEPHOS
2009-03-17 23:27:00 they sure look guiltySo, here?s the question , should politicians be subjected to the MRI lie detector? It has started to make some noise in the MRI community. Should we be using FMRI for its lie detector ability?. For 5,000 dollars, a computer will scan your brain several times while asking you a series of banal yes or no questions: Do you live in Texas? Is it 2009? It will also ask you one important question, such as: Did you burn down the shop? Or, have you cheated on your spouse? Shortly thereafter, it will spit out two numbers. And the creators of the test insist that those two numbers will determine if, when you answered the serious question, you were lying.This method of lie detection, which relies on brain scans rather than a racing heart, still hasn?t gained widespread support among mainstream neuroscientists or the legal community. But two companies, Cephos Corporation in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, and No Lie MRI in San Diego,California, are already marketing it to clients,... More About: Safe , Lie Detector
MRI suite is following LEED Platinum standards with new IMRI suite
2009-02-22 21:19:00 MRI suite is following LEED Platinum standards with new IMRI suitePosted by turbospinecho on February 22, 2009Burt-Watts Constructs LEED-Certified MRI Suite Austin-based Burt-Watts Industries, Inc. will provide general contracting and construction management services for the expansion of a new $10.8 million dollar intra-operative MRI suite at Dell Children?s Medical Center of Central Texas.The IMRISneuro is a fully integrated operating room that includes a unique, movable MRI machine that allows surgeons to safely image patients in the operating room during brain surgery.Dell Children?s Medical Center?s 6,000-sq-ft suite, scheduled to open this summer, is one of less than 20 medical facilities in the world to have the IMRISneuro. The suite, to be located 20 ft below ground-level, will have copper shielding. A room will be also specifically designed to house the IMRISneuro when not in use.The new MRI suite is following LEED Platinum standards. Dell Children?s is the first hospital in ... More About: Standards
Huntington?s Chorea
2009-02-22 21:18:00 Please Help support this CauseThe disease was Huntington ?s Chorea, which is an inherited, degenerative disorder of the Central Nervous System, caused by a dominant gene. This means that everyone who inherits the gene from one of his/her parents WILL develop the disease, and the likelihood of doing so is therefore 50%. Huntington?s Chorea is a particularly devastating disease because symptoms normally do not occur until after the age of 35, but can onset later (the earlier the onset, the more severe the disease tends to be). It is principally a movement disorder, with the first observable symptoms manifesting themselves as ?clumsiness?, but as the disease progresses the movements become uncontrollable. These movements appear to be very bizarre and include odd bodily postures. Other symptoms are also apparent including forgetfulness and irritability or withdrawing (in the early stages) progressing to dementia with severe memory loss and lack of reasoning. Patients suffering from Hunt...
Iphone and MRI its here ! as seen on television
2009-02-10 23:12:00 AMAZON search for Iphone GOOGLE search for iphonesOsiriX , the wonderful open-source Mac image viewer, just announced the availability of an iPhone version.Like a lot of imaging software, OsiriX lets one look at X-rays, ultrasounds, CT and MR images. Besides merely viewing, it also lets one reconstruct 3D images and rotate them around.Unlike most imaging software, OsiriX is written by radiologists who also happen to be clever programmers. Also unlike most imaging software, OsiriX doesn't require a second mortgage. The full Mac-based version is free, and the iPhone app is $20.Why should a non-physician care about Osirix? Because this little app will let you carry around a library of your own personal medical images. Even in my prior life as an internist, I always urged patients to keep their own copy of their more important images. The OsiriX app finally makes this easy and portable.In the radiology biz, we call prior imaging exams "old films", and they can be staggeringly useful to ... More About: Television
Cinema Vision for MRI
