...October 2012 SOUNDVIEW Executive Book Summaries www.summary.com Management ® The Power of Habit Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business THE SUMMARY IN BRIEF In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg, award-winning business reporter for The New York Times, takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. By distilling vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives, Duhigg brings to light a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential for transformation. Along the way, we learn why some people and companies struggle to change, despite years of trying, while others seem to remake themselves overnight. We visit laboratories where neuroscientists explore how habits work and where they reside in our brains. We discover how the right habits were crucial to the successful promotion of Pepsodent; to Tony Dungy who led his team to a Super Bowl win by changing one step in his players’ habit loop; and to Alcoa when it turned itself around by changing just one routine within the organization. At its core, The Power of Habit contains an exhilarating argument: The key to exercising regularly, losing weight, raising exceptional children, becoming more productive, building revolutionary companies and social movements, and achieving success is understanding how habits work. By harnessing this new science, we can transform our businesses, our communities and our lives. by Charles Duhigg ...
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...pm has morphed into a search of “great battleships of the Pacific” by 10 pm…then “movies by Stanley Kubrick” at 11…and so on ad nauseam. Meanwhile, your wife is angry because you promised to help your son with his homework hours ago and everything else you had planned that evening didn’t get done, such as responding to your sister’s text, friending your old college buddy on Facebook, and responding to someone who flamed you in their forum. You may ask yourself, well…how did I get here? In fact, there certainly seems to be some neurological basis for our attention dopiness, or more accurately, dopamine levels. As Lucy Jo Palladino explains in her book Find Your Focus Zone, activities such as watching TV or playing video games activate the basal ganglia of the brain, which releases dopamine. When dopamine levels increase, you’re inclined to do whatever it takes to maintain the “high” they generate, but when the levels decrease, you start to look for something new or a “distraction ” to replace that hit. There’s even a theory floating around the scientific community that argues that ADD evolved from a lineage of hunters (the gatherers, of course, are those less prone to wander — physically and mentally). So the success of Twitter...
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...Huntington’s Disease Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a neurological condition characterized by uncontrolled movements, psychological and emotional problems, and decreased cognition. This disease affects 3-7 per 100,000 people of European ancestry, although people of other ancestries, such as African and Asian descent, are less affected. (3). Due to the nature and symptoms of the disease, various treatment plans can be enacted to help with everyday managing of the disease effects, along with new research that also helps shed light on the root causes. Signs and Symptoms Patients present with a variety of symptoms related to the malfunctioning of various neurons in the central nervous system. Onset of symptoms usually begin with patients complaining of clumsiness, tremor, “balance trouble”, or jerkiness. These movements, which develop into Huntington’s Chorea, is characterized by continuous, jerky, irregular, and writhing limb movements, which also can affect the trunk. Other areas also affected include the respiratory system, larynx, pharynx, and oral cavity. Along with spontaneous movements, voluntary actions are usually impaired, slow, and uncontrolled. (1) (2). Symptoms can also begin with cognitive impairments. Cognitive speed and efficiency tends to lessen, and over time, dementia will become more global. Behavioral changes include irritability, hallucinations, moodiness, paranoia, and psychosis. As dementia sets in, disorientation, loss of judgment and memory, and personality...
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...ATP. 2. Thyroxine is You correctly answered: c. the most important hormone for maintaining the metabolic rate and body temperature. 3. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is You correctly answered: b. produced in the pituitary gland. 4. An injection of TSH to an otherwise normal animal will cause which of the following? You correctly answered: d. goiter development 5. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is You correctly answered: a. secreted by the hypothalamus. 6. Which of the following statements is true? You correctly answered: b. The hypothalamus primarily secretes tropic hormones that stimulate the secretion of other hormones. 01/13/14 page 1 Experiment Results Predict Question: Predict Question 1: Make a prediction about the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of the remaining rats compared with the BMR of the normal rat you just measured. Your answer : c. The BMR of both remaining rats will be lower than the normal rat's BMR. Predict Question 2: What do you think will happen after you inject thyroxine into the three rats? Your answer : d. The normal rat will become hyperthyroidic but will not develop a goiter. Predict Question 3: What do you think will happen after you inject TSH into the three rats? Your answer : c. The injection will have no effect on the hypophysectomized rat and, therefore, it will not develop a goiter. Predict Question 4: Propylthiouracil (PTU) is a drug that inhibits the production of thyroxine by blocking the attachment of iodine to tyrosine residues...
