![[Image showing the large, broad, green leaves of the mitragyna speciosa (kratom) plant.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2022/07/1600px-Kratom_leaves.jpeg)
Does the word kratom [kra-tm] mean anything to you? Well, if you were me a few months ago, the word kratom was just this abstract word with very little meaning. I had no idea how popular kratom was in both Southeast Asia and (more recently) Western countries as a medicinal remedy for many ailments. However, after doing some personal research, I have a newfound appreciation for kratom and its use as an alternative pain-relieving substance. I hope that once you finish reading this post, you will too…
Neuroimaging: Three important brain imaging techniques
At the birth of neuroscience, it was difficult to understand how the brain worked because, at the time, those studying it did not have the technology to analyze and measure brain activity in real time. Thankfully, we have come a long way since the first dissections of the human brain, and we can use a multitude of wonderful pieces of technology that enable the study of the brain and its inner workings. Three different neuroimaging techniques, EEG, MRI, and PET, allow us to explore and measure the insane amounts of activity going on in our brain; however, each comes with its own strengths and limitations, making the motivations behind using them very important…
The runner’s high: Emerging players
![[Image of an individual jumping from one hillside to another during a sunset.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2021/10/running.jpg)
The statement, “WOW! I feel fantastic!” is not a phrase many would associate with endurance running. In fact, most people tend to exhibit feelings of dread when they grudgingly decide to lace up their shoes and go for a jog. Although some may believe that running-induced euphoria is an anomaly, it is actually a well-documented subjective occurrence…
Cannaba-what!?: Cannabinoids in their various forms — mainstream and uncommon
![[Image of the Cannabis plant and its distinctive green leaves.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2021/08/Cannabis-image.jpg)
If I was to say the word “cannabinoid” to you, where would your mind go? Would you immediately wonder, “What? Is it just a fancy way to say weed?” or would you ask questions like, “As in the molecular components of Cannabis?” or “Are you referring to the specific endogenous cannabinoid ligands in our body?” If your first thoughts align with the latter, prepare for a nice refresher on cannabinoids. If your response was closer to the former, get ready for a crash course in how we characterize cannabinoids and how they can be used to treat various health conditions…
Cannabidiol: A step in the right direction for treating epilepsy
![[Black and white image of the brain. The black lines represent the many different “connections” our brain uses in order to communicate and function.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2021/04/abstract-image-of-brain.png)
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder that is characterized by sudden, uncontrolled electrical activity between neurons in the brain. These electrical disturbances typically manifest in the form of seizures which, in their mild forms, can go unnoticed, but in more severe cases can cause uncontrollable muscle twitches, loss of consciousness and, ultimately, memory loss. There are two classes of seizures: general, whole brain seizures and focal seizures, in which only a part of the brain is affected. Based on these two classes, additional seizure types are characterized by their severity and symptoms…