Lateral Assymetry

These two lobsters demonstrate the claw asymmetry typical of Homarus americanus. There is one crusher, fatter with a broader edge, and one cutter, smaller with a fine-toothed edge. There is no preferential laterality: as many lobsters that crush with the right (see lobster on left) also cut with the right (lobster on right).

Hysteria presented

Un Leçon Clinique à la Salpêtrière, 1887. André Brouillet

In this painting, Charcot is instructing at the Salpetriere. Joseph Babinski is supporting the swooning woman. The bearded, seated chap, left of center, with his right index finger to his temple is Gilles de la Tourette.

PCR Rap

A molecular biology primer.

Parkinson Disease: pink1/parkin and mitochondria

This article offers some insight into how pink1 and parkin mutations cause mitochondrial dysfunction, which ultimately leads to Parkinson's Disease. The exciting element in the article is what understanding the genetic forms of PD offers: gene-targeted therapies. It is this avenue of research that has the most promise for finding a "cure".

The Neurology of Obsession

From the Youtube byline:

I found the Mad Dribbler on Fifth Avenue, not far from the Metropolitan Museum. This is not a performance. It is a genuine obsessive undertaking. Note the green rubber gloves. Halfway through closeups begin. Watch to the end for the best parts, including reactions of passersby. Who is he? Where is he now?

The head movements, more apparent during the close-up shots, look like drug-induced dyskinesias, and provide a possible explanation for the obsessive dribbling.

That's a Bad Twitch!

In You Can't Take it With You Lionel Barrymore's character makes the above comment about another character's facial movements.

Here's a video of the scene, although there are better examples of the abnormal movements in the scene directly before this one.

Whether John Blakely's (Clarence Wilson) facial twitching is acted or hemifacial spasm is not clear. It certainly looks like hemifacial spasm with unilateral clonic jerks involving the eye and mouth. The eyebrow here appears uninvolved although usually it elevates. Most cases are caused by vascular compression of CN VII and a much smaller number of secondary cases follow recovery after Bell's Palsy. Even fewer cases are caused by brainstem lesions. The treatment of choice is botulinum toxin, not available in 1938. As for attributing the symptoms to stress, other than possible worsening in the setting of stress, there's no evidence that rest will cure the symptoms.

Since hemifacial spasm may in a minority of cases represent something sinister, I agree with Mr. Barrymore: "Look out for that twitch, Mr. Blakeley."

Brain Poster

Courtesy of Ork Posters.