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...In this paper I am going to discuss Parkinson’s disease. I will explore what the disease is, symptoms, treatment, and prognosis. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. It is present in mainly elderly patients (male and female) but there is an early onset in younger children if it is genetic. This disease occurs when nerve cells in the brain (substantia nigra) that produce dopamine are destroyed. It is unknown what causes these cells to die. Once the majority of nerve cells are lost, the brain cannot send the proper signals to the body to produce movements and motor control is affected. The symptoms then begin to appear which change a person’s life forever. The majority of symptoms in Parkinson’s disease are noticeable. However it is not until patients begin to show symptoms that they are diagnosed with the disease. Tremors at rest, inability to initiate movements or slow movements (Bradykinesia), slow speech, problems with balance, constipation, low blood pressure, and rigidity are some of the main symptoms that patients will begin to notice. These symptoms become worse over time if left untreated. The first initial treatment for Parkinson’s disease is L- Dopa therapy. It is used to cross the blood brain barrier where dopamine itself cannot in patients. This treatment is used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease but does not cure the disease. It can make the patient nauseous and become toxic after time. L- Dopa also does...
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...DISEASES in the BRAIN -Locked-in Syndrome http://www.cdrex.com/ -is a condition in which a patient is aware and awake but cannot move or communicate verbally due to complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles in the body except for the eyes. Total locked-in syndrome is a version of locked-in syndrome where the eyes are paralyzed as well.A rare neurological disorder characterized by complete paralysis of voluntary muscles in all parts of the body except for those that control eye movement. It may result from traumatic brain injury, diseases of the circulatory system, diseases that destroy the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells, or medication overdose. Individuals with locked-in syndrome are conscious and can think and reason, but are unable to speak or move. The disorder leaves individuals completely mute and paralyzed. Communication may be possible with blinking eye movements. -Tourette's(http://tourettecamp.com/index.php) syndrome is an inherited neurological disorder. Early onset may be during childhood, and is characterized by physical tics and verbal tics. The exact cause of Tourette's, other than genetic factors, is unknown. -Huntington's(http://huntingtonsaustralia.asn.au/)& http://www.huntingtonsociety.ca/english/content/?page=Staff%20Bio, http://www.hdsa.org/about/our-mission/what-is-hd.html Huntington's Disease: a devastating, hereditary, degenerative brain disorder for which there is, at present, no cure and only one...
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...The Mediating Affect of CRF Within the Central Nucleus of the Amygdala in Rats 1.Summarize the background of the article, and how does it relate to the general article. Alcohol consumption is characterized by excessive consumption which leads to feelings of increased anxiety and other negative emotional states.Consequently, these emotions lead to further consumption.Similar to human alcoholics, ethanol- dependent animals show signs of anxiety like behaviors and self administrate ethanol during periods of withdrawal. CRF, also known as corticotropin releasing factor helps mediate the increased anxiety during withdrawal.Additionally,regions of the amygdala are comprised of the CRF system, although unknown where the specific sites are responsible for the CRF component of excessive drinking. Also, numerous studies have shown that the amygdala is involved in “mediating the behavioral and physiological responses associated with anxiety.” This relates to the general article which focuses on the consumption of drug and alcohol, triggering feelings of anxiety which can be quieted by consuming more of it.Specifically, the amygdala is the part of the brain where the feelings of anxiety are triggered. Moreover, new research is showing alcohol's involvement in the transformation of the chemical architecture of the brain, allowing the brain's stress response to contribute to its dependency. CRF, also known as the corticotrophin releasing factor, is a chemical that is involved in the brain's...
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...arkinson's Disease: Is It All In the Brain? :: 6 Works Cited :: 6 Sources Cited Length: 1098 words (3.1 double-spaced pages) Rating: Red (FREE) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Parkinson's Disease: Is It All In the Brain? "When I should go lay down on the couch, but I know that I will never find a comfortable position, so if I'm to be uncomfortable, it may as well be here, in front of this gently glowing screen. I feel the last of last night's meds burn away in my throat and then the dreaded "heebie-jeebies" come" (6). Parkinson's disease otherwise named the "shaking palsy" in 1817 by James Parkinson affects 50,000 Americans every year. The risk of the disease is higher amongst men giving them twice risk of developing Parkinson's disease compared to women (5). It is not clear why men are more prone to getting the disease, but it may be related to them not having the female hormone estrogen. (5). The general population that is at risk for developing Parkinson's disease are people older than fifty (1,5).The disease is related to a motor system disorder that cause the patient's hands, legs, jaw, face, and arms to tremor. Parkinson's disease may also cause bradykinesia (slowness of movement) as well as a loss of balance, and a difficulty in doing ordinary daily activities such as walking, talking, eating, and writing (1,2,5). How does this disease then affect the I-Function? If we already have all of our learned capabilities...
