Neurobiology Post (Chapter 7) and Awakenings Summary& Critique

Chapter Seven Analysis

This chapter was rather long indeed. My interest was peaked somewhat but not nearly as much as previous chapters. I agree with Ynaling and Suba on their feelings that Willis’s ability to incorporate the practices of Van Helmont, Boyle, and Harvey to form the branch of study we now know as biochemistry was amazing. Seeing how all these different scientists ideas came together to form such an important field of study helped me to better understand their introduction in the previous chapters. Furthermore, Willis discovered that imperfections in the diaphragm weren’t responsible for “distortions of the mind.” Willis’s choice to not to change his treatment of fever and disease (despite his collected data) was rather humorous to me because, one would think with all his intelligence, he would know when change is necessary. Maybe he felt that, despite knowledge of the causes and all the useful information he collected, the new, possible solutions were not acceptable enough to implement. He would rather be halfway right, then to add a negative on to his record and have his work rejected (possibly).

Burd pointed out that, Willis “rejected the Puritan creed that everyone’s fate was predestined, believing instead that salvation came only to those who lived well- with repentance, obedience, and duty. And those who lacked their reason couldn’t live out this sort of existence and might not get to heaven.” (152) This statement intrigued my spiritually side, as well, when I read it because, although I agree that repentance along with service & obedience to God are important,

I also believe that our fate is predestined. Only God knows what will happen to us; he knows what we will do before we do it and he knows all things about us while we are going through life to figure them out.

Wren and his works with injections and splenectomy was another aspect of the chapter that peaked my interest. His passion for science and desire for perfection lead him to conduct experiments “just to pass the time” so he could master things such as his ability to hold veins in his hands without damaging them. For that, I admire him because, without individuals like that, we wouldn’t have so many advances in any aspect of life (especially in the world of science.)

More information on Christopher Wren:
http://galileo.rice.edu/Catalog/NewFiles/wren.html

Information on splenectomy:
http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=70ff5260-81bd-4de1-9998-14fc98aa9133&chunkiid=14866

Willis and his descriptions of fermentation and fevers:
http://www.nature.com/nrn/journal/v5/n4/box/nrn1369_BX1.html


The Awakenings:

The movie Awakenings was about the true story of a doctor named Dr. Oliver Sacks. In the film, the doctor’s name was Malcolm Sayer (played by Robin Williams) and he discovered that there is a temporary dramatic effect on patients suffering from encephalitis lethargica when they took of the drug L-Dopa (which is a drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease). The patients, who were in a state of catatonia due to the illness, were “awakened” as a result of the continued administration of L-Dopa. These effects did not last forever, however, and they slowly went back into their previous “frozen state” after the drug wore off. The movie seemed to focus heavily on the character named Leonard Lowe. The movie seemed to focus heavily on the character named Leonard Lowe. The movie started out showing his life as a child and, then, fast forwards to his life now as an adult (where he is completely engulfed in the disease). This story not only follows Leonard, but also the other patients before their awakening, after, and their return to their catatonic state.
I had never seen nor heard about this movie before and I was completely amazed by the story. I was so happy that the doctor afforded them a time where they could walk, talk, and interact with others again since they had not been able to for so many years. My joy for them was short lived for the movie continued. Their fate hit me hard. It was so heart wrenching and I mourned for the patients internally. It was so sad to see that their one shot of freedom from their “froze prisons” was taken away from them so untimely. I could not imagine not being able to do the things I do on a daily basis. God truly has blessed all of us and so many things are taken for granted. Leonard’s revert back into his catatonic state saddened me because he was finding love, rekindling his relationship with his mother, and living life to the fullest just like the others. To see him dwindle to nothing must have been extremely hard for the other patients to witness since that, too, would be their fate. His courage to have his transformations video taped was admirable for it allowed for future study of the disease and for, possibly, treatments in the future,
I was enraged at how cocky and indifferent the other doctor’s were toward Dr. Sayer when all he was trying to do was provide the best for his patients. The fact that he tried to do something unthinkable made him a better doctor than them, in my opinion, because, in the world of science, we have to take risks in order to reach new plateaus. The donations from all the rich contributors showed that, despite some people’s lack in faith, God had a greater plan, and he allowed them to have just a moment of true happiness again.

Information on encephalitis lethargica:
http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/127/1/2

Information on the Awakenings movie:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awakenings

Oliver Sacks and the Awakenings:
http://www.oliversacks.com/awake.htm