The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Functioning of brain discussed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 10
How the human brain learns and remembers is still a mystery for scientists. However, the study of brain biochemically in the last 15 years or so has renewed interest in the subject. This was stated by Prof O. Siddiqi, Professor Emeritus, National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bangalore, while answering queries of the audience after delivering the fourth Prof B.K. Bachhawat Memorial Lecture at the Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) here today.

Prof Siddiqi said that no one really knows how a person is able to learn certain things in a single shot and others after repeated efforts. Similarly, also to be studied is the fact that as one grows old, one tends to forget things which may be a day or two old easily but there are memories of childhood which are very clear in the mind and vivid. Also important to note is the fact that in cases of people suffering from amnesia, when they start recollecting their memories, the early memories are recollected first and the recent memories later.

Speaking on “Olfactory learning in Drosphila”, Prof Siddiqi talked about the phenomenon of olfactory responses among Drosphila, a kind of fly. Unless what had been widely believed that the fly’s responses to smell is basically genetic in nature, experiments conducted at his institute by him and his students, it was discovered that the flies’ responses to these smells changed with the change in the “growing up environment” of these flies. Thus the flies are responding after having learnt to respond in a particular manner. This leads the scientists to believe that in order to understand the functioning of the brain better, it is important to study the organisation of the learning system’s behaviour in the brain.

Prof Asis Datta, Vice-Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, was the guest of honour at the lecture, Dr Amit Ghosh, Director, IMTECH, welcomed the guests while Dr Naresh Kumar presented a vote of thanks.

Homoeopathic camp on asthma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 10
On the third day of the silver jubilee and Hahnemann Day celebrations being held in the Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Sector 26, a homoeopathic medical camp on asthma was held, here today. Mr M.M. Sharma, Convener, Hospital Committee, inaugurated the camp, whereas Dr C.S. Bains, Dr Sandeep Puri and their teams examined the patients.

Dr A.S. Bhatia, Vice-President, HMCA, in his presidential remarks, said that homoeopathy was a pure spiritual science. While Dr Ashok Mittal said that homoeopathy was a principle based medical science, Dr Shuchy and Dr Bhavna deliberated on the basic standards of homoeopathy.

Harmonising mind and body
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 10
During a six-day training on the art of eliminating stress from the body, Swami Khurshed taught his devotees the art of harmonising the body, breath and mind for better peace of mind. The training course was organised by the Chandigarh chapter of the Art of Living, a voluntary organisation at the Senior Citizens Home in Sector 43 .

“The mind which oscillates between the past and the future gives rise to various emotions, including rage, fear and jealousy” said Swami Khurshed.” Due to these emotions the breathing pattern of a person changes which is the root cause of stress”, he added.

The training course, which focused on Shudarshan kriya as a means to release tension from the body, was attended by about 150 persons from the city.

SPORT

Women tennis meet from April 16
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, April 10
Shruti Dhawan of Chandigarh will be one of the star contenders in the ITF Women Tennis Championship which is going to begin from April 16 at the CLTA Courts, Sector 10. Many prominent tennis players from our country and abroad will participate in this tournament. Shruti who is ranked fourth in India remained out of scene from 1999 to 2000 due to backache problem. But in late 2000, she played a magnificent game in all the ITF meets held elsewhere in the country. But in Chandigarh, her home town, Shruti will be playing her first big tournament after her above said injury.

The ITF meet, which will carry prize money of $ 10000, will also have the participation of many top ranked women tennis players from Czech Republic, Ukraine, Great Britain, Japan, Austria, Vietnam and the USA, all in the main rounds and from Slovakia, Indonesia and Sweden in the qualifying rounds.

Sources in the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association said Sai Jayalakshmy of India, who was now ranked 357 as per the world rankings, will be spearheading the Indian campaign, while Sonal Phadke ranked 426 to be at number two. Third top ranked player will be Raimrova Veronika of Czech Republic and ranked 429 in the world ranking and fourth to be Shruti Dhawan.

Other Indian women who will be flexing their muscles in this meet included, Rashmi Chakarvorty, Jyotsna Vashisht, Arthi, Archna Venkataraman, Radhika Tulpule (winner of last ITF Junior meet), Gautam Sheethal, T. Yamini, Lisa Parreira among others.

Sources said the CLTA was also gearing up for the Satellite Masters from May 28 for men.