Psychology Update — INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS:  TikTok & Tics

Posted by & filed under Introduction To Psychology, Nervous System, Personality, Psychological Disorders and Therapy, Psychology Resource of the Week, Psychology Update, Social Psychology, Stress and Health Psychology.

3 RELATED ARTICLES ON THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS:  TikTok & Tics

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ARTICLE #1

TITLE

Tics and TikTok: Can social media trigger illness? 

 

DESCRIPTION

Throughout history and especially during the pandemic, groups have been shown to experience a kind of mass hysteria for lack of a better expression up until now.  This is a fabulous article that is well worth reading as a resource for the understanding of “sociogenic illness.”  “What is sociogenic illness?  The hallmark of these conditions is that multiple people within a social group develop similar, medically inexplicable, and often bizarre symptoms. In some cases, those affected believe they have been exposed to something dangerous, such as a toxin or contagion, although thorough investigation finds none.  The suffering caused by these illnesses is quite real and profound — even in the absence of a clear cause and presence of normal test results. And no, a person with sociogenic illness is not “just looking for attention” or “doing it on purpose.”

There are a number of articles (two mentioned below) pointing to how adolescent women are showing signs of Tourette Syndrome after watching various social media posts especially on TikTok.

This Harvard Health letter article details some history of “mass hysteria” over the years up to the present.  It provides details of what comprises a “sociogenic illness”, causes, and possible treatments.  It really is a valuable resource for students interested in the topic.

 

SOURCE

Harvard Health & Publishing, January 18, 2022, by Robert H. Shmerling, MD

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/tics-and-tiktok-can-social-media-trigger-illness-202201182670

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/33zfm26a

 

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ARTICLE #2

TITLE

Is TikTok Causing Tics in Teen Girls? What Parents Need to Know

A pediatric neurologist explains the troubling rise in teens with tics

 

DESCRIPTION

This is an outstanding article that explains Tourette Syndrome and the difference between sociogenic induced tics and similar behaviors.
“TikTok tics: what teens are doing  Globally, doctors were seeing that teens with sudden-onset tics shouted the exact same phrases and experienced the same uncontrolled movements:

  • Repetition of seemingly random words or phrases, including “beans,” “woo-hoo” and “flying shark.”
  • Repetition of swear words and other obscene phrases.
  • Hand/arm movements, including clapping and pointing.
  • Hitting or banging body parts, other people or objects.

The similarities in tics — especially given patients’ geographic distance — gave doctors their first clue that social media was at the root of the phenomenon. That’s because true Tourette syndrome tics are unique to each person, not so overwhelmingly alike.”  The article written by a pediatric neurologist, Dr. Mohammed Aldosari, MD, is authoritative and can be a resource for further understanding of the phenomenon.  Suggestions for treatment and therapy are provided and worth understanding in terms of how to work with individuals experiencing these issues.

 

SOURCE

Cleveland Clinic, Health Essentials, November 10, 2021

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/tiktok-causing-tics-in-teen-girls/

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/kt87jpf5

 

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ARTICLE #3

TITLE

TikTok Tics: A Pandemic Within a Pandemic 

 

DESCRIPTION

 

This is a long abstract of a journal article regarding “TikTok Tics.”  It is provided for students to view professional writing on the topic.  The abstract is sufficient enough to understand how journal articles are written.  The entire article is available for a fee but should not be necessary — the abstract is sufficient.  From the abstract:  “TikTok tics are distinct from what is typically seen in patients with Tourette syndrome, although share many characteristics with functional tics. We believe this to be an example of mass sociogenic illness, which involves behaviors, emotions, or conditions spreading spontaneously through a group. A modern clinician needs to remain abreast of social media sources as knowledge of media content is essential in managing patients in the current environment.”

 

SOURCE

International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, July 28, 2021, by Caroline Olvera MD, Glenn T. Stebbins  PhD, Cristopher G Goetz MD, Katie Kompoliti MD

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mdc3.13316

 

(https://doi.org/10.1002/mdc3.13316)

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/56m96cr9

 

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CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•First:  what is Tourette Disorder?  What are the symptoms?

