Summer Break Options

[innovation]

okay, it might be a little early to be asking this, but since applications for summer programs and such are due around this time, what are you guys, especially those who are going into college, planning to do over the summer (travel, learn, etc.?)?

[Tung]

lol woot summer! just three more months. lol. anyways, this summer, i'll be applying to lots of UC colleges, and finding a job to get money. then get my license and what not. and have fun of course! like play badminton, swimming, pool, etc. =]

[Angel_Cece]

i go to florida every summer. and im going to camp

[ohh_so_elektrikk...]

ugh.. summer jobs. but other than that im going up to new york. i dont see why people are coming down here to florida, i cant wait to friggin get out of here. haha. but no beaches for me, i live by a beach, its nothing special:ermm:

[clarissa]

well, i'm not going to college next year but i am going to do community service. i need 180 hours to graduate (as an IB student).. and i only have two. wee.

oh, and i can't forget the BEACH. :)

[sunissed14127]

Well, I'm pretty sure I'm not going on vacation anywhere =( I'm probably just going to Magic Springs (A water & amusement park here in Arkansas) & just gonna chill with some friends. Just a laid back summer.

[yukichan]

im still to young to work.. lol..
im going to go summer school or be a junior leader at a park...(community service)lol..

[Nicolatofu]

my friend is paying for me a ticket to fly to San Diego to spend the summer there w/ her. Other than that, I haven't really thought about it.

[Gypsy Eyes]

Well I'm not going to college next year but I still have plans.

-I'm going to France for two weeks with my best friend in the entire world. We are staying with my insane grandmother in her chateaux just outside of paris. I can't wait for that.
-I'm going to the Galapagos Islands on a scholarship program for photography and biology
-Possibly going to florida with my best friend and her family.
-And I'm taking a few courses over at FIT

[*mzkandi*]

i will be in school the whole summer...boo hoo

[glit_gal]

what i do this summer all depends on how i do on the SAT's.

[innovation]

what i do this summer all depends on how i do on the SAT's.

er... johns hopkins talent search hopeful?

[HelloSunshine]

My family and I are suppose to go to Nicaurauga since it's my mom's country for a few days or so.

[Skyline Drive]

Me and my mom are going on a mother-daughter vacation just the two of us and spend quality time relaxing before I go off to college next year. We are possibly going to Los Cabos, Mexico

I plan on getting a job at sears or at the beach =] It will be my first job. I want to meet a nice boy whom I can form a relationship with.. that would be nice. haha. I just want to go out as much as I can this summer and have a wicked time. Oh yes

[inthemudhole]

I was going to go on an art trip to Ireland (yessss) and England this summer, but I signed up too late and I didn't know about the meeting. *cries*

Um...
I really don't know.
I was going to do band camp, but I don't want to go by myself, and I'm not really a "make new friends" type of person.

I'm taking Health over the summer so I can get another credit during the school year. Yeah, fun.

Other than that....I'm probably just going to stay home.
Relaxing, bike-riding, swimming....
I'll probably attend some of the local concerts here as well and get working on my own musical career.

I'm going to actually accomplish something this summer. I swear I will. This is going to be sort of an "independent" summer for me, I guess. I say that because I usually have my whole summer planned out, thanks to my parents. This year I'm actually going to get something accomplished that I like to do.

[[Mediocre]Artist]

What I need to do is take Driver's Ed, go back to work, and make up my Chem credits.

What I want to do is go back to Corpus and party with an old friend of mine then hang out with all my friends wherever.

[sammi rules you]

go to shows, all the time.
go to camp.
get a job.
go to nevada/LA/other places.

woot.

[ANG33ZY]

i'm going to paris.

[*salcha*]

well, i cant go to this retreat i've been planning to go to for over a year now. cuz a mandatory camp sent a letter last week telling me they needed me there. ick, i'm mad.
and i'm taking a PSAT and SAT class. yeah, i'm still a freshman.

[Flaunted]

summer job..
california!!!
tennis..
cb :]
driveeee!!!!!
yeah i don't know.

