Brain Disorder

Brain Disorder
Keyword: brain deseases, brain disorder, gila, sakit otak, schizophrenia
History of the Scientific View on Schizophrenia as a Brain Disorder: It has been suspected for over a century that schizophrenia and manic-depressive disorder (bipolar disorder) are disorders of the brain. In 1837, Dr. W.A.F. Browne, the best-known English psychiatrist of his generation, wrote: "Insanity, then, is inordinate or irregular, or impaired action of the mind, of the instincts, sentiments, intellectual, or perceptive powers, depending upon and produced by an organic change in the brain."

In that same year, Dr. Amariah Brigham, one of the founders of American psychiatry, also wrote that insanity "is now considered a physical disorder, a disease of the brain."
It would be 150 years, however, before these statements could be proven. Since the early 1980s, with the availability of brain imaging techniques and other developments in neuroscience, the evidence has become overwhelming that schizophrenia and manic-depressive disorder are disorders of the brain.
Additional research done during the past decade has revealed that schizophrenia is caused by a combination of genetic or biological predisposition as well as other factors such as prepregnancy factors, pregnancy stress, other prenatal factors, social stress, family stress or environmental stressors during a person's life. Research has now shown that children's and teen's brains are very sensitive to stress (up to 5 to 10 times more sensitive than adult brains) and can be damaged by frequent or ongoing stress.
To learn more about the causes of schizophrenia, and how to prevent it - read these two documents: Causes of Schizophrenia, Prevention of Schizophrenia.
A brief summary of some of the evidence that proves this point follows.
Significant Loss of Brain Gray Matter: Individuals with schizophrenia, including those who have never been treated, have a reduced volume of gray matter in the brain, especially in the temporal and frontal lobes. Recently neuroscientists have detected gray matter loss of up to 25% (in some areas). The damage started in the parietal, or outer, regions of the brain but spread to the rest of the brain over a five year period. Patients with the worst brain tissue loss also had the worst symptoms, which included hallucinations, delusions, bizarre and psychotic thoughts, hearing voices, and depression.
Please note that while there is significant loss of brain gray matter, this is not a reason to lose all hope. In recent (September, 2004) group of presentations and discussion we had with Dr. Daniel Weinberger and other leading National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) schizophrenia researchers, we learned that there are reasons to believe that this gray matter loss may be reversable. Moreover, the NIMH is currently researching a drug that seems to have potential for reversing the cognitive decline that is caused by schizophrenia, and there are many drug companies also now researching in this area. It is anticipated that we will see some significant announcements related to these develpments in the next few years.

Orang Buta pun Bisa Menyetir Mobil

Untuk menghindari kecelakaan fatal, biasanya seorang yang tuna netra (buta) sebaiknya cukup ditempatkan di kursi penumpang, tanpa boleh mengendarai kendaraan, baki motor maupun mobil.

Karena tidak bisa melihat, maka banyak para tuna netra mustahil bisa mengemudi kecuali dengan bantuan mukzizat. Namun, pandangan tersebut dapat dipatahkan Federasi Orang Buta atau National Federation of the Blind (NFB).

Sebab, organisasi orang buta, yang tertua dan terbesar di AS itu, telah mengumumkan bahwa Mark Anthony Riccobono, seorang eksekutif buta yang memimpin penelitian teknologi dan program pendidikan akan menjadi orang buta pertama yang mengendarai kendaraan jalan di depan umum. 

Eksekutif tersebut dengan percaya dirinya duduk di belakang kemudi Ford Escape hybrid yang dilengkapi dengan teknologi nonvisual, sehingga memungkinkan orang buta untuk mengemudikan kendaraan tanpa bantuan apapun.

Kegiatan ini merupakan bagian dari demonstrasi bersejarah yang dijadwalkan berlangsung sebelum balapan Rolex 24 di Daytona International Speedway pada 29 Januari lalu.

