Psychology: Advances in neuoscience ("Secrets of the Brain," National Geographic, Feb 2014)
What was the motivation that led to the discovery?
Some of the motivations that lead to the advancement in studies of the human brain are being able to understand the advances in the workings of the human brain, learning and discovering more about the structure of individual nerve cells/neurons, charting the biochemistry of the brain= surveying how our billions of neurons produce and employ thousands of different kinds of proteins, and creating representations of the brain’s wiring. Recently another motivation was to help to speed up the mapping of our neural circuitry,seeing the brain in action. It will help scientists to learn how to diagnose disorders
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--Do the synapses prefer linking to one type of neuron over others?
What was the significance of the discovery?
The significance of the discovery throughout history was that we we're able to actually come to know what the brain is as well as how it works and functions. It created the maps of the organ, the brain and helped to lead to a better understanding of it and how it works. We now know of neurons and what they do (their functions). Scientists have also discovered that brains are a ton more complicated than we could ever imagine. It helps to figure out more about how diseases work and lead to possible cures of these diseases. It also explores the realm of DNA and genes.
How did the discoverer(s) rely on the work of others?
The discoverer(s) relied on the work of others majorly. Each discovery led to more information discovered and helped to build upon one another's work which led to more information found and advances and further studies occurring. An example would be how a team of Brazilian scientists have used the findings of other scientists to study a devastating brain disorder called Fahr’s disease. This disease calcifies regions deep inside the brain which leads to a disease called