The dissection room experience: A factor in the choice of organ and whole body donation—A Nigerian survey

The psychosocial impact of human dissection on the lives of medical and health science students has been noted. To assess the impact of the dissection room experience on one's willingness to become a whole body and organ donor, the attitudes of 1,350 students and professionals from the medical, health, and non‐health related disciplines to body and organ donation were studied. The participants were broken into categories according to degree of exposure to human dissection. Participants who were never exposed to the dissection experience showed more willingness to donate their bodies than those who were exposed. With the exception of the physiotherapy department, the students and professionals from the health science departments who were exposed to the dissection room but never engaged in dissection showed the most unwillingness to donate their bodies (P < 0.001). An unwillingness to donate oneself was noted as one of the negative impacts associated with exposure to the dissection room. Willingness to donate an organ correlated positively with the level of exposure to the dissection room (P < 0.001). Most of the reasons for unwillingness were traceable to negative perceptions of the dissection room as a result of poor and disrespectful management of the human cadavers. Anat Sci Educ. 7: 56–63. © 2013 American Association of Anatomists.     

An integrated teaching method of gross anatomy and computed tomography radiology

It is essential for medical students to learn and comprehend human anatomy in three dimensions (3D). With this in mind, a new system was designed in order to integrate anatomical dissections with diagnostic computed tomography (CT) radiology. Cadavers were scanned by CT scanners, and students then consulted the postmortem CT images during cadaver dissection to gain a better understanding of 3D human anatomy and diagnostic radiology. Students used handheld digital imaging and communications in medicine viewers at the bench‐side (OsiriX on iPod touch or iPad), which enabled “pixel‐to‐tissue” direct comparisons of CT images and cadavers. Students had lectures and workshops on diagnostic radiology, and they completed study assignments where they discussed findings in the anatomy laboratory compared with CT radiology findings. This teaching method for gross and radiological anatomy was used beginning in 2009, and it yielded strongly positive student perspectives and significant improvements in radiology skills in later clinical courses. Anat Sci Educ 7: 438–449. © 2014 American Association of Anatomists.     

Combining fiber dissection,plastination, and tractography for neuroanatomical education: Revealing the cerebellar nuclei and their white matter connections

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in white matter anatomy of the human brain. With advances in brain imaging techniques, the significance of white matter integrity for brain function has been demonstrated in various neurological and psychiatric disorders. As the demand for interpretation of clinical and imaging data on white matter increases, the needs for white matter anatomy education are changing. Because cross‐sectional images and formalin‐fixed brain specimens are often insufficient in visualizing the complexity of three‐dimensional (3D) white matter anatomy, obtaining a comprehensible conception of fiber tract morphology can be difficult. Fiber dissection is a technique that allows isolation of whole fiber pathways, revealing 3D structural and functional relationships of white matter in the human brain. In this study, we describe the use of fiber dissection in combination with plastination to obtain durable and easy to use 3D white matter specimens that do not require special care or conditions. The specimens can be used as a tool in teaching white matter anatomy and structural connectivity. We included four human brains and show a series of white matter specimens of both cerebrum and cerebellum focusing on the cerebellar nuclei and associated white matter tracts, as these are especially difficult to visualize in two‐dimensional specimens and demonstrate preservation of detailed human anatomy. Finally, we describe how the integration of white matter specimens with radiological information of new brain imaging techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging tractography can be used in teaching modern neuroanatomy with emphasis on structural connectivity. Anat Sci Educ. 7: 47–55. © 2013 American Association of Anatomists.     

