Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mental disorder of complex etiology. Synthesized with the amino acid tryptophan, the neurotransmitter serotonin is involved in mood regulation; specifically, decreased levels have been shown to contribute to an increase in symptoms of depression. In an attempt to challenge the status quo, current interventions for MDD must be explored, identifying the specific effects neurotransmitters have on depression, and determining how tryptophan could potentially be used to treat depression.

From Tibetan monks to your everyday layman, anyone can reap the benefits of meditation. Various forms of meditation can be a useful tool for both pre- and post-operative therapy and can be used as a form of buffing the brain through cognitive “housekeeping,” or as a preventative measure that can be accessed and practiced by anyone.

…Combining these concepts gives a unique way to image the complex activity in the brain: magnetoencephalography (MEG), a neuroimaging technique that detects the magnetic fields generated by neurons themselves. MEG is a noninvasive and precise technique that eliminates the need for induced magnetic fields, contrast dyes, or harmful radiation.

“...Those obdurate and sometimes tormenting ghosts of arms and legs lost years or decades before but not forgotten by the brain.”-V.S. Ramachandran

Phantom sensations are sensory perceptions of a missing limb. Phantom limb pain is a neuropathic pain in the amputated limb and mostly reported in limb amputees.

One of the most common and life-threatening birth defects are known as neural tube defects (NTDs). These defects are categorized by an opening in the spinal cord or brain during development. Additionally, a less common spinal cord disorder also occurs in adults called adult tethered cord syndrome. This may go undiagnosed until adulthood when pain, sensory, and motor problems occur in a patient’s back.

Pain and its knowledge of transduction, transmission, perception and modulation are essential in pain management. Understanding how pain signals reach the brain and understanding the many different techniques that may result in pain relief is imperative.