Human Physiology/The Nervous System
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Bipolar Disorder
Another common form of depression is manic depression. Manic is an acute state characterized by:
1. Excessive elation and impaired judgment
2. Insomnia and irritability
3. Hyperactivity
4. Uncontrolled speech
Manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder, displays mood swings between manic and depression. The limbic
system receptors are unregulated. Drugs used are unique mood stabilizers.
The hippocampus is particularly vulnerable to several disease processes, including ischemia, which is any
obstruction of blood flow or oxygen deprivation, Alzheimer
’
s disease, and epilepsy. These diseases selectively attack
CA1, which effectively cuts through the hippocampal circuit.
An Autism Link
A connection between autism and the limbic system has also been noted as well. URL: http:/
Case Study
Central Pain Syndrome
I was 42 years old when my life changed forever. I had a stroke. As an avid viewer of medical programs on
television I assumed that I would have physical therapy for my paralyzed left side and get on with my life. No one
ever mentioned pain or the possibility of pain, as a result of the stroke. I did experience unusual sensitivity to touch
while still in the hospital, but nothing to prepare me for what was to come.
The part of my brain that is damaged is the Thalamus. This turns out to be the pain center and what I have now is an
out of control Thalamus, resulting in Thalamic Pain syndrome, also called Central Pain Syndrome. This means that
24 hours a day, seven days a week, my brain sends messages of pain and it never goes away. I am under the care of
physicians, who not only understand chronic pain, but are also willing to treat it with whatever medications offer
some help. None of the medications, not even narcotic medications, take the pain away. They just allow me to
manage it so I can function.