•What do the various articles mean by stating that TikTok Tics are a “sociogenic illness”? 

•Can you specify how TikTok Tics are different from those found in Tourette Disorder?

•In the history of Psychology, have their been other events that can be viewed as “mass hysteria”?

•If you were working with an adolescent woman experiencing this issue (TicTok Tics), what would you recommend as therapy?

 

 

Psychology Update — Scientists Identify Genes Linked to Dyslexia

Posted by & filed under Child Development, Cognitive Psychology, Introduction To Psychology, Psychological Disorders and Therapy, Psychology Update, Thinking, Language, and Intelligence.

TITLE

Scientists Identify Genes Linked to Dyslexia

DESCRIPTION

This is a short interesting article that focuses on the problem of dyslexia and possible links to genes.  “Millions of Americans have dyslexia, a language-based learning disability that makes reading and spelling more difficult. Studies have suggested that the condition runs in families, but no research had determined which genes are linked to it. Now, in the largest genome-wide association study on dyslexia, scientists have pinpointed 42 genetic variants correlated with the disability. They published their findings last week in Nature Genetics.”  The article focuses specifically on studies that have looked at people who have the disorder and analyzed their genetics.  Also, the reader should consider the nature-nurture issue when reading the article, in that it clearly states that the early life environment is important as well in the understanding of dyslexia and similarly related cognitive issues.

 

SOURCE

Smithsonian Magazine, October 26, 2022, by Margaret Osborne

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-identify-genes-linked-to-dyslexia-180980998/#.ZB8-Cjex5pw.mailto

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/3vkbvm2h

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is dyslexia?  How does it manifest in children and adults?  According to the article, how prevalent is the disorder?

•What are the research findings regarding genetic variants and dyslexia?

•How would you explain the nature-nurture issue if a parent of a child who has dyslexia asks if the disorder is inherited?

 

 

Psychology Update — 3 Breathing Exercises to Relieve Stress and Improve Health

Posted by & filed under Brain Structure and Function, Introduction To Psychology, Nervous System, Psychological Disorders and Therapy, Psychology Update, Stress and Health Psychology.

TITLE

3 Breathing Exercises to Relieve Stress and Improve Health

 

DESCRIPTION

This is a genuinely fascinating article.  The medical researchers (including Psychologists and Psychiatrists) have performed research investigating “breath work”.  “Over the last few decades, research has started to confirm what ancient cultures around the world have long believed: Breath work, the practice of correcting and controlling your breathing through simple exercises, can improve health and well-being….  At rest, your breathing should be slow and steady, between 12 and 20 breaths per minute. Consciously slowing that even further — to between five to seven breaths per minute at rest — can help reduce blood pressure, regulate heart rate and lift mood. Researchers have also reported that breathing slowly can reduce chronic pain, stress and depression, and bolster fitness and energy levels.” (active links are underlined) 

The article highlights how breathing affects our physiology through the autonomic nervous system and details different types of breathing exercises.  Note that the article is interactive allowing the readers to test their breathing, and further gives the reader breathing exercises.

This article is important for students who wish to study how our physiology affects mood, stress, depression, and anxiety.  Also, students who lean toward the clinical aspects of the field will find that the article can aide in understanding how breathing exercises can be an adjunct to therapy.  As for those who find self-help exercises to be useful, the article’s interactive nature will be appreciated in teaching breathing techniques. 

PLEASE TRY THE SELF-TEST

 

SOURCE

New York Times, March 3, 2023, by Alisha Haridasani Gupta

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/03/03/well/mind/breathing-exercises.html?smid=em-share

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/2hd62jux

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is “Breath Work.”  What type of breathing is considered to be healthy? Unhealthy? The article provides a self-test:  where do you fall onto the scale?

•How does Breath Work function in the autonomic nervous system?  Give examples.

•The article provides a number of interactive breathing exercises.  Please try them.  Which type of exercise is popular with the Navy Seals?  Why?

