CC's Kristi Erdal publishes concussion study

As a neuroscience major and a physical therapy aide in the Colorado College training room, I am certainly aware of the danger of concussions. Yet as an individual who has steered clear of participation in contact sports for the entirety of my life, it was not until I read CC Psychology Professor Kristi Erdal’s recent study titled “Neuropsychological Testing for Sports-related Concussion: How Athletes Can Sandbag their Baseline Testing Without Detection”, that the idea of “sandbagging,” or underperforming on a baseline concussion test, ever occurred to me. This, apparently, is not the case for some athletes who are very aware that their score on the baseline concussion test is a significant factor in determining how quickly they can return to play after a significant head injury. In fact, NFL quarterback Peyton Manning admitted in an interview with ESPN last year that he intentionally tried to score lower on the NFL’s baseline concussion tests. It is exactly this danger that prompted Kristi Erdal’s study, the idea for which she initially began formulating as a graduate student.

Erdal explained that “the time following concussion is the most dangerous for likelihood of reinjury (due to incoordination and poor judgment) as well as exacerbation of the metabolic processes post-concussion.”

When asked about the danger of “sandbagging”, she stated, “If athletes knew all the risks, I’d like to think they wouldn’t take the chance.”

The ImPACT neurocognitive battery test is an examination used by medical professionals and athletic trainers to test the severity of a brain trauma and the extent to which an individual has recovered from the trauma. Athletes complete a computerized neurocognitive assessment prior to the beginning of their season, and this score or “baseline” is compared to an athlete’s score on the same exam after a head injury. In Erdal’s recent publication, the first of its kind in the field, she administered the ImPACT test to 75 CC athletes who had completed their athletic careers and asked the athletes to attempt to score more poorly than they had on their baseline without raising any red flags with the built-in validity tests. Fortunately, only eight of the athletes were successfully able to score below their baseline without reaching threshold on the validity indicators, which is a promising sign for the world of contact sports.

While Erdal’s study suggests that the number of athletes who get away with “sandbagging” their baseline examination may be small, it is important that future research attempts to replicate and expand upon her study. In addition, athletes should make themselves aware of the consequences of improper treatment of brain injuries.

In the words of Erdal, “Education is key about the real consequences of concussion. Attitudes are changing nationally about the serious nature of concussion but we’re not fully there yet.”

In reference to CC concussion testing and education, Erdal is optimistic: “I’m sure the system is not perfect yet, but we have always been moving in the right direction.”

This article was originally published in The Catalyst, Colorado College's student run newspaper on September 21st, 2012: http://catalystnewspaper.com/2012/09/21/kristi-erdal-publishes-concussion-study/.

No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. ~Nelson Mandela

Students of the 100 days school, Melghat, India Jan. 2012

Aurora Shootings

The media and the public so easily get swept up in a desire to learn and talk about the implementer of such a senseless act of violence. We turn our focus from the victims and their families, to the twisted individual who initiated such terrible pain, and in doing so, we give the shooter exactly the fame and attention that he desires. I’m sick of seeing the same photos of him plastered all over every newspaper front page. This article about Alex Sullivan, the son of my dad's cousin, pays homage to a beautiful life cut far too short.

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_21159835?source=share_fb

Running High: An Explanation of the Runner’s High

The “runner’s high” is a term used confidently and frequently in the running community. I remember an athlete in my Gen Chem class enquiring if we could learn which chemicals are released during the runner’s high, and when I asked some endurance athletes on campus if they’ve ever experienced the phenomenon the response was an overwhelming “Of course!” usually followed by a, “Well, at least, I think I have.” Sophomore triathlete Sarah Backer has competed in so many endurance events, including a Half-Iron Man, that she’s lost count. She tells me that the feeling she considers to be a runner’s high is much different than the usual feeling of calmness and heightened life-appreciation she gets during a daily workout. “After a long endurance event, it’s overload; it lasts longer, is more profound, and more intense,” she said. Others I spoke to claimed that they usually feel at peace with the world after working out, but wouldn’t necessarily compare it to a high. Still others claim they get little enjoyment out of a workout, and simply feel sick during or after a long run. So, is the runner’s high real? And if it is, how come some people seem to miss out? Recent research suggests two explanations for the high: endogenous opioids and endogenous cannabinoids. 

