The Other Side of Dr. Xeno's Brain

Emotional Processing

2011-10-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

How Ya Feelin'?! (HDEV 3101 Week 4, 2011)

The above are the SIX classic and universal expressions associated with the basic, or primary, human emotions. Many thanks for Paul Ekman and his socio-emotional-behavioral research team. Assuming you are human and have vision, you should recognize each of these "affects", or expressions of emotions - and you should also be able to name them. Depending on your culture, language or experience, you may used different words to label them, or may express them under different conditions, but they are indeed expressed and perceived consistently across cultures.

Wikipedia says, "Paul Ekman is a Psychologist who has been the pioneer in the study of emotions and their relation to facial expressions. He is considered one of the 100 most eminent psychologists of the twentieth century. Ekman takes an evolutionary perspective, in that the development of human traits and states over time is the background to his research." Ekman found that facial expressions of emotion are not culturally determined but are universal to all human cultures and suggesting they are biological in origin (innate?). Ekman also discovered microexpressions which are a brief facial expression that last less than a quarter of a second. In his research called the Diogenes Project, Paul Ekman found that these tiny movements often can expose lying (seen "Lie To ME" on TV?). Paul Ekman is also the founder of The Facial Action Coding System (FACS) which details the exact muscular-physical expressions of emotions which is useful to psychologists and animators.

So, how ya feelin'?

Much of emotion is communicated non-verbally - both it's expression and perception. Expressed emotion is 'affect', while experiencing emotion internally is 'mood'. Different mood states involve different patterns of activation in both physical and cognitive domains. "Flat affect" indicates a lack of emotional expression. Maybe on purpose (like a poker face) or reflect low energy (fatigue) or low mood (like in major depressive episodes). Adding emotion (or meaning) to our spoken language with varying inflection is known as "prosody." This aspect of language, and emotional processing in general seems to be one of the strengths of the right hemisphere. However, there are known bilateral structures and pathways specializing in emotion and I will name only the amygdala; a limbic structure, sub-cortical (diencephalon) with some tight connections with memory structures such as the hippocampus.

"Feeling" or "feelings" is another problematic term for me - it is probably more accurate to use sensation(s), perception(s), or emotion(s). "Feeling" is usually assumed to mean emotional state - "how or what are you feeling?" is an attempt to tap into someones emotional condition, not their sensory-perceptual experience. My point is picky I suppose, but just clarify what exactly it is that you are "feeling" - it's a verb - so, "I am feeling angry" suits me fine; so does, "I am feeling something poke me". Emotional processing is just another example of information processing; on the other hand, some have argued that ALL information processing IS emotional. Or put another way, you are always feeling SOME emotion, and that pattern of activation flavors your cognitive processing. Perceptions, memories, decision making are ALL effected by emotion (and vice versa), so the two are nearly impossible to separate.

Kenneth Dodge suggests that, "emotion is the energy that drives, organizes, amplifies and attenuates cognitive activity." "Feelings" would be a noun - a thing - the things that people "feel". So again, please notice how general & vague that would be. Much like we use "see" for think, we use "feel" for emotion.

Most theories of emotion include some common themes: emotion involves complex layers of processes that are in constant interaction with the environment. Emotional processing involves BOTH cognitive AND physical process.

Basic Phases/Timing of Emotion/Emotional Processing
Initial Orientation/Awareness - we orient toward a stimulus, early activation, focusing of attention, first 100 ms.

Appraisal - what did that stimulus mean? Additional perceptual info on the stimulus tells us more. 100-300 ms.

Arousal, mental and physical (coupled with cognitive appraisal, this gives us experienced emotion, or "feeling"). This represents our full awareness of both the perceptual process and emotional process, now packaged into what we might refer to as a "feeling", or better yet, an "emotion". 350+ ms.

Organizing Emotions
Differential and Categorical - most simple category is the emotional valence. (positive vs. negative emotions).

Positive emotions are not "good", they are inherently rewarding, we'd like to feel more of them.

Negative emotions are not "bad", are not rewarding, we'd like to feel less of them, or feel them less intensely.

Primary Emotions - more highly categorized, and yet, basic emotions such as: sadness, fear, joy, anger, disgust or surprise.

Some emotions are differentiated by their complexity, we often experience a blend of two or more basic emotions. (Such as the term "emotional complex")

Development of emotional maturity is largely about regulating emotional responsiveness. But also may involve more full awareness and acceptance of more complicated emotions as well as recognizing and respecting the emotional states of others. (Recall the types of "change".)

Movement & Control

2011-10-11T13:39:00.001-07:00

Regulation

The brain must not only deal with the mental side of life, but with maintaining life itself through regulation. The brain has automated regulatory control over it's own activation/alertness as well as specific bodily functions such as heart rate, breathing and temperature. Eating, drinking, sleeping and reproduction require some voluntary behavior on our part, but are largely influenced or at least maintained by non-conscious regulatory control. Much of this regulatory control is exerted through the neuroendocrine system utilizing various feedback mechanisms (see Carter, pp. 112-113).

Motor control

The other main category of control the brain attends to is voluntary movement. Movement of the body can be organized a number of way and one way to distinguish between those that are "controlled", under conscious control, versus those that are "automated" which are no longer under conscious control. They no longer demand very much attention or processing resources and may operate without our awareness (example of driving). However, these are not really "automatic" or "UNconcious" as Carter writes (p. 114), I think those terms should be reserved for truly REFLEXIVE behavior that will take place even IF unconscious.

See Reflex Action side bar (p. 114). Strictly speaking, we mean "spinal reflex", can you think of any more complex behavior that you do "reflexively"? (Motor memory? Muscle memory. Implicit memory/learning system foreshadowing Learning & Memory Unit). Motor control involves some feedback from the body and environment, so motor control work in conjunction with sensation and perception.

Planning and Executing Movement (Carter, pp. 114-1119)

Meet the frontal lobes. Pre-motor cortex for planning. Lateral coticospinal tract begins at the primary motor cortex carrying direct voluntary control of specific muscles. Then tract slides through the thalamus to integrate with sensory world, then go deeper and meet the sub-cortical nuclei of the basal ganglia to amplify or suppress unwanted movement. Finally, make it neat: the cerebellum infuses a sense of timing and coordination into your ongoing movements. Final output is down though the spinal cord tracking region wise to the correct motor spinal root where it exits onto it's nerve in the PNS.

Other simpler motor-oriented pathways too, largley UNconcious... example vestibularspinal tract.

Sensation & Perception

2011-10-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

Musical support: Roy Ayers – Sound And Sense

Do you see what I mean?

"Vision", or seeing, involves more than just gathering images with the eye. Sensation is the process of bringing information into the brain for evaluation while PERCEPTION is that process of making sense, or meaning out of the raw sensory data. Sensory organs and their first synapses are akin to the hardware of a computer, while more elaborate perceptual processing could be seen as software that gets programmed and customized over time.

Effective perceptional processing reveals the capacity of the nervous to learn - and perception is a learned process, which is to say our "percepts" are based on past experience. Some may refer to these as "schema" which resemble our tendency to organize incoming raw sensory info into meaning units. The units can be simple, nearly sub-conscious (e.g., movement, color) relating to one perceptual field. But schema may be complex subjective concepts (e.g., beauty, slavery) that are interpretations of simpler perceptual input. "Schemata" may refer to the overall inventory of schema you have and sometimes schemata includes the process whereby we create, store and retrieve and perceive them. But if we don't develop the schema for something, we can't really "see" it - it escapes our perception. Story of villagers asked to describe a scene in a movie. Eskimos and all those words for snow.

Both sensation and perception rely on (or reveal?) the plasticity of the nervous system, but also rely on the integrity of their respective pathways to ensure. A simple act of recognition requires matching a percept in the present with one stored in the past.

Perceptual Differences

Our perceptions are effected by SO many factors such as early environment, culture, health, etc.

Attention, or our ability to concentrate mental energies on specific cognitive operations such as perception, is critical. Something so simple as counting a moving object involves so many mental process and region of the nervous system:

You will often see exactly what you are looking for. Or you see "see" what you "set". In Simons and Chambris' (1998) laboratory study of the invisible gorilla video, nearly half the participants who correctly counted the number of passes missed the gorilla.

These tools for perception that are essential for making any kind of meaning out of world are also limiting what we can "see". So, please be aware that your perceptions are YOUR reality, but not THE reality.

Week 2: Structure of the Nervous System

2011-10-04T11:14:00.001-07:00

[photo of Logan, credit www.borterwagner.com]

Week 2: Structure of the Nervous System, relates to pp. 36-73 in The Human Brain Book. I think the best 2 pages on overall structure are pp. 40-41, and the best neuron pictures and info are pp. 68-73.

The nervous system in all animals essentially serve the same basic functions - body control and registration of sensory input from the outside world. Yes, some body control is in response to input and some input leads to complex subjective experience so this is no simple task! But let's leave the "thinking" the brain associated with for later. How does the brain do this? The specialized function of neurons allows them to transmit signals between each other - the signals are chemicals called neurotranmitters, but the overall process is "electrochemical".

The hot-linked text below will take you to the relevant section of the GetBodySmart tutorial. These are optional, but I will use some for visual support and additional explanation.

The nervous system is made of literally TRILLIONS of TWO types of cells:
neurons - actively communicate by synaptic connections (electro-chemical process)

glial cells - support cells, protect and increase speed of communication (myelin sheath)110,000,000,000 neurons and about 50x that number of neuroglia. Also tend to be larger than neurons.
(50x110,000,000,000) + 110,000,000,000 = total cells in the NS.

5,610,000,000,000 or 5.6 trillion cells

Organ system hierarchy:

System/organ/tissue/cells/molecules/atoms

Example of the nervous system:

NS/brain, spinal cord?/nuclei (gray matter) and pathways (white matter) make up networks/neurons and glia/cytoplasmic parts and products of neurons, most unique and important: neurotransmitters...

[Cardiovascular/heart, vasculature? and blood?/smooth muscle and blood/muscle fibers and blood cells (white, red)]

Traditional 3 parts/DIVISONS of the Nervous System:

CNS = central nervous system (intensely protected by bone, spinal fluid, glia)
brain - the central processing unit
spinal cord - pathways going up and down, as well as reflexes ('u-turns', 2 neuron reflex)

PNS = peripheral n.s.; mostly enters or exits holes in the spinal cord or vertebrae
carries information from receptors in the body to the spinal and then UP to braincarries information coming DOWN spinal cord to effectors in the body (muscles, glands)specialized cranial nerves (12 total) enter or exit holes in the cranium, not the spinal cord

ANS = autonomic n.s.; functional system made up portions of both CNS & PNS, 'automated' (non-conscious) control of body:
Sympathetic branch: activation/arousal, flight or flight response, emotion
Parasympathetic branch: recuperation, relaxation, rejuvination

4th? "Somatic nervous system" - carries voluntary/conscious control and sensory information we perceive

Divisions of the Brain
No one system for this.... I enjoy the theoretical and integrative framework of the "triune brain" hypothesis by Paul MacLean. His "3 brains in 1", represents the three major evolutionary steps leading to the modern human brain structure and function; reptile brain, mammal brain, primate brain. JUST a model for understanding, not "real".