 

Psychology Website of the Week — TED Ed Lessons Worth Sharing

Posted by & filed under Introduction To Psychology, Lecture Enhancement/Student Engagement, Psychology Resource of the Week, Psychology Update, Psychology Video of the Week, Ted Talk.

PSYCHOLOGY VIDEOS OF THE WEEK

TITLE

TED Ed Lessons Worth Sharing

URL      

http://ed.ted.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&qs=psychology#tededlessons

(Tiny Url)  http://tinyurl.com/zjprsnh

 

DESCRIPTION

“TED-Ed Original lessons feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators.”

We all know about TED talks, but did you know that some professors have developed lessons around these presentations.  The link will take you to the site of the collected Psychology TED Talks that have lessons built around them.  These are worth exploring and useful for class preparation and lectures.

Psychology Update – Website of the Week — MAGINATION PRESS FAMILY

Posted by & filed under Child Development, Psychology Update, Psychology Website of the Week, Scholarship and Teaching of Psychology, Stress and Health Psychology.

PSYCHOLOGY WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

TITLE

Magination Press Family

URL      

https://www.maginationpressfamily.org

DESCRIPTION

From the website:

“Magination Press Family combines the expertise and resources of the American Psychological Association and its children’s book imprint, Magination Press. We’ve created these dedicated sites to provide accessible information for parents, educators, and other caregivers about managing stress and anxiety and promoting mindfulness in children and teens.”

Note:  This is a fabulous website of resources for students and families interested with working with children around Psychological Issues.

Psychology Update — Can insects have culture?  Puzzle-solving bumblebees show it’s possible

Posted by & filed under Animal Behavior Studies, Introduction To Psychology, Learning, Psychology Update.

TITLE

Can insects have culture? 

Puzzle-solving bumblebees show it’s possible

 

DESCRIPTION

(This article is both reading the transcript or listening to the 3-minute broadcast.)

“What do you have in common with a bumblebee – an affinity for flowers, maybe, or an appreciation of honey, perhaps? Well, now new research shows that we may share something deeper – a capacity for culture.”

This is a fascinating read or just a 3-minute listen to this NPR broadcast.  The conversation revolves around whether bumblebees can learn a task (a sort of puzzle box to get a drop of sweet  liquid), and whether the learning can be transmitted in the hive.  Well as it turns out, the bees can learn the task to get a reward, and then remarkably, the bees can act as a “tutor” for other bees to learn to get the reward.  The authors of the research consider this as a type of culture within the hive  system.  We often think of this type of transmitted learning in higher animals (primates, birds, and other mammals), but the researchers found that this capacity can be found in the insect world as well.

Take the time to listen, it’s only 4 minutes or just read the transcript.

 

SOURCE

All Things Considered (a 4-minute listen and available transcript to read)

NPR, March 7, 2023, by host  Ailsa Chang

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

 

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1161627795

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•According to the broadcast, how was the experiment with the bees performed?  What were the results?

•According to the conversation (broadcast), what do the scientists mean by culture?

•What do these types of experiments teach us about the study of animal behavior that is a part of the field of Psychology?

 

Psychology Update App Of The Week — PAR TOOLKIT

Posted by & filed under Introduction To Psychology, Psychology App of the Week, Psychology Resource of the Week, Psychology Update.

APP OF THE WEEK

PAR  TOOLKIT

PAR_Toolkit

 

(Click on your platform):  (free)       iOS    &    Android

 

DESCRIPTION

From Google Play Store and iTunes Store

“The PAR Assessment Toolkit provides quick access to the tools you use on a daily basis! Features include a normal curve, a conversion chart, a compliancy calculator, an age calculator, a stopwatch, and a QR code reader. The app has been updated to provide more functionality, a more modern look and feel, and improved features—and it’s still free!”

NOTE:  Check the app for the useful tools that are listed above.  PAR is also the marketer of testing materials for Psychological Assessment.

Psychology Update — 3 articles related to the topic of Sensation and Perception

Posted by & filed under Brain Structure and Function, Introduction To Psychology, Nervous System, Psychology Update, Sensation and Perception.

