by Sergey B. Yurchenko

Received: 25 May 2021;  Published: 14 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2103103

This article reviews the modern approaches to the quantum brain hypothesis. The aim is to consider the hypothesis and its classical brain-machine alternative from a broad perspective, including physics, biology, computer science, cosmology, and metaphysics. My starting point is that asking whether consciousness can or cannot have free will is fundamentally incorrect. This aspect is challenged by both physics and neuroscience. The paper argues that the search for conscious free will, as it is typically tested in Lib [...]

by Sarah-Catherine Rodan  , Phillip Aouad  , Iain S McGregor  and Sarah Maguire

Received: 08 April 2021;  Published: 24 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2102102

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a major health problem with one of the highest mortalities and treatment costs of any psychiatric condition. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is currently the most widely used treatment for AN in adults but provides remission rates ≤ 50%. Treatment drop-out is exceedingly high and those that persevere with treatment often relapse, causing increased risk of morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need to find new interventions, especially as there are no approved pharmacological treat [...]

by Sally Hobson  , Jenna Vyas-Lee  , Jessica Turnbull  and Bidisha Lahoti

Received: 31 January 2021;  Published: 15 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2102101

We describe our experience of setting up and evaluating a community-based multi-disciplinary sleep service for children with neurodevelopmental disorders and psychosocial vulnerabilities.Referrals are accepted for children (1-18 years of age) with persistent sleep problems, and neurodevelopmental difficulties or significant psychosocial adversity, living in two inner-city boroughs.Holistic sleep assessment involves 1-hour Paediatrician-led consultation, often followed by Psychologist-led parent workshop, with follo [...]

by Kate McKeown  , Emma Richards  , Jessica Richardson  and Andrea Tales

Received: 08 January 2021;  Published: 07 June 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2102100

Information processing speed (Reaction time, RT) to a single administration of the Trails A and Trails B components of the Trail Making Test (TMT) is used in the assessment of brain and behavioural functional integrity across the lifespan in both clinical and research contexts. Although the clinical utility of such single trial-related and thus rapidly gained results, is recognised, it is possible that its administration as a single trial only, precludes its ability to provide a more in-depth and thus relevant repr [...]

by Ashley Schumaker  , Richard Gomez  , Sofia Rojasova  , Cassidy Muir  , Katie Bukiri  , Clinton Korneffel  , Aparna Sharma  , Murali Rao  and Edwin Meresh

Received: 25 February 2021;  Published: 25 May 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2102099

The complete spectrum of neuropsychiatric effects of SARS-CoV-2 acute respiratory distress syndrome has yet to be fully appreciated, particularly in intubated patients. Manifestations including delirium and catatonia need to be considered in intubated COVID-19 patients. Medications known to exhibit neuroprotective effects, like valproate, can assist in agitation related to sedative withdrawal during extubation. This case series reports on the management of agitation, delirium, and catatonia in COVID-19 patients dur [...]

by Ji-Jie Pang  and Samuel M. Wu

Received: 24 November 2020;  Published: 21 May 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2102098

We studied how GC death in glaucoma related to the intraocular pressure (IOP), eyeball volume (VS) and elasticity (volumetric KS and tensile ES), and eyeball volume-pressure relation. Glaucomatous GC loss was studied in DBA/2J (D2) mice with wild-type mice as controls. GCs were retrogradely identified and observed with a confocal microscope. The elasticity calculation was also done on published data from patients treated by a gas bubble injection in the vitreous cavity. The GC population in D2 mice (1.5- to 14-mont [...]

by Francesco Sciancalepore  , Giulia Remoli  , Leonardo Tariciotti  , Giulia Sarti  , Federica Trentin  , Gabriele Riccardi  , Eleonora Lacorte  , Massimo Corbo  , Marco Canevelli  , Nicola Vanacore  and Paola Piscopo

Received: 05 February 2021;  Published: 19 May 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2102097

Deep-Brain Stimulation (DBS) is an important treatment option for the management of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and is a common symptomatic treatment. However, an increasing number of studies have examined the biological processes to assess if DBS can also modify the natural history of PD by acting on its pathophysiological mechanisms. Relevant literature published up to November 2020 was systematically searched on databases such as PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Academic Search Index, and Science Citation Index. The f [...]

by Anthony J. Berdis

Received: 09 February 2021;  Published: 18 May 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2102096

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an extremely malignant type of primary brain tumor that exhibits a high mortality rate. Current standard therapy involves surgery followed by radiation and treatment with the DNA-alkylating agent, temozolomide (TMZ). While TMZ treatment can extend post-operative survival, most patients develop resistance to TMZ which leads to a significant increase in mortality. At the molecular level, TMZ produces a variety of different DNA lesions including N7-methylguanine, N3-methyladenine, and [...]

by Kristen Carlson  , Jay L. Shils  , Sahil Patel  , Longzhi Mei  and Jeffrey Arle

Received: 23 November 2020;  Published: 14 May 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2102095

We review the use of numerical and computational models to explore deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease (DBS PD). It is a review for the modeler and those interested in PD DBS modelling methods and their value. The main model categories of active fiber, mean field, driving force, and volume of tissue activated are described as well as many modelling techniques. We give the basic requirements for a DBS PD model and current theories of DBS mechanism of action, PD etiology, and movement selection. The emphas [...]

by Jessica R Turnbull  , Jenna Vyas-Lee  and Sally Hobson

Received: 17 November 2020;  Published: 06 May 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2102094

Sleep-related difficulties are common in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Poor sleep health is associated with detrimental impacts not only for the child/young person, but also their family members. Exercise is considered to be important for sleep health, improving duration and quality of sleep in adult studies, however there is limited literature on impact in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, and barriers to participation exist for this group. We set out to test the feasibility and accep [...]