Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Dissociative Identity Disorder: An American Phenomenon?

Dissociative Identity Disorder is a condition where individuals will display various distinct personalities or identities. Another name for this disorder is Multiple Personality Disorder. The diagnosis for this condition requires that at least two personalities are routinely taking control an individual's behavior with an associated memory loss that goes beyond just normal forgetfulness.( MedicineNet.com) When discussing DID there is much controversy surrounding the topic, including that it does not exist outside of North America.(Ross) This diagnosis is more commonly found in females and is concentrated more heavily in North America, especially the United States. Women are diagnosed more with DID and they also tend to have more alternate personalities. The disorder tends to become dormant as individuals enter middle age, but the symptoms can resurface during periods of stress. DID seems to be a cultural disorder because it is rarely found outside of North America, specifically the United States.(MedicineNet.com)

An interesting way that psychiatrist has chosen to help relieve people that are suffering from DID is Art therapy. It is helpful for them to distinguish how many personalities a person has who has DID. I found a video about a woman, Kim Nobel who uses art therapy specifically painting to deal with her multiple personalities. Each one of her personalities is evident in the paintings she creates because each is completely different. This is very interesting to me because she is using aesthetics to help relieve some of the problems she has stemming from Dissociative Identity Disorder. Below is a link to the Video of Kim Nobel:

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Art-Therapy-and-Dissociative-Identity-Disorder-Video


Works Cited

"Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) Symptoms, Treatment, Causes, Signs and Diagnosis by MedicineNet.com." Web. 14 Dec. 2010. .

Ross, Colin A. "Dissociative Identity Disorder." Dissociative Identity Disorder (2006). Springerlink. Web. Oct.-Nov. 2010. .

Unknown. "Art Therapy and Dissociative Identity Disorder - Video - Oprah.com." Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. Web. 14 Dec. 2010. .

Monday, November 29, 2010

Spray-On Clothes

Manel Torres, a Spanish fashion designer, has worked with scientists from the Imperial College London to create spray-on clothing. The spray-on fabric is made of fibers is made of lots of short individual fibers mixed with other polymers which allow it to solidify upon the skin. If the fabric is not applied correctly it can also dissolve back into it's solvent, ready to reapply.


Click Here to be linked to the rest of the video.
This is another video demonstrating the aerosol applicator.

Various types of fibers can be used to change the texture of the end product such as wool, cotton, and polyester. The fabric looks form fitting when it is first applied, but as the wearer moves around it will wrinkle and move as other fabrics do. It will even maintain its shape in a washing machine.

The revolutionary spray-on clothing is only one use of this amazing new technology. Torres stated that he was interested in finding other practical uses for it such as spray-on upholstery. This could revolutionize basic first aid by changing the way we administer medicine and apply bandages. It could be used to provide sterile medications and bandages directly to a wound without having to apply any pressure.


Imagine if fictional bio-gel like in Halo 3: ODST were to really exist? It not hard to imagine that grenade shaped can of sci-fi miracle foam as a can of spray-on healing. With this new leap in scientific advances we very well might have a can of All Purpose Spray-On Bandages in our medicine cabinet or even in our pockets rather than a box of Band-Aids sitting on our shelf.



Boyle, Rebecca. "Video: Spanish Designer Demonstrates Spray-On Clothing." Popular Science. Popular Science, 17 Sep 2010. Web. 29 Nov 2010. .

Ceurstemont, Sandrine. "Real spray-on clothes to hit the catwalk ." NewScientist. Reed Business Information Ltd., 17 Sep 2010. Web. 29 Nov 2010. .

Sunday, November 28, 2010

"Anti gravity" platform

Since just about the beginning of mankind, UFOs have been seen around the world, and each person has their own theory on them. A widely accepted theory about these spacecrafts is that they use some sort of anti gravity technology. Sure, we may be able to imitate this effect, but we have not actually gotten to the true state of anti gravity. On our way towards being able to levitate objects, without simply giving an outside force to push against gravity, we have discovered some very intriguing inventions. A recent invention that struck my interest is the anti gravity platform.