Enhancement of anatomical learning and developing clinical competence of first‐year medical and allied health profession students

Hands‐on educational experiences can stimulate student interest, increase knowledge retention, and enhance development of clinical skills. The Lachman test, used to assess the integrity of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), is commonly performed by health care professionals and is relatively easy to teach to first‐year health profession students. This study integrated teaching the Lachman test into a first‐year anatomy laboratory and examined if students receiving the training would be more confident, competent, and if the training would enhance anatomical learning. First‐year medical, physician assistant and physical therapy students were randomly assigned into either the intervention (Group A) or control group (Group B). Both groups received the course lecture on knee anatomy and training on how to perform the Lachman test during a surface anatomy class. Group A received an additional 15 minutes hands‐on training for the Lachman test utilizing a lightly embalmed cadaver as a simulated patient. One week later, both groups performed the Lachman test on a lightly embalmed cadaver and later completed a post‐test and survey. Students with hands‐on training performed significantly better than students with lecture‐only training in completing the checklist, a post‐test, and correctly diagnosing an ACL tear. Students in Group A also reported being more confident after hands‐on training compared to students receiving lecture‐only training. Both groups reported that incorporating clinical skill activities facilitated learning and created excitement for learning. Hands‐on training using lightly embalmed cadavers as patient simulators increased confidence and competence in performing the Lachman test and aided in learning anatomy. Anat Sci Educ 7: 181–190. © 2013 American Association of Anatomists.     

事件相关电位在社会认知中的应用

近年来,各种心理学方法被广泛应用于社会认知研究,事件相关电位（theevent-related brain potential,ERP）是其中之一.它拓展了传统的行为研究方法,有效测评外显行为背后的潜在大脑加工.文章在回顾总结近年来相关电位成分在社会认知领域应用的基础上,展望了ERP技术在我国社会认知心理学领域的发展前景.     

弱智学生全脑型体育教育模式的实践研究

对弱智学生进行有针对性的双侧肢体的协调活动，进行全脑型体育教育模式的实践研究，可以改善他们心智方面的缺陷，挖掘他们的身体协调性和左右侧肢体运动技能的潜能。     

急性耐力运动对大鼠不同脑区单胺类神经递质及其代谢产物的影响

以大鼠端脑、间脑和脑干5-HT、DA、5HiAA和DOPAC等指标为研究对象,探讨长时间游泳对大鼠不同层次脑组织单胺类神经递质及其代谢产物的影响.研究表明:1)急性耐力运动后,脑内中枢疲劳的可能性介质--5-HT水平的提高可能发生或首先发生在某些脑区,而非全脑;其变化情况可能与运动持续时间等因素有关;2)3 h游泳运动后,间脑5-HT水平增高、DA水平显著性降低,5-HT/DA比值显著性增高;提示,间脑可能是急性耐力运动中中枢疲劳的敏感性区域;3)急性耐力运动后,大鼠端脑和脑干5-HT代谢率增高;间脑区则降低;脑内DA代谢水平在运动后普遍提高,以间脑区提高最为明显.     

左右手打乒乓球的可行性报告——健脑强身的"龙乒乓"

人们在用一只手打乒乓球时,另一只手就显得笨拙。另外,单手打球引起身体发展的不平衡。由中国的“天人合一、阴阳平衡”思想,结合人体大脑科学的研究成果,提出左右手都打球以健脑强身,活化右脑,促进左右脑、脑-体和两侧肢体均衡发展的新思路(暂定名“龙乒乓”)。     

有氧运动对大鼠海马神经元BDNF表达的影响

本文意在通过观察适宜游泳运动后大鼠海马脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)表达的变化,探讨有氧运动促进大脑健康的神经生物学机制。研究将24只SD大鼠随机分为对照组和运动组,运动组又分为3,7,12天三个亚组。采用SABC免疫组化染色法观察分析海马CA1区神经元BDNF阳性表达的数量。结果表明CG大鼠海马有BDNF阳性细胞的蛋白表达,并以神经元表达为主。与CG相比,7SG大鼠海马CA1区BDNF阳性细胞数量增加达显著水平(P<0.05),12SG大鼠海马CA1区BDNF阳性细胞数量增加达极显著水平(P<0.01)。因此,适量的有氧运动可增加BDNF的表达,促进大脑神经可塑性。