Neurotransmitters Are Chemicals

In Randy's case the doctors should be concerned with the following pieces of the brain: neurotransmitters, hormones, myelin sheath, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe. Neurotransmitters are chemicals released by synaptic vesicles transmitting signals. The symptom related to this would be the slow reaction time and the main neurotransmitter responsible for this specific symptom would be the Acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is the messenger at every junction between motor neuron and muscle. Hormones are chemicals released into the blood stream. The symptom related to this would be the weight gain due to a possible insulin or thyroid problem. Myelin sheath protects the axon in the brain. The symptom related to this would be muscle weakness. Damage to the myelin shield can also lead to Multiple Sclerosis. The Occipital lobe is in charge of processing visual perception. The symptom related to this would be his visual perception issue. The temporal lobe is in charge of hearing and memory. The symptom related to this would be Randy's hearing loss.

The doctors will want to do a PET scan, an MRI, and an EEG on Randy. PET stands for positron emission tomography and a patient is given a radioactive form of glucose and then their brain is scanned and radioactivity is located and measured. This would help in finding which part of the brain is most active during various activities. MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging and takes a picture of the brain showing structure. This could help in looking for tumors or cavities because of an excess of dopamine. Dopamine has to do with motivation, reward, alertness, learning, emotion, motor control over voluntary movement. EEG stands for electroencephalogram. Researchers will place electrodes on the patient's scalp and they record the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. This can help determine what parts of the brain are active.