The platform is about as long and wide as a sheet of paper and stands only a few inches off the ground, or table in this case. While it is not true anti gravity, it poses the question “What comes next”. The anti gravity table, while it is not actual anti gravity technology, is still incredibly interesting. The platform uses a total of seven magnets, one in each corner and two in the middle as well as the platform itself, in order to create a driving force against gravity that simulates anti gravity. This technology is small, only being able to hold about three ounces, but it is also affordable as well.

Most people hear the phrase “anti gravity” and think of some giant government project that costs trillions of dollars and will be ground breaking technology; either this or Mythbusters. In reality, this small device, while expensive, is still affordable. If you want to get your hands on one it will run about ninety euros averaging out to about one hundred and twenty dollars. While this platform is little more than a toy for evil geniuses wanting to take over the world, what comes next in our step towards the future? Being able to levitate objects, even if it’s not true anti gravity technology, could end up being the inspiration for some amazing technology and I, for one, can not wait to see what comes next.

Sources:

"Anti Gravity Platform Can Hover The Entire World." Invention Reaction. Invention Reaction, 2010. Web. 21 Nov 2010. .

Phoebz, . "Anti Gravity Platform - It's Not Magic, But It's Truly Amazing." Geekie Gadgets. Geekie Gadgets, 04 Jan 2010. Web. 21 Nov 2010. .

"The Antigravity Platform." Youtube. Web. 21 Nov 2010. .

"Lifter Anti-Gravity Myth has been BUSTED 1 of 2." Youtube. Web. 21 Nov 2010. .

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Blindness: Soon to be a problem of the past?

Growing up as a young child there was nothing I feared more than the dark. It seemed that no matter where I was the darkness held a frightening sense of the unknown. Naturally, the condition that I feared the most then was one where your world becomes permanent darkness, I am speaking of course of going blind. To me, blindness was something to be feared as I couldn’t fathom being able to function without the use of my eyes. I was taught that the condition was debilitating , absolute and that above all, barring a miracle, it was mostly permanent. However, this permanency and absolute condition of blindness may be on the verge of being cast out by technology. In development right now is a machine that can project images, text, video, and more past the parts of people's eyes that are usually responsible for blindness and directly onto the retinas. This allows, in effect, for blind people to see these images once again.

The tool started out as a diagnostic device used to determine if patients had any retina left in their blind eyes. However, one patient, Elizabeth Goldring, decided that the device could also be used to bring sight back to blind. The original device, termed an SLO or a scanning laser ophthalmoscope, cost about 100,000 USD to buy, but Elizabeth went on a crusade to create a device that could be affordable and available for blind people to buy and use in their homes. To achieve her goals she contacted the inventor of the SLO and, after redesigning the device with a mind towards it purpose as a home viewing kit, managed to get the cost of the device down to 4,000 USD.

The current version of the device can project full color images to the back of a person's eye and can be set up on a desktop in your home. Additionally, a portable prototype is being tested where Goldring says it allows her to see faces and general details of people she would not be able to see otherwise. The device is not currently available for public sale and the next step is for the scientists at the MIT Media Lab to open testing to the general public.

Aside from this one device other companies are looking for ways to help people with disabilities as well. This video describes what one company is doing now to help the blind and dyslectic be able to "read" books through current mediums :



Although they are not trying to solve the problem of blindness in the same way as the previously mentioned device they are opening the printed world to those it was closed to before.

The fact that scientists are inventing ways to make the blind see is something straight out of a science fiction story of the recent past. Who would have imagined that those once thought to be beyond help would be able to once again enjoy all the benefits of being able to see. Additionally, once this project takes off the potential is astronomical. From here we could give these devices to children born blind so that they never have to experience life without sight if they don't want to. Also those with severely ailing vision will no longer have to suffer as they will know that they do have options other than accepting being blind. Ultimately, we are on the verge of curing what was thought to be a permanent fixture in life and as we master the world around us we are discovering ever better ways to ensure the success and survival of our species.

