The consistency and vulnerability of the brain is demonstrated along with the clear and glistening pia and arachnoid and the tough dura. The cushioning function of the CSF is stressed and the features are pointed out on the ventral surface. The uncus and temporal lobes are normal with arteries free of atherosclerosis.

This is 2 of a series of 26 videos to be viewed in the suggested order or intermixed with other curricular materials. The entire series can be accessed here:
https://neurologicexam.med.utah.edu/adult/html/brain-dissections.html.

The videos may be downloaded in various formats by going here:
https://neurologicexam.med.utah.edu/adult/html/download_instructions.html.

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Autopsy of Unfixed Brain.
Yefim Lavrentyev, Research Associate, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Utah.

Specimens.

The motor cortex controls the voluntary movement of muscles. It remains largely unclear why its electrical or magnetic stimulation can alleviate therapy-resistant chronic pain—albeit unreliably. An interdisciplinary research group at the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg (MFHD) has now tracked down the underlying mechanisms and nerve pathways in mice.

The scientists showed that certain nerve pathways of the motor cerebral cortex are indirectly connected to the emotion centers in the brain, process both pain-related information and emotions by direct activation, and thus reduce the sensation of pain. Consequently, the team not only defines a new brain circuit for neurostimulation in pain therapy, but also brings the brain’s own reward system into focus as a starting point for future treatments. The results are now published in the journal Science.

The research was conducted within the framework of CRC1158 “From Nociception to Chronic Pain,” whose spokesperson is Professor Dr. Rohini Kuner, Director of the Institute of Pharmacology at the MFHD.

Mini brains grown in a lab from stem cells spontaneously developed rudimentary eye structures, scientists reported in a fascinating 2021 paper.

On tiny, human-derived brain organoids grown in dishes, two bilaterally symmetrical optic cups were seen to grow, mirroring the development of eye structures in human embryos. This incredible result could help us to better understand the process of eye differentiation and development, as well as eye diseases.

“Our work highlights the remarkable ability of brain organoids to generate primitive sensory structures that are light sensitive and harbor cell types similar to those found in the body,” said neuroscientist Jay Gopalakrishnan of University Hospital Düsseldorf in Germany in a 2021 statement.

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐬

𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙨.

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Researchers think a wireless implant to treat brain tumors could eliminate hospital visits for cancer treatment. [Image courtesy of Stanford Medicine]

According to the researchers, brain tumors are some of the most deadly and difficult-to-treat cancers. Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain tumor, kills more than 10,000 Americans a year.