Mr Riccobono berkata, "Aku telah buta sejak usia lima tahun, jadi aku tidak pernah mencoba untuk membuat surat izin mengemudi atau mengendarai mobil tanpa orang lain yang siap memberitahu ku arah jalan.”
“Pimpinan NFB dalam Blind Driver Challenge berhasil mengubah mimpi yang mustahil menjadi kenyataan. Saya melihat ke depan untuk berada di belakang kemudi dan menunjukkan kepada dunia bahwa menjadi buta tidak mencegah aku untuk terlibat dalam kegiatan apapun dan bisa mendapatkan informasi yang saya butuhkan,” ujar Riccobono seperti dikutip dari Autoevolution, Senin (31/1/2011).

"Ini akan menjadi kesempatan yang benar-benar bersejarah bagi rekan buta saya dan untuk Amerika, dan saya senang dan bangga menjadi bagian dari itu,"
tutupnya.

Siswa SMP RI Ciptakan Jejaring Sosial Seperti Facebook

Bandung, (tvOne)
Seorang siswa SMP di Bandung, Jawa Barat berhasil menciptakan jejaring sosial. Bahkan, saat ini karya tersebut telah diakses di 47 negara seluruh dunia.
Pergaulan di dunia maya melalui jejaring sosial saat ini sedang digandrungi masyarakat dari berbagai usia dan kalangan sosial. Hal inilah yang mendasari Muhammad Yahya Harlan, siswa SMP kelas I Sekolah Alam Bandung untuk menciptakan jejaring sosial dengan nama salingsapa.com.
Proses pembuatan jejaring sosial ini hanya satu bulan. Yahya mencoba membuat fitur-fitur menarik untuk melengkapi jejaring sosial karyanya. Berbeda dengan jejaring sosial lainnya, salingsapa.com ditujukan untuk mengajak kebaikan.
Sejak diluncurkan dua minggu lalu, pengguna salingsapa.com sudah mencapai 5500 dan diakses oleh 47 negara di dunia, seperti Amerika Serikat, Belanda, Norwegia dan Malaysia.
Orang tua Yahya menyebutkan, minat dan bakat bahwa anaknya pada komputer telah terlihat sejak berusia tiga tahun. Karena karyanya ini, Yahya diminta mengisi kuliah umum dihadapan sejumlah dosen dan mahasiswa ITB, Bandung.

Samsung Gelontorkan Prosesor Tablet Baru

SEOUL - Samsung Electronics mengumumkan jajaran prosesor baru mereka yang khusus digunakan pada ponsel, tablet dan perangkat mobile lainnya.

Exynos dengan kode Orion, kini menjadi andalan perusahaan asal Korea Selatan itu di pasar chip. Rumornya Samsung akan memproduksi Exynos bulan depan. Chip ini merupakan prosesor dual-core 1GHz dengan aplikasi yang didesain untuk multimedia full HD dan mengkonsumsi daya yang lebih sedikit sehingga ketahanan baterai bisa lebih lama.

Kata Exynos berasal dari kata Expynos dan Prasinos, yang dalam bahasa Yunani berarti pintar dan hijau.

"Prosesor ini nantinya akan menggantikan prosesor Hummingbird Samsung. Expynos memiliki kinerja yang tinggi dan rendah asupan listrik," ujar Samsung, seperti dilansir DailyMail, Minggu (13/2/2011).

Nantinya Exynos akan meramaikan persaingan prosesor yang dibuat khusus untuk untuk perangkat tablet. Sebelumnya produsen, seperti Qualcomm dan Texas Instruments juga membuat cip khusus tablet seperti Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core APQ8060 dan OMAP 5.

Sepakbola Wafat?

SIAPA tidak tahu ketangguhan Timnas Brasil, Belanda, Spanyol, Jerman atau Italia. Negara yang selalu menghiasi perhelatan Piala Dunia. Apakah Anda ingin Indonesia seperti kelima negara tersebut? Bocah sekolah dasar pun pasti menjawab ya.