Sources:
http://www.livescience.com/health/060523_vision_restored.html
Livesciencejournal is a respected reporting site of the latest health news and provides a look at the breakthrough from a health and scientific perspective.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/158246/seeing_machine_helps_blind_see_pictures.html
Pcworld is also a well respected website used to report advances in computer technology and looks at the story from a more technical and computer based perspective.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Life After Oil

Ever heard of peak oil? Undoubtedly you have briefly been exposed to the concept. If you haven't, it is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached. Now I ask, have you ever heard of global warming? Of course you have, it's all over the news; celebrities, television shows, supermarkets, and most any major aspect of society is joining in on the 'green' movement.

The idea of global warming has, for the most part, become an accepted idea. But why hasn't the concept of peak oil been engrained in people all over the world. "Apart from the Swedish and possibly the Irish government, no government or corporation is yet really addressing or even acknowledging peak oil, at least publicly"(Hopkins). Climate change and peak oil will have to be dealt with; there are no two ways about it. So where will we go and what can we do?

To put climate change into perspective, think about the following ideas. Pre-industrial CO2 levels were 278ppm(Parts per million). It 2007 they were recorded at 385ppm. This increase has led to a global temperature increase of 0.8 degrees Celsius. Although this doesn't sound like much it is already wreaking havoc around the world. Glaciers are melting, storms are stronger and animals migration patterns are changing.(Hopkins).

Furthermore, due to a process called thermal inertia, if we had halted all carbon emissions in 2008 the global temperature would have continued to increase by at least 0.6 degrees. This means that we are already guaranteed to reach an increase of 1.4 degrees. Scientists believe that we should set the 'safe' max in global temperature increase at 2 degrees. Anything over this will cause climate catastrophe (Hopkins). So when do we change?

Is peak oil a reality? What evidence is there to support the idea that we have already reached our maximum production or that that point is soon approaching. For the sake of brevity I will only provide a couple reasons.

"Most oil-producing nations follow the same pattern - the peak in discovery tends to occur 30-40 years before a peak in production... Given that the world as a whole peaked in discovery in 1965... we are close to or at, the peak of production"(Hopkins).

Another interesting thing to look at is the size of the fields being discovered. "In 1940 the average size of the fields found over the last five years was 1.5 billion barrels"(Hopkins). By 2004 this number had fallen to a mere 45 million barrels, and it continues to fall (Hopkins).

During this 'Oil Age' the human race has discovered over 47,000 oil fields. Of these, the 40 largest are responsible for 75 percent of all oil ever discovered. If we haven't reached peak oil, we are very close. Why else would we be so desperate for these small pockets of oil?

So where are these two issues going to take us. Basically there are three options for the decline of oil. We can go through a long term transition where the decline of oil is slow and regulated. This is our best option. This option will allow the world to realize what is upon them and make changes to accommodate it.

The second option is a little less desirable and is known as "oil Shocks". It is similar to the first option except that the world will experience "sudden disruptions and price hikes, triggering periodic sustained emergencies"(Hopkins). In essence there will be relatively short periods of time where the price of oil spikes well above a reasonable price for almost all of the population.

The last option is the least desirable. "Here, the impacts of peak oil become so severe that the fabric of society begins to unravel, leading to "socially catastrophic competition for scarce resources, including food, shelter and energy""(Hopkins). Basically the level of the world's oil reserves will be depleted in a very short period of time leaving the world to switch to alternative sources of energy immediately.

These three options are based on the bell curve that is commonly presented when talking about peak oil. What isn't known is whether it would be a gentle slope down, or an abrupt cliff (Hopkins).

