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Quest for the sentient robot
Published in Arkapravo Bhaumik, From AI to Robotics, 2018
From the point of view of evolutionary biology, Greenfield [133] attempts to correlate conscious behaviour to brain size of a life form. Her research suggests that there is no consciousness centre, meaning that there is no place in the brain corresponding to generation of consciousness; neither are there any committed neurons or genes dedicated to consciousness. Study of brain size of primates and mammals has also shown that mere size of the brain is not really enough for higher functions, it needs special cognitive modules such as logic, association, concepts of geometry etc. to demonstrate human-like intelligence. Therefore, a computer with very high memory will not suddenly transform into a conscious machine on its own.
In-utero arsenic exposure and growth of infants from birth to 6 months of age: a prospective cohort study in rural Bangladesh
Published in International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 2020
Kyi Mar Wai, Ping Han Ser, Sk Akhtar Ahmad, Rabeya Yasmin, Yasunori Ito, Shoko Konishi, Masahiro Umezaki, Chiho Watanabe
Head circumference, especially during the infancy period, is considered an indicator of brain size (Cooke et al. 1977; Bartholomeusz et al. 2002). Thus, head circumference can be used as a reliable method for estimating brain development among children less than 6 years of age (Bartholomeusz et al. 2002; Gale et al. 2006). Head circumference in this age group was also shown to correlate with cognitive function (Gale et al. 2004, 2006). In a previous study, head size at birth and during the first year of life correlated with the cognitive functions of children 4–8 years of age, suggesting that the brain size achieved by the first year of life is an important determinant of subsequent intelligence (Gale et al. 2006). Meanwhile, the human brain is chemically protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) (Rodier 1995). BBB effectively blocks the passage of certain toxic substances to the central nervous system; thus, toxicity is determined by the integrity and permeability of the BBB (Rodier 1995). Arsenic not only has direct toxic effects on the BBB itself but also increases its permeability (Tolins et al. 2014). Once arsenic has reached the fetus via the placenta, it may cross the BBB to gain access to and affect fetal brain cells (Tolins et al. 2014). Arsenic promotes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the methylation process, which may in turn influence normal cellular division (Nesnow et al. 2002; Jomova et al. 2011). This ability of arsenic to directly affect developing brain cells may account for its effect on head circumference (Hamadani et al. 2011; Tolins et al. 2014).
Medical devices and the pediatric population – a head-to-toe approach
Published in Expert Review of Medical Devices, 2019
Joy H. Samuels-Reid, Judith U. Cope
Neurological medical devices may pose varied long-term consequences and quality of life outcomes for children at different stages of growth and development. Thus, a device consideration may include whether the device will provide the same physiologic fit when implanted in a child compared to an adult, and if not, alternate sites of implantation may need to be considered. Brain size and volume grow considerably during the early years of life and continue to mature and develop into the adolescent years and beyond. Extensive brain development (myelination, synaptic density, pruning, and maturation processes) is believed to occur in the first 10 years. Neurologic medical devices in children may have different considerations from those of adults because of the heterogeneity of the pediatric population and the different needs of each pediatric subpopulation. For example, vagus nerve stimulators (VNS) and VNS leads will need to be assessed for adequacy, or the need for reimplantation, as children grow. It is important to consider brain development, physical growth, surgery, and human factors in terms of risk assessment of neurologic devices such as neurostimulators and cerebrospinal fluid shunts in children[18].
Potential benefits of dietary nitrate ingestion in healthy and clinical populations: A brief review
Published in European Journal of Sport Science, 2019
Sinead T. J. McDonagh, Lee J. Wylie, Christopher Thompson, Anni Vanhatalo, Andrew M. Jones
It is well established that aging is associated with changes in brain size, vasculature and cognition. Specifically, the aging brain is susceptible to a reduction in size, a decrease in cerebral blood flow and oxidative metabolism, and the development of chronic ischemia in white matter (Presley et al., 2011), all of which can contribute to a decline in cognitive function. A major risk factor for the onset of cerebral hypoperfusion is a disturbance in neurovascular function, which can be attributed, in part, to an attenuation in NO activity (De la Torre & Stefano, 2000). The promotion of NO production through, for example, ingestion of NO3−-rich foods, therefore has the potential to offset declines in cognitive function through improved cerebrovascular blood flow.