[lakerfever2476]

My cousin from Baltimore is coming over. *aka Ron*

[BeyondElite]

Summer vacation, for me, starts two months from now. Anyway, we're going to California to visit our family relatives in Long Beach and Sacramento. We're also going there to visit Hollywood, Disneyland and Universal Studios. I can't wait!

[snak3y3z1001]

Summer Vacation wont be here till like June 26 :( Im planning to get my driver license, learn how to swim,workout, hang out with friends and thats about it. Got to get ready for BTC

[EmmalieV]

Im goin to NYC BABY!

[Teesa]

planning on studying my butt off for senior year in I.B. which includes a lot of volunteer work. and of course having fun and being lazy=)

[silver-rain]

Eh, I should be doing something, since it's the summer before my senior year. But I'll look for a job or an internship, summer programs are too expensive. Or, I'll work on college essay. Oh yay.

[dahalfkoreanstyl]

cancun!!!!!

[WrathOfOnigo]

Maine.. again.
I also get to CIT at a camp.

[aznxdreamer]

im gonna do sumer school for PE because i dont wanna take it during the school year, then im goin got C.H.I.N.A. heh...i love china. so much cheap stuff.

[`SWTWiNKLE3YES]

not in college yet .. but we`re going to have a trip to florida (car trip xD )

[*SimplePlan_Luvr*]

Oh god plans.. i havent even thou bout it yetthem yet... i thk mai parent r plannin 2 tak a trip 2 Malaysia

[mickybeans]

+ studying for sats
+ going to Cali & PA
+ summer classes

[Mr. Slowjamz]

*start to work
*start to go to the Gym
*start to Get my lisence
*start to record some songs .....and resume vocal training
start to go out more and have fun before the Fall Semester is at my doorstep...... i wanna take every oppurtunity that i have missed during my high-school life .....sadly high-school wasnt that great for me at alll

[RandomHero]

I have no clue what I'm doing.

[WhiteLotus*]

Hm. It depends whether or not I get into this msarty smart highschool, 'cause if I do get in, then I'll take some classes, tour the school, etc.
But I do know I'm going to Vegas..or at least I think I am.

[yellowgurl]

haha i haven't thought about it .. i don't think much about the future for some reason hehe well anyways, now i will think about it... let's see... probably going to those day trips maybe Portland?

[ItzOnlySydney]

i'm goin to austraila. beat that bitches!

[tainted_faerie]

Summer? What summer? I have to work/school o_O anyone wanna trade me?

[freeflow]

summer+school

[inlonelinessidie]

Gonna sleep, relax, and enjoy the fact that I will be done with high school . Then I'll train to become a paramedic.

[racoons > you]

hopefully im going to atlanta!

other than that, my GCSEs will be finished!!!! HELL YES!

no more math, ever.

im hosting a barbeque book burning bonfire bonanza on the last day of school

[*lolita kitty*]

go to moms house and be a computer pig
take webcam pics
visit aunt rachel
me and my dad and my sister planned a cruise
and my mom and i might go to astroworld

i cant wait till summer -_-;;

[*Fallen_Fairy*]

i plan to get a job and decide where i want to go to college

[innovation]

Hm. It depends whether or not I get into this msarty smart highschool, 'cause if I do get in, then I'll take some classes, tour the school, etc.
But I do know I'm going to Vegas..or at least I think I am.

prep school? magnet school? what school? (don't mean to be nosy)

no more math, ever.

..but that's not fair. that just isn't fair.

[racoons > you]

but that's not fair. that just isn't fair

its all down to the GCSE/ A level system.

nestyear i wil be taking english lit, spanish, politics, and drama

[swe3ttemptasian]

I might take a 5-day buddhist retreat in CA. If i get straight A's by the end of the year.. (which I just recieved my first B of the year.. in english..) i can go to hawaii.. but just yesterday i got my report card...a b in english.
I'm probably going to go to japan this summer

[Levy2k6]

me and my friends plan on a road trip towards the end of summer.. which probaly will never happen and ima do Summer League Swimming and SUMMER SCHOOL!

good waste of a summer.. taking summer school.. haha... i aint got nothing else to do anyways.