A common misconception is that the human race will be able to go on as it does now relying on renewable energy. Hopkins writes, "A society without access to fossil fuels would be able to do seventy to a hundred times less work than one with them."

This all boils down to the amount of energy returned on the energy invested or EROEI for short. In the 1930's the US had an EROEI of 100:1. This means that for every unit of energy put into the extraction process, one hundred units were obtained. This is an immense EROEI. Today the EROEI is between 11:1 and 18:1(Hopkins). And these stats are all based on the energy form oil.

What's more interesting is that wind energy has a return of about 11:1, solar, a return of between 2.5:1 and 4.3:1. Nothing will ever come close to the 1930's 100:1. "The decline in EROEI in our energy sources, together with the combined peaks of oil, gas, coal, and uranium, means that we need to acknowledge that we are as energy-rich a society today as we are ever likely to be"(Hopkins).

The best way to prepare for the drop in oil resources is to begin to create resilient communities. That is, communities that are more reliant on themselves rather that the rest of the world. You can explore this site for some more information about these communities. Rob Hopkins, the founder of the transition movement, has written a very interesting book titled, The Transition handbook from oil dependency to local resilience. I have put forth a couple of his ideas in this post but he has many more ideas that have peaked my interest. Maybe they will peak yours. Without a doubt he is biased towards the fact that peak oil is a reality, and frankly, from what I have read, on both sides of the topic, I believe him. But, only the future will tell.

Source:

Hopkins, Rob. The Transition Handbook: from Oil Dependency to Local Resilience. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Pub., 2009. Print.

Monday, November 15, 2010

How words shape our thoughts

Humans speak to each other with an abundance of different languages, but does hearing something said in a different language change the way we view the situation? If a friend is using your computer and the computer breaks as he is using it, would you say "You broke my computer", or would you say "My computer was broken". The answer to this is depended on the language spoken by the person being asked. Most English speakers named the friend the responsible party whether or not it was actually their fault. People from Japan or Spain usually just said something like "It broke".

More videos were shown to the people where a person intentionally and accidentally broke eggs. Every time the person intentionally broke the egg people of every language remembered the person's name and described him as the egg breaker. When the eggs were broken accidentally most English speaking subjects set blame on the man anyway. Subjects speaking other languages would just say the egg broke, because it was an accident so they had no reason to remember the details of the person who broke it.

When people are told about a situation, the wording of that situation shapes the way we look at it. A study was done using the Super Bowl with the Janet Jackson flashing. Subjects were given a report on what happened and told to come up with a punishment. One of the reports said Justin Timberlake ripped the costume, but the other said the costume was ripped. It didn't matter that they had all the details and had all seen the video, the people who got the first report levied fines 50 percent higher.

Boroditsky, By Lera. "Does Language Influence Culture? - WSJ.com." Business News & Financial News -
The Wall Street Journal - WSJ.com. Web. .

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Epigenetics, Evolution through Experience.

Epigenetics is an emerging science, that is meant to change the way we think about DNA, and its effects on our health. The science of Epigenetics is the study of variation or change in gene activity that do not involve adaptations to the genetic code but still get passed down to at least one subsequent generation.

The following video describes the old beliefs of how DNA controlled our health, while comparing and explaining the new way of thinking which is Epigenetics. It is important to understand the following in order to comprehend the astounding revolutions, Epigenetics may have within the medical community.





Epigenetics suggests that your genes are effected by your behavior, emotions, and experiences.

In studies of rats, "Parental care plays an important role in the emotional and cognitive development of the offspring. Children who have been exposed to abuse or neglect are more likely to develop numerous psychopathologies, while good parent-infant bonding is associated with improved resiliency to stress."

What Does It All Mean...?

Epigenetics, suggests that our own thoughts, emotions, and experiences control our overall physical and mental health. For example if a particular person chooses to smoke and eat in an excessive amounts throughout his/her life, it can change the epigentic marks atop your DNA. Resulting in the subsequent generation to show weak signs of longevity (Age) due to smoking, and or being more prone to obesity due to the over eating of the previous generation.


Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Identity Mark- Digital Angel or Digital Devil?

How would you feel about carrying all of the identifying information of your life with you in a tiny chip? In our society today, we are beginning to implant “under-the-skin” ID chips. These chips hold any personal information on them, and can transmit that information to anyone with a “special hand-held scanner” (Swafford). Similar radio frequency tags have been used for many years to track household pets and other animals. Once the hand-held scanner reads the tag number, it is able to extract information about the animal and its owner. The identity chip is seen to have two identities of it’s own, a “Digital Angel” or a “Digital Devil.”

Applied Digital Solutions has now introduced a passive Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) chip that is compatible with human tissue. Given the name “Verichip,” the rice-sized device is injected through a syringe like needle under the skin of a person’s arm or hand; once it’s implanted, it’s unable to be removed. In the article, Bar-coding Humans, Angela Swafford notes how the Verichip is believed to be the first chip designed for human identification and is currently undergoing constant improvement in technology. Swafford also explains how Applied Digital Solutions is advancing the chip so that it can store all kinds of information and serve as a central database with a continual download of information. "The goal is to be able to develop a chip that will track the movement of people all over the world by utilizing global positioning satellites" (Swafford). The current device holds a number, and once it’s scanned, the authorized person must log into an encrypted website to access any information associated with the specific ID chip. Vincent Schodolski discusses how “the Verichip gives each implanted individual a number that, in turn, links to a database of information” (Schodolski). For example, if a person has a medical emergency, the hospital could scan the implanted chip, log into the website with the unique information, and access all personal information. Clearly the use of this chip has a huge impact on society as a whole, and on each individual in the means of privacy.

One of the primary reasons the Verichip has been created is to offer rapid and secure patient identification in emergencies. However, society must question whether this increased access to information can in fact harm the patients. For example, insurance companies would have access to what a patient’s pre-existing conditions are. Therefore, they can decide if it’s a risk to cover the individual, and may in the end determine if coverage will not be provided. A patient does not have the choice to keep some of their medical information private; whoever has access to their chip has access to it all. Another question concerns the access to this personal information and who determines access to it. Is this a decision left to the medical profession? Is this a decision left to the patient? Is this a decision left to the government? Who chooses? What about sensitive diseases such as AIDS/HIV? A patient’s right to keep the reality of such a disease private, as long as they are not harming other, should be kept with the individual rather than with some other authority. Helene Bernardo argues, “surely, a Medic Alert bracelet or necklace should be sufficient identification in a health crises” (Benardo). Why should society need to have easy access to such a level where there are endless questions and need to have a non-removable chip to be able to have access to these records?

Another intended use of the Verichip is to ensure security. Despite the positive factors, many also question whether the additional security is worth the loss of privacy. When individuals choose to embed these chips into their skin, who gets to decide when the information is accessible and under what circumstances? These are moral and ethical considerations. From a religious standpoint many would say this is the equivalent of “taking the mark of the beast.” Taking the mark of the beast in the realm of believers is seem as selling your soul to the devil. This mark is not defined in its appearance, but many believe it will be binary or barcode in nature.

One would see an additional benefit to this identity chip as the easy access factor it holds. Rather than having to carry around all the identification, credit cards, insurance cards, medical information, those wanting this chip would have the luxury of just swiping their arm. People could quickly charge to their credit card accounts, access money from their bank’s automatic teller machines without a card, and provide medical information and insurance coverage information at their physician’s office or at the pharmacy. Is this really necessary or is it merely convenient?

The decision of whether this identity chip is a “Digital Angel” or a “Digital Devil” is truly a moral dilemma. After reading the articles, information and opinions, the identity chip seems to be a real “Digital Devil.” What better security can this device bring to the United States citizens that they don’t already have? Is this advanced technology taking away humanity? Individual freedom is highly valued in our society. Individuals must weigh the pros and cons of this technology and decide for themselves, whether it’s right. Improved technology isn’t always the answer.

