Annie Griffith

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

The popular concept of “left brained” and “right brained” people is a myth. The corpus collosum connects the hemispheres and allows them to communicate; only split-brain patients have separate hemispheres #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

Nicotine activates receptors that result in the release of dopamine. This is what makes it addictive! #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

Did you know that smoking cigarettes reduces your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease? Quite a catch-22 #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

Emotional pain causes a physical response in the brain similar to physical pain. Emotional pain can even be alleviated with Tylenol! #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

Local anesthetic drugs work by attaching to sodium channels and preventing the flow of sodium into the axon. That way, the axon can’t fire and signal the brain that you’re in pain! #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

In order to coordinate the brain’s perception of movement, axons from more distant parts of the retina transmit signals slightly slower than axons in closer proximity to their target #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

We’ve all heard that brain functioning can decrease with age, but did you know that the frontal cortex can start losing thickness at age 30? #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

Cannabinoids can help minimize damage after a stroke, but they are most effective if present in the body before a stroke. However, constant cannabinoid use increases the likelihood of a stroke so it’s a bit of a catch-22. #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

Concussions are caused by brain tissue hitting the inside of the skull. To help protect yourself in a car wreck, tuck in your chin and tense your neck muscles to help prevent rotation and whiplash. #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

A blood transfusion from an elderly individual to a young one can temporarily negatively affect the recipient’s synaptic plasticity. #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

The Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that adolescents are less responsible than adults for their actions because they are less able to resist their impulses. However, studies often show that teens are able to resist impulses just as well as adults. #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

Musicians have more gray matter in the occipital lobe and precentral gyrus. Go pick up an instrument! #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

Did you know that physical activity improves cognitive processing in addition to keeping you fit? #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

A tumor in the temporal lobe can cause auditory and visual hallucinations #PSY303DC

[Annie Griffith @akgryffith]

Damage to striate cortex makes it impossible to visualize an imagined image, whereas with damage to eyes this is still possible! #PSY303DC