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...Basal Ganglia Pathology in Schizophrenia: Dopamine Connections and Anomalies WORD COUNT: 1100 As unique and complex organisms, we encounter challenges which may have a profound impact on our cells and essentially the quality of life. Schizophrenia affects 1.1% of the world population and has a detrimental impact on society, a mental disease where a cure and predisposition is yet to be established. Primary and secondary literature are distinct informative sources which enable us to better understand scientific concerns in the world and provide effectual reasoning. The review article identifies pathways or systems involving dopamine within the basal ganglia and how fluctuations or absence of this neurotransmitter can cause implications in brain functioning- evident in schizophrenic patients. The Journal of Neurochemistry comprises of peer-reviewed articles that can appeal to a spectrum of individuals, ranging from emerging scientific researchers and health professionals to the general society. The extensive citation and depth may indicate the credibility of the journal and numerous publications demonstrate the success in communicating the nature and extent of current issues in the field of neuroscience. The review article investigates the relation between dopamine levels in regions of the brain and how abnormalities contribute to poor cognitive behavior which can be seen in schizophrenic patients. The most relevant discipline to complement the article would therefore be...
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...Parkinson's Disease Erick Magana PSY/340 January 21 2014 Melvin Council Parkinson's Disease As people start to become more health conscious there are some illnesses that cannot be prevented or cured. As to say it was destined from some kind of deity. To be given a disease or a disability that one cannot recover from must be a horrible feeling, the thought of death around the corner or not being able to do the things that one could do with ease at one point in their life. Not like the thought of death of one day everyone will all die by an unsuspecting death. But to know that having three months, a year or two year two live. How can one not crumble and fall under depression as to quit on one’s life. The human race is extremely resilient. Knowing that a person has a disease does not mean that it is the end of the world. There is treatment and therapies that help with the disease or disability to make life easy to deal with. One of the diseases is that has no cure is but treatment is available is Parkinson’s disease (PD). Parkinson’s is a disease that is hereditary, at least that is what some doctors believe even though no one really knows how Parkinson’s is developed. Parkinson's disease may be caused by a viral infection or by exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides or carbon monoxide. Parkinson’s is usually found in older people from the ages of 50-65 but can occur at any age. It is slightly more common in men than in women. Parkinson’s is the gradual degeneration...
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...Parkinsons Disease Introduction Defination Parkinson’s diseases is a slow progressive neurological movement disorder that eventually leads to disability. Its associated with decreased levels of dopamine resulting in distruction of pigmented neuronal cells in the substantia ingrain the basal ganglia region of the brain. (brunner and suddarth eleventh edition) Signs and symptoms Tremor is the characterisitic shaking associated with Parkinsons diseas and often begins in the hand. Pill-rolling and bacj and forth rubbing of the thumb and forfinger is alos seen and may occure whrn the hand is at rest. Slloowed motion is another common sign and symoptom of parkinsons disease, over time there is reduced ability to initiate voluntary movement therefore making simple tasks difficult anf time consuming. This causes the patient to have a short steps while walking and a shuffling walk. Muscle rigidity is occurs in any part of the body, it may sometimes be so severe that it limits the range of movement s and causes pain. The posture is impared and there is no balance therefore the patient is seen to have a stooped posture. This causes a problem with balance in later stages of the disease. Loss of automatic movements such as blinking smiling swinging the arms while walking are diminishes and sometimes even lost Some patients with Parkinsons disease have a problem with speech they may speak more softly, rapidly or in monotone and sometimes slurring or repeating words is seen. hestitance...