2009-01-24 17:28:00 CinemaVision - Making MRI Virtually Entertaining Transforming the patient?s MRI experience, CinemaVision is a convenient, versatile and user-friendly 3D virtual reality system. It provides multiple entertainment options from standard video, television and PC input, while offering two-way communication with technologists and dramatically reducing MRI gradient noise. The head-mounted display fits completely within the head coil and operates inside the magnet bore with no detrimental effects on your magnet. Opening New Horizons in Patient Comfort Delivering unparalleled quality and realism, CinemaVision combines state-of-the-art, fully digital video and symphonic quality digital audio. Offering an unprecedented field-of-view, the CinemaVision experience is similar to watching a high-resolution 62-inch screen from 5 ? feet away. Eliminate appointment cancellations and sedation as patients enjoy a stunning sight and sound experience.Setting New Standards in Patient Comfort Offering the ... More About: Cinema
Health Care and the Recession
2009-01-24 17:13:00 Watch Video HEREThe U.S. economy has been in recession for more than a year, the unemployment rate is climbing, the ranks of the uninsured are growing rapidly, and health care provider organizations are feeling the squeeze. What help can the federal government offer as part of the economic stimulus package? What will the increasing pressure mean for proposed health care reforms? And is there any silver lining in the clouds for the future of the U.S. health care system? In a roundtable discussion moderated by Dr. Thomas Lee, three experts in health policy, economics, and health care delivery ? Drs. James Mongan, Jonathan Oberlander, and Meredith Rosenthal ? explore the current and likely effects of the recession on U.S. health care and the prospects for systemic change. Transcript of DiscussionThis file is in Flash format. If you do not have the latest version of Flash Player, download it at www.macromedia.com. If you still cannot view the file or have other questions, you may c... More About: Health , Health Care , Healthcare , Care , Recession
Michael savage Doesn't Know S@#^ About Autism!!
2009-01-21 22:22:00 This guy is a real piece of work. I mean I am no book of knowledge but he is just a complete ignoramous. Consider his coment he made about children with autism.?In 99% of the cases, it?s a brat who hasn?t been told to cut the act out. That?s what autism is. What do you mean they scream and they?re silent?? Savage said last week in remarks that lit up the Internet over the weekend.?They don?t have a father around to tell them, ?Don?t act like a moron. You?ll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz.??(I?m glad he?s not a brain surgeon)Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete, whose 10-year-old son Rodney Jr. suffers from autism, are not keeping quiet.?We find it shocking that the individuals who name-call and pass judgment on families like ours have had zero experience with the disorder,? the couple said in a statement.He also responded to the criticism on his radio show Monday, saying, ? Do you want to live in a world where one statement that offends somebody could cost you your ca... More About: Autism , Michael , Michael Savage
Vasovist MRI contrast
2009-01-21 22:19:00 EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:EPIX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics through the use of its proprietary and highly efficient in silico drug discovery platform, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for marketing its novel blood pool magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) agent, Vasovist(R) (gadofosveset trisodium), to evaluate aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) in adults with known or suspected peripheral vascular disease. AIOD occurs when iliac arteries become narrowed or blocked and may prevent the sufficient transport of oxygen and/or blood throughout the body.Vasovist is the first contrast agent approved for marketing in the United States for use with MRA, a non-invasive modality for imaging blood vessels. In 2007, there were approximately 1.3 million MRA procedures performed in the United States using contrast agents not specifically approved for this procedure. MRA is a less invasi... More About: Contrast
Kawasaki Disease
2009-01-05 18:20:00 According to the American Heart Association, more than 4,000 cases of the disease are diagnosed annually in the United States. It occurs more often in boys of Japanese and Korean descent, but has been identified in children of all ethnicities and races, Alenick said. The danger of Kawasaki syndrome is that it can cause large aneurysms in the blood vessels that feed blood to the heart, said Alenick.“Kawasaki doesn’t come in degrees of severity, but it varies in that it may cause no aneurysms, small aneurysms, moderate aneurysms or giant aneurysms,” he said. “Giant aneurysms are more common in babies. But it’s the aneurysms that form in the vessels and the arteries that feed the heart that have the potential to cause a fatal heart attack.”The disease was first identified in Japan in 1967 by Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki, and the cause of the illness is still unknown, Alenick said. There also is no blood test to identify the illness. Instead, patients are given a clinical diagnos... More About: Disease