1.) Bernardo, Helene "The Specter of Implanted Identity Chips. (Editorial Desk)(Letter to the Editor)." The New York Times. (Oct 18, 2004 pA16 (L) col 04 (2 col): A16 (L). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Mount Mansfield Union High School. Web. 2 Nov. 2010.

2.) Schodolski, Vincent J. "Identity chips could protect health, but hurt privacy, some say." Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. (Dec 27, 2004): K1522. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Mt Mansfield Union High School. Web. 2 Nov. 2010.

3.) Swafford, Angela. "Barcoding Humans." Boston Globe (2004): Web. 2 Nov. 2010

4.) Youtube.com


Thursday, November 4, 2010

What's for dinner?...Dirt.

Think about people compelled to eat strange disturbing things such as dirt, chalk, metal etc. This concept is undoubtedly intriguing. These symptoms spawn from a rare condition called Pica. Pica is a medical disorder characterized by an appetite for non-nutritive items or also things considered not to be edible on their own, such as raw rice, flour, and other food ingredients or raw food items. The word pica comes from the Latin word for magpie, a bird known for its large and indiscriminate appetite. This disorder effects more people than you would think. In fact, according to kidshealth.org, 25-30% of children are diagnosed with it. Although many young children explore their world through putting foreign objects in their mouths, children affected by pica have cravings that persist and often lead to a need for professional help. Some other people that are commonly affected by Pica include pregnant women and people with developmental disabilities.
http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/pica.html
The kinds of items consumed by people suffering from Pica cover a great range including dirt, clay, paint chips, plaster, chalk, cornstarch, laundry starch, baking soda, coffee grounds, cigarette ashes, burnt match heads, cigarette butts, soap, ice, glue, hair, buttons, paper, sand, toothpaste, and even feces.



(Pictured here are the contents of someone’s stomach who suffered from Pica. You can see a great variety of items including metal nails, beads, and stones.)

One can readily assume the kinds of health risks that consuming non-food items can pose. One could accidentally consume lead from paint, or toxins in dirt, even parasites. Now the question that’s on all our minds is what goes through these peoples minds when they continuously feed themselves things they know aren’t intended for consumption?
One example of a patient suffering from pica was a 33-year-old, African American woman admitted to the emergency room with vague abdominal complaints, increasing abdominal girth, weight gain, and episodic nausea and vomiting of several months' duration. Upon further examination it was concluded that these symptoms were a result of her unusual habit of eating dirt. Curiously enough the patient could never attribute her symptoms to this habit, and tried to blame them on other things. When asked about her cravings to eat dirt she recalled first trying dirt as a child, but said that soon after she had stopped because she was afraid of what her parents would do if they found out. Later on when she was 19 years old she had the first of two miscarriages. At this time she described how after the burial service she took a handful of dirt from the grave and ingested it. After the burial of her second stillborn she experienced other bouts of eating dirt as well as throughout other pregnancies. Later on when she had two young children she began instructing her children to gather soil from a neighbors flowerbed for her to eat, (although she never actually told them what the dirt was for).
When asked what about eating dirt appealed to her, she responded with a detailed description of what ingesting dirt was like for her. She said that she enjoyed grabbing a portion of dirt with the plastic pail her children had gathered it with, looking at it, smelling it, and feeling it in her hand, then finally shoving the whole handful into her mouth savoring the “gritty feeling” in her throat.