Major Divisions of the adult brain - this GetBodySmart tutorial goes top-down...

and the Human Brain Book (Carter) shuffles around.
Each division is made up of a number of specific neuroanatomical structures with specific functions.

Often, brain divisions are presented from the bottom-up... "lower" functions and structures first. Like triune brain. Good if you can learn to see from both perspectives as the NS provides both upward and downward messages. Any complex human behavior will involve sensory signals that go "up" and control signals that go "down".

brainstem - basic body functions (medulla oblonglata, pons, midbrain) - directly above spinal cord
cerebellum - motor coordination & motor learning, posture, means "little brain".

diencephalon - subcortical forebrain - emotion, motivation, awareness ("Limbic System" of thalamus, etc.)

telencephalon - 'forebrain' - cerebrum - cerebral cortex - outer layer, newest, conscious thought (cognition)

THE CORTEX will be described in greater detail as we address the functions of the four lobes in the coming weeks

Organizational Features of the Cerebrum (many will re-appear this quarter):
Right and left hemispheres of the cerebrum/telencephalon
Both symmetrical AND asymmetrical

Four lobes and their boundaries

White matter and gray matter

Primary or secondary cortex

Sensory mapping for senses, body mapping ("homunculus") for motor control

"Decussation", contra-lateral representation, or crossing-over of pathways from one side to the other

Intro and Overview of HDEV 3101

2011-09-27T18:30:00.000-07:00

"Week 1" for HDEV 3101
Outline below includes relevant concepts. (i.e., 'quizable', or important for building upon later)

A psychological perspective on physical and cognitive development across the life span.

Definition of psychology?

Definition(s) of 'human development'? (my favorites; 1) a process, 2) a field of study, a certain perspective or academic approach, 3) and academic department housed in CLASS at CSUEB).

What are humans? Animals - sub-species (homo sapiens sapiens); each human is an organism, made of organ systems/organs/tissues/cells.

What conceptual categories of change can we observe:
growth
development
maturation
(transformation)

QuickTime brain growth

What is neuropsychology?

Basic functions of the brain/nervous system?
Branches of neuropsychology - main distinction is EXPERIMENTAL vs. CLINICAL

Two major conceptual issues arise:
- An inference is almost always required when correlating behavior with brain
-The mind-body question/problem (monism, dualism and lots of sub-types)
Emergent materialism; in particular, we a complex system, a 'biosystem', similar to an ecosystem.

-a 3rd issue is determinism by way of genetics/"nature", but should NOT lose sight of the fact the the brain develops in a context - an environment that "nurtures" by way of stimulation.

Five features of the historical background of neuropsychology:
1. Ancient record, archeological evidence
2. Classical Greece, philosophical but also medical foundation
3. Phrenology (1830), reading the bumps
4. Localization theory - Broca's area (1860).
Versus equipotentiality
5. Interactionist theory (Jackson) - sort of how we ended up with a 'biosystem' concept

Related - COGNITIVE SCIENCE and information processing theory - views the mind-brain as a machine, specifically a computing device. Will end up suing this information processing perspective often during the quarter. But keep in mind, you are NOT a machine! you are an animal!

Growing a brain, inside a body (week 9)

2009-11-19T17:37:00.000-08:00

Humans change - they grow, develop and mature. Lots of ways to look at this; measure is quantitatively, view it qualitatively or consider it's transformative nature. However, it clearly rests upon a biological entity (the human itself). It is fascinating, because it is us and those around us. (Growth, development and maturation definitions; p. 15, Barry Bogin, Patterns of Human Growth)

Human development (biology) Wikipedia.org article with mega-hypertext
Especially note the stages/phases of physical growth. Alternatively, consider simply the age of the organism. Age often reveals the stage of development and/or functional capacity. But individual variability can be great.
Seen a fetus lately?
Motor Milestones
Brain Growth
Major Events in Neural Development
Important terms, semi-chronological: proliferation (increase in number), migration (movement/organization), connection (preliminary and ongoing), pruning (normal early death of neurons not forming significant/useful connections), mylenation (temporal lobes not until ages 2-4, frontal lobes not until late 20s).

The only way to pack the incredible human cortex into our skulls is to fold it in upon itself - this is what gives the cortex is wrinkled look. This allows greater surface area in a smaller volume. The sulci are valleys and the gyri are the bumps or hills. Tracking the development of the folding process may give us an early indication of abnormal brain growth & development. See the brief report in the NCRR Reporter.

See this link for some physical growth charts by the WHO.

Marilyn Diamond (UC Berkeley), Godmother of lifelong cortical plasticity - or brain enrichment. Studied enriched environments effects on rat brain, behavior, health. Amazing stuff.

Response of the brain to enrichment (1997).

Emotion, Integration and States of Consciousness

2009-11-12T17:30:00.000-08:00

How Ya Feelin'?! (HDEV 3101 Week 4, 2010)

The above are the classic and universal expressions associated with the basic human emotions. Many thanks for Paul Ekman and his socio-emotional-behavioral research team.

Wikipedia says, "Paul Ekman is a Psychologist who has been the pioneer in the study of emotions and their relation to facial expressions. He is considered one of the 100 most eminent psychologists of the twentieth century. Ekman takes an evolutionary perspective, in that the development of human traits and states over time is the background to his research." Ekman found that facial expressions of emotion are not culturally determined but are universal to all human cultures and suggesting they are biological in origin (innate?). Ekman also discovered microexpressions which are a brief facial expression that last less than a quarter of a second. In his research called the Diogenes Project, Paul Ekman found that these tiny movements often can expose lying (seen "Lie To ME" on TV?). Paul Ekman is also the founder of The Facial Action Coding System (FACS) which details the exact muscular-physical expressions of emotions which is useful to psychologists and animators.

So, how ya feelin'?

Much of emotion is communicated non-verbally - both it's expression and perception. Expressed emotion is 'affect', while experiencing emotion is 'mood'. Different mood states involve different patterns of activation in both physical and cognitive domains. "Flat affect" indicates a lack of emotional expression. May be on purpose (like a poker face) or reflect low mood/low energy (like in major depressive episodes). Adding emotion (or meaning) to our spoken language is known as "prosody." This aspect of langauage, and emotional processing in general seems to be one of the strengths of the right hemisphere. However, there are known structures and pathways specializing in emotion and I will name only the amygdala; a limbic structure, sub-cortical (diencephalon) with some tight connections with memory structures such as the hippocampus.

"Feeling" or "feelings" is another problematic term - it is probably more accurate to use sensation(s), perception(s), or emotion(s). My point is picky I suppose, but just clarify what exactly it is that you are "feeling" - it's a verb - so, "I am feeling angry" suits me fine; so does, "I am feeling something poke me". Emotional processing is just another example of information processing; on the other hand, some have argued that ALL information processing IS emotional. Kenneth Dodge suggests that, "emotion is the energy that drives, organizes, amplifies and attenuates cognitive activity."

Most theories of emotion include common themes: emotion involves complex layers of processes that are in constant interaction with the environment. Emotional processing involves BOTH cognitive AND physical process.

Basic Phases of Emotion/Emotional Processing
Initial Orientation - toward a stimulus, activation, focusing of attention
Appraisal - what did that stimulus mean?
Arousal (coupled with cognitive appraisal, this gives us experienced emotion)

Organizing Emotions
Differential and Categorical - most simple category is the emotional valence. (positive vs. negative)
Primary Emotions - more highly categorized, and yet, basic emotions such as: sadness, fear, joy, anger, disgust or surprise.

Development of emotional maturity is largely about regulating emotional responsiveness.

Integration - STOP here for HDEV 3101 Week 4, 2010

One of the mind-brain's key features is it's ability to interconnect a range of processes within it's present time frame as well as interconnecting activities and content across time. We experience this as 'spatiotemporal integration.' Much brain tissue and activity is about this type of 'association' of information rather than specific or direct sensory or motor processing (side note on association cortex). Lack of integration leads to a lack of cohesiveness in our mental/cognitive worlds/experiences. While specific (modular) cognitive activities can lead to or disrupt integrative experience, holistic (molar) operations such as language, consciousness, emotional processing (or powerful retrieval experiences) are more likely to set the tone for integration or cohesive mental experience. When successful, this is a seamless, tacit process. That is, we are unaware of all the sub-processing and patterns of activation, we experience it as a whole. Our consciousness.

What needs to be integrated?
1. Various cognitive activities (content and process); orientation, attention, sensation-perception, visuospatial function, cognitive mapping, memory function, language processing, prosody, emotion, planning and other executive functions. AND basic body control/monitoring.
2. Various levels of brain functions (triune brain; vertical integration in columns)
3. Hemispheres of the brain (lateral integration; corpus callosum)

Evidence/pathways to integration
1. Self - sense of self may result from the recursive nature of ALL neural processing. It's always happening to YOUR neural pathways and the activity shifts always resemble to ones before and after closely. It's a placeholder, or perhaps a canvas, or a major landmark by which to measure and compare all experience.

2. Theory of mind - requires some meta-cogition and meta-memory. What we know about our own cognitive/memory function. Building a theory of mind requires that we have the ability to place ourselves in their position and imagine what they would hear/feel/etc.

3. Response flexibility - consider alternative responses and select the best suited response set. Opposite is 'stimulus bound' behavior. This may be ultimate executive function. Intelligence? Problem solving?

4. Narrative - sequential descriptions of people and events that condense numerous experiences in generalizations and contrasting stories. Narrative process attempts to make meaning of the world and one's own mind on it's various states.

What is lack of integration?
Disintegration? Lack of cohesive experience; incoherent. Lack of the above 4 items? Some terms for lack of various functions:
Dementia
Amentia
Amnesia
Aphasia
Agnosia
Apraxia
Psychopathological dissociation - shizophrenia (split or broken mind) vs. multiple personality disorder.

Can result from structural or functional brain problems or simply psychogenic states with no know organic cause.

State(s) of consciousness
OVERALL pattern of mind-brain activation; includes, but more than simply being conscious or unconscious or "the subconscious" mind. These states are fluctuating, however, any pattern of activation is likely to recur; and a recurring pattern of activation may become a persisting TRAIT rather than simply a state. The state reflects both the type of processing going on (or degrees of various processes) AND the content being processed. Many things can affect the overall pattern of activation; keep in mind you have some control over this. SO, be mindful over whatever pattern of activation you allow - because it will recur or possibly even persist and may not go away (or at least not easily).

Brain Damage, Neurodegeneration and Dementia, Oh My!

2009-11-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

Week 8?/Chapter 8 (plus Dementia Max PowerPoint slides)

Non-cortical (sub-cortical?) conditions:
A lot of these are predominantly movement/motor disorders with or without cognitive impairment. ALS (Lou Gherig's Disease) is exclusively motor and is not discussed here.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) - demyelinating disease (auto-immune disorder?)

wide ranges of symptoms depending on central (including cortex) or peripheral
relapsing-remitting or chronic progressive form; even CP form can begin as RR
variable signs & symptoms as well as clinical course
limb weakness, ataxia, sensory loss, etc.

Parkinson's Disease:
Parkinson (1817) described the syndome, also known as "paralysis agitans". Destruction of substantia nigra of the basal ganglia and presence of Lewy bodies; subcortical/nonvoluntary motor control, smoothing. Parkisonism is similar signs & symptoms but from another cause.

