Hello, and thank you for coming to my
blog!
I am Serena Noss, a senior at BASIS Scottsdale, and
for my Senior Research Project I will be working at the University of Arizona
College of Medicine in Phoenix. I will be volunteering in Dr. Amelia
Gallitano's lab, which is studying Schizophrenia. Here is the website for the
UA College of Medicine in Phoenix for more information.
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that
affects emotion, thinking, and behavior, and can result in breaks from reality.
For more information on the disorder, please visit the National Institute of
Mental Health.
Dr. Gallitano’s lab has specifically been
studying the causes of Schizophrenia. Like many mental disorders,
susceptibility is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. This
means that while Schizophrenia is a heritable disorder (a disorder that can be
passed down from your parents through genes), it is also impacted by the events
and conditions of someone’s life. It is hoped that better understanding the
causes of the disorder will allow for better treatments or preventative
measures.
I have always been fascinated by Biology and
specifically Neuroscience. BASIS offers amazing opportunities to take classes
related to biology beyond those offered in the average high school, and throughout
my time in high school I have taken every one of these classes that I could.
Although this education has been a great opportunity for me, the greatest
limitation of my high school experience has been a lack of real world
experience. This will be my first time working in a lab, so I am looking
forward to this amazing opportunity to help out and learn new things, both
about the field of Neuroscience and about the real world application of the
information I have learned throughout high school.
In general, my project is about environmental factors that affect schizophrenia, specifically looking at the link between schizophrenia and environmental factors. One of these that has already been researched in mice is the link between schizophrenia and sleep deprivation. I am also looking at the implications of this information for future treatment or prevention of the disorder. For more information on my project, you can read my project proposal.
In general, my project is about environmental factors that affect schizophrenia, specifically looking at the link between schizophrenia and environmental factors. One of these that has already been researched in mice is the link between schizophrenia and sleep deprivation. I am also looking at the implications of this information for future treatment or prevention of the disorder. For more information on my project, you can read my project proposal.
I will be making weekly posts about my project,
so if you are interested and want to keep updated on my project, click on
“follow by email” at the bottom of the page, and check out the other BASIS
Senior Research blogs.
Hey Serena! I am very intrigued by the topic that you've chosen, and I look forward to reading more about schizophrenia and the impact the environment plays on this disorder. It sounds like this project will be an exciting new real-world experience for you, which I think is one of the best parts of having the senior project. So, you mentioned that you would be volunteering at Dr. Gallitano’s lab. Do you know any of the particular tasks that you'll be assigned as a volunteer? Also, how is Dr. Gallitano’s lab studying the causes of schizophrenia? Are they looking at mice or some other factor? Looking forward to reading more!
ReplyDeleteHi Kiri! I am not sure what particular tasks I will be doing in the lab, and to be honest my whole project might change when I actually get onsite and find out what I am doing.
DeleteAbout the studies with mice, Dr. Gallitano's lab has researched the changes that occur in serotonin receptors of mice when they are sleep deprived, and found these changes were similar to the serotonin receptor changes associated with schizophrenia. If you want to know more about that study in particular, you can read their article here if you copy this link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25857407
Great first post Serena. I know that in treating schizophrenia symptoms, it is important that patients maintain a regular day-to-day routine, including a consistent sleep schedule (http://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/fact-sheets-a-z/464-schizophrenia-and-sleep.html). I wonder if there is any link between that and the changes in serotonin when sleep deprived. Regardless of where your project takes you, it sounds like it will be a fascinating learning experience. What intrigues you about the field of Neuroscience? Is there any aspect to the field that you find particularly exciting?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. To answer your question about my interest in the field, I find neuroscience very interesting because it allows us to better understand all the things our brains do, from feeling emotions to problem solving to using language. I find it fascinating that all these complex functions are caused by small electrical and chemical reactions in the brain. I am looking forward to learning more during my Senior Project!
DeleteHi Serena! This seems like a really interesting project and I can't wait to hear more about it. I was just wondering if you knew more about the methods you will be using (it's okay if you don't I know a lot of us won't know completely until we actually start our internships). Do you know how they are able to differentiate the environmental from the genetic factors and show that they can cause or increase risk for schizophrenia?
ReplyDeleteI don't really know exactly what I will be doing in the lab, but I do know that in the past this lab has done a study where they sleep deprived mice and saw changes to their serotonin receptors that were similar to those seen in human patients with schizophrenia. If you want to know more you can copy and paste the link to their article which I put in my response to Kiri's comment.
DeleteHi Serena! I have to say that this is a very interesting topic to work on because it's something that fascinates me as well. And I like the background of your blog by the way. It's very scary.
ReplyDeleteSo for my question. I wasn't sure if you told me or not, but does this project extend to human patients as well or is it primarily just mice? I wanted to know if you're going to work with actual patients at one point or if this is mostly in a lab-based setting.
Sorry if this is an irrelevant question. But, great first post! Can't wait to see more!
I won't be working with human patients. The lab is using mice to get information that could perhaps in the future be applied to humans, but right now mice are being used to better understand the condition.
DeleteThanks for commenting!
