Mr. Ippolito
Current Event 9
November 21, 2019
Sanders, Laura. “Some People with Half a Brain Have Extra Strong Neural Connections.” Science News, 19 Nov. 2019, www.sciencenews.org/article/some-people-with-half-brain-have-extra-strong-neural-connections.
A recent study conducted at Caltech reveals how the brain adapts after a hemispherectomy, a procedure done to treat childhood epilepsy. Six adults, who as children had half of their brain removed to treat severe epilepsy, were placed under a MRI scan as researchers measured blood flow in regions that handle vision, attention, and movement. A healthy brain has excellent blood flow and strong connections. This occurs when "one part of the brain changes in lockstep with the activity in another", implying that the regions are working together and sharing information. The overall result from the experiment was surprising; all six people had perfectly functioning brain systems. In fact, the connections were stronger than six people with whole brains; the brain can reorganize and bounce back, even stronger than before.
Not only is this surprising, but it opens up many new opportunities for research. Questions posed about why this happens have already been brought up and are currently being contemplated by scientists. It is important that we understand as much as we can about the brain. From this study, the field of science gained valuable insight into how the brain is able to reorganize itself after a substantial change, leading to possible new approaches to recovery. Faster, improved recoveries, could help with the most serious and common brain injuries.
Sanders' article is overall very well written and discusses a groundbreaking study highlighting the effects of a hemispherectomy. However, I was underwhelmed with the overall content and detail. I feel it could be greatly improved if Sanders elaborated on the implications of the study and even more thoroughly summarized the procedure and steps taken. Overall, I think it was a bit short and more detail was needed regarding the study as a whole. Still, Sanders' article was informative and interesting and communicated the surprising and important results of this research.
Ellyn Paris
ReplyDeleteAP Biology
Current Event 9
11/23/19
Sanders, Laura. “Some People with Half a Brain Have Extra Strong Neural Connections.” Science News, 19 Nov. 2019,
www.sciencenews.org/article/some-people-with-half-brain-have-extra-strong-neural-connection.
One thing Christian does very well in her review is connecting the subject of the article she read with the importance it holds in our society. She talked about how the brain’s potential to recover and become even stronger could help patients suffering from diverse brain injuries. Also, in the paragraph where she criticised the article, her comments were intelligent and helpful. Saying that the article did not go enough into depth on the subject can help the original author to improve their writing. Another thing Christian did well was starting her review by talking about the specific study she read about. By giving us the details behind the story, she makes the topic being discussed even more interesting.
While her review was very interesting, Christian could have done a few things to improve. In her first paragraph, she mentions that healthy brains have “excellent blood flow and strong connections” (Christian, 1), but she does not explain what “strong connections” mean. Her writing would be improved if she explained exactly what these connections are, and what their relationship is with the health of the brain. Furthermore, she did not incorporate a citation for the quotes she took from her article. It is always important to add a citation when you are taking an information that came from someone else.
One of the most interesting things I learned during this article is the fact that a human can survive with only half a brain. The brain is extremely sensitive, and a part of our bodies we know not much about, and the fact that removing a part of your brain will still leave you functioning is very surprising to me.
Amanda Troy
ReplyDeleteAP Biology
Current Event 9
11/24/19
Sanders, Laura. “Some People with Half a Brain Have Extra Strong Neural
Connections.” Science News, 19 Nov. 2019,
www.sciencenews.org/article/some-people-with-half-brain-have-extra-stron
G-neural-connections.
I read Rory’s current event where she reviewed an article discussing a recent brain study. First, Rory begins by describing the procedure known as a hemispherectomy, which is done to treat childhood epilepsy. It is important for the reader to understand the background of the procedure in order to comprehend future concepts. Next, Rory discusses the shocking results from the experiment: the six people who had half of their brain removed to treat severe epilepsy, have perfectly functioning brain systems. Lastly, Rory discusses how this study opens up many new opportunities for research. It is important that we are knowledgeable about the brain and all of its complexities.
While Rory’s review summarized the article in a comprehensive way, there is room for improvement. She could have incorporated more quotes from the article in order to make her review more professional. Additionally, I wish that Rory could have elaborated on what further research will be conducted now that the procedure is over and revealed shocking results.
Overall, I think Rory did a great job summarizing a somewhat short article. Her review was very easy to understand and I enjoyed learning about this amazing brain study. It is incredible that from this research, science is able to recognize how the brain can reorganize itself after going through a dramatic change. I chose this article to comment on because I love learning about the complexities and new discoveries that come hand in hand with the brain.
Olivia Conniff
ReplyDeleteAP Biology
Mr. Ippolito
Current Event 10
12/4/19
Sanders, Laura. “Some People with Half a Brain Have Extra Strong Neural Connections.” Science News, 19 Nov. 2019,
www.sciencenews.org/article/some-people-with-half-brain-have-extra-strong-neural-connection.
For my 10th current event I chose to read Rory Christian’s review of the article, “Some People with Half a Brain Have Extra Strong Neural Connections”, which was very informative and well-written. Firstly, she did an excellent job of establishing the relevance of the discoveries discussed in her article and how they are significant in society. She also continues to discuss what new opportunities for discoveries and research this new information introduces. Both of these are very important and therefore essential to the review. Furthermore, Christian did a great job of giving crucial background information, most specifically about a procedure known as a hemispherectomy, which is done to treat childhood epilepsy. This background information is essential to the reader’s understanding of the article.
While Christian’s article was excellent overall, there are a few minor things which could be done to improve it. First, she could have included more quotes to make her review more credible and professional. Also, for the quotes she did include, she did not cite where they came from. This could potentially make her review seem unprofessional and unreliable. Adding citations would certainly fix this problem.
Christian’s made a significant impact on me and left me feeling surprised and intrigued. I was so shocked to learn that a human can survive with only half a brain. The brain is so complicated as well as sensitive, and it is also a part of the body that we are constantly learning new things about. That is why it shocked me so much that a human can even survive let only function with half of their brain.