You know you read too many research papers when you have a favorite "brain abnormality." Guilty as charged! Years ago I began collecting a list of brain abnormalities associated with bipolar disorder. Primarily, I used this list to help teachers, family and friends "see" the physical nature of the illness. When I wrote The Childhood Bipolar Disorder Answer Book, I threw out my first list and started from scratch with the documented brain abnormalities found specifically in childhood-onset bipolar disorder.