Gamma Band

Change o' Name

2009-04-01T00:10:00.005-05:00

As fun as gamma band is, I decided it's a bad name for the blog. My research is coming to an end in a few months (it focused more on the alpha band, anyway) and I have no idea whether I'll be working on the same type of research when I come out of the other end of med school/residency in 6 to 8 years. So, I've renamed the blog, "Irrelevant Process." It still relates to my research (actually, it relates more to my research than gamma band) and it is general enough to accommodate the wildly varying topics of my posts.

Getting away is fun

2009-03-20T18:35:00.009-05:00

I just got back from a few days in England. It was nice to get away (although, I didn't totally get away since I gave a research talk - one in which I got viciously attacked on some minor points). What was really nice was getting away from the news. I think it's good for me to pay less attention to all the craziness in the world... I will try to avoid it as much as possible from now on.

Oh, and for your entertainment here are some signs that may not have the same meaning in American English as British English:

In Windsor, near the Queen's home

In Hackney, London (voted the worst place to live in the UK)

In Oxford (No, I didn't try it - I was afraid of what 80% meat entails).

Remind me not to drive in Texas

2009-03-10T07:39:00.005-05:00

In many states it's legal for the local police to seize property of criminals in their jurisdiction. This is meant to encourage local law enforcement to catch drug runners (who have nice cars or lots of cash on them) by letting them keep the booty they find. Unfortunately, some jurisdictions decided that it's a great way to steal things from minorities. They threaten the people they pull over (with bogus charges like "driving too close to the white line"), get them to sign over their property and never charge them with anything. Of the 40 people contacted by the attorney of one of the victims, 39 were black. It's not just a few bad cops, they have the whole system set up so that they could quickly seize valuables from whoever they pull over:

The process apparently is so routine in Tenaha [TX] that Guillory discovered pre-signed and pre-notarized police affidavits with blank spaces left for an officer to describe the property being seized.

It is absolutely sickening that this can be happening. The mayor (the only person who's responded to calls) says "We try to enforce the law here." Go to hell...

Hopefully the lawsuit currently against the city goes somewhere.

We don't care if it's against your conscience

2009-02-28T09:35:00.003-06:00

Looks like the White House will be reversing Bush's federal conscience clause rule. This move makes me more optimistic about the direction Obama is taking us. I often fear that he gives into the other side too much (especially, the religious side) and with his support of faith-based initiatives, I didn't think he'd do much about the conscience clause. This is great, but a lot of states (.pdf)* have their own conscience clause rules.

BTW, the caption of the picture on the article I linked from the Washington Post, has some reverend talking about how this "raises skepticism about the White House's talk of common ground." It seems to be the right wing's MO now... 1) Whatever Obama does, be against it. 2) Complain that whatever Obama is doing is anti-bipartisan.

*Wow, according to this, West Virginia has the least restrictive conscience rule (almost heaven?). Healthcare providers can't even legally refuse to participate in abortions.

I wonder if it helps their depression?

2009-02-27T23:46:00.005-06:00

Apparently crocodiles can find their way back to their territories even if they've been moved miles away using the Earth's magnetic field. So, to keep them from returning to their former, human-inhabited territories, Florida officials take them deep into the swamp and attach magnets to their heads, making them lose their sense of direction. Cool, maybe next time I go to Florida, I'll bring a TMS machine with me (or at least a magnetic therapy bracelet).

Buy more beer

2009-02-19T21:01:00.006-06:00

According to Nate Silver alcohol sales (mostly beer) are down almost 10% in the last quarter. That's the most by far in the last 50 years (the previous low was 3.7% down in 1991). Not sure why people aren't buying beer anymore, but if there's any sign that we're entering a deep depression, that's gotta be it. How do you deal with a depression without beer?

Oh no... quackery counts as medical education

2009-02-04T19:03:00.005-06:00

Here's a recent "opportunity" from our medical school:

Traditional Chinese Medicine Rotation—Preliminary Announcement

I am pleased to announce that we are again able to offer a rotation in traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) during the Spring of 2010. This month-long rotation is possible through the exchange program between the Department of Family Medicine and FuXing Hospital in Beijing. In addition to didactic instruction in the principles and techniques of TCM (acupuncture, massage, herbal treatment), students will observe how TCM is practiced in Chinese community health centers and hospitals. Limited hands-on training in acupuncture and/or massage may also be provided.