Endogenous Opioid Explanation:

Opioids include the addictive drugs morphine and opium, but the body also produces its own natural or “endogenous” opioids, such as endorphins. Researchers in Germany monitored the release of these endogenous opioids in trained athletes during and after a two-hour run, and asked the runners to complete a survey about their current happiness level. The happiness ratings increased significantly after exercise, and the ratings were inversely correlated with opioid binding. Specifically, running affected the opioid binding in the prefrontal cortex and limbic areas, which are associated with personal affect and mood. Researchers in Brazil tested similar theories on rats trained in resistance training, and brain scans revealed very similar patterns in the rats’ opioid receptors.

Endogenous Cannabinoid Explanation:

Less literature is available about the possibility of endogenous cannabinoids—the body’s chemicals that bind to the same receptors as marijuana—as a source of an endurance-induced high. One study published in Neuroreport in 2003, however, examined cannabinoid release in the brains of male college runners. The research was the first to present evidence that exercise of moderate intensity activates the cannabinoid system.

How come I’m missing out?

                Still, some researchers and runner’s high skeptics remain unconvinced. If these chemicals are released during exercise, how come they aren’t released in all people, every time they exercise? Why does no clear consensus exist among athletes about what the high feels like, and why don’t more athletes become addicted to the rush?  One hypothesis states that humans simply expect to feel good after completing a difficult goal. Since we expect to feel content, proud, and joyous after a major accomplishment, good feelings ensue in a placebo-effect fashion. Others resort to a Darwinian explanation. In our ancient past, humans could outrun animals in a hunt not by speed or agility, but by endurance. Humans had to be able to out-run animals, and, in order to do so, the human brain had to produce some incentive. This incentive took the form of exceptional euphoria after an intense endurance event, and the reward pathway persists in some individuals today. There is not much scientific research being conducted about these hypotheses, so the issue is still up for debate. Maybe the feelings are symptoms of complete exhaustion, and athletes who experience them are simply going a little nuts.

                It is clear that there is still a wide opening for more conclusive research on the feelings that so many athletes crave, but it is also certain that if incredible exercise-induced feelings were not real, endurance athletes would not exist. After all, runners can’t all be crazy enough to choose to put their bodies through misery without some sort of mental pay off.

                And with that being said, I’m off to chase that runner’s high. Maybe I’ll see you on the bike path.

                 

This article was previously published in The Catalyst, a publication of the Colorado College in the 2011-2012 school year

                 

Fact or Fiction: Colorado College Community Does Some Myth Busting

Do we really need eight glasses of water a day? Does swallowed gum sit in your digestive tract for seven years? Are all snowflakes unique? We live in a world in which we are constantly bombarded with facts and figures, information on how to be healthy, how to eat, and how to live. The more frequently a piece of information is cited, the more likely we are to take it for granted, regardless of whether an authoritative source has been consulted. This results in fashionable myths that are cited constantly by the general public as well as writers, nutritionists, and teachers. A little research or a discussion with an expert can easily dispel these unfounded myths. We consulted several of CC’s own resident experts, the science professors and students, and asked them to derail some of the myths they encounter regularly.

Phoebe Lostroh, Associate Professor of Biology:

Myth: CC students know how difficult it is to be sick while studying on the block plan, and professors certainly aren’t immune. Professor Lostroh was battling a cold when asked about her favorite myths to bust. Accordingly, she stated that a myth she often hears is that “Airborne and any of those similar supplements will stop a cold or make it shorter.” 

Reality: Lostroh responds, “Zinc in the respiratory tract can help because it interferes with some viruses binding to human tissues. Sadly, evidence about massive doses of Vitamin C is also mixed.” According to Lostroh, the only real cure to the CC cold is to get more rest—a cure she states might require eliminating the block plan. The block plan, however, seems to be more permanent than most circulating myths, so it looks like our colds are here to stay—at least until block break.

Bob Jacobs, Professor of Psychology: Professor Bob Jacobs shared the following three myths collected by his summer class, “Brain and Society”.

Myth: Testosterone causes aggression.

Reality: While 72 percent of those surveyed believed this “fact” to be true, Professor Jacobs affirms that aggression is not caused by testosterone, but it does exaggerate it.

Myth: Humans typically use approximately 10 percent of their brains.

Reality: According to Professor Jacobs, “this makes as much sense from an evolutionary position as saying ‘We have ten figures, but we only use one of them.’  Brains are metabolically very expensive, so nature doesn't just hand them out to have them be largely unused.” Jacobs tells his neuroscience students that the accurate response to anyone who quotes this myth is, “Well, you certainly do.”

Myth: Brain and Mind are separate entities.        

Reality: Jacobs’ summer class found that 64 percent of responders said this was an accurate statement, but Jacobs affirms that it is “simply an antiquated, untenable position.”  He states, “This would be the same as saying the functions of the arm exist in the absence of the arm. The mind is what the brain does; no brain, no mind.”  