This week’s Psychology Update presents 3 articles related to the topic of Sensation and Perception.  Though the articles focus on different sensory and perceptual systems, the studies are fascinating and demonstrate the importance of understanding Psychology and Behavior in the context of S&P.

 

ARTICLE #1

TITLE

How Do You Smell? | Science

 

DESCRIPTION

This is truly an amazing article!  It is a very rich tapestry regarding the sense of smell and how it relates to our daily lives, culture, and personal experience (autobiographical).  The article takes the reader through art and odor, deficits due to contracting the covid virus, neurology, anatomy and physiology, along with the way research is done in the lab.  Important for Psychology to understand how this sense and the perception of odors affects every aspect of our daily lives.  From the article:  “Olfaction has always been our underdog sense. It’s both primitive and complex, which makes it hard to study and harder still to transfer to our increasingly digital existence. Our scientific understanding of how smell works lags so far behind our grasp of hearing and (especially) vision, and smells cannot at this point be recorded or emailed or Instagrammed. In one 2011 survey, more than half of young adults admitted that they would rather forfeit their ability to smell than their smartphones….But just when it seemed that the nose could not recover from its nose dive, along came the coronavirus. Afflicted people robbed of their sense of smell realized that they couldn’t register the smoke of fires actively burning down their houses, or the scent of their spouses (torpedoing marriages, by some accounts), or even the savor of a candy bar—since many of what we think of as tastes, like the flavor of chocolate, are actually smells. That stank. “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone,” Keller says.”

The author takes the reader through the fascinating experiments  performed at the Monell Center in Philadelphia as she relates her own reactions to the various odors presented to her in the lab.  The article is a great resource for any student who wishes to study the field of sensation and perception while other students in the discipline of Psychology will relate the findings to their own experiences. From the article:  “Olfaction is not only genetically modulated and culturally loaded but autobiographically specific to the extent that certain smells evoke a visceral reaction in you and you alone. This is frustrating to scientists looking to suss out the nose’s fundamental rules. Even fecal smells, supposedly the worst, can awaken a mother’s fondness for the days her child was in diapers or an immigrant’s homesickness for the manure of his ancestral dairy farm.”

 

SOURCE

Smithsonian Magazine, October 2022, by Abigail Tucker

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/scientific-mysteries-smelling-180980756/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20220921-daily-responsive&spMailingID=47399585&spUserID=NzQwNDU3MDAyMDIS1&spJobID=2322215087&spReportId=MjMyMjIxNTA4NwS2

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/3exzejpm

 

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ARTICLE #2

 

TITLE

Does the Sound of Noisy Eating Drive You Mad? Here’s Why

 

DESCRIPTION

Some people have a terrible reaction to certain sounds.  “Misophonia, a disorder which means sufferers have a hatred of sounds such as eating, chewing, loud breathing or even repeated pen-clicking, was first named as a condition in 2001.”  This was thought to be in the realm of Psychological disorders until recently when a research study found that there is a difference in the brains of the sufferers as compared to those without the disorder; the difference is found in the frontal lobes.  “Brain imaging revealed that people with the condition have an abnormality in their emotional control mechanism which causes their brains to go into overdrive on hearing trigger sounds. The researchers also found that trigger sounds could evoke a heightened physiological response, with increased heart rate and sweating.”  (The article includes a video.  However, if it doesn’t play, then it may have been removed for privacy of the participants.  The article is still worth reading!)

 

SOURCE

Time Magazine, February 3, 2017, by Kate Samuelson

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://time.com/4659308/misophonia-noisy-eating-science/

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/h8rpjnw

 

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ARTICLE #3 

TITLE

This Optical Illusion Has a Revelation About Your Brain and Eyes

 

DESCRIPTION

Before reading any further:  I

MMEDIATELY GO TO THE ARTICLE AND VIEW THE FIRST IMAGE.

What did you see?  Can you explain how a static image appears to be changing, and perhaps even drawing you into a tunnel?  Or are you one of a small percentage who cannot “see” the changes in the illusion?