Parkinson's shuffle - stooped, small steps, straight-lines, etc.
slow, including speech (and hyphonic)
rigid, cogwheeling, TREMO at rest
cognition? depends, at the very least, it is also slowed
responds to dopamine therapy (l-dopa)

Huntington's Disease/Chorea:
writhing, genetic. More rare. Basal ganglia also, but striatum. Personality and cognitive changes.

Profound brain injury, coma, locked in syndrome.

DEMENTIA?

Language

2009-10-29T17:32:00.000-07:00

Language and Communication

[Similar images on p. 146, Carter] Catscan image credit, John norseen, George Washington University. Reveals differential patterns of functional brain activation. Shown are neural activation patterns associated with four different operations within the realm of verbal processing. Shown is the left hemisphere and most people are left hemisphere dominant for language processing.

Hearing words show temporal cortex activation (location of auditory cortex); seeing words shows occipital cortex activation (visual cortex); speaking words shows frontal (motor cortex); and generating words shows prefrontal cortex activation (uhhhh.... executive functions, coming up with new ideas, response flexibility, following rules).

Conceptual over view, cognitive science:

LOCALIZATION of Function: specific regions (locations) of the brain have specific functions. Damage to that region leads to impairment or loss of specific functions. In the absence of damage, individuals with varying degrees of efficiency and/or interconnnectivity in that region may show varying degrees of proficiency in it's specific function. Taken to an extreme, this concept suggests MODULARITY wherein independent modules of the mind-brain perform specific and unique processing on particular forms of information.

DISTRIBUTION of Function: any function or process of the mind-brain will involve multiple regions (either nuclei or pathways) distributed throughout the nervous system. Therefore, the location is not as important as the overall mass action of the brain. Taken a bit to an extreme suggests the concept of EQUIPOTENTIALITY wherein any brain region can be organized or re-organized to perform any task. Recovery of Function is also possible to an extent we once did not realize.

Tha Main areas: BROCA'S AREA, frontal, and WERNICKE'S AREA, temporal.

Varieties of APHASIA (language disorder; Carter, p. 147):
1. Broca's aphasia - motor, nonfluent, expressive
2. Wernicke's aphasia - sensory, receptive
3. Conduction aphasia - central
4. Anomic aphasia - anomia, naming items
5. Transcortical motor aphasia
6. Transcortical sensory aphasia

Review of the "A"s so far:

Amnesia, Agnosia, Aphasia, Anomia, Ataxia (motor), Apraxia (motor-conceptual)

Parietal and Occipital Lobes

2009-10-22T18:20:00.000-07:00

Week 5: Parietal Lobes (Chap 5) and Occipital Lobes (Chap 6)

Parietal Lobes (Chap 5)

Anatomical items: anterior and posterior regions

1. anterior region - foreward most/anterior border is the posterior central sulcus/gyrus

primary somatosensory cortex (sensory strip)
secondary somatosensory cortex
tactile perception
body sense

2. posterior region - no clear/hard borders

ALL tertiary cortex
spatial orientation/spatial neglect
some cases of visual agnosia
APRAXIA; disorder of practical/purposeful/intentional motor behavior
cross-modal integration/language (PTO, remember?)

Occipital Lobes (Chap 6) - the visual perception lobes

primary - basic visual functions
secondary - visual perceptual functions
tertiary - higher order perception and inter-sensory integration (PTO, remember?)

Temporal Lobes

2009-10-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

Week 4/Chapter 4: The Temporal Lobes (and memory)

Anatomical considerations:

Temporal lobe is like a peninsula, or the thumb in the hand brain

Lateral portion - outer surface; neocortex = new cortex (thumb nail side)

Mesial portion - inner or middle surface; paleocortex = old cortex (thumb pad side)

Medial temporal lobe - deep structures, not actually 'sub'cortical, because it is like a cortical roll up. Basically, the hippocampus.

7 Functions of the temporal lobes? (see p. 92 for list, and chapter for details)

Heavily involved in memory and perceptual processes.

1. Audition; primary, secondary and tertiary auditory cortical zones in temporal lobe

2. Vision (chap 6 also, Occipital Lobes)

3. Language (chap 7 also)

4. Attention

5. Cross-modal integration

6. Memory - see Memory Max powerpoint at Bb

7. Personality

Cases studies in amnestic disorders involving temporal lobes. The "Hollywood Amnesia" syndrome is usually unrealistic.

Frontal Lobes

2009-10-05T23:58:00.000-07:00

Week 3/Chapter 3: terms and topics for the frontal lobes

Executive functions?
Personality? Humanness?
Intelligence? Methodological issues: comparing lesions; quantitative (IQ, Category Test) versus qualitative changes (abstract and concrete thought).

Specific functions and the FOUR divisions of the frontal lobe

Motor and premotor cortex
Prefrontal cortex
Broca's area
Orbital cortex or orbital-frontal region

Structure of the Nervous System

2009-09-30T22:40:00.000-07:00

Week 2/Chapter 2: Structure of the Nervous System
The hot-linked text below will take you to the relevant section of the GetBodySmart tutorial.

The nervous system is made of TWO types of cells (NOT discussed in the textbook)

neurons - actively communicate by synaptic connections (electro-chemical process)
glial cells - support cells, protect and increase speed of communication (myelin sheath)
110,000,000,000 neurons and about 50x that number of neuroglia

Traditional 3 parts of the Nervous System:

CNS = central nervous system

brain - the central processing unit
spinal cord - pathways going up and down, as well as reflexes ('u-turns', 2 neuron reflex)

PNS = peripheral n.s.; mostly enters or exits holes in the spinal cord or vertebrae

carries information from receptors in the body to the spinal and then UP to brain
carries information coming DOWN spinal cord to effectors in the body (muscles, glands)
specialized cranial nerves (12 total) enter or exit holes in the cranium, not the spinal cord

ANS = autonomic n.s.; made up portions of both CNS & PNS, 'automated' control of body:

Sympathetic branch: activation/arousal, flight or flight response, emotion
Parasympathetic branch: recuperation, relaxation, rejuvination

Divisions of the Brain

Major Divisions of the adult brain - tutorial goes top-down...
Each division is made up of a number of specific neuroanatomical structures.
Beumont presents the divisions bottom-up... lower functions first.

brainstem - basic body functions (medulla oblonglata, pons, midbrain)
cerebellum - motor coordination & motor learning, posture
diencephalon - subcortical forebrain - emotion, motivation, awareness (thalamus, etc.)
telencephalon - 'forebrain' - cerebrum - cerebral cortex - outer layer, newest, cognition
CORTEX will be described in greater detail as we address the lobes in the coming weeks

Organizational Features of the Cerebrum

Right and left hemispheres of the cerebrum/telencephalon
Four lobes and their boundaries
White matter and gray matter
Primary or secondary cortex
"Decussation", contra-lateral representation, or cross-over
Primary

Introduction and Overview to 3101

2009-09-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

Integration

2008-12-02T07:49:00.000-08:00

One of the mind-brain's key features is it's ability to interconnect a range of processes within it's present time frame as well as interconnecting activities and content across time. We experience this as 'spatiotemporal integration.' Much brain tissue and activity is about this type of 'association' of information rather than specific or direct sensory or motor processing. Lack of integration leads to a lack of cohesiveness in our mental/cognitive worlds/experiences. While specific (modular) cognitive activities can lead or disrupt integrative experience, holistic (molar) operations such as consciousness, emotional processing (or powerful retrieval experiences) are more likely to set the tone for integration or cohesive mental experience. When successful, this is a seamless, tacit process.

What needs to be integrated?
1. Various cognitive activities (content and process); orientation, attention, sensation-perception, visuospatial function, cognitive mapping, memory function, language processing, prosody, emotion, planning and other executive functions. AND basic body control/monitoring.
2. Various levels of brain functions (triune brain; vertical integration in columns)
3. Hemispheres of the brain (lateral integration; corpus callosum)

Evidence/pathways to integration
1. Self; sense of self may result from the recursive nature of ALL neural processing. It's always happening to YOUR neural pathways and the activity shifts always resemble to ones before and after closely. It's a placeholder, or perhaps a canvas, or a major landmark by which to measure and compare all experience.

2. Theory of mind; requires some meta-cogition and meta-memory. What we know about our own cognitive/memory function. Building a theory of mind requires that we have the ability to place ourselves in their position and imagine what they would hear/feel/etc.

3. Response flexibility - consider alternative responses and select the best suited response set. Opposite is 'stimulus bound' behavior. The ultimate executive function.

4. Narrative - sequential descriptions of people and events that condense numerous experiences in generalizations and contrasting stories. Narrative process attempts to make meaning of the world and one's own mind on it's various states.

5. Intelligence? Requires some degree of integration of various functions to solve problems.

What is lack of integration?
Disintegration? Lack of cohesive experience. Lack of the above 4 items? Some terms for lack of various functions:
Dementia
Amentia
Amnesia
Aphasia
Agnosia
Apraxia
Psychopathological dissociation - shizophrenia (split or broken mind) vs. multiple personality disorder.

Can result from structural or functional brain problems.

How Ya Feelin'?!

2008-11-20T17:19:00.000-08:00

The above are the classic and universal expressions associated with the basic human emotions. Many thanks for Paul Ekman and his socio-emotional-behavioral research team.

Student Shannon Cooper wrote a nice summary which I edited: Wikipedia says, "Paul Ekman is a Psychologist who has been the pioneer in the study of emotions and their relation to facial expressions. He is considered one of the 100 most eminent psychologists of the twentieth century. Ekman takes an evolutionary perspective, in that the development of human traits and states over time is the background to his research." Ekman found that facial expressions of emotion are not culturally determined but are universal to all human cultures and suggesting they are biological in origin (innate?). Ekman also discovered microexpressions which are a brief facial expression that last less than a quarter of a second. In his research called the Diogenes Project, Paul Ekman found that these tiny movements often can expose lying. Paul Ekman is also the founder of The Facial Action Coding System (FACS) which details the exact muscular-physical expressions of emotions which is useful to psychologists and animators.

So, how ya feelin'?

week 4, probably week 5 too!

2008-10-13T23:52:00.000-07:00

We will use the nervous system section only of the Get Body Smart web tutorial. Some sections will be skipped, some scanned rapidly, others will captivate us for hours!

week 3

2008-10-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

Cognitive Science, Cognitive Psychology, Mind-Brain Basics

Stillings, Chap 1 - Cognitive Science
Some essential concepts:
Cognitive science is itself an interdisciplinary field - different disciplines were asking similar questions about the nature of the human mind (cognitive psychology, linguistics, philosophy, computer science, and cognitive neurology/neuroscience, etc.).

Cognitive is perceiving or knowing

Often will see the simple idea that cognitive science is therefore the science of the mind. [Xeno note: really, in sum cogntive science will turn also to the apparatus that gives the mind it capacity (the brain) so it is really the science of the mind-brain; tangent as required.]

1.1 The Cognitive View takes the perspective that the mind is a complex system that receives, stores, retrieves, transforms and transmits information. Therefore this view is called the computational or information processing perspective. By necessity it is a partial view of the humman being (all perspectives are inherently partial), but yet it provides a unique and rich set of insights into human nature and human potential.

