Edgar Garcia-Rill

Edgar Garcia-Rill
Born (1948-10-31) October 31, 1948
Caracas, Venezuela
Education PhD in Physiology
Alma mater McGill University
Occupation Professor and Medical Researcher
Years active 1973 to present
Known for Sleep research
Title Director of the Center for Translational Neuroscience

Edgar Garcia-Rill (October 31, 1948) is a professor and medical researcher. He has focused his research on sleep and waking physiology, schizophrenia, and other issues such as spinal cord treatment. He is the founder and director of the Center for Translational Neuroscience.

Career

Edgar Garcia-Rill was born in Caracas, Venezuela on October 31, 1948.[1] received his PhD in Physiology from McGill University in 1973. Garcia-Rill served as a Professor of Anatomy and Psychiatry,[2] formerly of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine and Director of the Center for Translational Neuroscience,[3] which he founded in 2003. His center has received funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences since 2004.[4]

Research

In 2007 Garcia-Rill co-authored a study that first discovered the electrical coupling of neurons that serve a role in the brain controlling coherence during waking and sleep. The clinical implications of the discovery included the potential for either waking people more reliably or placing them more safely into comatose states.[3] Another discovery found that the reticular activating system exhibited gamma band activity similar to other parts of the brain, activity that previously went unnoticed.[5] His research into the control of posture and locomotion by the reticular activating system has led to new treatments for spinal cord injuries, spatial neglect, and other serious traumatic injuries and syndromes. He has also hypothesized that insomnia is a waking disorder, rather than a sleep disorder.[4]

Garcia-Rill has also researched genetic markers related to future violent behavior,[6] and the potential for the misuse of such genetic connections by policy makers. He has studied schizophrenia more generally, as well as anxiety disorders.[7] Part of his research has been into whether or not an understanding of REM sleep and other states can provide insight into better treatments for psychosis.[8] His research also discovered that those suffering from schizophrenia have an increased number of cholinergic neurons in their brain stems, that may play a part the manifestation of hallucinations.[9][10]

Books

In 2012 Garcia-Rill authored the book Translational Neuroscience: A Guide to a Successful Program.[11] In 2015 he wrote the book Waking and the Reticular Activating System in Health and Disease, intended to inform people on the health implications on the method people wake from their sleep. It also discusses the process of waking up and how it affects decision-making functions.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "American Men and Women of Science: The physical and biological sciences". Bowker. 1 January 1982 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ "Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences – Edgar Garcia-Rill, Ph.D.".
  3. 1 2 "Researchers Identify Sleep-Wake Controls with Implications for Coma Patients and Those Under Anesthesia".
  4. 1 2 3 Group, Sinclair Broadcast. "Does the way you wake up affect your health?".
  5. ↑ "Brain Mechanism Could Be Key to New Stimulants, Anesthetics - UAMSHealth". 2 June 2010.
  6. ↑ Donovan, Aine; Green, Ronald Michael (1 January 2008). "The Human Genome Project in College Curriculum: Ethical Issues and Practical Strategies". UPNE – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ Farahany, Nita (20 February 2011). "The Impact of Behavioral Sciences on Criminal Law". Oxford University Press – via Google Books.
  8. ↑ Hobson, J. Allan (21 October 2016). "The Dream Drugstore: Chemically Altered States of Consciousness". MIT Press – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ Kaku, Michio (25 February 2014). "The Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind". Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group – via Google Books.
  10. ↑ "Clues to the Irrational Nature of Dreams". The New York Times. 12 July 1994.
  11. ↑ Garcia-Rill, Edgar (7 February 2012). "Translational Neuroscience: A Guide to a Successful Program". John Wiley & Sons – via Google Books.
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