Brandon English, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry:
Myths: Dr. English enthusiastically admits that science myths are one of his favorite topics. He lists several that bother him: No two snowflakes are identical, alcohol has an increased effect at higher altitudes, the left hemisphere of the brain is mathematical and logical and the right side is creative and artistic, and Columbus proved the Earth was a sphere.

Reality: Each of the aforementioned myths is simply false. Jon Nelson, a research scientist at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, has shown that snowflakes that fall in the early stages of crystal formation may not be detailed enough to be unique. Contrary to popular belief, studies for the Federal Aviation Administration suggest that high altitude does not increase the effects of alcohol, so you can’t blame 6,000 feet of added altitude for accidentally partying too hard after a summer at sea-level. While left-brain/right-brain differences are especially ubiquitous, the brain is not nearly simple enough to be divided into functional dichotomies. Finally, ancient Greeks proved a spherical Earth thousands of years earlier than Columbus set sail. The unfortunate reality about these and other science myths, according to Dr. English, is that, “we believe a lot of crap.”

Neena Grover’s Biochemistry Students Desirae Martinez, Evan White, Jimin Kim, Leah Kellogg, Evgenia Shishkova, and David Civitarese:

            Myth: A vegetarian diet does not provide enough protein.

            Reality: Desirae Martinez explains, “What the body requires from protein are amino acids, specifically the essential nine that the body cannot manufacture itself. The body uses the carbon skeletons of these amino acids for a myriad of reactions, including glucose or glycogen synthesis, cellular respiration, and fatty acid synthesis.” While mammals can only synthesize nine of the twenty amino acids, plants can synthesize all twenty. Thus, by eating a balanced vegetarian diet, which includes foods such as nuts, spinach, broccoli, eggs, milk, soy beans, pinto beans, and brown rice, one can easily attain the necessary amino acids. Evgenia Shishkova comments that the human need for protein in itself may be somewhat exaggerated: “An alternative explanation reminds us that the dairy and meat industry sponsored early nutrition and dietary research, and this conflict of interest might have resulted in the placement of their products at the bottom of the [food] pyramid.”  David Civitarese, D1 Hockey player, admits that, upon entering biochemistry, he was skeptical that a vegetarian diet would provide enough protein for a dedicated athlete. To his surprise, he found that the information gleaned from Dr.Grover’s Biochemistry class proved otherwise. However, he adds a word of warning, stating that examining a vegetarian diet based upon simplified proteins does not account for their interactions within the body. “Furthermore,” Civitarese continues, “the psychosomatic effects of switching to a vegetarian diet were not included [in the study].” Civitarese has no plans of turning to vegetarianism in the near future.

Lori Driscoll, Associate Professor of Psychology:

Myth: Dr. Driscoll’s myth is one that circulates regarding science as a general study. She states that the myth she hates to hear is that “by attempting to take objects and phenomena apart into their constituent pieces, scientists fail to appreciate (or even destroy) the beauty of the whole.”

Reality: Dr. Driscoll responds, “Statements like these make a completely artificial distinction between the whole and its parts. The holistic beauty of an object or phenomenon, and the awe that it inspires is not diminished by the fact that it is made of parts, regardless of whether or not the functioning of the parts is relevant to the whole. In fact, if we know more about the parts, doesn’t it make that thing all the more beautiful and awe-inspiring?”

More myths worthy of busting:

Myth: Everyone should drink eight glasses of water a day.

Reality: Sorry water-addicts, but it turns out it isn’t actually necessary to have a Nalgene glued to your hand at all times. The 64-ounce magic number has been repeatedly overturned by scientific research. Heinz Valtin of Duke University reported in the American Journal of Physiology that no evidence supports the myth. Only under special circumstances, such as during strenuous physical activity, long plane flights, hot weather, or for treatment of kidney stones would this quantity of water be necessary. It is even possible to consume too much water, resulting in a state of mental confusion called “water intoxication” that happens most often to athletes and individuals who have taken ecstasy. So cut down on the number of bathroom trips you take during class, and stick to the simple idea of drinking when you’re thirsty.

Myth: It takes seven years for gum to leave your system.

Reality: Although gum is digested more slowly than most foods due to its largely indigestible base, it will eventually succumb to the digestive process after no more than several days. Chronic gum swallowing can be dangerous for children as it may temporarily cause blockages, a danger that is likely responsible for the continuation of the rumor. The good news: no need to worry about that gob of Bubblicious from seventh grade.

