Adolfo Cotter,MD

Brain-Mind Interface

Dr. Cotter practices Telemedicine in Primary Care. Conducts a competent, highly responsive Telemedicine practice since 2012, treating a variety of medical conditions from simple to very complex. Proficient with electronic medical records using a wide range of software packages and other forms of computing. Dr. Cotter also practiced Medicine doing Home Care, Urgent Care and Hospital Work.

Dr. Cotter has medical licenses in the states of Michigan, Indiana, and telehealth registration in the states of Minnesota and Florida. The links to the states medical boards are: Florida, http://www.flhealthsource.gov/telehealth/ Minnesota, https://mn.gov/boards/medical-practice/ Indiana, https://mylicense.in.gov/everification/ Michigan, https://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-89334_72600_85566—,00.html

Dr. Adolfo Cotter founded Cognimetrix in 2007, motivated by a tremendous personal interest in the use of brain imaging data in the development of bionic based software to enhance creativity and intelligence.

Throughout his career, Dr. Cotter has performed brain imaging research in academic institutions such as Unversity of Toronto, University of Pennsylvania, and Emory University. He has also conducted brain imaging research for commercial companies such as at Cerebral Diagnostics.

Dr. Cotter has given lectures in Brain Imaging and attended numerous Brain Imaging meetings where he has presented his research projects. He has experience in brain imaging data acquisition and analysis for technologies such as PET, SPECT, MRI, fMRI and EEG. During his brain imaging analysis work, he has done biostatistics using a variety of software programs.

General Science

  • Too Good to be True

    You hear it often: that’s too good to be true. A long list of hucksters and criminals have used the method of offering exceptionally good opportunities in order to steal people’s money in the past, and so our society does not believe in fantastic opportunities anymore. This is very sad and dangerous for true and Continue reading

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  • Imaging Genetics

    Imaging genetics has been focused so far in imaging the phenotype. Most of the research done has been related to human behavior.  The phenotype constitutes the biological basis of the clinical manifestation of the specific gene. For example, we could image brain circuitry by using MRI in order to understand the biological basis of schizophrenia Continue reading

  • Nanoantibodies

    Nanoantibodies also known as nanobodies, have advantage over full size antibodies that they are more stable, aggregate less, and they can penetrate very small locations. There are currently attempts to make them cross the blood brain barrier ( BBB ). An idea that I suggest is to bind a nanobody to a nanoparticle, so the Continue reading

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  • Longevity and Genomics

    Methylation/demethylation of DNA  and/or histones, acethylation/deacethylation of histones and shortening of telomeres appear to be some of the epigenetic factors controlling gene expression over time. The epigenetic control mechanism is affected by the environment and seems to become progressively relaxed or disrupted as we age. Because of this disruption illnesses of aging can appear, including Continue reading

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  • Nanoparticles (NPs)

    Nanotechnology has made possible the production of Nanoparticles. NPs can be made of different materials such as ceramics, carbon and various metals. It also can take different shapes. They can be used in imaging and also to transport drugs. They can be widely used in imaging but in the case of Brain Imaging, its main Continue reading

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  • Multispectral Optoacustic Tomography (MSOT)

    MSOT uses the photoacoustic principle I explained in a previous blog entry. With this technique one is able to visualize in vivo cellular events with high sensitivity, at a resolution of 100 micrometers. It has a big advantage of being able to visualize physiology and anatomy at the same time without combining two different technologies. It is also Continue reading

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  • Microscopic Diffusion Tensor Imaging

    Resolution is always a limitation when detailed analysis of the brain anatomy is needed. A partial solution for this problem is the use of Microscopic Diffusion Tensor Imaging. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is an MRI technique that displays the white matter tracts by using the diffusion of water as a technique. The applicability of this Continue reading

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  • Neurogenomics and Human Cognition

    Our cognitive abilities are partially explained by our genes; The rest is explained by the environment. Because the interaction between genes and environment is complex, scientists have, so far, been able to identify only about 5% of the genes responsible for our cognition. Our genes can affect how much the environment is going to influence Continue reading

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  • Human Body as a source for inspiration

    It is not possible to create an artificial device better than ourselves. This means that we have to understand better what we are before creating a device that approaches what we are. And we have to inspire ourselves in what we are. Adolfo Cotter, MD Oct 30/2009 Continue reading

  • Acting without Comprehending

    In my opinion action without theory or theory without action is useless. What I see happening presently is that people just do actions without understanding the why and how the underlying processes occur. Although this can be alleviating in the short term, it can be very dangerous in the long run. By acting without understanding, Continue reading

  • Do experiments really help us understand reality better?

