More friends = bigger brains…or is it vice versa?

A recent study published in The Proceedings of the Royal Academy of Biological Sciences reveals that if found a correlation between the size of one’s orbital prefrontal cortex volume and the number of friends somebody has. 

David DiSalvo wrote about this study in Forbes magazine and concluded that “…the study suggests that we need to employ a set of cognitive skills to maintain a large number of friends.”

According to DiSalvo’s article, “The researchers took brain scans of 40 volunteers to measure the size of the prefrontal cortex. Participants were then asked to make a list of everyone they had had social (not professional) contact with over the previous seven days.

They also took a test to determine their competency in mentalizing.

Professor Dunbar, who initiated the study, was quoted as saying that, “We found that individuals who had more friends did better on mentalizing tasks and had more neural volume in the orbital frontal cortex.”

DiSalvo further commented that “The study suggests that we need to employ a set of cognitive skills to maintain a large number of friends.”

I guess my question runs something like this: “will I make more friends if I increase the size of my orbital prefrontal cortex?” Is there a Lumosity exercise for that or do I have to go out and actually talk to people?  

Maybe I just answered my own question.

Here’s a link to Mr. DiSalvo’s article: http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2012/03/25/study-the-bigger-your-brain-the-more-friendships-you-can-manage/

And here’s a link to the abstract fromThe Proceedings of the Royal Academy of Biological Sciences http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2012/01/27/rspb.2011.2574

Michael J. Fox: at ease with his new normal

I struggle with the whole “new normal” concept. Every time I hear it, I cringe. Somehow the term reminds me that I’m not what I used to be.  I’m something less: less quick, less perceptive, less able to do the things I want to do.  Coming to grips with that loss, for me, is a daily struggle.

It seems that Michael J. Fox has gotten beyond all that.  In a recent interview for Parade magazine, he seems to have moved beyond feeling sorry for himself or embarrassed at the obvious physical signs of his Parkinson’s disease.

The article quotes him as saying “People ask me, ‘Does it bother you when you shake in front of people?’ No. It sometimes bothers me when I can’t do what I want, but I don’t give a damn how it looks.” According to the interview “his attitude is good-humored and accepting. He neither complains about what his illness has done to him nor frets about what lies ahead.”

I’m not sure how they came to that conclusion, but it’s sure a goal for those of us who’re wrestling with this new normal monkey on our back (or in our head).

I guess what I admire the most about him is that he’s raised $250M for Parkinson’s research through his Michael J. Fox Foundation.

To put that in perspective, I’m trying to raise $350 for the ABTA through the Breakthrough for Brain Tumors 5k fun run/walk, and haven’t gotten very far.

If you haven’t read it, here’s a link to the Parade magazine article: http://www.parade.com/celebrity/celebrity-parade/2012/04/01-michael-j-fox.html?mbid=NS040212&mbid_source=newsletter&mbid_content=parade  

And if you feel so inclined, here’s a link to my Breakthrough for Brain Tumors fund-raising site (we’re team “Johns Tumor”) http://hope.abta.org/site/TR?fr_id=2270&pg=entry

Brewster Rockit Space Guy: No Zach Fan

If your local paper doesn’t carry it, here’s today’s Brester Rockit Space Guy comic strip.

 

I have several somewhat conflicting thoughts about today’s Brewster Rockit comic strip.

The first reaction is I wish that the joke was funnier.  I mean if you’re going to make fun of somebody, like me, who’s been brain-damaged, at least make me laugh.

Another reaction is a reminder that being brain-damaged is one of the worst things that people can imagine happening to somebody.  You get the feeling that Tim Rickard expects folks who have been brain-damaged to be sitting in a corner with spittle running down their cheek and humming to themselves in some incomprehensible way.

And here’s the slap in the face, some brain-damaged victims really do have severely compromised physical coordination, and communication and cognitive skills. Having recently spoke to an Aphasia support group, I saw a small sample of that first-hand.

When friends, old business associates and relatives learn that I’ve had a brain tumor they expect you to have lost something – your wits, your memory, your personality. Being brain-damaged is a smear that’s just plain hard to wash off.

And, guess what, sometimes they’re right.  I keep reading brain tumor blogs and books that talk about brain tumor victims that have severe personality changes…and the personality changes are never good. Maybe it’s just been sensationalized, but I remember reading about brain tumor victims who’ve become self-absorbed at best or criminals at worst.

Somehow, recovering from a brain tumor and sliding back into your old job just isn’t newsworthy or interesting.

The reaction I don’t have is outrage. I can’t work up the emotion to turn this into a politically-correct rant. I understand why Tim Pickard would make fun of the thought of being brain-damaged. I can even understand why somebody would find it funny.  It’s just that I don’t find this particular strip funny.

On the other hand, is Mr. Pickard is a Zach Lederer fan? I’m guessing he isn’t.

Brain Maintenance 101

I’ve recently read a good article by Alvaro Fernandez of SharpBrains fame about the importance of starting brain maintenance earlier rather than later. 

Mr. Fernandez goes on to state that “In my view, not enough young and middle-aged peo­ple are ben­e­fit­ing from this emerg­ing research, since it has been per­ceived as some­thing ‘for seniors.’ Granted, there are still many unknowns in the world of brain fit­ness and cog­ni­tive train­ing, we need more research, bet­ter assess­ments and tools. But, this does not mean we can­not start car­ing for our brains today.

OK, so what how best care for our brains?

His list is pretty straight-forward: “Focus on four pillars of brain health: physical exercise, a balanced diet, stress management, and brain exercise. Stress management is important since stress has been shown to actually kill neurons and reduce the rate of creation of new ones. Brain exercises range from low tech (i.e. meditation, mastering new complex skills, lifelong learning and engagement) to high-tech (i.e. using the growing number of brain fitness software programs).”

Here’s a link to the full article: http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/01/11/it-is-not-only-cars-that-deserve-good-maintenance-brain-care-101/