nejm central pontine mylinolysis
2008-12-04 03:21:00 A 26-year-old man with a history of chronic alcohol abuse presented with dysarthria, lethargy, and horizontal nystagmus. Results of a clinical examination and blood tests were otherwise normal, including a serum sodium level of 137 mmol per liter and serum osmolality of 287 mOsm per kilogram. Over the next 5 days, spastic quadriparesis and pseudobulbar palsy developed. full story?.http://content.nejm.org/cgi/conten t/full/359/23/e29/F1Please read my other post on central pontine myelinolysis http://coolmristuff.wordpres s.com/2007/03/23/central-pontine-myelinol ysis/See MRI images herehttp://content.nejm.org/content/vol35 9/issue23/images/large/10f1.jpegSoucehttp ://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/359/ 23/e29/F1 More About: Central
NEW MRI Searchable Database
2008-09-18 00:46:00 There is a new service available for hospitals and clincs that can determine the mri safety of implanted devices . check out there website.http://www.DoctorDoctor.bizSEARCH ABLE DATABASE: THE NEWEST TOOL FOR MRI IMPLANT SAFETYThe MRI safety status of medical implant devices can be difficult to track because many manufacturers 1.) Change their names; 2) Sell their medical devices to other companies; 3.) Go out of business; 4) Discontinue manufacturing of certain devices; 5.) Merge with other companies; or holding companies move medical device ownership from company to company. Dozens of these transactions transpire annually, bringing confusion and obfuscation to MRI technologists, who need to be certain of an implanted device?s safety status before scanning. After seven or eight years of this merger and acquisition activity, the status of many implants can become impossible to find.MRI technologists, too often given the sketchiest of information, can spend hours looking for safety ... More About: Database
Top 13 Reasons to Date an X-ray Tech
2008-09-14 04:02:00 Description:1. We do our best work in the dark2. We can see through your clothes3. We know all the positions4. We are well developed5. The chemistry is always right6. We know what buttons to push7. We have all the right techniques8. We know how to warm up a tube9. We know how to get the best penetration10. When you need it now, we make it wet.11. Human anatomy is common knowledge.12. We do it on the table and sometimes we slip it in the bucky.13. Radiation physics: Hard Beam + Tight Collimation = Adequate penetration More About: Tech , Reasons
Bayer and Epix to part ways over vasovist.
2008-09-14 03:47:00 Bayer Schering Pharma will transfer the worldwide commercial rights for the novel blood pool magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) agent, Vasovist(R) (gadofosveset trisodium) to EPIX. Thecollaboration agreementbetween the two parties will terminate effectiveMarch 1, 2009; until that time, Bayer Schering Pharma will continue to provide continued supply of Vasovist in the 19 countries where it is currently marketed."We are pleased to regain complete worldwide commercial rights for Vasovist which has a PDUFA date of December 31, 2008," said Elkan Gamzu, Ph.D., interim chief executive officer of EPIX. "Pending FDA approval, Vasovist is positioned to become the first MRA contrast agent approved in the United States and it could be launched in 2009. Our goal remains to maximize the commercial value of Vasovist and we are committed to executing our monetization strategy which includes finding a marketing and commercialization partner for Vasovist.""Vasovist is a first-in-class blood specifi... More About: Bayer , Part
Parrish Medical Centers Diamondback 360 System
2008-08-27 22:18:00 The Diamondback 360° System uses the principle of centrifugal force. As crown rotation increases, centrifugal force presses the eccentrically mounted, diamond-coated crown against the stenotic lesion, removing a thin layer of plaque. The increasing crown orbit creates a larger lumen ? minimizing procedure time and expense of catheter upsizing.http://www.cardiovascularsystems inc.com/technology.phpAdditional benefits of the orbiting motion include:Removing plaque while minimizing the potential for stress or injury to the media layer, and reducing the risk of barotrauma.The use of a 6 French introducer sheathDoctors Ravi Rao, MD, interventional cardiologist and Joseph Flynn, DO, interventional radiologist at Parrish Medical Center are among the first in Central Florida to offer a newly FDA approved treatment option to people with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)?the Diamondback 360?? Orbital Atherectomy System.The device removes plaque blockages in the legs (peripherals) and restores ...