Mungkin jawabannya berbeda ketika pertanyaannya dilontarkan kepada orang dewasa atau oknum pejabat di negeri tercinta ini. Dengan dasar satu kepentingan, oknum pejabat di negeri ini lebih memilih jawaban tidak perlu. Memikirkan proyek yang mendatangkan finansial besar lebih realistis bagi mereka.

Prolog di atas hanya sekadar cermin bangsa ini. Bangsa besar yang seharusnya menjadi panutan negara lain, terutama dalam sektor olahraga. Kenyataannya sangat bertolak belakang. Penggusuran sarana olahraga seperti lapangan sepakbola dengan mudah dilakukan. Stadion Menteng sudah berubah wujud dan lapangan Union Makes Strenght (UMS) harus menghentikan kegiatannya. Stadion Lebak Bulus kini teramcam bakal rata dengan tanah.

Stadion yang pernah menjadi markas Persija Jakarta akan dilebur oleh Pemerintah Provinsi DKI Jakarta. Nantinya, Stadion Lebak Bulus masuk dalam area proyek Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) atau yang lebih dikenal dengan subway. Tahun ini, Stadion yang terletak di wilayah selatan Jakarta itu akan dirobohkan.

Mimpi anak negeri ini untuk menjadi penerus legenda sepakbola Indonesia seperti Iswadi Idris, Ronny Pasla dan Ricky Yakobi mungkin tidak terwujud untuk selamanya. Untuk menjadi pemain sehebat mereka, pemerintah tentunya harus menyediakan sarana dan prasarana memadai. Salah satunya lapangan sepakbola.

Bila ingin sepakbola negeri ini maju, seharusnya pemerintah membangun sarana pembinaan sepakbola memadai di setiap keacamatan atau kota. Undang-Undang Sistem Keolahragaan Nasional pun mengamanatkan demikian. Tidak ada alasan bagi pemerintah menunda atau menolak menyediakan fasilitas sepakbola memadai. Sebaliknya, beberapa fasilitas sepakbola justru luluh lantak karena berbagai kepentingan.

Bertaburnya lapangan sepakbola pasti bakal meningkatkan animo anak-anak bangsa bermain dan menjadi pemain hebat. Anak-anak dengan mudah menyalurkan minat sebagai pemain handal karena fasilitas yang memadai. Pola pembinaan dari tingkat paling bawah pun berjalan baik dan banyak cikal bakal pemain hebat di Bumi Pertiwi ini.

Tapi apa yang dialami embrio sepakbola Republik Indonesia ini sungguh tragis. Mereka semakin sulit mencari arena bermain sepakbola. Andai pun ada, mereka harus mengeluarkan kocek cukup besar yang sangat tidak masuk akal bagi rakyat kecil. Mereka harus menyewa lapangan yang mencapai ratusan ribu atau jutaan hanya untuk bermain selama satu hingga dua jam.

Kondisi ini memaksa mereka memeras otak untuk bermain sepakbola. Jalan raya dijadikan alternatif utama untuk menunjukkan bakat dan hobinya. Mara bahaya dan petaka pun menanti para calon pahlawan olahraga itu. Lagi-lagi orang kecil tetap menjadi sasaran tembak karena bermain sepakbola bukan ditempatnya.

Bersamaan Stadion Menteng, Stadion Lebak Bulus dihancurkan serta dihentikannya aktivitas pembinaan di Lapangan UMS, berarti menjadi sinyal wafatnya pembinaan sepakola, terutama di Ibu Kota Jakarta. Padahal, pemerintah wajib menyediakan sarana olahraga, termasuk sepakbola untuk warganya.

Bila demikian, jangan pernah lagi semua pihak termasuk pemerintah bermimpi Indonesia bisa menjadi Brasil atau Spanyol. Jangan pernah berharap lagu Indonesia Raya berkumandang di luar negeri karena tim nasional menjadi jawara. Tanggalkan semua target saat tampil di ajang internasional.