This article was previously published in The Catalyst, a publication of the Colorado College in the 2011-2012 school year

India: 6 months post-trip revisitation

Last January, I was fortunate to get to travel with a team of six Colorado College students and two staff members to work with an Indian Non-Governmental Organization, Melghat Maitri, and the Korku tribal people of the Melghat region in Maharashtra.  Maitri has worked with the Korku community in the past in an effort to lower child mortality rates by providing agricultural assistance, sanitary water, etc.  Maitri's latest efforts, however, focused on schooling.  Although the government employs teachers to work in the tribal communities, there is no follow-up to ensure that these paid employees are actually teaching.  Sadly, most children are not presented with an opportunity to attend regular schooling, and many of those who do have such an opportunity soon drop out because their parents require their assistance at home or because language barriers prevent students from being successful.  The tribal people speak their own languages, yet children are expected to attend schools where teachers only speak Hindi or Marathi.  The goal of the education project was to show the government, by example, that if a group of volunteers can keep children in school for 100 days with solely volunteer efforts, the government should be able to keep these children in functioning schools run by paid teachers.  The following piece of writing was included in a brochure of reflections and photographs which was distributed to our generous donors and fellow volunteers in India.  

My feelings about our trip to India are so numerous and complicated that I find the prospect of putting them into words intimidating.  One thing I know for certain, however, is that I feel so incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to take part in such a remarkable experience. 

            During the months our team spent preparing for India, I read Indian novels, watched documentaries, followed Indian newspapers, and worked with the team to try to gain some sort of understanding of the country and prepare for the trip ahead.  I was warned of “culture shock,” and given endless advice about what to expect and how to cope.  Upon arriving in India, I quickly realized that no amount of second-hand knowledge could ever have prepared me for the overwhelming smells of curry, pollution, incense, and burning trash, the brilliant array of striking colors, the disorderly and chaotic traffic, and the sheer number of people and animals.  No amount of literature could convey the assault on the senses that is the Indian experience.  In travelling to a culture so different from my own, I expected the big things to be different.  What I did not expect was that nearly everything—even the smallest of mannerisms, from a wobble of the head to a wiggle of the fingers—would be entirely new and exciting. 

            Despite this, in thinking about our time in India, particularly at the 100 Days School, I realize that it was the similarities rather than the differences that made the greatest impression on me, perhaps because they were not entirely expected.  The time we spent in Chilati, teaching the children and letting them teach us, should have been completely out of my comfort zone.  We were half way around the world, in a tiny rural village, interacting with people who did not speak our language.  Yet, despite these differences, Chilati and the 100 Days School very quickly began to feel like home.  Communication barriers between us and the children were almost non-existent.  Conveying what we were thinking through words became inconsequential compared to conveying what we were feeling through universal physical expression: a smile, a wink, a dance.  Our bonds with the kids were unique because they were unburdened by language; words that were necessary for communication were learned easily, and words that were unnecessary were forgotten, rendering our interactions beautiful in their simplicity. 

The time we spent in India was everything I had hoped for plus far, far more.  I returned to the states feeling inspired to understand the world on a greater scale—to travel more, to challenge myself more, to expose myself to uncomfortable but potentially enlightening experiences, to read more, to learn more.  From now on, I hope to face life with the understanding that preparation and advice can only do so much, for in the end it is only through taking chances and throwing ourselves into new and thrilling experiences that we will reach any greater understanding of the world we live in.  I am so proud and honored to attend a college where experiences such as this are fostered and encouraged.

A medical doctor, who took time off work to come volunteer at the 100 days school, shows the girls how to write their names.

Serving chipati to the children.  They learned how to say "more," "rice," and "thank you" in English much faster than any of us were able to learn the same words in Marathi

Kunjilal: He could count well past 200 in English (although no one knows who taught him how), his laughter was contagious and his smile was irresistible, and he stole my heart.

Further reading: 

An article published in the Pune Mirror which describes the efforts of Maitri: http://www.punemirror.in/article/2/20111206201112060035201115e87dc93/Maitri-workshop-for-tribal-kids.html

Maitri's webpage: http://www.maitripune.net/Wonders_projects.html

Further, further reading:

This article, written by Arundhati Roy (a truly inspirational human being and the author of my favorite book, The God of Small Things), provides incredible insight into some of the incredible violence surrounding some of the tribal people.  Although the people Maitri is currently working with, the Korku, are currently very peaceful, it is worth noting that the Indian government's ignorance of the tribal people is leading to more than just hunger and lack of education--for some, it is leading to war.

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?264738

Photographic Memory: Fact or Fiction?