One historical root of cognitive science is deductive reasoning derived by the Greek philosophers; this is the process by which we assume or accept some information to be true and derives further information that follows logically from those assumptions. For example, if you takes the two premises All dogs have fleas and Fido is a dog, one can logically derive the conclusion that Fido has fleas. Aristotle showed that deductively valid logical arguments took one of a small range of general forms. Learning to reason deductively then, can be viewed as learning an information process by which valid forms of argument can be recognized and produced.

Xeno note: argument, or reasoning is a pretty high level cognitive function relying upon many simpler forms of information processing which we will dissect a bit more closely over the weeks and quarter.

1.2 Some Fundamental Concepts

Information processes are contentful and purposeful:
Content: information or stuff, has meanings, significance about the world
Purpose: processes or the responses resulting from the processing serves some purpose, it is adaptive or goal oriented. [Xeno's evolutionary side note: presumably, the processes remained a part of our genetic codes because they were indeed adaptive to the environmental conditions our ancestors found themselves in. Survival of the fittest literally means that those who best the environmental demands will survive to the age of reproduction and pass on the genetic codes for those adaptive features.] [Second tangent - content vs. process, one of my favorites!]

Information processes are representational.
[Xeno: any information is contained in a representation which has meaning (content) AND it has an effect that is, consequences to follow any form of representation or piece of information.]

Back to Stillings:
The info (or content) being processed is represented in some form in the system. The representation is NOT the thing itself. Symbols, like letters or numbers ('5' for example), stand for a 'thing', which is represented. The symbol gets represented too, but it is simply not the same thing as the thing (That is, '5' does NOT equal the number 5, it just stands in for it. Somewhere in the mind-brain, the number get represented... makes sense, eh?). Representations are mental symbols and ALL mental processing are done with/on representations of THREE TYPES: 1) perceptual, 2) conceptual or categorical and 3) linguistic. QUARTER LONG RHETORICAL CHALLENGE: think of a representation, or a form of thought that is NOT one of these three.

Information processes can be studied formally
Yup, and it gets pretty dull too! Algorithms = formal procedure or system, often framed for problem solving. IT is the process - little regard to the content. Sometimes we solves problems informally, or with some holistic or random approach - that is NOT with a formal algorithm or NOT the way the FORMAL PROCESS would suggest. Example of catching something... can solve the problem mathematically or with a holisitic simultaneous visual-spatial-proprioceptive body process.

Cognitive Science is a basic science (pursuit of knowledge for the sake of knowledge). Sometimes some applied directions results. Memory for example.

1.3 Information processes may be studies at multiple levels.
Info. processing is implemented on the physical level - both in human and in
computer models. Set in motion by physical events - processing is a physical process (yes, circularity observed, discussed). Reductionism revisited.

Importance of higher level of analysis - actual level of mental experience. Neurophysiology bears little resemblance to that which it attempts to explain; other mechanical or electronic examples.

Chapter 2: Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychologists are interested in human cognition, such as our capacity for perception, memory, thinking, problem solving and learning. As psychologists, they study behavior under carefully controlled conditions, often in a laboratory and often under experimental conditions. Sometime the ecological validity or generalizability of their findings are limited due to these traditions, but their theories are carefully tested and can be challenged by anyone who chooses to design a study with similar variable. Peer review is a critical feature of whether results are disseminated (published) or not. [Whoa, save this rant for Research Methods in HDEV.]

The NOTION of Cognitive Architecture - how would the whole human experience (or the information processing system) be constructed? What would the parts & pieces be? (Developmental question would be HOW are the parts assembled, or disassembled, over the lifespan?). A given architecture would allow or not allow particular types of processing if the required parts were not built in.

Individual differences - cannot assume the structure of the mind is the same across people. Both genetic and experiential differences could 'build' structures with a great degree of variability. One thing shared across humans is the ability to learn new information AND new skills (CONTENT and PROCESS, here we go again!). So, the nature of our mind-brain structures that allows for this flexibility (or plasticity) is inherently interesting. And yet, we often overlook the differences and focus on a common architecture.

Smallest unit- the representation? (The neuron for physical analysis?)

Modules - a distinct step in a process that operates on certain type of information utilizing a similar form of mental signal or code. May involve a transformation/change in the meaning of the content. (A set of neural circuits?)

Mode - way of thinking; a series of steps of processing a certain tyoe of information. A modality... (a series of neural circuits and pathways connected in sequence).

SENSORY INPUT and PERCEPTUAL PROCESSING
Signal transduction - environmental energy into neural code
Receptor cells - energy specific
Perceptual fields - built up with experience, but also some genetic predispositions (again, think about what would have been adaptive over 1000s of generations of ancestors).

Memory? Perception proves it at very basic level, but not 'memory' as we think of it.
Neuromuscular junction - ok, jumping ahead to the output, but lets see this complete process from input to output as this is the Architecture section.

More Stillings Chapter 2
Schema - a mental (or cognitive) structure, smallish, for conceptualizing or organizing incoming information into sensible content.

Types of schema or schemata:
-propositional (relational)
-conceptual (abstraction of thing)

Also, COMPLEX schemata
-frames (visual frame, context)
-scripts (or activity schema)

Automatic vs. Controlled processes

Week 2

2008-09-29T23:53:00.000-07:00

Human growth and biological development vs. behavior and cognition

Human change and grow and develop. Lots of ways to look at this; measure is quantitatively, view it qualitatively or consider it's transformative nature. However, it clearly rests upon a biological entity (the human itself). It is fascinating, because it is us.
1. Growth, development and maturation
Definitions (p. 15, Barry Bogin, Patterns of Human Growth)

Human development (biology) Wikipedia.org article with mega-hypertext
Especially note the stages/phases of physical growth.

Human Growth Charts:
Head circumference (QuickTime)
Motor Milestones

QuickTime Clips:
Brain Growth
Major Event in Neural Development
Seen a fetus lately?

2. Emergent properties of the physical body
Behaviorism is not a bad word. More Wiki
Cognition - is it as good a plain old thinking?

Digital Libraries

2008-09-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

Caron Inouye's (BIOL) presentation at Back to the Bay Conference at CSUEB.

Examples are The National Science Digital Library (NSDL) and MERLOT

Some specific items:

Embryonic growth in 22 secs (credit Nova)

Taming the Beast

2008-01-08T13:27:00.000-08:00

This quarter's subject: Research Methods in Human Development.

For your rapid study and/or review:

Linguistics Dept at BYU has a nice on-line tutorial, enjoy.

Are you Dense?

2007-12-04T12:02:00.000-08:00

Thick Headed

2007-12-04T11:55:00.000-08:00

"The developmental trajectory of waxing and waning in cortex thickness differs as the brain matures in different IQ groups. Thickness of the area at the top/front/center, highlighted in MRI brain maps at left, peaks relatively late, at age 12 (blue arrow), in youth with superior intelligence, perhaps reflecting an extended critical period for development of high-level cognitive circuits." See NIH report for more details.

Myelin Nation

2007-11-27T11:50:00.001-08:00

It's worth noting that much of the brain is NOT made up of neurons - their is more cranial space consisting of myelin and CSF than 'brain cells'. Areas thick with the fatty glia cells that make up the myelin sheat are seen as 'white matter' and are axon rich (also called 'pathways') whereas areas with little myelin are seen as 'gray matter' and conist largely of neuron cell bodies (also called 'nuclei'). Any empty space is filled with CSF, or cerebrospinal fluid.

I found a great resource for teaching/learning body basics - it's called Get Body Samrt.

Fight or Flight vs. Rest & Digest

2007-11-20T21:02:00.001-08:00

The Autonomic Nervous System monitors bodily conditions and adjusts them for the context.

Although the exteme respeonse of fight or flight is the typical illustration of sympathetci arousal, in truth, the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems are always activated and is some sort of balance. Extreme parasympathic activation would be rest & digest.

More consciousness...

2007-11-06T11:53:00.001-08:00

State(s) of consciousness defined as the overall pattern of activation.

The OVERALL pattern of mind-brain activation; includes, but is more than simply being conscious or unconscious or "the subconscious" mind. These states are fluctuating, however, any pattern of activation is likely to recur; and a recurring pattern of activation may become a persisting TRAIT rather than simply a state. The state reflects both the type of processing going on (or degrees of various processes) AND the content being processed. Many things can affect the overall pattern of activation; keep in mind you have some control over this. SO, be mindful over whatever pattern of activation you allow - because it will recur or possibly even persist and may not go away (or at least not easily).

A simple neural network:
With all of this talk about patterns of neural activation, here is a simple schematic diagram. Imagine TWO stimuli, create TWO waves of activation - maklign ONE unique pattern of activation. Linking those two pattern may be the basis of memory.

Also, it might help to read up on EEG. Lord help me, I'm sending you to Wikipedia! Mostly for the pictures and basic method of EEG.
Common types of brain waves (see Carter, p. 179):
Alpha: low amplitude, moderate/high frequency, eyes open, THINKING
Beta: low amplitude, high frequency, ALERT
Theta: moderate amplitude, low/moderate frequency, DROWSY/RELAXED
Delta: high amplitude, slow frequency, DEEP SLEEP, "slow waves"

EEG is also used to collected brain reactions to specific stimuli by "averaging" over a number of trials so random activity cancels itself out. These reactions are also sometimes called brain waves, but are known more precisely as:
1) "evoked potentials" for reactions to sensory nature of the stimulus (<200 ms).
2) "event-related potentials" for reactions to the meaning of the stimuls (approx 200+ ms).

SLEEP
Stages
Awake
REM sleep - dreamiong, or paradoxicall sleep
Stages 1,2,3,4

Why don't we see upside down?

2007-10-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

Major parts of the visual system. Note that the lens in the eye flips the image upside down and this orientation is carried through the system's pathway all the way to the visual cortex (back of the brain) Primary visual cortex is where we have our first conscious awareness of visual input and that input is further processed (decoded) in secondary and tertiary visual cortices (most senses are set up with these 'tiers' of processing in subsequent neighboring cortical zones).

Do we see the world upside down? Nope, we quickly adapt to this image flip - and this makes the point that the neural code is simply neural energy representing information and NOT the information itself (and certainly not the 'thing' itself).

We are InfoVista...

2007-10-10T23:10:00.000-07:00

I won't be too surprised if some folks still refer to the team as 'Documentum' even in 08. But, for 2008 and probably beyond 2009, the East Bay Cyclists club's race team shall be named for the generous sponsor InfoVista. Uh, network service... I mean network security... something important, I'll get better at this. Anyway, this is but a minor change in the NorCal racing scene.

There will still be a team named EMC2 and we (I?) wish them the best of luck sluggin it out in the upper echelon of NCNCA racing. Wonder what colors they'll select? What with Hootie, Sasser and lord knows who else joining th eZebratic Jesster, I finally have to ask: whatexactly is a VOS anyway? Will Morgan Spinal 24 Hour Specialized add some green to their kit? Speaking of green, will BPG come through for another year of title sponsor cash for the RHVillans? Will VSRT add a few more racers and make an impact? Will the blue dots continue their solid growth and dominate all categories? Why don't Synergy guys wave back? (Except for you Andreas, thanks again for the tube.) And finally, will the Peggy's have another color mishap that accidentally improves the look of their kit again for 08?

Well, look for us InfoVistas in the familiar spidey-like carbon-weave kit on the road and in the dirt and even in some multi-sport type events. Now, get back to your winter training; or eating.

