Taj Week 15: Are You Destroying Your Brain?
Are you Destroying Your Brain?
You might be thinking of your screen time, hours of sleep, diet, or physical activity among many other bad habits—which I too suffer from like all of us—to be the culprit and answer to this question.
I thought so too when reading the title to an article published by writer David Nield; however, the habits above were not the answers to his question—although they could be just as destructive in their own respectful right (Source). According to a new research conducted, it seems just “the process of remembering…long-term memories” seemingly comes at a “high cost” as it causes “massive inflammation within the brain”(Source). The writer reports the swelling within the brain causes “DNA damage in the nerve cells” when a person attempts to recall memories which get “fused into neurons” when being “retrieved from storage”(Source). Usually brain swelling is associated with “terrible neurological problems such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease”(Source). However, it may not be the case here.
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| Human brain repairing itself (Source). |
Are you familiar with Wolff’s law? For any of you weight lifters or athletes out there, it is this concept which allows you to become stronger as you train harder. The concept encompasses the phenomenon where athletes experience small, micro tears within their muscles when they engage in strenuous physical activity. These micro tears within the muscles are then rapidly healed to create stronger muscle fibers. Over time a person becomes inherently stronger. The same concept could be applied to the example above.
The researchers find that when “forging long term memories,” it may be necessary for the brain to undergo “inflammatory editing scenes” in order to increase the longevity of the memory (Source). Moreover, they find this specific DNA breakage occurs quite often and are repaired quite quickly as well (Source). As a result, it can be seen that the brain undergoes the same processes as our muscles and bones do but in a uniquely different way (Source).
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ReplyDeleteHi Taj,
ReplyDeleteI love how your blog post this week provides a fascinating insight into the relationship between memory formation and inflammation in the brain. The revelation that recalling long-term memories can trigger significant inflammation and DNA damage in nerve cells is both surprising and thought-provoking. Drawing parallels to Wolff's law, which describes how muscles become stronger through micro-tears and repair, adds depth to our understanding of brain function. It's intriguing to consider that the brain may undergo a similar process of repair and strengthening during memory consolidation. This concept challenges the conventional notion of memory formation as a purely cognitive process, revealing its physiological complexities. Viewing memory formation through the lens of evolutionary adaptation, where challenges and damage lead to growth and strength, offers a fresh perspective. Despite the discomfort associated with this idea, it underscores the importance of facing adversity for personal development. Overall, this article prompts reflection on the intricate mechanisms underlying memory and invites further exploration into the intersection of neuroscience and evolutionary biology. Thank you for sharing this captivating piece!
Hello Taj! I had a great time reading your blog this morning, thanks for sharing! I appreciate how you ease the reader into the text with your gentle introduction, which interestingly begins right from the title. And to be honest, I would also point to sleep, diet, or physical activity as “culprit[s]” to the question you initially pose. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought forming memories were harmful to the brain. Obviously such “inflammatory damage” must be happening deep in the brain, because I, for sure, cannot feel anything, when I reach for my most precious memories on a daily basis. But I guess that’s why we need scientific research—to delineate the very intricacies of the human body. I thought you skillfully broke down David Nield’s article—being able to analyze such a complex text in a way understandable by the everyday reader while still integrating a significant amount of commentary. You finally conclude in the only appropriate way: with a quote that is extremely relevant and encouraging to an audience of teenagers trying to explore the world. This demonstrates the detailed thought-process that went into the development of this text.
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ReplyDeleteHey Taj,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog to be very informative and descriptive. As someone who is not taking AP Psychology, I have always been interested in the human mind; your blog gave me a glimpse into one aspect of the brain. I loved how you incorporated evidence from various sources to provide a more holistic understanding of the topic, which in itself is very fascinating. I also like how you compared the process of long-term memory recollection to Wolf's law in order to better explain the effect such recollection of memory has on the human brain. I would have further enjoyed reading your blog if you had provided your opinions about how the human mind's ability to "'evolve'" like this changed your perception of it and how this knowledge can be utilized in different ways. Overall, I enjoyed reading your blog for its comprehensive outlining of how memories can alter a person's mind and the connection it made between the mind and human body. Finally, I appreciated your honesty when you admitted that you utilized a "clickbait title" and found it comedic as I was initially expecting something similar to what you had described of what I would be thinking.
Hi Taj, your blog does an amazing job of grabbing attention with its title and delves into an interesting topic—how memory formation might cause inflammation in the brain. By sharing a personal experience at the start, you make the subject easier to relate to. You also explain the research findings in a clear way, comparing memory formation to how muscles heal after exercise, which helps readers understand complex ideas better. One suggestion for improvement could be to include more examples or explanations to support the idea that growth often involves facing challenges. By expanding on this idea, the blog could become even more engaging and persuasive. Your blog is a well-written and thought-provoking piece that combines personal reflection with scientific research effectively.
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