Rome, Italy by dalbara

We’ve all heard of savants like Stephen Wiltshire who took a 45 minute helicopter ride over Rome and was able to accurately and beautifully recreate the streets he had witnessed from above, or Leslie Lemke who played Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto after listening to the piece for the first time. Then there’s Kim Peek, the inspiration for Dustin Hoffman’s character in Rain Man, who has memorized over 9,000 books and reads two pages at a time, one eye on each page, in eight to twelve seconds. The incredible memorization talents of these savants are incredibly narrow, and the abilities do not carry over to every day intelligence. About half of those considered to be savants are autistic, while the other half has a psychological disorder or other mental illness. Although the chances of personally knowing a savant are slim, most people can identify that they have a friend or friend of a friend with a so called “photographic memory.” The term is used regularly, and sparks envy in those with average memorization abilities. Here’s the catch: non-savant photographic memory does not exist.

Only one piece of literature shows positive implications for a photographic memory. In 1970, Charles Stromeyer III of Harvard University published research in Nature that reported one of his students, Elizabeth, was able to memorize a random pattern of 10,000 dots that was shown to her right eye, and recall and combine this image the following day with a pattern shown to her left eye.  The combination of the two random dot patterns created a picture. Unfortunately—or some argue, conveniently—no further tests were ever done on Elizabeth and she went on to marry Stromeyer. Many have attempted to replicate Stromeyer’s experiment without success.

While scientific literature does not seem to favor the possibility of a photographic memory, there is one term that come close.  Much research has been done on a phenomenon called “eidetic imagery.”  Those who possess this ability are often called eidtikers, and are able to examine a picture on an easel and continue to see the image after the physical picture has been removed. Unlike an extended afterimage, the image retains the original color and shape. When asked to describe the image, eidtikers speak of the image in the present tense with extraordinary detail. Eidtikers can choose to destroy the image, and have no ability to recall it after they have done so. The recollections eidtikers describe are far from perfect, although the individual will discuss the image with great certainty. Eidetic imagery, however, is a phenomenon that occurs only in children. Approximately two to ten percent of preadolescents are identified as eidtikers, but nearly no developmentally normal adults are shown to possess the ability. 

Currently, however, two inexplicable cases are being studied at the University of California. Brad Williams, known as the Human Google, and “A.J.” claim to remember every day of their lives. A.J. says her memory is a burden: “Like we’re sitting here talking and I’m talking to you and in my head I’m thinking about something that happened to me in December 1982, December 17 1982, it was a Friday, I started to work at Gs [a store].”  Since A.J. and Williams do not fit the profile for savants or eidtikers, their existence has prompted controversy in the scientific community. 

Memory expert K. Anders Ericsson of Florida State University believes all incredible memories can be explained by the use of memory tools. In one study, Ericsson compared the brain scans of world-class memory performers to individuals with average memories. This examination of brain anatomy and patterns showed no significant difference between the brains of individuals like Daniel Tammet who has memorized 22,514 digits of pi and the average individual who knows the minimum 3.14. Ericsson stated that his work “demonstrated that regular college students can attain world-class memory performance after extensive practice.”  According to Ericcson, this practice should include use of associations, such as remembering the number 759 as ‘7 minutes 59 seconds for a mile.’ The idea of memorization tools such as these may not be new, but very few individuals take the time to practice them in the way Ericsson deems necessary for attaining an excellent memory.  His research shows evidence that college students with several hundred hours of practice were able to memorize an exceptional number of digits. 

In contrast to Ericsson’s research, A.J. and Williams claim they do not use any memorization tools, nor have they consciously practiced memorization in the past.  It is new cases such as these that make memory one of the single most intriguing topics in neuroscience. While most people are fighting to improve their memory, Alzheimer’s patients are struggling simply to keep it, and a few rare individuals are wishing to lose it.  Nevertheless, it is certain that we can alter our own memories, and Ericcson’s research is promising for college students and the general population alike.  Practice and use of memorization tools may not lead to a photographic memory, but it may help in remembering day-to-day lists and memorizing important numbers and names.  

This article was previously published in The Catalyst, a publication of the Colorado College in the 2011-2012 school year

Lori Driscoll Gives CC the Down Low on the High

CC’s ranking as the number one “Reefer Madness” school in the 2011 Princeton Review may be what inspired the Partnership for Civic Engagement to organize a series of discussions and lectures informing the campus community about the science and politics of marijuana.  On Tuesday, January 31^st, Psychology Department Chair and Associate Professor Lori Driscoll, presented a lecture titled “Psychopharmacology of Cannabis: The Down Low on the High” to a standing-room only crowd of CC students, professors, and Colorado Springs community members in Tutt Science lecture hall.