Now that (yet another) scientific review says that acupuncture is nothing but a glorified placebo effect (and I won't even bother with the rest), aren't there more important (more proven) medical techniques that medical students should be educated in? Does the medical school really think that spending an entire month (of the mere 18 months of clinical rotations that makes up an MD) on traditional (i.e. fake) medicine will really add to their students' educations? Come on medical educators... you can't teach your students about evidence-based medicine and then allow this to count as a month's worth of credit at the same time.

For those who'd rather have measles, diphtheria, pertussis, polio ... still around

2009-01-28T19:52:00.004-06:00

There are too many otherwise intelligent people risking their kids' lives by buying into the unfounded idea that vaccines cause autism. It's one of those issues that, for some reason, makes proponents blind to any chance of actual reasoning. I get upset with it too easily (after all, I pretty much consider it child abuse) to be very patient with the anti-vaccine crowd. However, a fellow MD-student at her blog, Heal Spiel, has an amazing rebuttal to an anti-vaccine proponent. Glad to see support of reason in the medical field.

It's against my conscience

2009-01-20T23:24:00.003-06:00

Our former (yay!) president's administration really pushed to make conscience clauses for health professionals a federal law (and unfortunately, they succeeded). This lets healthcare professionals avoid treatment, misinform and pressure patients using the excuse of "It's against my conscience." The goal of the proponents for this is obviously to limit access to reproductive services like contraception and abortion, and there are enough nuts in medicine that it has already become a problem. The most common problem is physicians not informing their patients of the option of abortion (or refusing to refer them to another physician), pharmacists refusing to fill Plan B or birth control prescriptions. But it could get even worse, it may protect healthcare professionals when they remove birth control devices, refuse to treat LGBT patients like straight patients, refuse to treat someone based on the hunch that she might have had an abortion, or even refuse to drive a seriously ill patient to the nearest hospital because it performs abortions. It is an amazing disrespect to the autonomy of the patient. It goes against the objective healers healthcare professionals should be... and it deeply disturbs me that there are so many people in my future profession that see no problem with it (or rather, welcome it).

Hopefully our new president (yay!) will reverse the worst of it, but the nuts are out there and the politicians are on their side (many states have had their own conscience clauses for a while). I think what people should do (spread the word my two loyal readers) is to proactively question their healthcare providers about their beliefs on sensitive topics like abortion, contraceptives, ending life support, etc. If they say something you don't like, find someone else to treat you. It's better to find out by asking them now, then later when its already too late (plus it sends a nice message to the medical community).

Magnetic Quackery

2009-01-15T00:21:00.002-06:00

I was browsing through a book store a few days ago and I came across Kevin Trudeau's line of Natural Cure's They Don't Want You to Know About books (I must have been in the convicted fraudsters section). I usually see Kevin Trudeau on late night TV raving about the benefits of some untested treatment or another that "they" (hey that's me) are hiding from you. He's made millions and the gullibility of the American public is demonstrated by the fact that his books are always on a best seller list. Anyway, I thought I might get a laugh if I saw what's inside. I turn to a random page and what do I see? Magnetic therapy!!! Being an expert in training in real magnetic therapy, I started reading. Alas, it wasn't the 2 Tesla focused rapid brain stimulator that I work with. He was talking about wearing a small magnetic bracelet around your wrist for treating pain (and if I had read further I'm sure he would have said it will cure your heartburn, get rid of that tumor that's been bothering you and make you have a better sex life). This isn't the first time that I've encountered this form of "therapy." Several times when I've told people that I research magnetic brain stimulation, the response has been, "Oh, I know. It's like those magnetic bracelets!"

Well, I'm here to say that this:

does not work.