[Im So Vain]

-get licene
-take math analysis at community college
-get a job
-maybe go to Atlanta

[thorn_hailweb]

spill

[moorepocket]

nope. work. full time.

[The-Mach-Hare]

my summer just started yesterday and ive been driving around ALL DAY since its my first summer driving.

i plan on doing a lot even though im restricted to just driving around my house (within like 5 miles) and its gonna be that way for a while.

its gay and theres nothing to do around my city.

[*mzkandi*]

College classes are blah...I want to the beach

[thorn_hailweb]

nope. work. full time.

yuck. i'm doing part time shit, good luck with that. : \

[inthemudhole]

It's been really boring so far, but I don't care. It's a lot better than sitting around in school. I have summer school starting next week... ooh joy.

[thorn_hailweb]

my summer just started yesterday and ive been driving around ALL DAY since its my first summer driving.

i plan on doing a lot even though im restricted to just driving around my house (within like 5 miles) and its gonna be that way for a while.

its gay and theres nothing to do around my city.

where are you location-wise. i'm sure theres something you can find to do.

driving is always nice. especially when you just get your license. nice freedom

[thorn_hailweb]

It's been really boring so far, but I don't care. It's a lot better than sitting around in school. I have summer school starting next week... ooh joy.

bleh summer school. what class are you taking there?

[*Azarel*]

http://www.createblog.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=70795
Please use the search feature before creating a new topic.

[thorn_hailweb]

College classes are blah...I want to the beach

i don't blame you. whens college over for you?

[thorn_hailweb]

http://www.createblog.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=70795
Please use the search feature before creating a new topic.

apologies but some people are still in school and some aren't so i thought i would ask closer to summer.

eh.

[*mzkandi*]

i don't blame you. whens college over for you?

In August. The 10th I believe then I go back to school two weeks later

[thorn_hailweb]

Thank you, Anna

Anyways, next Monday I have summer school until July 1st..8AM-3PM everyday except weekends...not because I failed classes, but because I want to get ahead..  

After summer school, I have 2 camps to go to, then family vacation in Destin..then back to school..

man..always hated camps..

[smile4me]

summer school (us history), drivers ed, volunteering, extracurricular orchestra, and work. =P

[*mona lisa*]

School didn't end yet for me, but I'm going to India. Yay. Shopping full time. I'm going to learn how to thread (I already know a little bit), cut hair, and do henna. =)

[thorn_hailweb]

In August. The 10th I believe then I go back to school two weeks later

august..oh my god..

we got out three weeks ago :x

[Nicolatofu]

I was planning on going to california, but my friend is supposed to get my ticket and she hasn't contacted me in forever.

Also, I'm going down to georgia sometime near 4th of july. And probably down in memphis for 2 weeks.

[*Azarel*]

I was planning on going to california, but my friend is supposed to get my ticket and she hasn't contacted me in forever.

Also, I'm going down to georgia sometime near 4th of july. And probably down in memphis for 2 weeks.

!! California!? Which part?!

[thorn_hailweb]

School didn't end yet for me, but I'm going to India. Yay. Shopping full time. I'm going to learn how to thread (I already know a little bit), cut hair, and do henna. =)

lets get a nice tutorial on henna when you get back :P have fun

[thorn_hailweb]

I was planning on going to california, but my friend is supposed to get my ticket and she hasn't contacted me in forever.

Also, I'm going down to georgia sometime near 4th of july. And probably down in memphis for 2 weeks.

nice! i'm from georgia. but i'll be in virginia to see robert plant(led zeppelin vocalist) on july 4th. so i'll just say 'have fun in atlanta' : )

[Nicolatofu]

!! California!? Which part?!

