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Context Memo
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To: Professor Musselman From: Natalie Audelo Date: 11/5/2013 Re: Unit 2, Draft 2 Word Count: 536 Dear Professor Musselman and Fellow Peers, I hope to provide some contextual support for this literature review by presenting a list of specialized vocabulary words that may be useful for understanding neurological basis of the paper. The sources cited in this review are current (2008-2013) and reflect the most up to date research taking place in the field. A table of methodologies has been provided to assist in differentiating between the sources and study typologies. Please note that some sources are literature reviews and include studies with both humans and animal models. These reviews present a breadth of research in the field, citing studies as early as 1990. As this is a relatively new area of study, please note that there are inherent limitations to the research and attempting to make causal inferences would have undermined the integrity of the review. The paper is organized so that connections can be drawn without implying causality. I hope that the above clarifications adequately describe the state of literature in the field and provide useful context. Terms: ! High-Energy Diet- (Synonymous with Western Diet and High-Fat, Sucrose Diet) A diet high in saturated fats and sugar ! Metabolic Syndrome- A group of conditions that include: high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, and adiposity. Together, these conditions contribute to the increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. ! Adiposity- Obesity; the accumulation of excessive body fat ! Postprandial Triglyceride Levels- Fat in the blood that results after the consumption of a meal ! Lipogenesis- The conversion of sugar into fatty acids ! Oxidative Stress- The inability of the body to balance the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with the detoxification of free radicals. Free radicals have the potential to damage surrounding cells. ! Peripheral Proinflammatory Cytokine- Signaling molecules associated with the immune system that exacerbate disease and increase inflammatory responses. Cytokines are classified as a type of adipokine. ! Adipokines- Molecular entities secreted by adipose tissue that are linked to inflammatory responses ! Endocannabinoid and Endogenous Opioid Pathways- Pathways that play a pivotal role in appetite regulation and the activation of reward systems. ! Excitotoxicity- Occurs when glutamate or excitatory amino acids kill central neurons. Other key terms such as the Blood Brain Barrier and Leptin are best explained in the context of the paper because the definition of these terms is implicated in the explanation of how these elements impact cognition. While the content is very much neuroscience based, I attempted to make broader connections to the environment in which these pathologies are playing out. Synthesis of the research was conducted to the best of my ability. Because some of the content was extremely technical, I visited sites such as PubMed to better understand the terminology and content explained in the research. The sources that I selected not only reflect a wide range of research in the field but cite hundreds of other studies, thereby contributing to the validity of the content reviewed. They present weighty information and

actively delineate the knowledge front. I hope the above information provides helpful insights into the construction of my paper. Best, Natalie Audelo