                A systematic random sample conducted by Emily Chan's social psychology class reported that of 77 CC students surveyed, 56 (72.7 percent) have smoked marijuana at least once.  For those who do smoke marijuana, it is done with an average frequency of one to three times per month.  The number of students who have an informed, scientific understanding of what the drug is doing to the brain is likely to be much smaller.

                 Dr. Driscoll discussed two main scientific components of the effects of cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, on the brain and body: pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.  Pharmacokinetics is the effect the body has on the drug.  There are approximately 60 cannabinoids, or different chemical compounds, in the plant.  Of these 60, the primary chemical agent causing the high during inhalation is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).  THC is lipid soluble, meaning it can traverse the blood-brain barrier quickly, causing a relatively rapid high.  When inhaled, THC enters the blood plasma via the lungs.  The THC-bound blood plasma’s primary target is the brain, but some will also be transported to “depots” such as the liver.  It is in the liver that most of the drug will be metabolized and deactivated.  Once it has been metabolized, it will be excreted, primarily through the feces and secondarily through urine.   While THC has a brain half-life of 20-30 hours, it is detectable in urine for up to 7 days after a single use and 30 days for a daily user. 

Cannabinoids such as THC bind to receptors on certain brain cells, or neurons, causing a signal to pass throughout the brain.  Variance in receptor-type determines whether or not this signal will be excitatory or inhibitory.  This phenomenon results in the mixed experiences of marijuana users: suppression of laughter and increased sensitivity are equally likely results.  If receptors are activated too frequently, down regulation will occur, diminishing the number of receptors available for THC to bind to and leading to decreased effects of the drug.  Receptors that have been down regulated are not permanently lost, but may take weeks to recover.  Tolerance to the cognitive effects happens first, while tolerance to the motor effects is slower to develop. 

                The next concept Dr. Driscoll discussed was the pharmacodynamics of the drug, or the effect of the drug on the body.  THC most severely affects the cerebellum and the substantia nigra, which are the parts of the brain responsible for fine motor movement and initiation of movement.  This slowing of reflexes is partially responsible for the dangers of driving a car while high.  Interestingly, those under the influence of marijuana are more likely than those under the influence of alcohol to remain aware that driving under the influence is unsafe.  Dr. Driscoll added that driving under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana would be “very, very, very, very bad.” 

In addition, a large number of cannabinoid receptors exist in the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain that initiates memory storage.  This is responsible for marijuana’s detrimental effects on memory.  Receptors in the basal ganglia are responsible for feelings of happiness associated with the high, and the hypothalamus affects the user’s drive and hunger.  THC also affects the cerebral cortex, the brainstem, and the amygdala, which can cause hallucinations, relief from nausea and increased heart rate, and relief from traumatic memories, respectively.  The receptors in the amygdala are also responsible for reduced anxiety in some cases, but increased anxiety and panic in others.  Although specific characteristics of the high can be attributed to specific locations in the brain, there are limitless compounding factors that make each user’s experience unique.  The extent to which one is affected by the drug and the types of positive and negative effects experienced depend not only on genetic factors, but also on the way one’s brain has shaped over time.  Emotional experiences, learning, diet, liquid intake, and drug-use alter the brain physically, and any sort of physical change to the brain can change the way a brain reacts to the presence of any drug.  In addition, since THC is fat soluble, those with higher body fat percentages or slower metabolisms may require more of the drug to achieve the same high.  Dr. Driscoll confirmed that post-high exercising may mobilize fat stores that contain THC, thereby restoring effects of the drug long after the initial high has worn off.  She also warned that it is possible to get high “at a concert, just from standing downwind,” confirming that second-hand smoke can have the same effects as direct inhalation. 

                Dr. Driscoll stated that “We do not know of individuals who have died from overdose on marijuana,” but nevertheless, “you can overdose.”  The high desired by users may in fact relieve pain, blunt traumatic memories, enhance sensory experiences, and cause most individuals to relax.  Yet the drug is not without detrimental effects.  Marijuana use can lead to effects such as impaired attention and memory, motor slowing and lack of coordination, and immune suppression; these effects outlast the high, so students should not expect to function normally on Monday after a weekend of marijuana use.  In addition, Dr. Driscoll noted that research has shown that marijuana use can interact with genetics and increase the likelihood of becoming schizophrenic if one is genetically predisposed.