Kejayaan Timnas Merah Putih di era Iswadi Idris, Ronny Pasla dan Ricky Yakobi tidak akan terulang. Pahlawan sepakbola Indonesia itu hanya akan tercatat dalam sejarah. Anak-anak di negeri ini hanya bisa membaca, tanpa ada secuil pun kesempatan untuk mengikuti prestasi Iswadi, Ronny, dan Ricky.

Twitter Jadi Rebutan Google dan Facebook

NEW YORK, KOMPAS.com - Diam-diam petinggi Twitter rupanya sedang melakukan pembicaraan dengan Facebook dan Google. Pembicaraan ini terkait kemungkinan akusisi situs mikrobloging tersebut.
Menurut situs web Wall Street Journal, pembicaraan itu termasuk memperkirakan nilai Twitter yang diperkirakan berkisar 8 miliar dollar AS hingga 10 miliar dollar AS.
Valuasi ini lebih tinggi ketika Twitter memperoleh pinjaman pada Desember 2010 lalu. Ketika itu, Twitter memperoleh pinjaman 200 juta dollar AS sehingga valuasinya 3,7 miliar dollar AS.
Google dan Facebook belum bersedia menanggapi laporan Wall Street Journal tersebut. Begitu juga dengan Twitter yang menolak berkomentar.(Kontan/Edy Can)

Brain Speed

Brain Speed
Keyword: brain speed, brain up, mind fit, kecepatan otak

How to get your brain up to speedCold meat and chocolate will get your mind fit ... and sex is handy too, according to a new bookDenis Campbell, health correspondent The Observer, Sunday December 2 2007 Article historyForget Sudoku, crossword puzzles and computer games. If you really want to train your brain, then eat dark chocolate, have plenty of sex and follow the Scandinavian example of having cold meat for breakfast.

The growing numbers of people who are trying to strengthen their mental ability through 'brain training' should also avoid cannabis, watching soap operas, hanging out with serial complainers or pursuing fat-free diets, according to a new book on getting 'brain-fit'.

Many of the suggestions in Teach Yourself Training Your Brain are surprising, such as cuddling a baby, cheating at school, reading out loud and doing your university degree in business studies. Co-authors Terry Horne and Simon Wootton say their recommendations are based on and backed by the latest research by leading experts around the world.

'For decades we have thought that the cognitive capacity of our brains is genetically determined, whereas it's now clear that it's a lifestyle choice. What we eat and drink, how we learn at school and what type of moods we have are all crucial,' said Horne, a business lecturer at the University of Central Lancaster and an authority on thinking and learning.

'People can make lifestyle choices that will not only prevent what used to be seen as an inevitable decline in cognitive [ability] after the age of 17 - something that IQ tests seemed to bear out - but will constantly increase our cognitive capacity throughout our adult lives. Our far-reaching suggestions will empower people to develop their cognitive capacity or just let it decline.'

The book details the most up-to-date thinking in science about how diet, the environment, stress and other aspects of modern life affect our mental capacity and distils them in the form of chunks of advice as well as exercises. It also points out that of the seven different chemical reactions that the brain undergoes in the sexual process, from contemplating intercourse to achieving orgasm, four help the thinking process. The ensuing increase in levels of the 'trust' hormone, oxytocin, for example, increases readiness to think of novel or risky solutions.

Similarly, the post-coital rise in serotonin levels aids both creative thinking and calm, logical decision-making. The authors praise the plethora of useful elements in dark chocolate, such as magnesium and antioxidant flavonols, which benefit everything from the supply of oxygen to the brain to the reduction of the chances of brain damage through a stroke.

The book comes as more and more Britons are spending increasing sums on a fast-expanding market in books, DVDs, subscription websites and computer games which claim to supercharge people's memory to improve their performance at work, enhance their brain's ability to store information and ward off the effects of dementia.