Let me quickly tell you why. Although our bodies have molecules that could potentially be affected by magnetic fields, biological tissue is amazingly unresponsive to static magnetic fields. The device pictured above (which you could have for a mere $17.95+sh) according to the manufacturer (if we actually believe them) contains 2 x 1000 Gauss static magnets. Magnetic fields aren't additive so let's say we're working with 1000 Gauss (or 0.1 Tesla) - though a JAMA article actually measured their surface field strengths and found them to be more like 30 to 250 Gauss. The problem is that a 0.1 Tesla static magnet (about the strength of the magnet in a small speaker) doesn't do anything to tissue. The magnetic therapy proponents say things like it affects your circulation by interacting with hemoglobin or it stimulates nerves (if they don't first say it aligns your chi). But nonetheless, valuable tax dollars were spent to test the claim that magnetic therapy is a natural cure that we don't want you to know and several studies (here are 4: 1 2 3 4) have found that it's no better than placebo at treating pain (their main use). The reason why magnetic brain stimulation works is that a very large magnetic field (around 2 T) is being delivered over a very short period of time (<250 microseconds). It's this rapidly changing magnetic field that affects biological tissue (induces current). Even then, unless you get it at the right intensity, frequency, target, angle, duration, etc, it has very subtle effects. So, unless the magnet on the bracelet produces a rapidly changing magnetic field (and if it did it would cost way more than $17.95 and would probably not be so portable), it won't do anything to nerves and it won't treat pain.

FTC regulating drugs?

2009-01-13T23:10:00.002-06:00

Well, actually, they're regulating fake drugs (i.e. untested herbal supplements). I saw this on Terra Sigillata at Scienceblogs and I must say, I applaud their efforts. The FDA regulates real drugs, but "supplements" are not under their jurisdiction. It's a multibillion dollar industry that (with a few exceptions) at best only wastes peoples money. But companies claiming that their extracts can cure cancer or treat diabetes are putting people's lives in danger. It looks like the federal trade commission has stepped in to stop the worst offenders. Hopefully this trend continues and "supplements" end up getting some real regulation.

Is it the future, yet?

2009-01-10T17:39:00.004-06:00

Every movie about the future includes flying cars. I was promised that we'd have flying cars by 2000 and was sorely disappointed. Well, looks like 2009 might finally deliver. There's a company that's promising it by late this year. For a mere $194,000 (they're taking deposits now) you, too, can play your part in taking us into what I was promised would be the 21st century.

I wonder if it comes with it's own TSA agent.

No Hay Nadie Como Tú

2009-01-07T00:00:00.005-06:00

Watch more Los de atras vienen conmigo videos on AOL Video

Ha sido un gran 2 años, mi amor.

Pharmaco-intelligence

2008-12-27T11:50:00.000-06:00

In Afghanistan, the CIA has been getting information about the Taliban from local chieftains in exchange for a few little blue pills. I don't like it... it reminds me too much of the British giving the Chinese opium at the turn of the century. Plus, don't you need a prescription for Viagra? Isn't that illegal distribution of drugs? (But I guess it's better than giving them weapons and money - which has normally been the case).

New meaning to brain waves

2008-12-26T01:14:00.001-06:00

This was recently posted on Brain Stimulant blog (good to know that my young field has reached into the blog world). Researchers at the Arizona State are investigating the use of ultrasound to stimulate the brain. They've done some in vitro studies and found some pretty cool effects (it can cause cells to fire and release neurotransmitters). It has some potential benefits that TMS doesn't such as the possibility to target deeper and smaller structures. Of course, since ultrasound has been used to kill tumors, safety may be a factor (though for brain stimulation a much lower intensity is used).

Arizona State has a press release about it also. One thing that struck me is that they're already talking about using it to treat diseases and create artificial memories like in Total Recall. I understand that to get it out into the media (and to get it funding) you need to make it sound sexy, but that's a bit far fetched (and misleading).

Ultrasound of brain (for imaging purposes, not stimulation)

Read this, Democrats

2008-12-22T17:45:00.000-06:00

To understand how angry and disappointed many Democrats are that Barack Obama has invited evangelical preacher Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inaugural, imagine if a President-elect John McCain had offered this unique honor to the Rev. Al Sharpton -- or the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. I know, it's hard to picture: John McCain would never do that in a million years. Republicans respect their base even when, as in McCain's case, it doesn't really return the favor.