A LOT of places.. Umm let's see.. San Diego, Hollywood, San Jose, Pismo beach, Fresno, Palm Springs.. places my friends plan to take me that I'm not even aware of yet.. haha

[YourSuperior]

This sunday, I'm going to an art camp at Delta State University here in Mississippi for three weeks.

[*Azarel*]

A LOT of places.. Umm let's see.. San Diego, Hollywood, San Jose, Pismo beach, Fresno, Palm Springs.. places my friends plan to take me that I'm not even aware of yet.. haha

SAN DIEGO & SAN JOSE!! You must inform me when you are here! :D

[*jooleeah*]

hopefully im going to atlanta!

other than that, my GCSEs will be finished!!!! HELL YES!

no more math, ever.

im hosting a barbeque book burning bonfire bonanza on the last day of school

chik_4_lifeX Posted Jun 2 2005, 10:47 PM
  I was planning on going to california, but my friend is supposed to get my ticket and she hasn't contacted me in forever.

Also, I'm going down to georgia sometime near 4th of july. And probably down in memphis for 2 weeks.

Mooohahaha. I get to see these two people :] Be jealous. I also get to see Nicki, Kristin, and Ashley. x] Woohoo!

Anyway, I might go to Florida and New York this summer. Ooh, and camp of course.

[Nicolatofu]

SAN DIEGO & SAN JOSE!! You must inform me when you are here! :D

haha Will do

Mooohahaha. I get to see these two people :] Be jealous. I also get to see Nicki, Kristin, and Ashley. x] Woohoo!

yes I can't wait! cB partay.. must take tons of pictures

[teeners4]

- get license
- summer school
- go to vacation with my mom (if she's healthy enough. keep your fingers crossed)
- excercise at least half an hour EVERYDAY
- rollerblade everywhere (or take the car/bus as little as possible)
- get at least 100 hours volunteering
- actually wake up early (8am) and dont sleep in
- get a job

basically just like last year except i added on summer school xP and i took off some volunteering hours

[*stephinika*]

hm, hopefully getting a job. hanging out, going to the beach...all that good stuff if i'm lucky.

[racoons > you]

ooh! nicoel what dates are you gonna be in atlanta?

[xMayleex]

I going to Brazil yesh!, then i am going to the Carribean lol. I cant wait we are trying to fit in going to visit Thailand but we dont know if we are ah well, i will send my grandmother photo's lol.

[winsome]

ooh the carribbean-- that sounds like fun!
im gonna work as a camp counselor for a week or so, and spend the rest of my time on the beach!

[Nicolatofu]

ooh! nicoel what dates are you gonna be in atlanta?

That would be the weekend after Fourth of July.. I believe that's the weekend my mom planned on going. Like july 8-11.

[b0st0ngrl]

Went to camp last year. It sucked, so I'm not going back.
I'd like to do a theater program at a downtown theater but my mom said No since she doesn't want to drive downtown everyday.
But I AM going to see a Red Sox game sometime this summer (just not at Fenway..D:)

[racoons > you]

That would be the weekend after Fourth of July.. I believe that's the weekend my mom planned on going. Like july 8-11.

awww... looks like i'll miss you.. im going on the 17th of july til the 9th of august

= (

[Looow]

I might meet with Nicole =O

[racoons > you]

i wanna meet with lo and nicole... THAT would be fun

[*AngelicEyz00*]

I'm leaving for Europe on June 25th. I'll be there for like 18 days I think?

I'm not gonna be able to spend 4th of July with my baby :[ And my Baby's going to Hawaii July 8th, and he'll be there for a week.

Ah, this summer better be fun, before I go off to college :] I wonder how Europe will be :\ hmm...

[Looow]

i wanna meet with lo and nicole... THAT would be fun

me too me too! but but you live farrrrrrrr.

[Nicolatofu]

I'm leaving for Europe on June 25th. I'll be there for like 18 days I think?

I'm not gonna be able to spend 4th of July with my baby :[ And my Baby's going to Hawaii July 8th, and he'll be there for a week.