X highlight for 2007

2007-09-29T10:42:00.001-07:00

Magically, my 'add image' featured restored itself here in blogland. With pix again, I promise to post more than once a month for all of the 07-08 schoolyear....

One day, last June, we East Bay Cyclists racing under the banner of EMC2/Vellum Cycles put on a little crit race. The course is fun and I've come to know & love it much better in the past year or so; we did our skills camp there last December and (coach) Gianni leads a sprint workout there on Wednesdays. IT was a real thrill to be a part of a solid day of racing - not as a racer, but as a host for the day of racing. MY highlight for 07 was not any result - but being a part of the cycling community and giving something back to my team and other racers.

EMC race day, I got overly eager in the 35+4/5 race and attacked halfway through the race (something I hardly ever do). Whatdya know, the only responder was my teammate Adam M... I was on day 2 of racing (Dash for Cash day before) and had little sleep (as registrar for our race and father of 2 wild boys). SO, the image above captured our brief foray OTF and my HR nearing max. I finished mid-pack and a wee bit batter the day before. Really, a success because a year before this weak display of bravado, I had pneumonia. Here's to the 2007 NCNCA season, was fun and mostly healthy for me! See you at the races next year - and hopefully in some off-season activities in the next 4 months.

thirsty?

2007-08-31T18:56:00.001-07:00

For new bloggage from x-man? Me too... trying to remember how to do this... can't add images... I'm lost without that key tool... even Keven T told me a month ago on the HOP ride my content was stale... sorry... help... I tried on-line guide with the lack of action when I click on the add image icon, but nuttin happens... I could add video if I had some that wasn't x-rated... get it? 'X'-rated... imagine a picture of a chilly mojito here:

And people, stop breaking things! (me included, I broke a shifter on a truck, don't ask for the embarrassing details but my wife says I owe her $300).

Sorry to say...

2007-05-08T12:34:00.000-07:00

I was right about Basso - excepted he 'never transfused' and now Dr. Fuentes can use the 'I was just holding it for a friend' defense. Back to the NCNCA... who's leading BAR/BAT now?

Bye bye bloody Basso!

2007-04-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

Reading between the lines, my guess is some of them bags were donations from Basso - if not, just give the dna, run the test, race/win, secure new sponsorship. Be the Basso we thought you were.

Mo Wins Copperopolis!

2007-04-09T18:10:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit Jan Snyder.
Here's how the 35+4/5 Field A finished; Maurice Daroy by a tire width!

BAR 2007...

2007-03-30T17:23:00.000-07:00

Uhh, just noticed BAR/BAT points are actually pretty up-to-date; 'mates at 1,5,15! Go Team!

Master 35+ 4/5 Points
Lic# Name Team Points
1 202515 John Cheetham EMC2/Vellum Cycles 30
2 49703 Kyle Clinton Stanislaus/Merlock Velo 28
3 219415 Eric Hoffmann Fusion Sport USA 28
4 255562 David Stone Central Valley Cycling 22
5 236946 Steven Vickery EMC2/Vellum Cycles 22
6 219614 Nelson Willhite Sierra Express/TONC 22
7 235063 Jeff Albert Unattached 21
8 236825 Craig Steinmaus ZteaM 19
9 219237 Stone Beck Central Valley Cycling 18
10 203517 Thomas Sorbera Delta Velo 18
11 207280 Tomas Ovalle Southern Sierra Cyclists 16
12 240484 Ramon Alarcon San Jose Bicycle Club 15
13 236346 Scott Herring Touchstone Climbing 15
14 231918 Robert McDaniel Webcor/Alto Velo 15
15 236133 Maurice Daroy EMC2/Vellum Cycles 14

2 Points

2007-03-28T21:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, indeed - Hanford Crit brought good times and my first 2 points toward my 4 to 3 upgrade ... not in a huge hurry; I mean, what's 18 years as a cat4 if not a learning experience? And me, I like learnin'! In Hanford, I learned the field size is proportional to amount of fun... It took about a year to re-learn what I forgot in 10 years away from the sport and last year was mostly illness-racing so performance was minimal. Now, I feel ready to race. However, the Velo Promo t-shirt still eludes me; Hanford only shirted top 4 and there I was in 5th place.

Gianni has just moved on up and his knowledge, skills and fitness are daunting. I hope I and others can fill in for some of the leadership and assertiveness he provided to both the EMC Sportie squad and the 35+4(5) peloton. He scored his final point in his first race of the day (E4/5), a total of SIX ca$h primes in the two 4/5 races and was only 1/2 lap shy of giving me the leadout of my life in the 35+4/5. Can't blame him after riding 2 races at full tilt; hardly a move went that he wasn't in or marking. Being the stand-up guy he is, bought me & Merkeley a lotta lunch! Cheers Gianni!

Curse of Menlo

2007-03-12T13:55:00.000-07:00

Photo credit: MJ Miranda

Ok, seems a lil curse of menlo on my 'mate Dr. A. Last year he had some head-over-heels action and this year, unattached dude with Lynyrd Skynyrd moustache squirrelled-out with 3 laps to go in the E4 race. Those taken out included the good Dr. A. He escaped relatively unharmed, but DNFed, and took another crack at breaking the curse in the 35+3/4 race only to flat out... after Jim V had taken his campy rear wheel.

Back to the Skynyrd-related crash - sorry dude, I know you're hurt bad, and I hope it's not too bad - hope you and any others injured are back at it soon. But based on this photo, seems to be a clear case of operator error. For some reason, dude's got one hand on the TOP of the bar and the other on the DROP. Note the extreme angle he's got on the longest & straightest stretch of a pretty basic crit course (with some jigsaw puzzle pavement and other surface hazards, but really, not a technical course at all). This caused a pretty exotic crash leading Angela to pretty much exclude road racing from the 3 junior Mo's futures. I wouldn't surprised if Mo himself has to do some smooth talking for his next crit as well. Anyway, the bodies piled up & cleared out, but one was on the ground a while leading to 3 laps of 'neutral' time - we were instructed to maintain our position - somehow I ended up at the very back, again. I'd just worked for 5 laps to get into decent position... well, a line-up and restart for a 3 lap finale' after the previous carnage did NOT appeal to my killer instinct. Nevertheless, there was a fatigue factor and lots of the guys who took advantage of my gentle nature during the neutral laps were sluggish off the line and were simply obstacles for me to pass. Did they think they'd really get somewhere (besides in the way?) by passing riders in a time of neutralization? Different than neutralization while being overtaken in a road race, but a similar lack of principle & honor noted. Minus Dr. A, our team result was Mo in 10th place.

Ok, this all relates to the topic of 'upgrading' brought out last week in a few places; at the ol' NCNAracing forum, but also by Gianni at his blog. Gianni asked if we are learning what we are 'supposed to' through cat5 & 4 experiences. As a career cat 4 (so far, but only on and off since about 1990), I started before there was a cat 5. If I may be so bold to critique a requirement I never had to meet (but have exceeded in multiples years ago), it seems with the rapid influx of new riders, the cat 5 to 4 standards might be a bit lax. I mean, 10 mass starts... what about a finish? Is that harder to keep track of? is it because promoters don't always do full results? Or is it truly felt that simply starting 10 races is enough exprience to move up to my coveted cat4 race level? The gifted new riders should be able to make it up the cat system just as fast, but there should be more opportunity for skills development for the more typical racer on the way up.

I know people at every level of the sport can do something stupid when the pressure is on (or off), but how did the Skynyrd guy - and others - get through a cat 5 to 4 'induction' and/or experience upgrade and not get enough bike-handling experience and/or guidance to do the move illustrated above? I dont mean to pick on him - maybe he's more expereinced than me and just had a moment. Damn sure, he had some fitness to be that far up in a pack averaging 26+ mph; heck, of that I'm envious. Especially tough in a pack that kept braking into every turn and sprinting out; yes, more skills to learn for 4s; and yes, I include myself. I spent 30 minutes last week doing right-hand/clockwise cornering in anticipation of this race - are others drilling themselves similarly? Do newer riders even know to do this? Am I talking to myself? If I hire a coach will I earn upgrade points? Would I truly be a 'cat 3'? Do I even want to race cat 3? Couldn't I just enjoy a career of master's sport racing without bone head moves and a pressure to upgrade and upgrade quickly to avoid the 'crash 4' races? Do I go back to triathlon where crashes are rare and self-inflicted?

Anyway, let's think, how can we make the sport better? safer? Ironically, the cat 5 group looked fast & safe (50 guys vs. 100 in any cat might be the main difference there). Yeah, the EB mentor program is great, for those that do it, and early 4s are no different than 5s, although every rider is in some way unique unto themselves. I got great mentoring in the 35+3/4 race later at menlo - they didn't brake in the corners... it was great. Enough ranting for now, time to train.

The Vickerator

2007-03-05T21:40:00.000-08:00

More photos from Snelling help tell the story, photo credit Shari Greenspan. Vic at the front, about to cause some pain at start of lap 4... damn, I'm at the back again! At least the field is cut in half.

Vic emerges at the end of race with a sizable gap over... Mo Daroy for 2nd!

Smells like Snelling

2007-03-01T22:48:00.000-08:00

Ahh, a full field on a sunny day; this is Field B of 35+4/5 sport racers. Actually, I count about 55 helmets in the shot alone and it's missing the two-man break that lasted til the final lap and also missing a few of my 11 team-mates... I can see myself, far right of the frame back of the mass. Amazing to think how easily I was able to move to the front of this mass. No really, I did spend a lot more time at the front than usual; of course it helps that several teams were afraid of the wind. Did a lot of work, some of it wise, some misplaced, but we got the end result teams dream of - DOUBLE VICTORY!

Steve Vickery threw down a mighty solo effort for the entire final lap catching the breakaway on it's last breaths and Mighty Mo Daroy won the field sprint. You can see Mo at the very front of the pic, just left of center; a spidey mate over each shoulder, Dave left, Richard right. So, we went 1-2 with our biggest guy (209) and smallest guy (maybe 135?). Yes, we had the largest team in the field, but we did last year as well and only managed one top 10 (again, Mighty Mo in only his 2nd RR ever). In true, lovable, Velo Promo fashion, haven't seen full results yet, but I am certain I placed my highest yet in the region (12-15th?). Squeezed in alongside Dave & Richard, we were within CMs of each other and some other sporty. Anyway, I think my best race yet in the geezer chapter of my life. And I'm still in my Base Phase.

Photo credit: Jan Snyder

More BJM!

2007-02-25T13:33:00.000-08:00

Well, since 'nando is probably racin', I can post the in-progress Ben oriented ToC report; 16 miles into the stage, BJM is driving in the break that just hit the 1:20 mark. It's 7 riders, very U.S. heavy w/2 Slippers (Pate & Cozza) & 2 HealthNuts (Menzies (Aus) & Tim J), T-United-Sean Sullivan (Taz)& T-Mobile-Adam Hansen (Aus).

Update: 65 minutes/30 miles into the race and the break is looking strong & just around 3:00 gap! Pate is leader on the road.

Update: Gap's coming down now; 2 hours into race, about 20 miles to go and gap is now under 2 minutes. Break still seems to be working well together, but Disco has help from sprinter's teams in the chase.

Just Plain Benjamin...