Only Democrats, it seems, reward their most loyal supporters -- feminists, gays, liberals, opponents of the war, members of the reality-based community -- by elbowing them aside to embrace their opponents instead.

An opinion piece in the LA Times. My opinion is that with the great diversity that exists in this country, a two-party system just doesn't work. If the democrats continue making friends with republicans then I'll be doing my part to make another party more prominent.

If only I could have made this show...

2008-12-19T02:12:00.002-06:00

Jay-Z and Phish, you don't get that everyday. Oh well, but I'm pretty excited that Phish is getting back together (although it makes that 26 mile walk I made on the way to their so-called "last show ever" less meaningful)... maybe after I get that playa hatin' degree this summer, I could go to some shows.

Come on, Mr. President-Elect - we dont' need more of this

2008-12-18T17:10:00.001-06:00

Barack, the people who've backed you from the beginning and the people who have elected you want us to move away from nuts like this having prominent roles in our politics. We've voted the extreme right out, you don't need to and shouldn't pander to them. These are the same people who called you a muslim terrorist and made half-concealed racist remarks against you and your family... why do you keep supporting them??? All it does is reinforce them in their spread of hate.

I have little confidence that much of Bush's misguided policies will be reversed by someone who is so much into "reaching across the aisle" and afraid of offending the republicans.

Winter is cool!

2008-12-15T23:14:00.005-06:00

Not really, it's my second worst season (fall is my worst, 'cause you know winter is coming). However, a cool snowflake photomicroscope at Cal Tech sure makes the white stuff I hate cleaning off my car look pretty nice. My favorite is the triangular crystals that occur at around -2 C (28 F, which would be a considered a heat wave right now where I am).

The holy cerebellum

2008-12-11T20:53:00.004-06:00

Saw this on Pharyngula. Apparently a woman sees the virgin mary in her MRI. So obviously she tries to sell it on eBay (it's going for $610 so far). Well, I've got hundreds of MRIs just sitting there. Maybe I could find a virgin mary of my own. That's how I could make all this research pay off.

Why do I live in Wisconsin again?

2008-12-11T00:06:00.006-06:00

Thursday, December 11th - Madison, WI: Low = 4 F, High 27 F, Cloudy (but lots of snow on the ground).
Thursday, December 11th - Phoenix, AZ: Low = 47 F, High 72 F, Sunny.

I'm at a conference in Phoenix, and I don't know why I should go back to 4 more months of shivering and snow.

Henry Gustav Molaison

2008-12-05T07:18:00.009-06:00

As a brain scientist, Henry Molaison has been a big part of my eduction. Just 2 weeks ago I heard Brenda Milner (my neuroscience great grandmother!), the neuroscientist who had been studying him for the last 50 years give a very personal talk about him. I wonder if he knew he was dying (or did he discover it over and over again)?

War on Christmas

2008-12-05T01:00:00.005-06:00

As with every year when Christmas time comes around, along with the nonstop carols, holiday sales and special Christmas episodes of essentially every TV show, comes the religious right and their anger over the (pseudo)war on Christmas. As long as taxpayer money isn't being used, most secular people, including myself, don't give a crap about people saying "Merry Christmas" or stores having Christmas displays*. In fact, to me "Happy Holidays" is just as bad (it's not like I don't know which holiday you're talking about). Either way, Christmas is a holiday that's so heavily used for advertising that it has essentially become secular. The religious right, if they really cared about their religion should, instead, be pissed that their holiday is being exploited for marketing purposes.

So, onward Christmas warriors... the sales are waiting. Meanwhile, I'll enjoy those cartoon Christmas specials. (D'oh, embedding doesn't work with this video, click here to see it.)

*-However, don't expect me to share your holiday cheer, as far as I'm concerned its the start of another cold, snowy winter with ever shortening days... and this is ridiculous!

