BRAINZZZZZZZZ.... and Other Stuff (Day 15)

Schedule

10:00-10:50 Organic chemistry lecture

1:00-2:30 Neuroanatomy lab

2:45-4:45 Work

5:00-6:00 Psychopharmacology review session

Today was awesome for three reasons:

1. I ignored my pride and asked a question after class. Seriously, one of the best little tidbits of advice for anyone in school is to clarify confusions as soon as you realize you did not understand a concept. In the past...

[Unsettling feeling]

Crap.

[Realizes confusion]

Um. Um. Um.

[Dismisses with a wave of the hand]

I'll look it up later.

Don't do this. If you, like me, play host to the leech otherwise known as procrastination, you will not attempt to purge this confusion until the day before the next exam. It is not as much fun as leaving a lecture knowing that you truly comprehended every topic (yes, my definition of fun may need some calibration).

2. We got to dissect sheep brains in neuroanatomy labs!

Disclaimer: All of the sheep lived long, happy lives frolicking in fields with sparrows and butterflies. They died of old age surrounded by loved ones, and they were kind enough to donate their organs in the name of science.

Superior/Dorsal View

Inferior/Ventral View

3. I almost beat my fastest 5K time! I missed it by one second! I blame my running partner; she has been a little sluggish as of late.

Stella!

Visualizing the LGN (Day 12)

Schedule

10:00-10:50 Organic chemistry lecture

1:00-2:50 Neuroanatomy lab

3:30-5:30 Work

In neuroanatomy lab, we looked at the brain sections of  different animals. We were specifically focusing on the LGN (lateral geniculate nucleus), a thalamic region concerned with vision. 

In our exercise, the biggest obstacle was determining where the LGN is actually located in each animal. Unfortunately for us, the location varies by species, so we needed to consult an atlas for each one (I have a new respect for veterinarians). Check out the layering. It gets more complex and curved as you progress from the rat to the monkey, which is due to the increased folding of the brain. Layers are clearly visible, and they represent the alternating input from each eye.

LGN of a Rat

LGN of a Cat

LGN of a Monkey

For those who are not histologically inclined, check out this human brain! It kind of looks like a zombie gnawed on the top a little bit...

Bucket o' Brain