BlackBerry Bold
2008-08-27 03:48:00 We've been waiting to get our smudgy digits on RIM's BlackBerry Bold seemingly since before the Earth's crust finished cooling, and finally, Canada's Rogers Wireless lent us a hand. In a few words, the screen is striking, size is actually pretty comfy to hang on to, the keys are fairly easy to use, and we're kinda digging it. As a quick refresher, the Bold has tri-band HSDPA, quad-band EDGE, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, 1GB of onboard memory, and a 2-megapixel cam that can take advantage of the GPS for a bit of geotagging tomfoolery. The integrated media player seems to get the job done with a pile of supported formats -- including DivX, some support for XviD, H.264, MP3, WMA, and a bunch more -- the OS 4.6 looks slick, and have we mentioned the frickin' screen? We'll be back right quick with a deeper dive into the Bold's capabilities, but for now, enjoy the pics. More About: Blackberry
vasovist mri contrast blood pool agents
2008-08-27 01:07:00 Epix Pharmaceuticals Inc., an Israeli firm that has developed Vasovist (gadofosveset trisodium), a novel MRI contrast agent, has announced that its product "has achieved positive results from the blinded, independent re-read of images of its novel blood pool magnetic resonance angiographic (MRA) agent, Vasovist. In the re-read of images obtained from previous phase 3 studies, EPIX met all pre-specified endpoints prospectively agreed to with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). EPIX plans to resubmit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA for Vasovist in mid-2008. Vasovist is currently approved for marketing in 33 countries." And that includes the European Union, where the device (as it is classified) has been marketed (in collaboration with Schering AG) since 2005.Here's how the agent is described:Vasovist® is an injectable intravascular contrast agent discovered internally at EPIX and is designed to provide improved imaging of the vascular system using magnetic resonance ... More About: Agents , Contrast , Blood , Pool
diffusion spectrum imaging
2008-08-27 00:58:00 At the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston researchers are using an MRI technique called diffusion spectrum imaging to create three dimensional models of the brains of animals and humans.MIT Technology Review describes this promising imaging modality:It uses magnetic resonance signals to track the movement of water molecules in the brain: water diffuses along the length of neural wires, called axons. Scientists can use these diffusion measurements to map the wires, creating a detailed blueprint of the brain's connectivity.On the medical side, radiologists are beginning to use the technology to map the brain prior to surgery, for example, to avoid important fiber tracts when removing a brain tumor. Wedeen and others are now using diffusion imaging to better understand the structures that underlie our ability to see, to speak, and to remember. Scientists also hope that the techniques will grant new insight into diseases linked to abnormal wiring, such as schizophrenia and autism More About: Spectrum , Imaging , Diffusion
Zecotek making hybrid mri/pet machines
2008-08-27 00:54:00 Photonics magazine is profiling photodetectors made by Zecotek Photonics, a firm out of Singapore, that work well within strong magnetic fields, allowing engineers to make hybrid PET/MRI machines.Zecotek is leading a collaborative research program with the University of Washington to develop a proprietary PET-MRI detector as the core technology of a new generation of medical imaging systems. The major barrier to a combined PET and MRI scanning device is the strong magnetic fields of MRI which destroy the photodetection capabilities of current PET scanning devices. Unlike the vacuum tube-based PMT, Zecotek's MAPD photodetectors can operate in highly magnetic environment of the MRI making the LFS scintillation crystals and MAPD photodetectors critical enabling technologies for a successful fusion of PET and MRI into one scanning device. This new generation device will offer both higher resolution and faster patient throughput which in turn improves patient diagnostics and reduces cos... More About: Hybrid , Machines
A protien called Otx 2
More articles from this author:2008-08-27 00:34:00 August 7, 2008Researchers have long sought a factor that can trigger the brain's ability to learn - and perhaps recapture the "sponge-like" quality of childhood. In the August 8 issue of the journal Cell, neuroscientists at Children's Hospital Boston report that they've identified such a factor, a protein called Otx 2.Otx2 helps a key type of cell in the cortex to mature, initiating a critical period--a window of heightened brain plasticity, when the brain can readily make new connections.Takao Hensch, PhD, of the Neurobiology Program and Department of Neurology at Children's, the study's senior investigator, speculates that there may be similar factors from the auditory, olfactory and other sensory systems that help time critical periods. Timing is important, because the brain needs to rewire itself at the right moment--when it's getting the optimal sensory input.Hensch, who last fall won the highly competitive NIH Director's Pioneer Award, is also interested in the transpor... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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