This clipart of a neuron is from Neuroscience for Kids. The approach of cellular pathology was advocated by Dr. Rudolph Virchow, a brilliant 19th century pathologist. Virchow was also involved in politics, which resulted in good funding for German medical research. Germany became the most advanced country in the world in medicine at the turn of the century. Kraepelin, Alzheimer, and Nissl all used VIrchow's approach. The soma is the body of the cell. The soma and the cell membrane both show pathology in schizophrenia.
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This coronal section of the brain is also from Neuroscience for Kids. They also suspect the hippocampus in bipolar disorder because of reports of tissue loss in this structure. This same area has been suspected in Alzheimer's disease.
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Again the art is from Neuroscience for Kids. This animation shows the neurotransmitter as red dots. It is different from the previous one because this time a reuptake inhibitor was used. There are critics of this theory, including a journalist named Whitaker. Whitaker feels that it is "bad science" used to justify the "mistreatment" of the mentally ill with atypical antipsychotics. My own opinion is that they have the wrong neurotransmitter. Serotonin is found in the brain, but it is also in the intestines.
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Shown here is Dr. Korbinian Brodmann, who mapped the brain in 1909. He died in 1918, unfortunately. Brodmann worked with Oskar Vogt, another brilliant neuroscientist. Both were German.
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Shown here is Dr. Hans Berger, who invented the EEG. In Germany Berger worked with Brodmann and Vogt. Berger and VOgt outlived Brodmann. All three worked on cerebral localization, which was controversial at that time. Now it is widely accepted. The idea is that certain parts of the brain are responsable for certain functions. This has now been proven beyond any reasonable doubt.
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Here is another clipart from Neuroscience for Kids. They feel that these areas are involved in bipolar disorder. I disagree when it comes to the cerebellum. I feel that the cerebellum is involved in movement disorders (as well as the basal ganglia).
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According to one theory, there is a problem with serotonin, a neurotransmitter, in bipolar disorder. This theory is used to justify SSRI drugs such as Prozac. Despite being favored by the Neuroscience for Kids website, where the clipart came from, this theory is very weak. There is far more evidence for the involvement of dopamine. The SSRI's have nothing to do with dopamine.
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Shown here is the British neuroscientist Willis, who played an important role in the history of neuroscience. He studied the anatomy of the brain.
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Shown here is catecholamine synthesis as depicted in Neuroscience for Kids. This graphic is very valuable because a number of diseases, including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, tardive dyskiesia, etc. are thought to be caused by problems in dopamine metabolism. There is even a theory linking dopamine to Tourette syndrome.
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Shown here is serotonin synthesis as depicted by Neuroscience for Kids. ALthough serotonin itself may be normal in depression and schizophrenia, there is evidence that tryptophan and 5-hydroxytrytophan are in excess.
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