From the article:   “The hole you see is not really moving, growing or expanding. The darkness will not swallow you.  The image is actually static, and has much to teach us about how our brains and eyes see the world. In a study published last week in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, psychologists tested this illusion on 50 men and women with normal vision, and, using an infrared eye tracker, found that the greater a participant’s response to the illusion, the stronger the pupil dilation response….They also discovered some people — perhaps even you — can’t see it.”

“In your eyes, the pupils unconsciously adjust to the light in your surroundings, dilating when it is dark to try to capture more light, and constricting when it is bright to prevent overexposure. When you look at this illusion, the hole is not darkening. But the perception that it darkened was enough to make your pupils respond.”

The early work of modern scientific Psychology in the late 1800s posed a number of questions regarding the relationships of our senses to the brain’s activity or our perceptions.  Our senses pick up the data from the world around us and then our brains act on the data to make it useful for our daily lives.  We call these processes Sensation and Perception.  Our responses (BEHAVIORS) are based on these perceptions even though they maybe illusory.  (The article ends with pointing out that this may also be a philosophical issue.)  

 

SOURCE

New York Times, June 6, 2022, by Richard Sima

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/06/science/optical-illusion-tunnel.html?smid=em-share

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/4k89mj7t

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CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is the difference between Sensation and Perception?

•What is MISOPHONIA?  What are the symptoms and triggers?  What are some of the extreme reactions?

•What is the olfactory sense?  According to the article it has been less studied than the other senses (e.g. vision and hearing).  What are some of the reasons that it has now/presently come in to its own by researchers?

•According to the article on “smell”:  What are the ways in which the olfactory sense is studied?

•According the the article on the olfactory sense:  How do personal experiences and culture play a role in how an individual will react to different odors?

•From the article on illusions:  how are we to understand the difference between what our senses pick up and the how our brain produces an understanding or perception?

•From the article on illusions:  if you were lecturing a class of students on the topic of sensation and perception, how would you explain whether we are perceiving the real world or an illusion?

 

Psychology Update — 3 SPECIAL ARTICLES ABOUT ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

Posted by & filed under Animal Behavior Studies, Cognitive Psychology, Introduction To Psychology, Learning, Lecture Enhancement/Student Engagement, Psychology Update, Sensation and Perception, Thinking, Language, and Intelligence.

3 SPECIAL ARTICLES ABOUT ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

ARTICLE #1

TITLE

A Dog’s View of Optical Illusions

Researchers are using visual tricks to try to better understand canine perception.

 

DESCRIPTION

This is a fascinating article for many reasons.   Aside from the researchers curiosity, the idea of studying dogs and optical illusions give us more information and understanding of visual perception as well as the animal’s cognitive abilities.  “Researchers who study illusions using behavioral experiments counter that, even with these challenges, the approach offers at least a preliminary way to explore how dogs see the world. As Byosiere (the researcher) explains, these studies “can give us a good first glimpse into the ways that they’re visually processing their surroundings. It can help us figure out where the parallels are and where they aren’t,” and potentially design better research studies in the future.”  The description of how the research is conducted is a wonderful illustration of the scientific method.

This article can be used in conjunction with the text book for the topics of scientific method, visual perception, and cognition in animals.

 

SOURCE

The Scientist,  January 1, 2021, by Catherine Offord

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.the-scientist.com/features/a-dogs-view-of-optical-illusions-68278

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/y9frpvre

 

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ARTICLE #2

 

TITLE

Octopuses Have a Secret Sense to Keep Their 8 Arms Out of Trouble

Even when an octopus can’t see light with its eyes, its arms seem to know it is there.