Ah, this summer better be fun, before I go off to college :] I wonder how Europe will be :\ hmm...

awww.. well you must take lots of pictures!

Dangit James, I thought I'd be able to se youuuu. Who knows, the dates might change! ;)

Dang..Lorena that would be cool if we met! If my friend evarr gets that ticket to cali that she promised she'd get. hmph >=|

[misskentucky]

I will be on the tech crew for the local theatre thing. I'll be sewing costumes and doing makeup and hair. I'm also doing a few classes there. I soooo can't wait. Its gonna rock. We're doing Beauty and The Beast.
Fun.

[Angelic Muse]

I'm going to Las Vegas and then Wyoming. I'm also hoping to go on a college tour around the country.

[*Statistik*]

So what are your expectations of this summer?? hanging out? movies? swimming? sleeping? sports? summer school? lol..

[Looow]

I thought I saw a topic like this.
But whatever..
Just hanging out with friends and sleeping in =]

[BeyondElite]

This topic is more like of summer plans, perhaps?

[osidepinay33]

i'm lyk going to different countries and states this summer!!

[*basick*]

This topic is more like of summer plans, perhaps?

look pretty similar... haha

should be closed...

and im in another closed topic

[EmmalieV]

^topic , steven =)


Eh well I want to go to nyc if I dont get the job I want.

[*jooleeah*]

Bah humbug.

Use the search button next time....pleaseeee.

[*nightmare4taki*]

Im in a closed topic.

[parallel]

Well bite my tail.
A real topic coming from one of the best members here. [=

I have so much shit going on this summer. I don't even wanna say. [x

[WinterNights2]

The Evolution of Human Intelligence and Neural Inhibition
Adam Kircher and Karen K. Glendenning


* Introduction
* Brain Anatomy and Intelligence
* The Role of Thalamus in Evolution
* Neurotransmitters and Inhibition
* In Depth: GABA and Inhibition
* Conclusions
* References
* The Authors



The left cerebral hemisphere of the human brain. The outer layers of the hemispheres are the neocortex which is the characteristic of humans that seems to underlie our uniqueness. Yet the makeup and connectivity of the cortex is similar in all vertebrate animals.

When we contemplate the extraordinary abilities and accomplishments of humans, we are usually most impressed with our intelligence. We feel we are unique creatures on this planet. And the source of our uniqueness lies in our intellectual capacities. Are we really so unique?

Many hypotheses have been put forward as to what makes us unique. However, most of these have had be discarded after similar functions have been found in animals. Some of these theories were: tool use, tool making, tradition, innovation, trade, barter, playing games, morality. Yet, all of these behaviors have been found in other species. It has also been thought that it is the adoption of symbolic cognitive processes that gave our kind the final edge in natural selection. But these have also been found in other species — birds as well as apes! Even our ability to attribute a mental state to others does not seem to be uniquely human since finding behaviors indicating deceitfulness in the great apes. One negative trait that may be unique to humans is genocide. We are the only species with weapons of mass destruction!

However, even this behavior depends on our intelligence. Intelligence seems to underlie whatever uniqueness we may have. Therefore, this is the characteristic to which we have turned our attention. Intelligence is a biological phenomenon and as such can be looked at from a comparative or evolutionary point of view. That is, there has been an element of inevitability in the process by which we have become what we are today. And, like other biological processes, intelligence has been and continues to be pressured by the forces of natural selection. The human brain has been honed for the last 10 million years—before, in fact, there were humans! Perhaps by looking at the selective pressures on our brain we can determine the purpose of the enhanced capacity we seem to possess.
Brain Anatomy and Intelligence
An examination of the evolution of the primate brain reveals an increase in size. For example, the anthropoid brain is 2-3 times the size of the brain of prosimians and other average mammals. This probably happened in the Oligocene period, 35 million years ago. In addition, there has been an increase in average hominid brain size over the past two million years. However, this doesn’t tell us much about the actual events of human brain evolution.

