The brain's key communicator is the neuron and the glial cells help care for the neurons. There is some research that leads one to suggest that glial cells also communicate to some extent, but it is not a causal effect as of now.
synapse and Neurons....URL
http://ifcsun1.ifisiol.unam.mx/Brain/synap.htm
Neuron.......
http:// http://www.enchantedlearning.co...uron.shtml
CNS - PNS ......
http://www.cbtf.org/medical_a.html#a1
The neuron(s) is just an amazing complicated manner in which we as humans communicate through our nervous system. There are sensory neurons, motor neurons etc... but as with just about anything there are diseases and disorders that complicate a piece of art. Notice in the picture of the neuron the myelin covering most of the axon.....This is really important since myelin keeps the action potential moving through the axon as intended.
http://training.seer.cancer.gov/module_a...issue.html
I need to go in a few minutes but I have a great url to share with you and it is on hold. We know or some will know that myelin in the brain is extremely important for communication et al. Sometimes the myelin becomes damaged and needs to be replaced. Please take a good look at this simulation of an oligo cell [glial] taking care of the axon of a neuron [by remyelination]. Hope it works....
http://www.myelin.org/index.htm
You will notice that the neuron is in trouble whereby the action potential or the genesis of a message is trying to make it through this particular neuron's axon to the axon's presynaptic terminal. You will notice that the action potential [electrical] is leaking out though the cracked and violated myelin. This is slowing the message down considerably and most likely will not communicate to the post synaptic receptors.
:mad: This particular url will need you to click "more" and then go to the subsequent pages....2,3 etc. In the disease MS the demyelination of the neuron's axon takes place. Other neurological disease has similar demyelation problems. You will note that the Oligodentrite [schwann cell - glial] is servicing the neuron's axon. However in MS the Oligodentrite cell is destroyed so that remyelination cannot occur. It is believed that the bodies autoimmune system is responsible for this.
http://www.ask.co.uk/redir?qsrc=2004&q=W...lin.org%2f
Please let me know if the [urls] came through to you. They are really amazing.
Best,
Rob
'Afferent Senory' neurons and 'Efferent Motor' neurons keep us learning and moving. The very excitement to discuss the Central Nervous System and the Peripheral Nervous System leads to a human being about to function and develop a system that is human in "thought and deed".
The brain and the spinal cord are part of the central nervous system, but the peripheral nervous sysem [which is not often discussed] will show how this works.
http://webschoolsolutions.com/patts/systems/nervous.htm
bye
Rob
Most of the discussion on nerve cells these days has been on the neurons and that is because we know more about the neurons and they seem to make things happen.
The time has come that we look carefully at the other important cells besides just the neuron and that is the
glial cell. There are about 9 times more glial cells(circa) than neurons...and in talking personally to top scientists in the top 3 universities in the world,[two years ago; mind you] they considered the glial cell has just a helper to the neuron. Sort of like a nanny. Well, now their are big time scientists on the glial case and we are finding out more functions of these cells and that they do communicate with one another and possibly also to neurons. This is really more exciting than it sounds since this looks like a minor league cell getting it due recognition as important cell in the total process of learning.
:o
If you are interested in hearing more about the importance of the glial cell then just say [B]"yes"when you reply. They has been no replies to this very important thread at all...so maybe it is not of interest to any.[/B]
Be well,
:
Rob
Hi, and good morning to you; at least from a San Diego perspective. I have been reviewing this particular thread on NEURONS. If you suffering from lack of prior knowledge on this particular subject, then here is a chance to get in on the beginning. We will go back and review the NEURON and if you have any questions, please ask. If I don't know the answer then it will be good for me to find out.
- The brain has millions if not billions of cells in the brain. The most salient cell in the brain is the NEURON. The NEURON is not a chain of cells in the brain. Even though it looks like it. It is actually physically separated from other neurons and the neuron is somewhat self contained. The neuron being physically separated from each other is the difference between the Neuron Doctrine and the Rectiular Theory. As you can guess the Recticular Theory was the believe that the neurons were one long contiguous body. Obviously since the neurons do not physically touch each other, the Neuron Doctrine became the real answer once technology advanced enough to see them. It is important to reflect upon this for a time since the neurons do not touch each other, how does the neuron communicate with other neurons. They do communicate with each other in a very sophisticated scientific manner. Now there is that word "scientific manner". This scientific manner of communications between neurons is one of the most scientific and complicated but exciting procedure that we will review.
This is enough for today. Yes, if you are going to learn it then you must reflect on this thread time after time. You will learn it for the long term if you review it over and over. Say it out loud. Use your senses (five and more) to convert it to long term memory. Remember this today and tomorrow and let it become part of you life. Talk with people about it. It will help you remember. It sounds silly but it works. When we move on with the neuron which will be very soon, you really need to know that it physically does not touch other neurons but does communicate with them continually. How, why and what for are the questions plus more that you can ask yourself and others.
If you know all of this, then great...but this is a review of prior knowledge about the neuron(s).