 

DESCRIPTION

There has been an uptick in interest in this fascinating animal:  the octopus.  Perhaps this is due to the Netflix movie:  “My Octopus Teacher.”  (The link to the trailer is listed below.)  Scientists have wondered and tried studying a variety of the octopus behaviors through very clever experiments.  “So how does the octopus keep all those wiggly, sucker-covered limbs out of trouble? According to a study published this month in The Journal of Experimental Biology by Dr. Nesher and his colleagues, the octopus’s arms can sense and respond to light — even when the octopus cannot see it with the eyes on its head. This light-sensing ability may help the cephalopods keep their arms concealed from other animals that could mistake the tip of an arm for a marine worm or some other kind of meal.”  These experiments give us a better understanding of cognition, sensation and perception, and survival behaviors.

See the trailer for “My Octopus Teacher” on Netflix:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=3s0LTDhqe5A

 

SOURCE

New York Times, February 20, 2021, by Richard Sima

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/science/octopus-arms-light.html?smid=em-share

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/yd7r8aa9

 

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ARTICLE #3

 

TITLE

Pigs Can Learn to Play Video Games When Tempted by Treats

 

DESCRIPTION

This is both a fascinating and funny article.  Pigs have been trained behaviorally in  many ways much like dogs, though there have not been many fully captured studies that look at manipulative skills, sensation and perception, as well as cognitive (intelligence) abilities.  “We still underestimate the smarts of pigs and farm animals in general,” says Nawroth (researcher) to CNN. “As this avenue of research, farm animal cognition, is taking off steam, we will likely see more research on more sophisticated learning and cognitive skills of farm animals over the next years.”  It is not only interesting but somewhat amusing to see the apparatus setup with the subject.   

The original article from the Frontiers in Psychology can be found online at:  https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631755/full

(Frontiers in Psychology, 11 February 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631755)

SOURCE

Smithsonian, February 16, 2021, by Theresa Machemer

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pigs-can-learn-play-video-games-if-tempted-treats-180977018/

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/ydgx4vb9

 

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CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•In general, why does modern Psychology study animal behavior?

•How do these studies add to our knowledge of Psychology in areas of sensation and perception, animal learning, cognition and intelligence?

•How is the scientific method applied to animal studies?  If possible, can you explain how the methods might differ from studies with humans in the complexities of setting up the studies and especially in the interpretation of the results.

 

Psychology Update — New traumatic brain injury test is ‘game-changing’ (VIDEO)

Posted by & filed under Brain Structure and Function, Nervous System, Psychological Disorders and Therapy, Psychology Update, Psychology Video of the Week.

TITLE

New traumatic brain injury test is ‘game-changing,’ concussion experts say

There are millions of TBI hospitalizations and deaths each year.

 

DESCRIPTION

This is a popular article given interests in injuries that occur in football season.

What is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?  “TBI is a disruption in normal brain function caused by a blow or jolt to the head. A concussion is the mildest form of TBI, but patients may suffer a constellation of physical, cognitive, emotional and sleep symptoms. Some of the most common signs include confusion, headaches, blurry or double vision, dizziness, fatigue, memory loss, difficulties with concentration and insomnia.”  The usual way to diagnose concussion is by subjective self-report, CT and MRI scans, and clinical judgement.  According to the article, there can be a great deal of inaccuracies in the diagnosis until now.“In a world first, a newly authorized handheld device will allow doctors to detect traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in under 15 minutes, potentially saving lives by dramatically shortening the time it takes to properly diagnose the issue.The device is made by Abbott, a medical device company based in the United States… This is a huge milestone that has never been done before — a blood test for the brain,” said Dr. Beth McQuiston, medical director for Abbott’s diagnostic businesses.”  By the way, imagine how this test can be hugely helpful for high school, college, and professional sports wherein players are frequently hurt and often their concussions are either not diagnosed properly or misdiagnosed entirely.   This is a real boon to understanding the brain and the affects of TBI.

This is a 5-minute video of the ABC news broadcast.

SOURCE

ABC News, January 11, 2021, by Dr. Mishal Reja and Dr. Leah Croll

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://abcn.ws/3oCw3Gu

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?  What are the causes and symptoms?

•Up until this new test, how have concussions and TBI been diagnosed?  What have been the problems with getting an accurate diagnosis?

•What is the new test for TBI?  How is it administered?  How does it aid diagnosis and what are the advantages of using this new test?