2007-02-25T10:50:00.000-08:00

From VeloNews.com; Stage 6, ToC, we can see BJM finishing in good company, but only with a first name! Taylor T also in there... My sattelite recpetion gave out on me, so I saw very little of the stage, too bad, sounded exciting.

15. Bram De Groot (Nl), Rabobank, s.t.
16. Sergey Lagutin (UZB), Navigators Insurance, s.t.
17. Jurgen Van De Walle (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, s.t.
18. Taylor Tolleson (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle, s.t.
19. Benjamin (USA), Priority Health-Bissell, s.t.
20. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), CSC, s.t.
21. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, s.t.
22. Jackson Stewart (USA), BMC

Cantua Micro Field

2007-02-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

35+ 4/5 Field A = 16 riders. Well, I should just enjoy the experience of racing in a smaller field which is a rarity given my old sportie status and NCNCA locale; and enjoy it I did, but.... Why can't I simply enjoy it? why does it still bug me? Because just behind us is Field B, made up of 33 riders. Due to clerical/record keeping errors, our beloved Velo Bob split the field. He had issued race numbers 300-367 and field limit was 50. But, there were 10 numbers missing in the sequence and some no-shows, and the Ref was unable to (or seemed unwilling to) make a decision at the start line to rejoin the field into one group of about 49 (Last year our field was 54, so it is possible to exceed the field limit of 50. At least there is a precedent.) So, the first 16 registered (as in, we mailed our entries in early January) raced in a group ineligible for upgrade points and smaller than the typical group rides in our home area; the late-comers enjoyed a larger field, though still small for our ilk, and were eligible for upgrade points. The pessimistic interpretation is that this was a 12 hour day for a glorified training ride; I could've stayed home and trained as hard for much less money and had time to do some work. The positive interpetation is that it was a beautiful day on a fun & nearly traffic free course, I got to race with 4 other team-mates (two of 'em got well-deserved t-shirts; good job Dave & Steve!); I worked (and trained) my ass off taking many long pulls and it was indeed fun; Heck, I 'earned' my highest placing in a NCNCA event (11th, but I only counted 9 ahead of me; what's the point of protesting/questioning results of a race not eligible for upgrade points/top 10 finish anyway?). And I got some good Nando chat at the finish line waiting for the Women's finish.

How petty am I?!? I mean, this is such a small issue in the Big Picture of the world and in the micro-cosm of racing it's nearly a non-issue. Top racing concerns for us masters are safety, fitness & fun. So why does this still bug me? Because it was fully preventable. Fairness should be somewhere in the list of objectives in athletic competition too; see 'hootie's discussion on ToC Stage 1. Anybody doing a head count would see it was ONE solid field. Ref, unwilling to go against the race promoter's decision. Where was the race promoter? Or anyone else with the authority to decide or ability to contact the promoter? In my old districts where I knew ref's, I would've been more assertive, but I didn't want to be that bitchey sport racer on EMC2/Vellum. Rant off. And that's all the time/energy I have, so no actual report.... but it was fun, honest! I just needed to ventilate this. No more shall be spoken nor written on the Cantua Micro Field. (by me)

Race Fan

2007-02-12T22:42:00.000-08:00

Only three and a half and gapping the 9 year-old girl bad. Took Kai to watch the Pro & Women race at Martinez. Hell if I was racin' in that much wet stuff... turns out, he's a race fan. Knew just what to do - yell. He's totally mastered the concept of 'chasing.' Thought the moto ref was pretty cool too. Enjoyed some post-race chatter with 'nando. Trying to hook him early. I'm sure it'll fail, but fun for now. As long as he tolerates going to a few races a year and yells for me, I'll be happy.

Lucky 77

2007-01-25T14:56:00.000-08:00

Hors Categorie Photo
For those not yet alert, or not a member of the NorCal fellowship of biker geeks - 2007 Race Season has begun! Yeah sure, some teetotaling lunatics raced up San Bruno hill on New Year's Day and we've had a coupla Early Bird training crits, but seems as though the Cal Aggie Crit is truely the first race of the season. I skipped it last year as there is no Old Sportie category and Jan 20 seems awful early to start racing. This year, it came at the end of a RnR week and I needed some fast pack riding experience sooner rather than later - so with a lift from Gianni - and a few other Sporties ready for action - I could not resist the chance to race two or three different races available for an old cat 4 like me on that day. We arrived to find the ever popular 4/5 Elite race filled nearly two hours before it started, so - it was time to "man up" and lay down the cash for two races: 35+ Open and 3/4 Elite; unfortunately, back-to-back races.

A rare and kind of scary prospect to race with the elder 1,2,3 boys we admire so much. Turned out to be nothing but fun, speed and anaerobia. We sporties found the speed a bit higher but pack dynamics much smoother than our usual 4/5 races. Though I spent most of my 38 minutes tagged onto the back, the pack was tight and I could still see what was happening at the front of the race. I was running just over LT, wondering what I was doing in there when I could see a trio form a gap - spidey sense up! Looked like Nathan in the break; Sierra man pulls out of the pack and wants to move up so I prepare to take the ride just as Gianni commands 'grab that wheel!' I take the ride all the way to front and Sierra wants to bridge... so I swing into a polite blocking position, let him go, and BLAM - it's Hernando around us both to make the trio a 4-man break that almost lasted. (Magically, Hernando still won, even though that break was caught.) I pull for a paltry amount of time, drift back, and take myself out with 6 laps to go simply for some extra rest before the 3/4 race. Most of the other EMC Sporties lasted til the end of 35+ race and even did some work for the team - Richard even scored a 23rd place.

Race 2: I actually lasted the full 50 minutes with the 100 man (including at least one woman) totally full 3/4 field. True, I rolled over the line in 77th place - DFL - but at least I made it! My last 3/4 race was late 2005 and I got lapped... Those slow downs on the one true turn of the course resulted in 15 to 30 mph sprints every lap. Great day of training for me - great to see the NCNCA race scene again - and I believe this is an indication I am more fit than last year at this time; at least more confident and recovered from the June Pneumonia debacle. Raced 40+ miles total in 1:38 for ave speed of 25+ mph. Not getting older, getting fitter. Ronnie Nome scored a 5th in the 35+, finished the 3/4 raced and lasted about 1/2 the Pro 1/2/3 race... now that's some training!

Mines Road Posse

2007-01-07T13:52:00.000-08:00

Couple weeks back with the Sporties on a skills ride with Coach Ron. My low quality camera phone does not reveal too much detail, but the vibe is captured: Early season team comraderie, remote country roads and booties.

Those 5 Things...

2007-01-07T09:50:00.000-08:00

I got tagged by the the Merkeley-AliCat combo in this 'game' in the midst of holiday haze and have not yet delivered the goods. (Is anyone still playing?). Like others, I am wondering about the criteria: 'interesting' things? new things people don't know? if you only know me from the blog or bike world, pretty much anything would be new and/or interesting. However, I am not completely anonymous here as people from work have seen my blog with varying effects (though I suspect I've bored them all away by now). I feel a bit self-concious and can't go as far into the interesting realm as perhaps I'd like... nevertheless:

1. I was a kindergarden drop-out in East Lansing MI where it was not required. I was a hyperactive youngster who knew my Principal Better than my teachers. I was suspended once in junior high and once in high school.

2. Despite #1, I graduated from Homewood Flossmoor (ILL) HS in decent shape and went to college - mainly to swim NCAA div III at Augustana College (Rock Island ILL) and discovered academic interest and skill. Once I found stuff I wanted to learn (sports psychology and then neuropsychology), I got hooked on school and earned my doctorate from University of Georgia (hence my nickname, Dr. X). UGA is where I picked up my cycling habit and enjoyed a second collegiate athletic career.

3. My name really is 'Xeno'. Born in 1965 to beat-hippie artist parents; Lizzy & Buzzy. They had connections and impact on the arts - my Mom (educator and visual artist) was friend, muse & model for R. Crumb and my dad is Buzzy Linart; co-wrote Bette Midler's theme song & first hit, "(You Gotta Have) Friends". With him, I've met too many musicians to list but a few with name recognition are Doctor John, Jackson Brown, Eric Burden, Styx, George Clinton & P-Funk (no words with Bootsy, damn), 'Fatha' Earl Hines, Maruga, Paul Schaeffer, John B. Sebastian, John Hammond, Lee Freeman (of Strawberry Alarm Clock AND Lynyrd Skynyrd), and all of The Holy Modal Rounders.

4. I never dared to really plunge into art; I just dabbled in radio, photo, writing, acting, voice over, blues harmonica and eclectic rock bands ('Stimulus Bound' was my best creative co-effort in the Baltimore years with an all Johns Hopkins Hospital band; 'ATM' had promise but faded after our only gig opening for The Holy Modal Rounders at Sweetwater). My worst arts moment was getting cut from the college dance troup.

5. I've competed in swimming, diving, wrestling, cross-county, track, field, road running, skateboarding, gymnastics, rock climbing, cycling, and triathlon. I can't remember ever winning an event of any significance - I do it because it's fun & good for you. For me, it's been therapeutic: Keeps me fit, out of trouble and in touch with good people.

Can I still tag? Flandria, Farzan, Maynard me Gusta, Little Jewford, and Dennis. If they already did their thing, sorry, I missed it!

X-Mas 2006

2006-12-26T17:32:00.000-08:00

Here's the required "kids with Santa" shot!

Welcome John!

2006-12-21T09:07:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the EMC-Vellum Sport Squad John Gerling! Turns out we raced side-by-side last year; at least for a Kodak moment at the Wente Crit. He's in the grey & black just behind and to the left of the VSRT Old Timer (sorry, forgot his name, but he does the 1st of the Month WOT ride). And there's me (ol' Red Beard) just to the right. John raced some crits last year and made the plunge for '07 - we're happy to have your Valley presence and wisdom on the team! (photo credit Glenn James, originally appeared at http://www.vsrt.org )

Presenting...

2006-12-11T12:48:00.000-08:00

The 2007 EMC2/Vellum Cycles Sport and Women's Squads! Great turnout for our 2-day December Skills Camp with Nicole Freeman. Thanks to 'The Team' and those who made this event happen; you know who you are and what you did. To the NCNCA competition in the 35+ 4/5, and Women's races, you can expect Spidey to be a good sport as always, but look out; We've got some new members and new skills!

Turkey Ride 2006

2006-11-29T15:39:00.000-08:00

20th Annual Turkey Ride out of Danville was fun - only my 2nd year doing it, but quite a spectacle. Gotta estimate around 500 riders roll down San Ramon Valley Blvd to PleasanTown and back on Camino Tassajara. Most of the usual suspects plus every fitness Fred in town were present. This shot was with my cell phone camera while twisting back at the mass from the very front just as we leave Danville. One dumb crash with a number of bodies and bikes piled up while we were going straight. No fatalities. Good times. I got caught a bit far back when we hit the one-lane squeeze and watched the lead group of about 100 (!) ride away. While chasing and dodging the castoffs, my last shot at bridging was Larry Nolan, but I was red-lined already - my buddy Rod jumped on and went up the road with Larry completely ignorant of what a high quality world class wheel he was sucking. Great job Rod! NCNCA needs your fresh talent in the cat 5 stable.

