NEUROBIOLOGY MOOC PROJECT SUBMISSION SRINIVAAS G

The topic I have chosen for the project is the mental abnormality of my two cousins Anand and Amrita.
A primary motivation for me to take this course was to understand what was wrong with their
Neurobiology. I have compiled my understanding from the course. I include here a brief description of
their capabilities/inabilities.
Anand: He is 20 years old and is well built. He can stand/walk ie. His motor system is properly developed
and is in his control. However he is restless and keeps moving from one place to another. He has speech
problems and it is very difficult to understand what he ties to say. He can understand simple instructions
and any basic talking. He cannot use his hands for any fine movement like writing or using a cell phone.
He couldnt attend school for the same reasons. Normal methods of teaching are very tough for him; he
finds them unpleasant and starts crying.
Amrita: She is around 15 years old and looks very weak. She can move only her arms and not her legs.
Even sitting is very uncomfortable for her and she remains lying down all the time. She is a normal kid in
all other ways. She can understand, speak well and learn new things.
1) Identify the parts of the neural system active in your example
2) describe the functions of the nervous system that are apparent and/or impaired in your
example
Anand: His motor control reflects his motor pathways are proper and all four parts of spinal cord
(cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral) are all perfect. His restlessness can be attributed to presence of
excess dopamine or other neuro-transmitters which keep him engaged in some activity or other. The main
reason for restlessness is activity in cerebellum which keeps the double negative from striatum to pallidum
active, resulting in some activity or the other.
Speech and listening are related to brocas area and Wernickes area. Anand is able to understand what he
listens which implies that his Wernickes is in good shape. His inability to communicate clearly muddled
speech is attributed to brocas area.
The laterals in cerebellum are involved in fine movements such as writing, using a cell phone etc. He is
unable to make such fine movements which implies poorly developed cerebellum laterals.
His emotions are pretty much normal which explains proper working in emotion related areas of forebrain.
However, inability to learn new things implies some impairment in cerebellum.
Amrita: Motor control impairment can be due to cortical motor control centers, brainstem control, central
pattern generators, motorneurons, or skeletal muscles. Amrita can move her hands very well and can
write too. This explains that there is no impairment in the first 3 elements in the list. The problem is with
motorneurons in the spinal cord. Amritas lumbar and sacral regions are both impaired which explains why
she is not able to sit, stand or walk.
3) Explain in detail the ways in which this course has allowed you to better analyze the
events and phenomena around you.
The course helped me understand what is wrong with my cousins at a neurobiological treatment.
Previously, I just knew they had some disorder but now I can understand what is functioning and what is
impaired in them. Also the course has given me some light on the course of treatment that the cousins
need to take for the lives ahead. Anands hyperactiveness can be suppressed with elements that stop
neurotransmission and suppress the effect of Dopamine. However, other impairments are much more
difficult to cure, atleast at the current state of medicine. Same applies to Amrita as motor neuron related
disorders are much more difficult to treat. I hope that medicine science and technology develops soon
enough to treat their impairments at least partially and help them live a normal life. Hope this wish comes
true.