Neuropharmacology

Biography

Biography: Marina Zueva

Abstract

The Workshop Description

The general goal of the workshop is to make the theory, which we will discuss, a well-known, simple and understandable for people working in various fields of neurosciences and industry.

I want to draw the attention of the experts in various areas of knowledge to the issue of the impact on the brain function of non-linear signals of the environment and the search for opportunities to manage this effects and brain resources.

I would like to trigger a great desire to investigate this area, which is important not only for neuroscience as such, but also for medicine, and to create new, possibly disruptive technologies.

The discussed Issues

In experimental and clinical studies reliable evidence was obtained that sensory, cognitive, physical enrichment of our lives, an increase in the activity of our communication with the outside world, activates brain plasticity. The acquisition of new skills, associated with the re-wiring and establishment of new schemes of neural connections, improves our mental abilities.

However, the search for new technologies to impact on the plasticity of the brain is still relevant and urgently demanded to manage this process better and to create new, more efficient therapeutic strategies.

The theory of “fractality of sensations” establishes the existence of the real relationships (perhaps evolutionarily conditioned) between the complexity of the space-time structure of the environmental signals and the complexity of the neural networks and brain activity that determines the mental health and mental human longevity.

In the workshop, we will outline areas in which a practical application of the tenets of the theory may be found, including:

(i) neuroprotection and recovery of visual neural networks in the pathologies of retinal ganglion cells and their axons;

(ii) rehabilitation of patients with stroke, brain trauma, prevention and attenuation of cognitive decline in the elderly population;

(iii) the new strategy of treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease;

(iv) increasing the active mental longevity (long-term preservation and enhancement of mental abilities in aging people);

(v) and the restoration and enhancement of cognitive functions in mentally and physically difficult kinds of work in extreme conditions.

To test these hypotheses it is necessary to conduct the research of different design aimed, respectively:

1)  to examine the contribution of artificial visual and auditory stimuli with a strictly ordered (regular) time structure in the weakening and loss of the complexity of the dynamics of the functional activity of the brain;

2) to determine the effectiveness of the non-linear visual and auditory stimulation and effects of other non-linear signals of varying complexity in improving cognitive function and activity of the brain in pathological conditions.

We need to solve the following problems:

•  to reveal the specifics of the development of the retina and brain and neuroplasticity in animals reared in light/dark regime, where light period will consist of flickers at a constant frequency of low-intensity flashes;

•  to examine the specifics of the development of the retina and brain plasticity in animals reared in conditions light/dark, where light period will consist of flickers of very low intensity with a nonlinear fluctuation of the intervals between flashes;

•  to detect features of amblyopia modeling in growing animals on the background of binocular and monocular exposure to low-intensity flashing with an ordered or non-linear time structure compared to animals reared in darkness from birth to adulthood.

• to examine the effectiveness of the use of visual stimuli with non-linear modulated oscillation intervals between flashes of different temporal patterns for prophylactic and therapeutic use in neurodegenerative brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease;

• to determine the effectiveness of the use of non-linear modulation effects of varying difficulty for preventive and curative purposes in older people with cognitive impairment without neurodegenerative diseases;

• to explore the clinical significance of the use of non-linear modulation effects of varying difficulty for preventive and curative purposes in the pathology of retinal ganglion cells, including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy;

• to explore the possibility, efficacy and indications for the combined effect of fractal stimulation therapy and white noise;

• to reveal the similarities and differences in the results of the impact of passive music listening, passive exposure to fractal stimuli and white noise to activate the plasticity of physiological and cognitive functions of the brain;

• to estimate significance of the use of non-linear modulation effects for a changing level of internal noise of the retina;

• to identify opportunities and indications for use of the combined effects of nonlinear multimodal therapy;

• to explore the importance of using non-linear modulation effects of varying complexity, including fractal stimulation for preventive and curative purposes in children and adults with amblyopia.

Conclusive remarks:

It is advisable to develop new directions of fundamental and clinical research and technical development, which can:

• Allow to identify patterns of impacts on the brain of nonlinear visual and auditory stimuli of varying complexity, the scope of application of new knowledge and get an ability to manage these effects;

• Enhance the effectiveness of non-linear visual and auditory stimulation, and effects of other nonlinear modulations of varying complexity in improving cognitive function and activity of the brain in pathological conditions.

Knowledge of these laws is necessary for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative disorders and amblyopia - diseases of high social importance.

Also, the new knowledge gained in this field of research can help to improve the quality of life of elderly subjects with normal brain function and with cognitive decline, of a long time hospitalized persons, physically challenged people with reduced mobility.

They can contribute to solving some of the problems of urbanization, as well as innovative research capabilities of the brain and related technology solutions in various fields of economy.

For the development of a new priority for the study of the relationship of the fractal complexity of environmental stimuli and brain health is necessary to create the Research and Analytical Centre, "Nonlinear Environment and Resources of the Brain."