That is, there appears to be no correlation whatever between the achievement in the human lineage of behavioral modernity and anatomical modernity. That is, the emergence of anatomically modern Homo sapiens would have considerably predated the arrival of behaviorally modern humans. But these behavioral innovations would have been established within a preexisting species. Unfortunately, behaviors and brains not preserved —only skulls. We cannot examine or test the brains of a Neanderthal or Cro-Magnon man. We only have their bones. It is for that reason, this work is particularly important, for although we cannot look at the brains of our forebearers, we can look at the brains of other species which are representative of stages in man’s evolution.

The arrival of the modern cognitive capacity did not simply involve adding just a bit more neural material, nor did it involve adding any major new brain structures. The basic brain design remains remarkably uniform among all the higher primates and as this work shows among all mammals.

While there is an evolutionary continuum of variation, there is also general agreement that a prime result of evolutionary pressure has been the selection for human intelligence. Perhaps the main biological correlate of the intelligence of humans is with the increase in size of the neocortex. However, we propose here that, in addition to the size of neocortex, the amount of neural inhibition to which the cortex is subjected may play a major role in human intelligence. That is, an expanded brain that is out of control is not helpful! The cortex is totally dependent on input from the thalamus. This is true in our brain and also in all vertebrate animals. The thalamus determines what the cortex will see, hear, or smell. And in turn, after the cortex has made a decision on how to act on the information, the thalamus redirects the information to other centers that allow us to run, speak, eat etc.

There must be modulation of this enhanced cortex. Our work shows a primary source of this modulation – the enhanced inhibitory capabilities of the thalamus. By its influence on our neocortex, there is greater control of neural processing. We propose that it may be our ability to inhibit our cortex that has resulted in our increased intelligence. But this change appears to be present in all vertebrates, mammals and nonmammals.
The Role of Thalamus in Evolution
We have found that neural inhibition in the thalamus increases in an evolutionary sequence of species. These species are representative of prototypes in human evolution. We propose that the evolutionary increase in thalamic inhibition plays a critical role in the evolution of our intelligence, and in fact in the evolution of intelligence of all vertebrate animals. In this, we are not unique but simply need more inhibition due to a greater volume of cortex. That is, not only do humans have a larger cortex but our findings suggest that humans are equipped with an increased capability of inhibiting their expanded cortex.


The thalamus is at the most forward part of the brainstem and channels all of the information going to and returning from the cerebral cortex. Since the source of inhibitory input to the cortex is from the thalamus, an examination of this structure alone could be predictive of cortical function. We don’t need to look at the cortex to tell who is bright!

A problem with evolutionary analysis is that it will never be an exact science. One reason for this is that our preconceptions may mislead us as to what is the objective reality. However, by quantitative measurements of the particular neurotransmitters in the thalamus, preconceptions are minimized. We examined the neurotransmitters in the thalamus of a series of species representative of our ancestral heritage,

Because there are close parallels in the evolutionary development of dorsal thalamus and cerebral neocortex, a difference in the thalamus in mammals (see hypothetical ancestor '1' in Figure below) and their premammalian ancestors ('0' in Figure below) might well be a concomitant of the enhanced cortical development of the cerebrum seen in the mammals over the same period of geological time -- perhaps a demand placed on the dorsal thalamus by the emergence of mammalian cortex itself.


By an examination of diverse species chosen to represent a phylogenetic series leading to man, we can show one step in the consequences of selective pressure on the mechanisms of brain function. Our conclusion is that this step, an increase in the potential for inhibition of the cortex, is probably a major component of the evolution of human intelligence. In the present study, the idea of an increasing amount of GABA inhibition over the Anthropoid ancestral lineage was investigated using seven mammals and two non-mammals. These species were selected to yield at least 5 differing levels of recency of last common ancestor with Anthropoids. That is, they show something like what we were like at different stages of our evolution. Thus, any feature found in common among these widely different species would most likely have also been present in our most ancient ancestor.