Nintendo's Brain Age electronic brain training game, which includes memory, number and intelligence tests, has sold 10 million copies globally. In the United States, some insurance companies have begun giving older clients computer software programmes featuring such exercises to encourage them to stay as mentally sharp as possible. And some nursing homes there have set up 'brain gyms' for the same purpose.

Horne believes that many Britons need to make dramatic changes to their lifestyles to increase their cognitive capacity because of the switch to a 'knowledge economy' from one based on manual labour, and because of the fast-expanding number of over-65s. Happiness, confidence and an optimistic nature help the brain, he added.

'So mix with people who make you laugh, have a good sense of humour or who share the same interests as you, and avoid people who whinge, whine and complain, as people who are negative will make you depressed, which means you won't achieve things,' said Horne. The book recommends that, instead of trying to find perfect happiness, people should instead seek a new concept the authors have called BLISS, which involves Body-based pleasure, Laughter, Involvement, Satisfaction and Sex, all of which enable the brain to think well.

Most people use only three to four per cent of their total supply of brain cells. But research among undergraduates has shown that those following the book's advice can experience a big enough increase in cognitive fitness to make the difference between getting a top job and a merely average one, said Horne. Is this the recipe for a sharp mind? Cheating

Children should not do homework on their own. Their minds will function better if they have help from parents or work with classmates. Eating the right food. Have eggs, fish or cold meat at breakfast. Stick to protein-based foods at lunchtime such as oily fish with dark green vegetables. Avoid bread, pasta or pizza and drink tea, ideally green or herbal, not coffee. Snack on nuts, not biscuits or other sweet things. Ideally, eat carbohydrates in the evenings only. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and red meat.

Speaking aloud. The old practice of getting pupils to speak in front of their class helps the brain because of the repetition involved. Adults can boost their memory by counting aloud to 99 in threes as fast as they can.

Mind Acceleration

Mind Acceleration
Keyword: brain acceleration, brain speed, mind acceleration

This neural accelerator is a proven cognitive training methodology that will set fire to your nerve fibers, resulting in the onset of overwhelming mental change. You'll be quickly torn from your current fabric of reality and jolted into a new mode of existence, as you realize the following benefits that the Infinity Mind System can bring to you:

Accelerate neural transmission, amplify IQ, increase the brains performance levels, develop greater mental abilities and speed up information processing times. Build more neuronal connections and dendrites throughout your brain, giving you the mental resources to think quicker, think about more things at once, think more in depth, think more clearly, think more correctly, think more effortlessly and think with greater result.

Multiply your brain's glial cell count, one of the most important biological determinants of intelligence. How important are glial cells? When scientists completed their investigation of Albert Einstein’s brain, they came to one unified conclusion: he had 72% more glial cells than the average person.

Sharply improve your creativity, imagination, ingenuity, intuition, inventive ability and capacity for innovation. Greatly increase your odds of becoming the next literary phenom, producing the next Hollywood blockbuster, designing the next cutting-edge electronic gadget or making the next major scientific discovery.

Ignite the dormant regions of your brain and experience drastic improvements in visual and spatial ability. Philosophical, theoretical and abstract thinking will feel natural and easy. Expand memory storage. Remember facts and details with renewed ease. Learn how to enter the ideal state of mind for learning, memorizing and performing important mental tasks. Develop the high mental capacity to master any skill, achieve any grade and gain entry into any profession. This neural accelerator will make you a stronger student, working professional and a greater force in todays knowledge economy. Up your analytical skill, logic handling abilities and talent for rational reasoning.

Develop the elaborate mental network to easily handle mathematical equations, formulas and complex calculations in your head. Greatly improve your verbal skills and gain a million dollar vocabulary. Masterfully communicate your ideas and thoughts resulting in strengthened persuasion and negotiation powers. Miles deep, underneath craggy rock and layers of granite, lies a vault of precious stone and rock; a bounty of natural wonder--an infinite resource of diamond and gold. With the Infinity Mind System, open your mind, and mine this precious resource you hold deep within. Open your mind and let your authentic genius fly forth.