“When we experience something, neurons in our brains are activated; the memory is recorded, but if we don’t reactivate the memory the synapses gradually weaken. Overtime, memories fade. Just as easily the brain remembers it also forgets.” Tonight’s episode of Good Minds reveals us new methods of hanging on to reminiscences and the significance of treating the individual and never the prognosis.
Emily is a frequent customer within the hospital; she’s been admitted a couple of instances due to recurring seizures and the interns are all at a loss with what else they might do for her. They’ve run so many checks and all got here again unfavorable, nevertheless it isn’t till they carry their issues to Dr. Oliver Wolf that he redirects them find one other one. He asks for particulars about Emily’s seizures and nobody is ready to give him a solution. The shock on his face right here was so validating to me as a result of what number of instances have you ever gone to the physician as a result of one thing is clearly flawed, however they solely provide you with medicine to see if it helps, somewhat than attempting to grasp what is definitely taking place. That’s what Emily’s earlier physician did, and Dr. Wolf made it very clear that he works otherwise; “evaluate, diagnose, then treat”.
“Chapter Three: The Lost Biker” – BRILLIANT MINDS – Pictured: Aury Krebs as Dr. Dana Dang, Spence Moore II as Dr. Jacob Nash, Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf. Picture: Rafy/NBC © 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Dr. Wolf instructs the interns to induce Emily’s seizure and consider it to higher perceive what’s taking place. After they have been unable to do that; her dad and mom requested to talk with Dr. Wolf. They’re nervous that there wouldn’t be an answer and that they must take care of seeing their daughter endure a seizure once more which has been actually robust on them. It’s moments like this that you just recognize a health care provider like Oliver extra. He tells them to recall what Emily was doing when her most up-to-date episode occurred and it seems she was watching an episode of “The Three Stooges” (I’ve by no means seen it) which she thought was hilarious and it’s believed that her laughing suits precipitated the seizure. Time to place it to the take a look at.
As they’re watching the present, Emily falls right into a laughing match then falls over; she stops respiration. The scary and unusual a part of that’s, Van faints and stops respiration on the identical time. After a couple of seconds, Emily is again up (that was a serious danger on Dr. Wolf’s half, however fortunately it was a constructive end result) and so is Van – what the hell simply occurred? Dr. Wolf explains to Emily’s dad and mom that her situation was misdiagnosed (after all it was) and that when she has a laughing match, her coronary heart slows down till it stops. The perfect resolution for Emily’s case can be a pacemaker – despite the fact that she’s younger, fortunately, it was permitted (the opposite possibility was to prescribe beta blockers and nobody needs that for a kid). As soon as she had the pacemaker it was time to check it out and would you take a look at that? Emily is all laughs and no fainting spells. It’s a stupendous sight to see! (We’ll get to Van’s state of affairs in a bit)
“Chapter Three: The Lost Biker” – BRILLIANT MINDS – Pictured: Aury Krebs as Dr. Dana Dang, Spence Moore II as Dr. Jacob Nash, Markeda McKay as Emily, Ashleigh LaThrop as Dr. Ericka Kinney, Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf, Alex MacNicoll as Dr. Van Markus. Picture: Rafy/NBC © 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
When a biker, Wyatt, involves Oliver’s house with a gunshot wound, he tells him that it was an unintended self-inflicted wound; it was a hand tremor that precipitated him to injure himself whereas cleansing his gun. Oliver means that he ought to cease by the hospital for an analysis. Wyatt is a bit hesitant; he believes that going to the hospital for a gunshot wound would deliver consideration to police which he doesn’t need (comprehensible, however sir, your tremors? That’s just a little extra vital right here).
He stops by the hospital and it seems it’s not a tremor – Wyatt’s spouse tells Dr. Wolf that he’s been forgetful, much more than regular and it’s regarding: repeating jokes and tales, buying a single merchandise in a number of portions as a result of he doesn’t keep in mind ordering it, complications, and coping with fatigue as properly. Listening to all of this, Oliver orders an MRI.
The outcomes of the MRI reveals that Wyatt has a tumor. Dr. Josh Nichols explains that the tumor is affecting the a part of the mind the place his reminiscences are. It may be eliminated, nonetheless, due to the situation, he might not have the ability to type new reminiscences (rattling, that’s robust), however the reminiscences he at the moment has can be secure. Wyatt is towards the surgical procedure stating that he “[has] no interest in living a life that [he] can’t remember.” This can be a robust one and I’m empathetic in direction of Wyatt right here; eradicating the tumor will save his life, positive, however is it even residing you probably have an lack of ability to retain reminiscences? Why go to locations and expertise new issues that can’t be remembered?
“Chapter Three: The Lost Biker” – BRILLIANT MINDS – Pictured: Teddy Sears as Dr. Josh Nichols, Steve Howey as Wyatt James, Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf. Picture: Rafy/NBC © 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Oliver goes to Wyatt in an try and get him to vary his thoughts about having the surgical procedure and he does. Earlier than the surgical procedure although, there’s one reminiscence that Oliver needs Wyatt to have the ability to keep in mind; it’s reconnecting along with his daughter (they haven’t spoken in fairly a while and it wasn’t a nice parting). This won’t have been the very best thought as a result of when his estranged daughter sees him, her phrases weren’t so type (she principally advised him she hated him) and it despatched Wyatt into misery. Seeing this, his daughter lastly noticed the severity of this case and had a change of coronary heart (good on her for this). He’s rushed to the hospital for emergency surgical procedure and fortunately it was a hit, no less than for the very best end result: he’s nonetheless alive (however with out the power to make new reminiscences).
“Memories are powerful windows to the past. They can fill us with joy, or overwhelm us with grief. A moment in time we want to keep to ourselves, other times, they’re shared experiences. And when we struggle to remember them, it takes a village to fill in the gaps.” Wyatt labored out a solution to hold his new reminiscences alive: a video he recorded for himself (of himself) explaining what’s going on. He additionally has a pocket book with reminiscences from the day – and when these days get robust, he has his village (his spouse, his daughter, his biker pals) to assist fill within the gaps.
“Chapter Three: The Lost Biker” – BRILLIANT MINDS – Pictured: Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf, Donna Murphy as Dr. Muriel Landon. Picture: Rafy/NBC © 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Again to the mysterious case of Dr. Van Markus; Oliver tells Van that he believes the way in which he’s round sufferers is the results of a neurological situation known as “mirror-touch synesthesia” (I seemed it up and sure, this can be a uncommon, but very actual situation). An individual with this situation can really feel what the individual they’re speaking to is feeling. It’s like an intense case of empathy. The trick, now, is to determine the way to use Van’s situation in an impactful method.
The top of the episode brings us again to what might occur if reminiscences aren’t reactivated. It not solely step by step fades, however may also be subjective as a way of safety. When Oliver is speaking along with his mom, she tells him concerning the resurrection fern and instantly his earlier reminiscence of his father telling him this story shifts into it being his mom. Stuffed with confusion, he asks his mom why she by no means corrected him when he remembered it otherwise. She tells him, “I wanted you to remember that day the way you wanted to remember it” – reminiscences might be subjective and if we inform ourselves to recollect a second a sure method then that’s the way it’ll be remembered, even when it isn’t the actual reminiscence.
What did you consider tonight’s new episode of Good Minds? Share your ideas beneath or join with me on X/Twitter @chenfordhugs