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...Parkinson’s disease Parkinson’s is a disease that affects the nervous system. Parkinson’s is caused by the progressive impairment or deterioration of neurons in the brain known as the substantia nigra. The brain produces a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine works as a chemical messenger in the brain allowing communication between the substania nigra and the corpus striatum. The communication works by coordinating smooth and balancing muscle movement. When there is a lack of dopamine it results in abnormal nerve functioning causing a loss in ability to control body movements. It is not known how Parkinson’s occurs or how the neurons in the brain become impaired. There is evidence that Parkinson’s may be genetic or inherited. In a small number of families, specific genetic abnormalities leading to the illness have been identified. Yet the majority of people with Parkinson's disease do not have any of these identified genetic abnormalities. It is thought that early onset Parkinson’s disease may be genetic. The cause of Parkinson’s is still very unclear. There is also evidence that Parkinson’s may be caused by certain toxins in the air. Scientists have suggested that external or internal toxins may selectively destroy the dopaminergic neurons and can cause Parkinson's disease. Chemicals that may cause Parkinson’s are manganese, carbon monoxide, carbon disulfide, and some other pesticides. The symptoms of Parkinson's disease can vary from person to person. Early signs may...
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...Huntington’s Disease Personal Reference: Down in the Neurology department sat four family members patiently waiting for what seems to be a never-ending check up. As the doctor’s office door peaked open my mother and aunt both walked out with despairing eyes. When I looked up the doctor was handing my mother a best-known neurologist information card. At that moment silence broke out amongst us, as we knew a whole new life experience was on our hands. At age 34 my Aunt Eve was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease. Background/Introduction: Huntington’s disease historical timeline indicates the first made known observation of the disease was by American physician George Huntington in 1872. Examining the symptoms and condition Dr. Huntington wrote a detailed account defining the hidden facts behind the disease. Yet it wasn’t until 1911 when Charles Davenport made major contributions in acknowledging and understanding the sings, symptoms and heritability of HD. The National Library of Medicine defines Huntington’s disease as a genetic degenerative disorder of neurons due to a defect in one part of the DNA. HD is recognized as a hereditary neurological disorder taking a devastating toll slowly diminishing an individual’s ability to speak, walk and reason. Because HD is a programmed genetic disorder its degeneration of nerve cells results in uncontrollable movements, emotional disturbance, and eventually memory loss. Signs: Early onset signs of HD typically trail...
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...specific to the individual disease. It takes a combination of different types of therapies to combat the toll these diseases take on the body. The treatments can only help with the symptoms however, because both of these diseases have no cure. These two disorders do have some similar attributes, but are more different than alike. The causes for both Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) originate in the brain, but for different reasons. . Primary PD is attributed to a decrease in dopamine production in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra. The substantia nigra is part of a system of interconnecting nerve centers, called the basal ganglia, and a router called the thalamus. They are located in the core of the brain and brainstem that controls the coordination of the movement of muscles. The basal ganglia take in and process information, and the motor cortex sends the commands out for movement (Parkinson's Disease and NPH, 2013). When there is lack of dopamine, the brain cannot send it out to areas of the body it needs to, which is what causes the effects of the disease. The cause of MS however, is still not known, but scientists believe that a combination of several factors may be involved. It is now generally thought that MS involves an immune-mediated process. An immune-mediated...
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...------------------------------------------------- Pathology Anatomical The basal ganglia, a group of brain structures innervated by the dopaminergic system, are the most seriously affected brain areas in PD.[41] The main pathological characteristic of PD is cell death in the substantia nigra and, more specifically, the ventral (front) part of the pars compacta, affecting up to 70% of the cells by the time death occurs.[8] Macroscopic alterations can be noticed on cut surfaces of the brainstem, where neuronal loss can be inferred from a reduction of neuromelanin pigmentation in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus.[42] The histopathology (microscopic anatomy) of the substantia nigra and several other brain regions shows neuronal loss and Lewy bodies in many of the remaining nerve cells. Neuronal loss is accompanied by death of astrocytes (star-shaped glial cells) and activation of the microglia (another type of glial cell). Lewy bodies are a key pathological feature of PD.[42] Pathophysiology The primary symptoms of Parkinson's disease result from greatly reduced activity of dopamine-secreting cells caused by cell death in the pars compacta region of the substantia nigra.[41] There are five major pathways in the brain connecting other brain areas with the basal ganglia. These are known as the motor,oculo-motor, associative, limbic and orbitofrontal circuits, with names indicating the main projection area of each circuit.[41] All of them are affected in PD, and their...
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