The brain remains an area of mystery to modern science even in the age of advanced technology. Brain Awareness Day celebrations held at the Cochin University of Science and Technology on Wednesday named, “Prajna - insight into the brain”, attempted to provide a window to understanding certain behaviours, which in social parlance, are termed abnormal.
A seminar organised by the Centre for Neurosciences was inaugurated by noted actor Mohan Agashe. A psychiatrist with interest in psychology and psychopharmacology, Dr. Agashe said the brain was only a major tool for the functioning of the mind, just like a musical instrument became a tool for creating music, which existed in infinite terms.
Brain conditions itself
Dr. Easwer H.V., Professor, Neurosurgery Department, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, speaking on “Organisation of the brain and its everyday function” said that the brain conditioned itself for certain repeated events and many a time, reactions to certain stress situations get reflected in physical illnesses.
Dr. Janardhanan C.N. from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, spoke about anxiety and its resultant disorders.
Psychiatrist Shaji S., president of the Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases Society of India, Cochin chapter, spoke on the various neuropsychiatric disorders in youngsters. They stem mainly from confusion of their own identity and confirmation of a role. Alcoholism, schizophrenia, mood disorders were some among them, he said.
“Astu”, a film on Alzheimer’s disease, in which Dr. Agashe plays the protagonist, was screened at the seminar.
