Tuning the Banjo Player?
You have to see it to believe it! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjX6ErmKY14)
The info I got from an MSNBC video on it too...
Eddie Adcock has been playing the banjo for over 50 years but due to a tremor he developed in his hands he thought he might have to quit playing alltogether... but not so! Thanks to the miracles of medical science Eddie had a special surgery that installed an electrode in his head (complete with an on/off switch) that allows him to play tremor free. According to the video Eddie feels like he has a reason to live again, he said "I felt like my life was over..."
Isn't that just cool... in a wierd sort of creepy way?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbv58Qtza68&feature=related and here is video of Eddie playing in concert.
Well, I thought it was cool... old news?
Trans Fatty Acids
20-10-2008, 05:35
Neato! I'm guessing this is that freaky deep-brain stimulation that's been used on people with Parkinson's. They sort of know what it does in the brain, but they don't exactly understand why it relieves tremors and relieves depression.
And this is why I love my job :).
The term used to describe the device implanted in Mr. Adcock's brain is "neuromodulation." The device used was specifically designed to be placed in the thalamus, part of the "motor loop," to help control his tremors (he suffers from essential tremors, non-resting tremors). The reason that the banjo was used was so that doctors could judge how much they needed to adjust the electrical pulses the device was sending and receiving. His motor loop was bascially optimized for banjo playing, kind of a "bionic banjo player" if you will!
It's too bad that the procedure is quite invasive though, hopefully it will be used to treat Parkinson's at some point in the future!
Trans Fatty Acids
20-10-2008, 06:10
It's too bad that the procedure is quite invasive though, hopefully it will be used to treat Parkinson's at some point in the future!
Huh, I thought it already was. Wiki sez (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_brain_stimulation#Parkinson.27s_disease) the FDA approved it for Parkinson's treatment in '03.
Huh, I thought it already was. Wiki sez (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_brain_stimulation#Parkinson.27s_disease) the FDA approved it for Parkinson's treatment in '03.
It was approved (http://www.medtronic.com/physician/activa/history.html) in 1997 (http://www.rewiredforlife.org/newsdetail.asp?ID=12) actually. Its has been used mostly in the treatment of essential tremors suffers, not as often in patients with Parkinson's tremors. Most Parkinson's suffers are still being treated with levodopa. I should have said "I hope it is used more often as treatment for Parkinson's at some point in the future."
And this is why I love my job :).
Are you a brain surgeon?
Neuroendocrinologist.
Sweet... I thought of trying it but I never had enough interest in biology to go to Med School... so I went for art and business. Now I work in a job that has naught to do with either.
By the way, thanks for the full explanation. I had to put all that together from my 15 seconds of insightful knowledge while working.
C'mon people, this is important stuff here! Who cares about elections or 18 year old kids getting jailed for writing stories about zombies?
Western Mercenary Unio
21-10-2008, 12:52
Neuroendocrinologist.
And what does the job entail?
Peepelonia
21-10-2008, 12:57
Yeah this is definatly cool.
In related news one of my sisters goes into hospital next weekend to have a small magnet attached to the inside of her skull in order to stop one type of epilepse that she suffers from, and hopefully a few months after that a similar op to the banjo man, to help control the other type of epilepse that she suffers from.
Rambhutan
21-10-2008, 13:48
They should connect the electrode to a pedal rather than a switch - could be like a tremolo effects pedal.
Psychotic Mongooses
21-10-2008, 13:52
And what does the job entail?
*slaps*
Weren't you listening? Banjo playing.
Sheesh, kids these days.....