This particular URL was retrieved from the internet on August 1, 2005
Have a great day.
Rob
Does the Neuron touch the other neuron....
URL: http://www.pfizer.com/brain/images/neuron_large.gif
Thanks for this.
Each neuron has three distinguishable parts: dendrites, a cell body, and an axon (Kaczmarek, 1997). Dendrites are highly branched processes that receive chemical signals from other cells. The dendrites then relay electrical signals to the cell body, which contains the nucleus with DNA and is the main site of protein synthesis. Electrical signals then travel along the axon, a long process covered by a fatty myelin sheath that extends out from the cell body. The axon branches into axon terminals, through which chemical signals are released to transmit the information to the dendrites of other cells. Such a chemical connection between two neurons is termed a synapse. The neuron that is sending out information is termed a presynaptic neuron and a neuron that is receiving information is termed a postsynaptic neuron. There is a small space between the axon of a presynaptic neuron and the dendrites of a postsynaptic neuron termed a synaptic cleft (Kaczmarek, 1997). The axon terminals of several presynaptic neurons converge on the dendrites of each postsynaptic neuron (Kaczmarek, 1997). Thus, the combined activity of many presynaptic neurons determines the net effect on each postsynaptic cell. The relative activity level at each synaptic connection regulates its strengthening or weakening and, ultimately, its existence. This phenomena is thought to be responsible for the structural encoding of learning and memory processes in the brain (Squire and Kandel, 1999).
An Interesting aspect of the synaptic cleft is that the dimensions are so small that it can not be analyzed with classical mechanics but must be analyzed with quantum theory. This introduces the observer into experiments. This has lead to a quantum theory of the brain-mind problem.
Karldw Wrote:An Interesting aspect of the synaptic cleft is that the dimensions are so small that it can not be analyzed with classical mechanics but must be analyzed with quantum theory. This introduces the observer into experiments. This has lead to a quantum theory of the brain-mind problem.
This is a facinating twist you bring in. Are there studies on this quantum theory of the brain and mind?
I'm reading a book,
The Center of Things , by Jenny Mcphee. It's got an odd plot, the main character being a writer for a tabloid, and also having a interest in writing about quantum mechanics. So, human nature is often combined with theories on physics. For example, the advanced wave theory of John Wheeler and Richard Feldman is used to understand "how the fear of being abandoned makes her aniticipate events from the past in the present, and because she was anticipating an event in the past that would never happen in the pressent, did that mean she was somehow changing the past? "She goes on to say that "this speculation was moot as it was impossible, due to entropy, to extract any information from the advanced waves."
I realize it's hard to bring you into the context of this book, but I was very surprised to be reading this book and then read the response about synaptic clefts being explained by quantum mechanics. It brings my former passion of trying to figure out Einstein's theory into my currect passion of trying to figure out the brain and mind.
Much of the quantum theory has been developed by Dr. Henry P. Stapp who has been with the University of California's Theoretical Physics Group in Berkeley. He is a highly respected theoretical physicist who did is doctorate under, I believe, two Nobel Prize winners. In his brain-mind work he drew heavily on the work of William James. He had associates of the likes of philosopher John R. Searle, and Gerald Edelman who is known for his work on consciousness.
Stapp apparently had a close association with Jeffrey M. Schwartz, M.D.. Dr. Schwartz is Associate Research Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA School of Medicine and did appreciable research on OCD. I believe Dr. Schwartz is the person who coined the term “self-directed neuroplasticity†which has considerable interest to education and retraining. Dr. Schwartz and Dr. Stapp used results coming from the philosophy of quantum theory to provide a foundation for the results of Dr. Schwartz's psychiatric research. This work indicates that the objective philosophy of classical mechanics is not adequate to describe brain-mind function and that a more subjective theory is required. Stapp describes how the philosophy of quantum mechanics contributes to this need. I think that someone will develop an even more subjective theory. This will have considerable resistance from researchers with training that requires total objectivity for valid research.
I have looked at this quantum theory of the mind a little and I think that there is a lot to be considered. I feel that there are some considerations from quantum theory that should be considered. I also believe that some of Goedel's work on logic should be included in the search for a better understanding of the brain-mind phenomenon. I believe that the neural network is likely affected by quantum theory but that the mind is based on information and not electrochemical flows. Goedel is the link between the physical brain and the information of the conceptual mind.
Persons who pursue this freer philosophy will be in a domain that is foreign to western thought and can easily be exploited by fringe groups. I recommend that you look at the personal philosophy of Dr. Schwartz to get an idea of what I mean.
As research continues at a fast clip regarding neurons and how they communicate with other neurons, there is fast approaching the neuroglia cell or glia or glial cell that use to be just a lonely supporter of the neuron...sort of like a nanny. Well, it seems that neuroglia (neuron glue) helps keep the group together. We now have research that glia are communicating with other glial cells in the brain; and one report of glial cells communicating with a neuron. They are both involved in signalling and as we know the oligodentracyte (glial) cell keeps the axon of the neuron myelinated on a continuous basis unless disease attacks the oligo cell and the axon's myelin. This is a symptom of MS and difficult to cure.