    The experimental approach was introduced many years ago with the goal of factual analysis of reality based on testing and gathering data from nature. For this purpose we use our senses to gather information from reality. There has been a debate if what we sense is real or distorted by our emotions, experiences, thoughts, feelings Continue reading

  • Argument vs Diplomacy

    As I mentioned in my previous blog, the current scientific method requires rigorousness and precision. In order to achieve those objectives, scientific argument is essential. My observations tell me that scientific argument has been progressively displaced by diplomacy. In our society many scientists do not like too much argument taking this more like a personal Continue reading

  • The Utility of the Scientific Method

    During my observations, I realize that many occurrences in nature and life do not appear to obey scientific logic. Some of those occurrences are for example: human behaviour, human relationships, life and death, spirituality, natural disasters, etc. On the other hand there are processes that do obey this logic. In my opinion the rigorous and Continue reading

  • The Instant Information Age should Transform the way we Learn and Educate

    Today, very large amounts and varieties of data are instantly available to any budding scientist or clinician, more and more so even on mobile devices. While this can sometimes be overwhelming and as I mentioned in my previous blog, too much knowledge can be counterproductive for creativity, there is an upside to this “information overload” Continue reading

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  • The Number Mania

    There are numbers used everywhere these days. Numbers are important, but they have their specific utility. Life is not all about numbers!! For example, clinical medicine has become a number game….but nothing can replace a true and good clinical judgment, a history well taken, and a thorough and detailed physical exam… Many doctors see patients in Continue reading

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  • About Publishing and Publishers

    In general, I find publishers quite annoying. How can somebody freely express their ideas, if publishers impose so many rules regarding the number of words, number of pages, style, content, etc….? The rigid structure only inhibits creativity. Also, a lot of politics is involved in order to publish with many of the publishers. As I have been saying on Continue reading

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  • Social Achievement vs Intellectual Performance

    People keep saying, “Oh, it’s not what you know, but who you know”. Everybody is becoming a great social achiever!! My question is how much knowledge do those people have?? Which people are hired, the more creative, intelligent and knowledgeable ones or the more social?? Can somebody tell me if this makes sense?? Unless we Continue reading

  • Stealing Ideas

    In the ultra-competitive world we live in today it seems to me that stealing research ideas has become commonplace. Of course, why not? People figure that nothing will happen to them. Everyone clearly knows that stealing money or objects is a criminal act, so why don’t we feel the same way about stealing ideas? Is Continue reading

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  • Biomimetics

    There is nothing more inspiring in science than nature itself. Scientists who create without studying nature are in effect acting like our creator, and ignoring what the real creator provided us for inspiration. Leonardo Da Vinci, for example, used nature to get inspired in his creations. The same applies to medicine and in neuroscience.  If Continue reading

  • Creativity and Self Confidence

    I have noticed in myself that the more confident I am, the more creative I become–it takes courage to dive into the unknown. It is as if confidence pushes creativity forward, breaking the barriers for it to express and develop. Of course the more creative people are, and in consequence more successful, the more confident Continue reading

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  • Research Grants System is Unfair

    In my opinion, scientific grants have been allocated unfairly to certain kinds of research, and the trend seems to be for the worse.  There is a recent paper published by Peter A Lawrence entitled “Real lives and white lies in the funding of scientific research,” which exemplifies my thinking.  The criterion of grant approval seems Continue reading

  • Changing Data

    I have been told lately from different sources that some scientists in academia and industry are manipulating data in order to enhance their chances of having their research accepted by a peer-reviewed journal or to simply provide the necessary evidence to support the ambitions of their corporate masters. In every case it comes down to Continue reading

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  • Era of Addictions

    Marketing is a business tool to excite people and make them enthusiastic to buy. If the product or service we are selling is worthwhile for society and for people in general, marketing is a blessing. On the other hand, if what we are selling is of low quality, or harmful in some way to us, Continue reading

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  • Research Bias is Increasing

    As a society we have long been concerned about scientists working in industry or academia who may be influenced to write papers suited to satisfy the needs of the people financing the project. Many people I talk to are concerned that the current economic climate in western industrialized nations is aggravating this problem. Furthermore, this Continue reading

  • Helping Prevent a Society of Idiots

    Throughout history the advance of technology has produced both positive and negative consequences. Technology can help us be more efficient and hopefully produce better quality work. On the other hand, more than ever before we are becoming dependent on helpful devices that are so intelligent, in some ways we are not using our brains enough. Continue reading

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  • Computer Obsession

    Although artificial intelligence and technology, in general, are very important human achievements, I think our society is obsessed with computers. How is it possible that some scientists believe that we can compare our brain to a computer? Why not comparing our brain to an airplane or a fancy car?  We have to understand that we Continue reading