ESTI's goal is to provide you with accurate information on science, technology, and health. Happy reading!
In this Issue:
MythBusters: Brain Damage is Permanent
Neuro News: People Answering Questions While in REM Sleep
Tech News: What isn't A.I.?
This Month in Science: Scientists Make Cells Cry
Health: 6 Ways to Reduce Vaccine Hesitancy
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MythBusters:
False: Brain Damage is Permanent
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Brain plasticity, also known as neuroplasticity, is the changes of neural pathways based on our experiences. For example, if you're making a coin impression in clay, you'll need to change the shape and look of the clay. Similarly, our neural pathways may change, strengthen, or weaken depending on the experience we're having1.
Depending on the brain injury, severity, and location, the brain may have the capability of recovering after suffering damage because of neuroplasticity. During brain repair, plasticity will change to maximize function despite suffering damage. In previous research involving rats with taurmatic brain injuries where one area of the brain was damaged, brain cells surrounding the damamged area experienced changes in their function and shape in order to carry out the same functions as the damaged cells. Research has shown similar results in humans, but not to the point of true recovery (pre-injury function).
For more information on neuroplasticity, check out this article.
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Neuro News:
People Answering Questions While in REM Sleep
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Sleep has always been thought of as a state in which the body and mind become unresponsive. However, a new study by Ken Paller at Northwestern University, reveals that two-way communication while in REM sleep is possible.
In collaboration with 3 other groups in Germany, France, and the Netherlands, this study recruited 36 participants who reported having remembered at least one dream per week. Next, participants were trained in lucid dreaming and answering math questions while asleep using different techniques such as eye movement, morse code, etc. Researchers used an electroencephalograph (EEG) to track which state of sleep the participants were in.
After 156 trials were conducted across all four groups, the results showed that in 18% of the trials participants gave a correct response. Another 18% of trials were classified as ambiguous because raters couldn't decide if a response was given or not. Another 3% of trial responses were incorrect, and 60% of the trials had no response.
Paller's group believes that 60% of trials had no response because participants either didn't receive the question, weren't actively paying attention to the incoming question, or forgot before waking up. This could potentially be improved by more training or established communication during different sleep states.
For more information about this new study, check out this article.
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Tech News:
What isn't A.I.?
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Artifical intelligence, or A.I., is usually accompained by images of robots taking over (like Will Smith in I, Robot), but we're actually a long way from that kind of technology.
A.I. is described as a computer program that mimics the human brain. For example, one category of A.I. is neural networks. Neural networks are programs that use mathematical system to analyze data and discover patterns. For instance, if you want your program to determine a cat from a dog, you'd input images of cats so that the neural network can "learn" what a cat looks like.
There has been a recent explosion of neural networks in the last decade because, during the 1950s, scientists didn't have enough data or the computer processing power. However, with the internet giving access to thousands of different kids of data and the increase of computer technology, the potential for neural networks is now possible.
Technologies like Alexa, Google Assistant, self-driving cars, surveillance camera, and many more technologies all rely on neural networks.
However, this doesn't mean that these technologies aren't immune to human error and human biases. Humans are still the ones creating these neural networks, and the neural networks are analyzing data compiled by humans. As a result, there have been instances where these neural networks have exhibited a bias towards women and people of color. For example, in 2015, Google came under fire when it's A.I.-powered image organizer program falsely categorized Black people as "gorillas."
Even though A.I. isn't going to take us over in the immediate future, there could still be harmful effects if we're not conscious about how we train and create these A.I.-powered technologies.
For more information about artifical intelligence, check out this article.
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This Month in Science:
Scientists Made Cells Cry
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Other than showing emotion, tears help to lubricate and protect the eye. To understand the tear gland and production, scientists Hans Clever and others at the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands developed tear gland cells from organoids
Clevers and others grew these tear glands, also known as lacrimal glands, from both mouse and human lacrimal glands. To stimulate tear production, scientists exposed these tear organoids to different chemicals, including a neurotransmitter known to relay messages between nerve cells and glands. However, since these organoids don't have ducts to release the tears, they just swell up (see image below). So, scientists then injected these tear organoids into mice, and they matured and developed to have tear ducts which showed that these tears contained the same proteins as the tears we produce.
By creating organoids from human cells and transplanting them into those with damaged or diseased tear glands, this research has the potential to help thousands of people who suffer from diseases like Sjogren's syndrome. Clevers and his group have already developed salivary glands that will be tested in clinical trials this summer for those who a history of dry mouth which can cause tooth decay, difficulty chewing, and tasting.
For more information about this new research, check out this article.
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Health:
6 Ways to Reduce Vaccine Hesitancy
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With the COVID-19 vaccines becoming widely available for more groups of people, there is an increase in vaccine hesitancy. In a poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) in December 2020, 42% of Republicans, 35% of Black adults, and 33% of essential workers said they would mostly likely or definitely refuse the vaccine. There has to be more efforts done to address the concerns people have about the vaccine, and transparency about the benefits and risks.
- Focus on the population of people who are conflicted about the vaccine.Those who are all together against vaccinations of any kind, also known as anti-vaxxers, only make up a percentage of the population. The focus should be on those individuals who are ambivalent about the vaccine.
- Facts are not enough to change people’s mind. In a 2014 study, groups of adults who had concerns about vaccines causing autism, were not dissuaded by the facts and science presented. It actually had the opposite effect, and made some of those individuals more adversed. The lack of trust in the people delivering the message is what needs to be addressed in order to have more people comfortable with getting vaccinated.
- Making vaccination appointments more flexible and accessible.In low-income communities, there are lower levels of vaccination compared to those in higher income communities. This can be addressed by offering flexible hours, and making sure everyone knows that there is no cost for them getting the vaccine. Additionally, efforts to make it accessible for those without a car or any mode of transportation need to be addressed as well.
- Advertise how more people are getting vaccinated. People tend to follow social norms, so if it is known more that people aren’t getting vaccinated, that will make more people hesitant to get vaccinated. Letting people know that there are more and more people getting vaccinated without any severe reactions/complications, will help make people open to getting vaccinated.
- Beating procrastination. In a study done by Rutgers University in 2009, 36% of people were more likely to get the flu shot when given an opt-out appointment rather than scheduling it themselves. Humans have a tendency to procrastinate, so by giving people an appointment to get vaccinated, it’ll make it more likely that they actually get vaccinated rather than them trying to schedule an appointment themselves.
- Nagging helps. In a 2019 study , frequent daily reminders to complete drug treatment for tuberculosis improved outcomes. People are forgetful, so constantly reminding people to get vaccinated when available, can help improve vaccination rates.
If you're interested in getting vaccinated, call us at 973-353-2706 for help scheduling your appointment.
If you're interested in learning more about the COVID-19 vaccines, visit this site or give us a call at 973-353-2706.
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Get in Touch: Get Familiar with Your Technology
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