                Dr. Driscoll ended her lecture with this take home message: in moderation, marijuana use does not damage the brain, but it does temporarily change it.  There may be beneficial effects, but the actions of the drug are not limited to those effects that produce the high.  Dr. Driscoll reminded her audience that for those who consume habitually, “the way you feel off the drug will be altered.”   

‘There are so many ways that you can screw up your brain…this is but one.”


This article was previously published in The Catalyst, a publication of the Colorado College in the 2011-2012 school year

The Debate about the Meat: From Vegan Bodybuilders to Meatless Mondays

The Unorthodox Body-Builder

VeganBodyBuilding.com: Yes, it exists, and no, it does not disappoint.  The homepage promotes a two and a half minute inspirational video featuring a bodybuilder pumping iron in a vegan bodybuilding muscle-shirt, and drinking a protein shake from a bottle with a vegan logo.  The accompanying music is a tough-girl rock song titled “Dare to Be Different”—a title that mirrors a prominent theme throughout the website.  Under the website heading “Why Vegan?”, bodybuilder Derek Tresize claims that animal rights and improved health are only some of the draws of a vegan diet.  He writes, “By taking your diet in an entirely new and unorthodox direction you set yourself apart from the pack, showing that you are an independent thinker capable of achieving success without following the well-beaten path of every other athlete before you.”  In order to successfully choose the path less travelled by, the website has abundant advice about how to get enough protein and iron as a vegan athlete.  There are links to recipes, weekly eating suggestions, health columns, and even a link to a website called veganproteins.com where you can purchase protein-rich, vegan foods.  This wealth of information begs the question: can an average college athlete with minimal knowledge about nutrition eat a vegan (or vegetarian) diet and still receive enough protein to fuel long workouts, particularly on top of sleep-less block plan weeknights? 

                This is a question that took on particular importance to CC athletes last spring when, in collaboration with the CCSGA Student Concerns Committee, Bon Appetite made the shift to weekly Meatless Monday dinners in Rastall as part of the global Meatless Monday campaign.  Started in 2003 in association with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the campaign is simple: one day per week, cut out meat.  The first city to officially declare Mondays as meatless was Ghent, Belgium.  Since then, vegetarian activist and former Beatles’ member, Paul McCartney, has encouraged the same movement in the UK, and cities such as San Francisco in the US have followed suit.  In early 2011, Aspen, Colo. declared Mondays as meatless, nearly two years after the Aspen school district made the shift.  Animal welfare is a concept that is entirely absent from the campaign; advocates are much more concerned about the environmental impacts of the meat industry. 

The Environmental Impact of Meat

In 2006, the Food and Agriculture Association of the United Nations published a document titled “Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options.”  At the time, livestock accounted for 30 percent of the total land surface, and was the leading growing sector, especially in areas of Latin America where, for example, over 70 percent of the Amazon Rainforest has been deforested for grazing and feed crops.  This land is subject to detrimental degradation, including overgrazing and erosion.  In 2006, the livestock sector was responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO₂, which is greater than the contributions of the transport sector.  The livestock sector contributes 65 percent of human-related nitrous oxide, a chemical with 296 times the Global Warming Potential of CO₂.  Perhaps surprisingly, manure is responsible for the majority of this nitrous oxide. 

Meatless Monday advocates believe that by merely giving up meat for one day a week, the population can reduce the carbon footprint while simultaneously reducing cancer risk and heart disease, and curbing obesity.  The American Dietetic Association agrees with these health claims, stating that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are beneficial to health and nutritionally adequate.  The statement goes on to say that vegetarian diets have been shown to reverse severe coronary artery disease, lower risk of hypertension, and lower incidence of lung and colorectal cancer.  Nevertheless, the key words to the ADA’s statement are “appropriately planned”, and the question remains: can a college student plan a vegetarian meal appropriately—even one meal a week—in order to best benefit a young athlete’s body? 

Hard Facts of Nutritional Value

Use of an online nutritional value counter confirms the often-cited discrepancies between meat and vegetarian protein foods.  One serving of skinless chicken breast has 16 grams of protein.  To match this amount, a vegetarian would need to eat 62 almonds.  It’s worth noting that one serving of chicken has 78 calories, while the 62 almonds contain a whopping 430.  In order to attain the equivalent amount of protein as a Chili’s Oldtimer burger, one would need to eat an entire cup of tofu—a prospect that sounds manageable to a tofu fan, but is likely to have some non-vegetarians’ stomachs turning.  On the other hand, a Chili’s burger contains over double the fat of that in the cup of tofu.  Comparing the nutritional value of vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods does not stop at proteins, calories, and fats.  It becomes increasingly complicated as more nutrients and food qualities are entered into the equation. 