There are several different proposed causes of Pica. Some are more common than others, however there is no one specific cause because of its vague neurological roots. Some reasons why this disorder is thought to occur includes nutritional deficiencies triggering peculiar cravings, dieting which people eat non nutritional items in attempt to achieve fullness without calories, and also OCD disorder (obsessive compulsive disorder) and schizophrenia.
Pica, as well as many other bizarre mental disorders in modern times has a clear medical cause, but appears to be something out of witchcraft or magic in times of less scientific knowledge. Consider the symptoms of the people thought to be victims of witchcraft during the Salem which trials. A heavily researched theory is that a fungus called ergot, which sometimes infects rye grains, in fact triggered these symptoms of so called “witchcraft”. This fungus produces chemicals, which are very similar to LSD and cause vicious hallucinations and seizures. It’s strange medical phenomenon like this, as well as Pica and many other medical situations that are interpreted very differently depending on the amount of scientific and psychological knowledge available at that time.

Here are my sources...

http://psy.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/39/5/465

I trust this to be a good source because they are affiliated with many notable organizations such as the Academy Of Psychosomatic Medicine and American Psychiatric Publishing Inc.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/pica.html
This seemed like a trustworthy source because of how it is relatively well known it is, and how notable companies endorse it.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/brief-salem.html
The Smithsonian Institution is a well-known and reputable source and has been for a long time.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Since when does the lungs have taste receptors ?

We all know the lungs are an essential part of the respiration system. As for the tongue, we all know that we use our tongue to taste things. So why am I mentioning these two body parts in the blog? Well, in a recent article published by Science Daily, there were unexpected discovery suggests that the ability to taste isn’t limited to the mouth anymore. Researchers at the Maryland school of Medicine discovered that humans have bitter taste receptors in their lungs. The bitter taste receptors are the exact same kind located on the tongue. However, there are two differences that distinguish the lungs receptor’s from the tongue’s receptors. First, unlike the tongue’s receptors, the lung receptors are not bunched into taste buds. Secondly, they don’t communicate directly to the brain.

Flash back to The Accidental Mind and we see the tongue and brain are linked. “Those body parts that have fine tactile sensation, such as a hand, lips, and tongue, occupy a disproportionate amount of space in the primary somatosensory cortex”(Linden 85). When bitter compounds enter the mouth, it activates the taste receptors which then alerts the brain that they have detected a bitter compound and the brain quickly returns a message telling it to “reject” quickly. Click here to watch a video of how the brain and tounge are linked.

So, why are these new findings about taste receptors in the lungs important? Since the receptors for bitter tastes are found in the muscles of the lungs and airways, there are implications that it could help asthma patients.

“The researchers tested different bitter compounds on human and mouse airways, individual airway smooth muscle cells, and on mice with asthma. They found that these compounds all opened lung airways more profoundly than current drugs”(HealthDay News). At first, I thought that eating bitter foods would also help open airways in the lungs, but that’s not the case. According to Dr. Ligget’s research, “we think that the best drugs would be chemical modifications of bitter compounds, which would be aerosolized and then inhaled into the lungs with an inhaler" (HealthDay News).

Now, you are probably wondering why there are taste receptors in the lungs. Well, like the tongue’s taste receptors that reject bitter compounds. Bitter compounds are often toxic, and the body generally tries to keep them out, and in this case, the lungs don’t want bitter compounds entering it.

According to Science Daily, “There are thousands of compounds that activate the body's bitter taste receptors but are not toxic in appropriate doses. Many are synthetic agents, developed for different purposes, and others come from natural origins, such as certain vegetables, flowers, berries and trees” (Science Daily). Until the right bitter compounds are found, it may lead to the development of the first new class of asthma inhalers in decades. Though this is quite a long time, it will definitely be a worthwhile pursuit.


Here are my sources....

"Bitter Taste Receptors Found in Lungs May Aid Asthma Patients." Healthday. Healthday, 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 26 Oct. 2010. .

Linden, David J. The Accidental Mind. Cambridge, MA: Belknap of Harvard UP, 2007. Print.

University of Maryland Medical Center. "Discovery of Taste Receptors in the Lungs Could Help People With Asthma Breathe Easier." ScienceDaily 25 October 2010. 27 October 2010 /releases/2010/10/101024144132.htm>.