Neurotransmitters and Inhibition
The chemistry of the brain demonstrates a remarkable robustness throughout phylogeny. In our work, we have looked at the constancy of an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the thalamus. The thalamus gates the information getting to the cortex by inhibiting much of it. The cells or neurons in the part of the thalamus connected to the cortex, usually inhibit the functions of the cortex. The most common inhibitory neurotransmitter found is called GABA (gamma-amino-butyric acid). In fact, there is an increasing number of neurons that are responsive to this neurotransmitter as one looks at species `higher’ in an evolutionary sequence leading to humans.

We have started a study to examine experimentally the idea of an increasing amount of GABA inhibition over the anthropoid ancestral lineage. Our investigation used seven mammals and two non-mammals selected to show what we were like at different stages of our evolution. The features found in common among these different species would most likely have also been present in our most ancient ancestor. Each of these species was subjected to exactly the same laboratory procedures which determine the amount of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA present in the thalamus.



Prints of images made directly from x-ray films of the relative degree of attachment of the neurotransmitter GABA (as shown by muscimol label . Each section of the brain thalamus is taken through the thalamus. The areas of densest binding appear white and areas of little or no binding appear black. Even though there are seven mammals and two non-mammals the profile of bound GABA is very consistent with most being near the top (dorsal) and less in the bottom (ventral) subdivisions. (Two subdivisions are difficult to see: the actual pattern for all 4 subdivisions is, low-high-low-high, dorsal to ventral).
Prints of xray images showing the distribution of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA as shown by muscimol; left) and an often excitatory neurotransmitter (serotonin, right) at three levels through the brainstem of the rat. Note that dorsal thalamus is heavily labeled by the inhibitory neurotransmitter but not by the excitatory neurotransmitter.

Our results support the view that the presence of GABA is common to all of these vertebrate species and thus would be present in humans as well. Further, the amount of GABA was greater in the more `advanced’ species. And thus, presumably would be greatest in the human brain. Therefore, inhibition by the thalamus is probably a fundamental characteristic of vertebrate species.

The notion that inhibitory gating in the thalamus has been altered during the evolution of the Primates (and therefore human) brain is supported by the results of our study.

One is inclined to think of selection tending to alter a species, rather than to keep it constant. In point of fact, selection is probably usually maintaining the constancy of a character rather than altering it. This seems to be true even at the level of the biochemistry of the synapses.

Conclusions
Since the dorsal thalamus has achieved a high density both of inhibitory receptors and neurons in Primates (including humans), it has a unique and persistent status in its potential for inhibitory and probably disinhibitory gating of information directed toward the cerebral cortex. Perhaps this is the basis for the saying that the mark of intelligence lies as much in what one does not say or do as it does in one’s words or actions!

Yet, while we know a lot about brain structure and about which brain components are active during the performance of particular functions, we still have no idea about how the brain converts a mass of electrical and chemical signals into what we are familiar with as consciousness and thought patterns. And it is this which is crucial to understand what it is that enables us to be human.
In Depth: GABA and Inhibition
Click here to know the details of this scientific study.
References
Ariens Kappers, C. U., Huber, G. C., and Crosby, E. C. The Comparative Anatomy of the Nervous System of Vertebrates, Including Man, Vol. 3. Hafner Publishing Company, New York, (1967).

Bruinvels, A. T., Lery, H., Nozulak, J., Palacios, J. M., and Hoyer, D. 5-HT1D binding sites in various species: Similar pharmacological profile in dog, monkey, calf, guinea-pig and human brain membranes. Arch. Pharmacol. 346: 243-248, (1992).

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The Authors


Adam Kircher is a National Merit Scholar and attends Maclay School in Tallahassee, Florida.


Karen Glendenning is a professor of Neuroscience at Florida State University. She has published 49 articles and 3 book chapters. She has given 43 talks at scientific meetings. She was funded by grants from National Institutes of Mental Health for over 25 years to conduct this and other research studies.

Written By Karen Gleddening and some other dude.

[EmmalieV]

Yeah .. um what Yula said =/

[*Solipsist*]

The kid outside just said that Anakin Skywalker was gay.

- Solipsist