One for the poets & poetry lovers

2006-11-22T12:43:00.000-08:00

My Uncle Gair blogs too - his is The New Mexico Poet's Corner. One of my fav's of his is there:

Who I Am

I don’t carry a briefcase

I don’t get off the train every night at five-thirty

I don’t have adoring or rotten kids waiting for me

I don’t have a sexy
nagging
or servile wife either

What do I have?

All I have is this

About once every ten thousand years or so
A real goddess of love will grant me refuge in her temple

I will sing songs
fix her swamp cooler and roll on the floor with her dogs
I will sip wine and chop potatoes

She will create a stew more piquant than might any man’s legal wedded doxy

Crickets will sing and stars will shine in through her screen door

C 1993 Gair

Long Ago...

2006-10-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

... Jan. 2006, Was my official return to road racing at ye ol' Early Bird RR. Thanks to the folks at EMC/Vellum, I had a lot of fun even with my early exit due to illness in late May. Pictured above is the 'other' Ras on our squad (Krag), centered in this grupetto of 35+ 4/5 as the road starts to head up. I look forward to 2007 with more structured training and heightened sensitivy to my health and recovery needs. Also hope to race more with Krag since his season was also cut short with a new baby and new job.

Family Time

2006-09-13T00:14:00.000-07:00

The Happy Barefooted Raz family - Maya (old dog), Laura (mom/wife), Kai (3.5 yrs), Xeno (me), Logan (20 months), Dakota (younger dog). Thanks Johnny for making us look so normal! Photo credit Borter Wagner Photography.

Run for Fun

2006-08-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

OV has a creative side-bar on running. It's mostly oriented for the bits of running done between the cycling parts of cyclocross. As a reformed running addict, sounds good to me, and it seems like the right approach to the bits of running in CX that should indeed be explosive. Since my race season is also over, I'll be relapsing a bit to the ol' trot. It is especially time efficient and portable for travel. Plus a little variety aka cross-training might put some spice back in my training. Oh yeah, and I do lots of silly walk type drills too, plus a bit of the ol' fartlek. Heck, just running will build the core, but do some high steppin' drills and feel the burn!

Ze Frank is Surging

2006-08-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

OK, if you haven't worked Ze Frank into your busy life yet, please see this episode of Ze Frank and explore a few other episodes if you liked that. His spoof on the design of the terror alert system is better than nearly all tv comedy.

Whole New Thang

2006-08-03T22:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, mild case of bike lust going on here. Actually lusting for the entire sub-sport of cyclo -cross. No way I'm gonna get clearance on this one, but it does have a practical acpect to it. If I can sell my Felt, I might be able to swing it. But then I'd need new shoes... mud loving pedals... oh yeah, and bike handling skills!

Time to Focus

2006-08-01T00:22:00.000-07:00

Summer Break? Somewhere in the desert of my training log, is an actual training ride. None in the sweet zone of anaerobia for many weeks gone by and many more to come. Off 4 weeks with the crud - mostly off two more just to ensure I got over it all. Back a week. Off almost a week to Phoenix (cooler than than the NorCal heat wave of '06). Now, must remain in the build mindset (like it was January again) until Septemberish. Then, I can return to the full range of fun and suffering we love and learn to expect from our two-wheeled partners in fitness and mental health. What that's that thing called... cyclocross? hmmm....

On the mend

2006-07-07T13:12:00.000-07:00

Back in March ('Spring Break' even) The Iannucci's visited from LittleTown, Colorado and Carl took this pic of Frannie, Logie (lil hooligan in the middle) and myself somewhere over The Bay. Was a nice visit, but I recall that even then I was run down, fighting off some sort of cold and deeply in need of a break. Rest. Recovery. Siesta. Mending. Recooperation. Healing. Sleep. Et cetera. Never got it and now, I'm still payin' for it. Learn from my mistakes: Take some time to rest.

I'm Out!

2006-06-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

Well, it all finally reached the tipping point. Many tiny buggers passed back & forth between the the two younger Raz Boys, Momma X & Myself... not stopping to fully recover, work stress and racing like an idiot with a snotty head cold = sinusitis, bronchitis + pnemonia. Me down & out 10 days already (minus 1/2-a-day to race 1/2-assed at Dash for Cash). Only upside for me in the 'Dash' was that Kai got to see Daddy race and because I wisely pulled out 25 minutes into the race, he thought I won... hey, makes sense, I was done and the others had to keep going! 40 minutes later and my HR was still at 146... something wrong. Give me a few weeks recovery and I'll back to casual group rides. Peace & Health, dr. X.

We're all Winners!

2006-05-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

Classic image of a post-classic race - the Pro Winner, Ben Jacques-Maniac (#15) being interviewed (I think by Steven Hill) while Omar Sison, Cat 5 winner & Pegasus mechanic looks on. See BJMs blog-report

Isabel Creek Classic

2006-05-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

PHOTO Credit: Chris Hipp, http://www.54x11.com/photos/MtHamilton2006/
TOP: Not our race, these are the Pros in a solo OTF similar to our situation.

RACE: 35+ 4/5, 38 miles, Isabel Creek start, field of 50 (full)
Team EMC/Vellum results: Bob 3rd, Mo 6th.

Surprisingly, I feel this was probably one of my best efforts of the year - I feel I really gave a hand to the team effort when I could and had a blast even though I spent about 10 miles waiting for another 700 series number to come by (damn, those cat 5s were strong!). I was really happy to see Randy and know I would not have to worry about a sprintdown as long as we kept rolling along alone. Randy schooled me on the descent - for 24th and I got 25th (hey, my highest place in a RR this year!). I'll have to rethink these hilly RRs. I have to admit I was riding within my limits & sleep deprived since my boys are once again trading snot balls and my throat has been getting increasingly tight. Today I am still fighting off something and spent most of Memorial Day in bed.

But, wait, that's the end of the story - after minimal warmup, I lined up close to the front to allow a little a pack slidage on the first climb. I felt surprisingly good and just rode smart and stayed well positioned - someone gave me a lumbar push to keep me in front of them and I'm not even sure it was an EMC, but thanks to whoever it was. Avoided two guys with flats along the rollers (one Delta Velo went down and scrambled to get out of our way - a classy move, hope he's ok). I had some extra to give so I made sure we didn't drop Richard after he did some work on the upside of the rollers, but could not do the same later for Randy and ensure I'd stay with the group. I was happy to find myself with the lead bunch at the start of San Antonio Valley. From the back of that group. I counted about 25 of us, and Randy had just been dropped. Chatter at the back was that Nader was crazy to be solo OTF so soon, because for sure it would come back together and we had made 'the selection'; I knew we had not even begun our attacks but kept that to myself. Well, I COULD HAVE stayed right there, conserved and stuck with the group til the climb. But, I had seen Gianni, Rich & Bob up front for a long time and Nader still had a good gap. So, I work to the front and take a few pulls thru the valley to bring the gap down a bit and protect Bob. Mo always seems to keep himself out of the wind and to look very inconspicuous. Like Randy and Rich, I out did myself and when the two SJBC guys took over the front from me, it was like an attack and back I went. I can see them all rolling away just before the junction and looking back there was no one even in sight - 13 miles in and less than 40 minutes, my race seems over. I take some time to recover, drink and get to do the main climb at my own nice pace. Toward the top I hear heavy steady breathing and see my mechanic from Pegasus, Omar, OTF of the 5s (his first race racing). Small group in chase and others after them. I avoid the urge to even think about working with them and just keep an eye on the #s for a 700. One did come thru - 720 from Fusion - but he had a mechanical and should have been with the lead group, he was climbing steady & fast, so after a while pacing and chatting with him, I let him go (and did not care that he was mixing in with 5s). It was a nice long while before Randy came along and as previously stated, really happy to see him and sorry Jim wasn't along for the ride, but I figured if we waited for him, he'd have other guys to contend with too.

Back to Mines Road

2006-05-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

Here's the EMC2/Vellum Cycles sport team on our 'Mount Hamilton' (Isabel Creek) reconnaissance ride on April 30. From left it's Gianni Cheetah, The Big Volsansky, Mighty Mo and Dr. A. I believe Deano is just behind me & the camera. Not a bad shot for 18 mph on the cell phone, finally figured out how to e-mail it to myself. Anyway, Sunday May 28 is the Mount Hamilton Classic, one of the few 'point-to-point' races in the area. We Master's 35+ 4/5 get a nice handicap; instead of 63 miles including the daunting namesake, we ride 38 miles, starting from the bottom of Mt Ham returning to the outskirts of Livermore. One ~800 foot climb midway trough the race is plenty for me & my flatlander origins. We have one sportie, Joe Mendez, doing the Elite 4 race so he'll do the 63 mile full Hammy. A tue climber. Well, time to rest. Race report to follow.

Kaiboy & His Doggie

2006-05-18T00:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's photo shoot with Momma X was fruitful. Nearly every shot was a keeper. the tree, the hat, even Dakota cooperated (aka, 'dumbass dog' or 'stinkass dog'). Looks a bit like Huck Finn here. He still has the scratch scar from another dog (Maggie, big puppy, yellow lab) on his right cheek, but Momma X is workin' on Photochop, so it's not so noticable here.

Kai in a Tree:

2006-05-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

This is Kai, learning to climb a tree. What a great age, three, except for the bed time drama. Also, he is FINALLY starting to pedal his trikes & bike again. He got so frustrated with not reaching the pedals he just gave up and decided he'd scoot Fred Flintstone style. Photo by Mommy.

Little Logie

2006-05-11T22:35:00.000-07:00

Here's the wee lad, Logan Herbert Rasmusson, Kai's lil bro.
Check those lashes ladies! Photo credit JLB w/'Lens Baby'.

Pick one, any one

2006-04-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

I am such a lame Blogger. I really just did it because all the cool kids were doing it and I needed a Blogger ID to play. I read theirs, and post stupid comments. But I hardly ever update my 'Brain' and my deals are just not that clever. I don't even have a consistent theme - I mean Chico Cyclist is admirably focused on the ol' two wheeler, and Maynard and OV nicely blend life in the peloton with and intentional life. Almighty God has the whole omnipotence thing mastered. Don't even get me started on the political commentary arena. Me, I can't even get my side bar linkage list populated with cool places I browse. So, I thought I would at least give y'all another visual goodie - the above are the classic and universal expressions associated with the basic human emotions. Many thanks for Paul Ekman and his socio-emotional-behavioral research.

So, how ya feelin'?

Snuggle in for Spring

2006-04-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

Not my kid, not my dog. Just one of those images in the old My Pictures file - not sure where it came from. My apologies to the copyright police.

Reasons for posting this:

1) I was getting sick of seeing my last posted image.
2) Seems like a good thing to do in this unstable transitional Spring season.
3) I like dogs and babies, especially ones I'm not responsible for.
4) It's just plain heart-warming (I'm avoiding using the word 'cute' on the advise of a team mate).

Happy to be...

2006-03-27T16:30:00.000-08:00

Here. Now. Maybe my health affirmation worked a bit; but the friends visiting from Colorado kept me off the bike and around the table a bit more and longer than usual. At least I'm healthy & happy again! Hungry to ride & race! Even if a bit heavier than before this imposed break. Always nice to entertain old friends and Cookies, Beer, etc. Thanks Ianuccis!

Hey Mom, I gained 6 pounds in 6 days!