We have also heard of the Schwann Cell which does a similar task as the Oligo cell but in the PNS rather than the central nervous system.
These are just some things to think about. I think our future in research and education is absolutely exciting.
Best,
Rob
I keep reading that neurons are growing or neurogenises is occuring in the hippocampus. Is this true and does anyone have an article on this.
Thank you,
Rob
Yes, neurogenesis, or the birth of new neurons, does occur in the hippocampus throughout the lifespan. Such neurogenesis has been implicated in learning and memory processes and can be regulated by factors such as exercise, enriched environments, stress, estrogen, etc.
Here is an article providing evidence of neurogenesis in the adult human hippocampus:
http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v4/n11/..._1313.html
Note: BrdU labeles dividing cells and NeuN labels neurons. Thus, the co-occurance of these labels provides evidence of newly-born neurons.
All the best,
Christina
It is amazing to consider how interdependent our body really is expecially the central nervous system and the Peripheral nervous system......In order to communicate we must have neurons in our brain...they communicate intra cellularly and inter cellualry ...neuron to neuron [but first throught the synapse] ....So now even if the neuron communicates, it cannot go anywhere unless it confronts the synapse(s). No wonder physicians specialize in unique and particular organ systems.
Be well,
Rob
Our entire body is dependent on neurons to communicate information from the environment and internally to the brain and back again. If we cannot spend the necessary time looking closely at the neuron and the synapse then we must do it over and over again until we have our prior knowledge met with our present knowledge which could mean that prior knowledge is where we start. We cannot grow without neurons. We cannot begin without prior knowledge....We obtain prior knowledge from the environment and experience. We work our sensory sytems overtime to accomplish this feat. It is critical that we take the time to go back and pick up what we don't know and then move forward...
otherwise we are faking it....and that is not what you want to do.
Be well,
Rob
Interesting URL found on the internet August 22, 2005....I believe you will find it very interesting....and helpful.
URL:
http://ifcsun1.ifisiol.unam.mx/Brain/segunda.htm
Great Url on how the neurons communicate. Retrieved again August 24, 2005.
Enjoy,
Notice that the neuron does not tough any other neuron...close but no cigar...where the two neurons are extremely close in a synapse between them.
Best. URL:
http://www.pfizer.com/brain/dlgame.html
Rob
Neurons are really important and we rely upon them for communication and the function of living. I have a URL that will show a number of neurons and glia cells. This is a keeper......Retrieved URL August 25,2005.
Be good,
Rob
URL:
http://www1.lf1.cuni.cz/~zfisar/bpen/neurobiology.htm
Do neurons get sick....well yes, when they are attacked and in this particular case the myelin of the axon is attacked. It [the attacker] maybe autoimmune system, [I don't know] destroys the myelin and causes a tremendous break down in the ability of the neuron to consummate a message internally or externally. In this particular case the culprit is called MS. I have retrieved a URL August 8, 2005 that is very graphic when working properly. It shows us just exactly the comparison of a good myelinated axon and an axon in deep myelin trouble.
Best,
Rob
URL: [graphics on pages 1 and 3]
http://www.myelin.org/
Hi Rob,
Thanks for posting the link above on Myelin Disorders.
I was particularly interested in their research into the use of Olieic Acid and Erucic Acid, as monounsaturated fatty acids found in Olive and Rapeseed Oil.
Given that for some time now, I've been following research on Fish Oils and specifically the Omega3; EPAand DHA acids. Where evidence is growing on their remedial effect on various Learning Disorders.
What it highlights to me, is how important the selection and use of our dietary Oils actually are. Where I recall that a majority of the brain is lipids/ fatty acids/ oils. Though Oils are rarely thought of as 'brain materials'?
Also given that Saturated Fatty Acids are antagonists, and that for many people these days. They consume little or no Unsaturated F/A oils.
I'm caused to wonder what many people's brains are built with?
This is particularly relevant to Children, given that at birth they have no Myelin. Therefore the quality and quantity of the Oils they intake, must be crucial to their Myelin development?
As the old saying goes: "Oils aint just Oils!"
Geoff.
Hi....there is no getting around it. Teachers will need to learn basic facts regarding anatomy and physiology and biology inorder to understand basic neuroscience and neuroscientists must know that the outcome of teaching is to instill in the learner a sense of "life long learning".
It is not difficult but it does take some concentration and desire to learn. I suggest that we learn a little more about the neuron forthwith. I have reviewed a number of excellent URLs and retrieved this particular one from the internet relating to neurons and the nervous system(s) in general.
Be well,
Rob
URL:
http://www.hubin.org/facts/brain/texts/t...on_en.html
This issue of teacher training is a central one. What sort of neurobiological knowledge do you believe would be appropriate to incorporate into a teacher training program?
Thanks very much for your insights and input,
Christina