Structural Changes In The Brain Essay

1. Neurons is a basic building block of the nervous system. The sensory nerves carry the message from body tissues to the brain and spinal chord to be processed. The motor neurons are then used to send instructions to the body tissue from the brain and spinal cord. Dendrites, which are connected to the body cell (soma) receive information and pass it through the axon. Myelin sheath covers the axon and helps speed the process. When triggered by a signals from our senses or other neurons, the neuron fires an impulse called the action potential. The resting potential is the neuron’s visual charge of positive

The prefrontal cortex, which is the anterior part of the frontal lobes, controls understanding consequences, impulse control, abstract thinking, long range planning, and mental flexibility (Ortiz 93-94). Researchers at UCLA, Harvard Medical School, and the National Institute of Health have been working together to understand brain development. Their research has shown that at a young age the brain overproduces gray matter, which is the overall thinking part of the brain. After this comes the pruning process in which gray matter is removed. Paul Thompson from UCLA describes this time as a "massive loss of brain tissue" (as quoted in Ortiz 94). The average amount of tissue lost per year is one to two percent (Ortiz 94). While this pruning process is taking place the myelination is occurring simultaneously. Myelination is when white matter, what insulates the brain, makes brain process more efficient. This process is also thought to shape brains neural connections for adulthood (Ortiz 95). With age, the brain becomes denser and more organized which makes it better at processing and understanding information. Changes in the brain also can happen late into the twenty's (Beckman 3). A member of the UCLA research team reported that "[The] frontal lobe undergoes the most change during adolescence-by far. It is also the last part of the brain development" (as quoted in Ortiz 94). For most, full brain development is reached during the ages

The cell body comprises of the nucleus and other organelles (Ward, 2010). The nucleus contains the genetic code, and this is involved with protein synthesis (He, 2013). The dendrites receive information from other neurons which are located in a close proximity (Kalat, 1995). The terminal of an axon compresses into a disc-shaped structure (Gross, 2010). This is where chemical signals also known as a neurotransmitter permit interaction amongst neurons, by means of a minute gap named a synapse (Martin, Carlson & Buskit, 2013). Both neurons which form the synapse are referred to as a presynaptic synapse (prior to the synapse) and postsynaptic (after the synapse), reflecting the direction of information flow (from axon to dendrite), (He, 2013).

Neurons are nerve cells that transmit nerve signals to and from the brain at up to 200 mph. The neuron consists of a cell body (or soma) with branching dendrites(signal receivers) and a projection called

Structure of Neurons There are 4 parts of a neuron that enables it to communicate with other neurons. Dendrites, the cell body, axons, and terminal buttons. 1. Dendrites are short, branchlike extensions and detect signals from neighboring neurons. 2.

As well as these there are also the axon of the cell which is covered in myelin sheaths which carried information away from the cell body and hands the action potentials, these are small short bursts of change in the electrical charge of the axon membrane through openings of ion channels, off to the following neurons dendrites through terminal buttons at the end of the axons. Whenever an action potential is passed through these terminal buttons it releases a chemicals that pass on the action potential on to the next neuron through the terminal button and dendrite connection. The chemicals that are

Midterm Essay ExaminationMidterm Essay Examination1.Describe the basic functioning of a neuron beginning with receiving signals from other neurons or sense organs and ending with the transmission of a signal to another neuron. Explain how a pattern of neuron firing is related to behavior.

Neurons have a part called the dendrites and this is where the neuron fires a correct impulse to another neuron through the axon. Axon is a long projection that connects nerve cells.

Information conveyed by the synapses on the dendrites is processed and projected from the axon. The axon is extraordinary, it is specialized for signal conduction to the next neuron. Axons vary in length, the ones in your brain are relatively short in comparison to the axons that run from your spinal cord down to your foot (about a meter long).

The nervous system is made up of basic units called neurons. The main role of the neurons is to receive, integrate and transmit information throughout the body. There are some neuroglial cells found in nervous system aswell which provide support to the neurons by giving protection and nourishment Neurons have nerve processes that looks like finger like projections extended from the nerve cell body. They also contain axons and dendrites which enable them to transmit signals throughout the body. Normally, axon carry signals away from the cell body and dendrites carry signals toward the cell body according to Regina Bailey (2013). Neurons have three different shapes: bipolar, unipolar and multipolar where bipolar has two neuronal processes coming out of the cell body, unipolar has only one neuronal process coming out of the cell body and multipolar has many neuronal processes coming out of the cell body.

Neurons are nerve cells within the nervous system that allow it to communicate with body cells. Neurons are important part of the nervous system, which has the responsibility for transmitting electrical and chemical signals in the entire body (Stufflebeam, 2008). Neurons are required to demonstrate qualities of ability to respond to stimuli, being conductive, and ability of secreting chemicals. Some of the most common classes of neurons include "¦

In adolescence, brain development is characterized by dramatic changes to the brain’s structure, neuron connectivity (i.e., “wiring”) and physiology. These changes in the brain affect everything from emerging sexuality to emotionality and judgment.

The prefrontal cortex, located behind the forehead, is a part of the brain that helps with judgment, planning, and strategizing. This grows in early adolescence. The cerebellum also grows during adolescence. Watch the film assigned in this lesson, Inside the Teenage Brain, for more detail. Sexual maturation is another change we undergo during adolescence.

Neurons or nerve cells come in all shapes and sizes however, they all do one thing. They transmit information the way electrical wires or optic cables carry information. Neurons form the necessary connection that makes the body “go”. Neurons consist primarily of two processes. One process is the dendrites, they receive information from other neurons. The other process is the axon and they send information or impulses out to other neurons, muscles or glands of the body. An unstimulated cell is called the resting membrane potential. Each cell has positively charged ions outside of the cell and negatively charged ions inside during this state. An action potential is a series of sudden changes in the voltage, or equivalently the electrical potential,

When one compares the structure of the adult brain and the teenage brain, there will be several differences between the two. Adults have stronger connections from one nerve cell to another, and they all have essential communication skills. However, teenagers have more synapses and have weaker nerve connections. Also, their frontal lobes aren 't fully developed. This causes adolescence to have impulsive behavior and they typically do not recognize consequences in a situation. In the early twenties the brain becomes fully developed, so people are very good at making decision and they are able to think abstractly. There are many factors that contribute to the construction of the brain; some things help the brain develop normally, other things interrupt the process. There is a substantial amount of distinctions between the adult brain and the adolescent brain, and these includes behavioral and structural differences.