Ohhhmmmm.....

2006-03-16T16:04:00.000-08:00

I will experience ultimate health [edited].

I am healthy.

I am fit.

I am.

[working so far...]

Ahh, home again

2006-03-11T18:41:00.000-08:00

Thank the travel gods - Wife home from China. No longer a single Dad.
Tomorrow, we ride.

Snelling results finally up:

2006-03-10T21:47:00.000-08:00

http://www.velopromo.com/snlg-rl06.htm:
Yo, did ya notice Mark Patten aka Jesus Chong in Snelling results? 3rd in E4 and 11th in 45+ - that's some double! 112+ miles of racing: 49 miles at 8:05 am with the 4s and 63 miles at 12:30 pm with the 45+ field that caught us 35+4/5ers. He also got a 1st & 2nd at Alameda GP. Somebody at NRCAracing said he was also this guy, http://www.markpatten.com but I'm not sure they're correct. What do you think?

My New Training Partner...

2006-03-09T21:45:00.000-08:00

I expect a lot out of this young racer, Kai. Not even 3 yet and he's already perfecting 'The Look.'

Big Ol' Alameda GP Report

2006-03-07T13:27:00.000-08:00

Alameda Grand Prix Crit, 35+ 4/5, 11:10 am start, 45 minutes
Distance covered 19.0, ave mph 24.5 mph, RacerX on the Felt

Racers (8): Adam, Dave, Paul T, Joe, Maurice, Mike, Richard, Xeno

Adam Martin's report (Pictured at right, also did E4 right after this race): I carpooled with Paul. We did a couple of climbs in Clayton on saturday and they might have taken some out of his legs. Joe, Dave, and Paul I think attacked early. I was too far back to see what actually happened. Wyatt and I were at the back and the pace was so high that the rear was was disintegrating. I jumped around soon to be dropped riders to close the gap. Wyatt was stuck and chased for a lap. A few laps later I see Maurice, one of our designated sprinters, in the parking lot. I thought maybe he got pulled since his tires did not look flat. Moving up was extremely difficult. I asked Mike to fill in as our second sprinter. The attacks were seemingly endless. I found Rich and told him that Mike would be sprinting with him. When the lap cards went up at 7 to go I moved up. I found the buildings to be good shelter from the cross wind by going up the right gutter at the elbow right turn. I see Xeno cover a TP move. Then a couple of riders attack with me on their wheel. Next lap another rider goes with me on is wheel. Next lap another 3 go with me on their wheel and another rider on my wheel. Wyatt drags 2 riders up and we have a break of 7. I looked back and I think SJBC and Spine were chasing. I think the riders used up their energy bridging so the break wasn't too organized. Next lap a Spine rider who had been chillin at the back hammers off the front with me on his wheel. At bell lap I looked back and Richard was well positioned. I locked the inside on turn 3, unfortunately Rich got bumped a bit and his position slipped. I saw him fight for the last corner though for his first top 10 finish. Way to go!

Xeno Ras Report: We got lucky with weather again! And we're keeping our top 10 finish streak alive; for BAR/BAT, should it begin again. We made a large impact in the overall race in our largest field of the season so far (75). I stayed for results and Asturias was in 8th, my #300 revealed a '41' finish - was the pack still that big at the end? Plenty crossed the line behind me. Well, as promised I made my big 'move' at 3 laps to go - luckily, I finally got a lap count and got the wheel of #280/Lasik center to fly right up the outside and jump for daylight in the final turn & S/F, stretch. Unrelatedly there was a wee crash on the inside of the final turn with 3 to go - was that where Mike B busted 2 spokes? I was so far OTF at the S/F the announcer even read my name. Cool; shoulda had the family there. Hope it helped, I stayed in 1-3 wheel most of the lap and it was stretched out - I could not see who was just around me before my move or else I could have escorted someone up front fast - I might have hit it just a little too hard, dunno. I was able to see some of the sprint (looked like Richard was flying up the left lane up to the front; but wound up some other red-gray dude, see photos). Suddenly there's dude down, then standing up, with ass rash right at the F line! w'happen! (from photos & reports, clif bar & peggy rider Tom Adams crossed lines, but it was clif's front wheel & down yee go). According to Richard, "He almost slid over the F line on his ass... he woulda beat me!"

My other big action came at around 8-12 minutes into the race, a Trumer got a good gap and I saw no EMC in front to respond. I came from pretty far back to get halfway across only to realize the guy on my wheel is also Trumer. So, tried to give the chasers a target and just keep pace high. I saw all of us take our time & turns at the front - good work guys! Wish I could've done more - Whew - that was fast; legs a lil heavy from almost 3 hours on saturday. I found I could move up on the outside/windward side. Mostly clean & safe until the few bonehead moves toward the end when dudes are cooked and adrenaline kicks in. Learned Trumer was/is strong - Bauer/Gunderson, plus a few others; basicall controlled the race, ended up with a 5th place. They went on to dominate the E 4s race. I stayed to see Adam in the 4s finish - nice work! He was to hang in until the finale whipped up.)

1. Mark Patten/Jesus Chong/Newman's Own (also go 2nd in 45+; gotta upgrade soon, eh?)
2. Robert Evans, blue guy, indy
3. Tom Adams of Peggy (also 4th in the E4 race)
4. Steven Mielich SJBC
5. Scott Bovard of Cyclesport/Trumer Pils
8. Richard Asturias EMC/Vellum
Complete results at: http://dogbarf.com/race/2006results.htm

Gotta say, That was awesome! Except Mike B's spokes & dropping Maurice. But we had 7 guys finish in the 53, more than any other team; Trumer had 6.
Xeno

Dr. A's Stats

2006-03-07T02:08:00.000-08:00

From teamie Richard Asturias (8th place):

I downloaded the Alameda Crit today. Here's some of the data:

Average speed: 24.2 MPH
Time: 46:15
Distance: 18.6 Miles
HR Average: 165 (I thought my LT was 168 before that race but I ran alot at 172)
HR Max: 178 (The highest I've ever seen on a bike is 183)
Cadence Average: 95 (seems to high???)

Photo narrative...

2006-03-07T01:58:00.000-08:00

...supplements race reports nicely:

Other team's race reports... and tactics!

2006-03-04T21:58:00.000-08:00

In line with my cycling obssession, I've found I quite enjoy reading the race reports posted by other teams in public forums, as well as their tactical plans. We at EMC/Vellum keep these among ourselves and I like to believe they are a bit more colorful. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this time sink as much as I do. Oh, the caveat here is that it's a lot more interesting to read a report from a race you were in, or at least observed or at the very least know someone else who was in the race. On the other hand, I perused this stuff like some sort of weird cyclist stalker all last year trying to decide what races to do and what team to join.
Total racer for RacerX 1998-2004: 0.
Total races for RacerX in 2005: 2.
Total for 2006 so far: 5.
Happy reading road freaks.

CVC, aka Central Valley Cycling - lot of reports - see 'Race Reports' forum,
plus a private team forum where I bet they keep all the juicey stuff:
http://www.cvcycling.org/forums/default.asp

San Jose Bicycle Club, aka 'SJBC', it's like one guy has the assignment to post a report:
http://www.teamsanjose.org/src/reports.php

Trumer Pils/Cyclesports, aka, 'the organge and white team':
http://www.teamoakland.com/forums/

Pegasus/Allegiant Air, aka 'contra costa cycling club' (C4):
http://www.c4racing.org/
(I especially like the post where one rider says, 'We should do our planning somewhere more private." or something like that):

The NCNCA Racing forum, has both selective "Race Coverage" race reports:
http://www.ncncaracing.com/racecover.php
and an on-going forum with all sorts of chatter:
http://www.ncncaracing.com/forum

Of course the OV always describes his 35+1/2/3 or just plain P/1/2 escapades with inspiration and wit, (aka Mike Hernandez, Team Safeway):
http://vanderhoot.blogspot.com/

Got any other good ones? Post 'em here.

Snelling Stats: (just for kicks, from Mike Boals)

2006-02-27T14:46:00.000-08:00

Snelling Stats from Master's 35+ 4/5 race, field B.

Distance: 47.9 (in race) Average Speed: 23.3 mph (on the race course, 21.7 including the promenade)
Max Speed: 33.8 mph (on the down hill section before the feed zone) Average HR: 177 (Zone 3) Max HR: 203 (Zone 5) Energy Used: 2200 kcal

Cantua Creek Race Report

2006-02-27T14:40:00.000-08:00

Sat Feb 18, 2006; Cantua Creek RR (By the way, where was the creek?)
Masters 35+ 4/5 field size 53
EMC/Vellum Racers (10): Krag, Richard, Dave, Bob, Larry, Steve, John, Xeno, Adam, Paul T

Well, in the end it was Bob Raymond for 7th place. EMC Sportie season so far: Three races - three top ten Finishes. The uphill finish stung twice as it was an out n back times two. Thanks to Richard's late night espresso buzz, we were prepared with the facts on the climbs... but were we prepared? I enjoyed less pressured climbs of the triple stair case because this week was my turn to flat at 15 miles. Felt good, was in the process of joining an Easton rider in the jump across a mighty gap to a group of 10-12 that included Adam and Richard - I only knew Richard was there, if I knew he had company I might have just watched the others jump for a while. Anyway, back to the flat - after one of the most miserable flat changes, it took 12 minutes to get rolling again and only with about 30 psi in the front thanks to a CVC rider already well OTB - he was the guy with the job of going OTF around 5 miles into the race. I rode back to the start with him (where he bailed) and we had caught back to the women's group right at the uphill. Not willing to take a DNF, I ran down a floor pump, got back to 120 psi and shot down the hill hoping to catch the women again to insist that Shari and Shaun to stop doing all the work. But alas, I never overcame the 4 minutes they had on me - though I tried, and did get close enough for a visual of their finish. I did catch about 3 guys from our race so not only did I finish, I avoided the DFL spot and ended up wit a good day of training. That's most of what I experienced - it was great day with a rather brisk start (38 FUheit?) and as a team we again rode aggressively, getting in some breaks, chasing others down, keeping tempo high and generally staying in the race. But it was San Jose BC waiting and watching EMC/V and CVC manage the 53 man peloton which was whittled by the end, but I'll let someone who was 'there' to report more on the last 33 miles of the race. San Jose 1-2ed us, plus put a couple others in the top 10. No CVC made the top ten and they had about as many as we did; WebCor had nobody and plenty OTB. Paul T had a nice debut on EMC/V with an almost never ending solo breakaway a ways before the turnaround. Nice to finally race with Larry and to see he's fit to work the scene – he also had some OTF with one other rider. JC, Vick, power mongers. Dave - I'll let you give your painful experience as you see fit, but clearly the sick time took it's toll. Overall, fine - we just need the right race or combination of others racers in the field to make a break stick and/or pop the podium in the pack sprint. Next week is another race.
Today RacerX learned:
1. Time to invest in CO2 cartridge technology.
2. The Lance Effect means a lot of fit old dudes like us hungry to race in February. I wonder that July will bring?!?
3. I'm still not even close to being a fake climber.
4. None of the Velo Promo race vehicles are carrying a floor pump.

Is this thing on...?

2006-02-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

Ok, I took the plunge. Mostly because more of my favorite blog spots are starting to lock out anonymous posts. Plus, I always wanted to try...