Hi, Serena! Mental disorders are fascinating to research, and, since I myself am interested in psychology and (maybe?) neuroscience, I am especially intrigued by your project!
ReplyDeleteBut I have a few questions. The complex effects of sleep deprivation on mRNA and serotonin receptors is interesting, but the article on the experiment said that stress in general may influence the risk of schizophrenia. So you why is sleep deprivation, of all the other sources/causes of stress, particularly linked to schizophrenia?
Furthermore, I would like for you to clarify whether you are researching the environmental factors that worsen the effects of schizophrenia rather than cause or influence the likelihood of schizophrenia. Does sleep deprivation WORSEN the symptoms of schizophrenia in those who are already inclined towards the disease, or are the chances of being schizophrenic increased with sleep deprivation?
Additionally, as a sophomore, I am curious as to what classes you took in BASIS that you felt were especially important in developing your interest in biology and, specifically, neuroscience. Right now, my favorite class is AP Psych, which might be why this is so intriguing to me... :P
Please keep us updated! I'm really excited to see the results.
Hi Holly! I am happy to hear you find this subject interesting. I will do my best to answer your questions, but keep in mind I have not begun working onsite yet, so my knowledge of their research is limited, and I will probably be able to give more complete answers after this week.
DeleteTo answer your first question, sleep deprivation was just one of many potential stressors that the lab chose to test, I am not sure why that one was chosen.
For your second question, the lab was looking at how these environmental factors could cause a change in serotonin receptors similar to that seen in schizophrenia patients, which could mean it is increasing the risk of getting the condition. However, this can't be determined yet, as more information is needed about all the environmental and genetic factors that cause the condition.
Finally, AP Psych is a great class to take if you are interested in Biology. You could also take Anatomy and Physiology, and the Capstone Biology class offered Senior year. Also, always feel free to try and learn more outside of school.
Thanks for reading my blog, and hopefully I will be able to give more information on the lab's research in my next posts!
I thought this introduction was super fascinating because it introduced me to the idea that schizophrenia can be induced by environmental factors. I hope to learn more about this psychological disorder.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, and have fun learning about schizophrenia!
DeleteHey Serena,
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool, I've always been fascinated by biology and neuroscience, just like you, especially pertaining to mental health. I was wondering, can schizophrenia truly be treated with external means (like medicines or therapy (?)), or if it just lessens its effects. Can't wait to hear more!
There are some drugs that lessen the symptoms but no cure or treatment that completely removes all symptoms.
DeleteHi Serena! Despite the dozens of Grey's Anatomy episodes I've watched, your research topic is entirely new to me! I'm really excited follow your blog for the next few weeks and see where your research takes you. In regards to your research about experiments with mice, what relationships did you find between schizophrenia and sleep deprivation, and how were these experiments conducted? I can't wait to hear more about your project in the upcoming weeks!
ReplyDeleteThe lab I am volunteering with has found a link between sleep deprivation and a change in serotonin receptors in mice. This change in serotonin receptors has also been seen in human patients with schizophrenia, showing there may be a link between sleep deprivation and schizophrenia. If you want more info on the experiment, copy and paste this link to their article. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25857407
DeleteHi Serena,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is so interesting already! Since taking AP Psychology, I have become increasingly interested in the causes of mental disorders and its implications. As for your research, will you also be studying environmental causes prior to birth that could cause an onset of schizophrenia? I look forward to following your blog as the weeks go on! Good luck!
Julie Loison
There are many things that can happen to a fetus that increase its chances of getting schizophrenia (for example, viral infections), but the lab I am volunteering for is not looking into these right now.
DeleteHey Serena! Your project intrigues me primarily because of my lack of knowledge about schizophrenia and sleep deprivation. Biology has always interested me but I haven't had the opportunity to indulge myself in all of its aspects one of which being neuroscience. After following you throughout your research, I am hoping to get a better understanding on the environmental factors that affects schizophrenia and its relation to neuroscience. Good luck on your research!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, and have fun learning about schizophrenia!
Deletehey Serena,
ReplyDeleteyour blog looks very interesting as I have little knowledge about the topics. Personally i am looking at having Neuroscience be my main focus in college so this blog fascinates me. i really look forward to reading more on your blog!!
Thanks for reading, and have fun learning about schizophrenia!
DeleteEverything being researched focusing on environmental factors and mental disorders may be a small break through step in finding preventions and even cures. I hope you are enjoying Dr. Gallitano's lab!
ReplyDeleteAm one of the happiest Father on earth,My son once suffered from the problem Schizophrenia which made him not to go to school,and that was killing his educational carrier.he can not control his emotions,always having noises on his head affect how he thinks, feels and acts,he has taken different medication,but no cure,then i got the contact of a doctor who helped my son. he gave me the medication which my son used, he took the medication for one month,and that was the end of the problem.he can now control his emotions,no more severely distorted self-image and feeling worthless acts, his thinking is normal and no more voices on his head any more.any one that need his medication should contact the Doctor on drjohnson958@gmail.com or Whatsapp him on +1(518) 675-6082 .
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