Fortunately for CC, our own Good Food Club is responding to the concerns of the on campus athletes with an educational panel discussion on Monday, Feb. 6 from 5 p.m.  to 7 p.m. in McHugh Commons.  The evening features a panel of experts, from Marion Hourdequin, Professor of Environmental Ethics, to Lucas Farnham, the original founder of CC’s beloved Carnivore Club.     

Regardless of whether you feel a calling towards vegan bodybuilding, the debate about meat and vegetarianism is one that is affecting our campus, our bodies, and our planet.  Accordingly, as not only a member of the CC community, but also as an individual whose actions have the potential for irreversible impacts on the planet, one should feel obligated to become informed about the food we do and do not choose to eat.

This article was previously published in The Catalyst, a publication of the Colorado College in the 2011-2012 school year

A Workout for Your Brain: The Scientific Truth About Meditation

Stories of monks and yogis whose meditation practices allow them to control their heart rate, lower their body temperature, endure days without eating, and even levitate a few inches above the ground are ubiquitous in Western society. But before you write these stories off as mere folklore, take a look at the scientific studies being conducted on the neuroscience of meditation. You might yet find yourself joining the rest of the CC campus at weekly yoga, or adding a meditation CD to your holiday wish-list.

                Meditation is a form of mental training through which practitioners strive to achieve a higher consciousness and internal positive affect. Although traditionally a critical part of many ancient spiritual practices, meditation has recently become increasingly popular in a non-religious context as an attempt to reduce stress and anxiety. In addition to this popularity, the neuroscience of meditation has become a common subject of scientific research, especially regarding the current scientific hot topic of neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to alter structurally and functionally in response to environmental and behavioral factors. Neuroplasticity was formerly believed to end after a critical growth period during childhood, but scientists now generally agree that some plasticity is conserved into adulthood. Professional violinists and pianists, for example, have been shown to have increased amounts of brain tissue dedicated to the fingers, allowing the musicians to be capable of quicker and more complex melodies.

In 2002, Richard Davidson and his team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin reported that experienced meditators had increased left-side anterior activation of the brain—the portion of the brain commonly associated with positive feelings, as well as increased activity in individuals with naturally low anxiety. Davidson also distributed an influenza vaccine to two groups, one of which had completed an eight week meditation course and the other which had no meditation experience. Those who had completed the intensive meditation workshop produced a significantly greater number of antibodies when given the flu-shot than those who had not practiced meditation. In 2004, Davidson worked with the Dalai Lama and several Tibetan Buddhists who had each accumulated an incredible 10,000 to 50,000 hours of meditation over 15 to 40 years. Comparisons of the monks’ brain scans with those of amateurs revealed striking differences. The monks’ brain scans showed unprecedented high-amplitude gamma band activity and phase synchrony. This translates as enhanced activity suggestive of exceptional upper level cognition and mental activity.

While these studies imply that there may be some truth to the circulating myths about the seemingly magical benefits of meditation, many skeptics still dispute Davidson’s methods and conclusions. Several scientists point to Davidson’s personal friendship with the Dalai Lama and political activity in Chinese and Tibetan relations as sources of bias. Nevertheless, other researchers continue to show deep connections between practice of meditation and neuroplasticity. For example, one study conducted by Peter Vestergaard-Poulsen at the Center for Functionally Integrative Neuroscience in 2009, revealed increased gray matter (or cell body) density in the brainstems of experienced meditators. The brainstem is the part of the brain responsible for heart rate and respiration. If meditation can alter the structurally change the brainstem, then it stands to reason that the ability to lower the heart rate and breathing rate may too be achievable with practice. Additionally, the University of California Davis’ Shamatha Project recently published extensive research that suggests practice of meditation leads to increased attention abilities and feelings of well-being.   

                More diverse and widely spread research is necessary before any certain conclusions can be reached about the neuroscience of meditation. The research that has been conducted, however, clearly suggests that meditation practice has some effect on the brain both structurally and functionally. At the very least, the findings are intriguing enough to warrant further research. A membership at Pranava Yoga or a block of Buddhism may not be enough to attain the brain activity present in the Dalai Lama; yet, the possibility that meditation can alter the brain in the same way that weight-lifting can alter the muscles is an exciting one that keeps meditation teachers in business and the meditation trend on the rise. So go ahead and add yourself to the 31 person wait-list for Buddhism 8^th block; or better yet, take neuroscience next year.

This article was previously published in The Catalyst, a publication of the Colorado College in the 2011-2012 school year