Pakistan - 4 countries for the price of one

2008-12-03T10:00:00.000-06:00

As many expected, the terrorist attack in Mumbai last week was carried out by a Pakistani group. The government denies any connection with the attackers. The problem is that there's really no one effective group in charge in Pakistan. I could think of at least 4... There's the (new) weak central government headed by Zardari. (which itself is fairly fragmented and has a lot of in fighting). There's the military (which has staged a couple of coups in the last 20 years). There's the Pakistani intelligent service (the ISI), the dealings of which the other groups are often unaware of. Finally, there is the several autonomous tribal groups who answer to no one. With all these independent groups with their own interests, no one branch of Pakistan's "leadership" knows what the other is doing. This has ruined Pakistan's economy, fostered extremist groups and led to instability in the whole region*. It's already bad, but things could get much worse (i.e. Islamic fundamentalist revolution with nuclear weapons). More than Iran, N. Korea, Syria (i.e. the axis of evil), this is where the world's attention needs to be.

*Read Ahmed Rashid's Taliban for a good example of various factions of Pakistan attempting to influence Afghanistan's civil war.

Fuel Surcharges

2008-12-03T00:35:00.001-06:00

When a barrel of oil went up to $150 this summer, all the airlines started adding extra "fuel surcharges" of tens to hundreds of dollars. For example, the actual fare for a flight from New York to London could be found as low as $160, but with $350 in fuel surcharges and another $50 in various airport fees, all of a sudden you're paying almost $600. Now that oil is less than $50, you'd think they'd drop those fuel surcharges, but I still see them. I know that airlines are suffering from the recession, but it's a bit dishonest of them to have ridiculously high fuel surcharges when when fuel no longer costs that much. They should be honest and just raise fares.

On the pleasant side, I just filled my tank for less than $20 (it was $60 only 3 months ago).

Gerbil of the Month: Ángel

2008-12-01T01:00:00.006-06:00

At the ripe age of 3 1/2 he's doing pretty well.

Oh, Ángel, you know that's not how to use the wheel.

By the way if anyone wants to take his young relatives home, let the Gerbleone's know.

The other Gamma Band

2008-11-28T11:55:00.000-06:00

Looks like this young blog has got a theme song. It's by who else, but Gamma (the band!). Yeah... It's gonna be a fight to the finish!!!

Skies are falling in Canada

2008-11-26T18:00:00.002-06:00

The god of science is mad at Canada for picking a quack for Minister of Science & Technology. What's with conservatives everywhere always appointing utterly unqualified people to high positions?

It turns out that Canada's conservative prime minister picked a chiropractor and acupuncturist for the Minister of Science & Technology. Now, I'm sure that some of what acupuncturists and chiropractors do is helpful and may relieve pain (and there is some scientific evidence for it), but for the most part it is NOT medicine and it is NOT science. Both these fields tend to avoid evidence-based practice and essentially claim that their technique treats everything. It's dangerous not so much because of possible side effects, but because it keeps people with diseases that can otherwise be easily treated from seeing a real physician. So to all you new-agey people: Most of you are (otherwise) pretty intelligent. So, next time you are skeptical of western medicine go to pubmed and do a quick search to see if your skepticism is warranted. And next time you want to treat your kid's Lyme disease or broken femur with the extract of some plant or acupuncture, again, check the literature to see if there isn't a better way.

... and Canadians, please don't try to become like the US. This meteor was just a warning.

Why Gamma Band?

2008-11-25T23:43:00.017-06:00

The title of this blog refers to high-frequency brain oscillations (or "waves"). I'm a PhD student that unexpectedly started studying brain oscillations. What I got into grad school for is to mess with people's brains using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). I was hoping to come up with a new path to euphoria by directly activating the brain (sort of like Bender does when he "jacks on" with electricity in Futurama). Instead, I made people remember better. A closer look showed that TMS improves memory performance by changing the underlying brain oscillations (actually the changes were in the lower-frequency alpha band, but the name alpha band was already taken).

Simultaneous TMS and EEG

What the hell is a blog?

2008-11-25T21:30:00.000-06:00

I'm always late to everything... but since Google lets me have a free blog, I'll go ahead and try it. Not sure what it'll be about, but we'll see soon (I guess).