Neuron Essays

The Nervous System Introduction Did you know that the nervous system is considered one of the most complicated system in the human body? Without the nervous system, none of the other systems would function optimally. The nervous system is responsible for the control of and communication between different parts of the body. It interprets the things your body senses and sends the information to the muscles and glands, telling them what to do.

The human brain is not only one of the most important organs in the human body; it is also the most complex(www.verywell.com/the-anatomy-of-the-brain-2794895). Anatomically the brain is divided into three major parts; cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem[1]. The cerebrum consists of two hemispheres, such as right and left hemispheres.

Ever wonder how the human body works, well there are two main systems to help the human body move , the nervous system is comprised of two subdivisions. The central nervous system is the coordinating system for the body. The peripheral nervous system is a very complex network of nerves that extend across the whole body. Both are vital to the human body and without either life would not exist. The nervous system works together with other systems to send signals to the brain.

A. Theoretical Background: The nervous system is categorized into two different divisions: The central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS mainly consists of the brain and spinal cord. The PNS consists of the nerve impulses that carry synapses to and from the spinal cord. It includes the cranial nerves such as ganglia, enteric plexuses and sensory receptors.

What are the Fundamentals of Norman Doidge or Brain Rewiring? Norman Doidge states that it is possible to heal the brain, contrary to popular belief. He introduced that the brain is capable of changing its structure and function. This phenomenon is referred to as neuroplasticity. This has replaced the previously held belief that adult brain is physiologically static.

Concept Map 2: Neuroscience Neuroscience is a very complex study and is classified as a scientific field of study that studies the nervous system and how it relates to mental and behavior processes. Since neuroscience is the study of the nervous system after all, many psychologist like to study it because our nervous system is what controls us. It spreads the messages from our brain to the rest of our body. This would be why the nervous system is defined as the way our body communicates with itself through the use of neurons. The neurons are what transports the information throughout our body.

INTRODUCTION Approximately 36 million individuals have Alzheimer’s disease (AD) worldwide which is the common cause of dementia in the range of higher ages (Alzheimers.net, 2014). About 5% to 8% of people aged above 65, 15% to 20% of people aged above 75 and 25% to 50% of those aged above 85 are affected by Alzheimer’s disease (Duthey, 2013). Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversibly progressive disease of the brain characterised by gradual loss of memory, change in personality and a decline in cognitive functions such as language, perception and reasoning. An individual with Alzheimer’s disease would lose all mental and memory abilities in later stages (National Institute of Aging, 2011). It is believed that Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the

Sight is one of the special senses and it is accomplished with an organ called the eye. The eye receives light and transforms the photon signal into an electrical signal that the brain interprets. This transformation of information is done via the photoreceptor cells found at the back of the eye on the retina. The photoreceptors, rods and cones, are distributed across the back of the eye to capture all light with a higher concentration found in the fovea for fine vision. The light stimulates rods and cones resulting in a change in their membrane potential.

Abbreviations SCN Suprachiasmatic nucleus RTH Retinohypothalamic tract PER Period homolog BMAL1 Brain and Muscle Arnt Like Protein 1 CLOCK Circadian locomotor output cycles kaput CRY Cryptochrome REV-ERB-α Reverse erythroblastosis virus α ROR α/γ Retinoid-related orphan receptor α/γ FAA Food-anticipatory activity NPY Neuropeptide Y AgRP Agouti-related protein MCH Melanin concentrating hormone CART Cocain amphetamine-regulated transcript POMC

Paw Preference in Dogs Did you know that dogs have a paw preference similar to left or right handedness of humans? People do not think of dogs using one paw more than the other paw, in other words being left or right pawed. Many dogs do have a particular paw they prefer unlike some dogs that use both paws, and do not have a paw preference. Which paw does your dog prefer?

Cerebellum is a complex structure of neurons located at the base of structure in the posterior fossa. It lies back to the occipital lobe of the brain and dorsal to the brainstem, at the level of the pons and the medulla. The cerebellum is separated from the brain stem by the fourth ventricle. It is also connected to the brainstem by three branches: 1. superior cerebellar branch 2.

Neuroplasticity is the brain 's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. It allows the nerve cells in the brain, neurons, to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their activities in response to new situations or to changes in their environment. Think of your brain like the leaves of a sunflower. Their leaves grow and move to face the sun throughout the day so that it is more effective in its functions to maintain life. This is quite similar to the day-to-day changes in your brain because the sunflower is adapting to its environment by changing its structure just as the neurons are produced and make different connections throughout the brain.

“It’s all about taking control of your mind and body, and soul.” Quotes about the human brain: “The human brain is a funny thing: it's very susceptible to tempo and melody. You put the right words to it, and it becomes very influential.” -Ray Stevens “The human brain has 100 billion neurons, each neuron connected to 10 thousand other neurons. Sitting on your shoulders is the most complicated object in the known universe.”

TAQ 1: a) b) The mammalian nervous system is split into two. The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord, which coordinates and controls the movement and activities of the body and the peripheral nervous system, made up of the somatic and autonomic system, which forms the connections between the organs and the central nervous system. The brain and the spinal cord work together to aid the coordination of the body.

The action potential is the signal that travels down the axon when a neuron is transmitting information. To understand the action potential, which is essentially the flow of ions in and out of the neuron that differ from the normal flow, one must understand the relation of ions, especially sodium and potassium, with the neuron. Neurons are covered by membranes that regulate the inflow and outflow of chemicals, and certain chemicals, like sodium and potassium can only flow in and out via channels along the membrane. At rest, the membrane maintains a certain polarization between the inside and outside of the neuron, with the inside being a little more negatively charged than the outside, at a resting membrane potential of -70 mV. When a neuron

The sense of touch is the most perplexing of the five basic senses; some neurologists believe we have more. The touch sense, also known as somatosensation, refers to the body’s ability to interact with the environment, interpret external factors, and distinguish pain from pleasure through experience which allows the body to respond appropriately to various sensations. The sense of touch differs from the other senses of sight, sound, smell, and taste because it is not confined to one specific location. Instead, it occurs all over the body. The primary organ that the body uses for the sense of touch is the skin, the largest organ of the body as it covers the entirety of it.

The facial nerve is the seventh paired cranial nerve. It is a mixed nerve. Its conveys the sensation of taste and is motor to all the skeletal muscles derived from the second pharyngeal arch. The nerve is secreto-motor to the lacrimal, submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. Parts of facial nerve:

What is language? The definition of language is “the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way” (Oxford dictionary, 2014). Philosophers have been asking themselves, "What is language in general?" Some say that language is the only “manipulation and use of symbols in order to draw attention to signified content” (Wikipedia, 2014). However, in this case, human beings won’t be the only species that can use language.

Many aspects of physical exercise including hand and eye coordination rely on brain function. But the role of the brain in physical activities goes beyond precise movement-related skills. The organ also affects how a person can use their muscle effectively. This role of the brain has been targeted by a new headset, developed to increase the organ's neuroplasticity state. Neuroplasticity of the brain is referred to its ability to adapt and change throughout life.

Discuss the major concepts of cell signalling and why it is important. Cell signalling is the process by which cells communicate with each other. This may be with themselves or cells adjacent or even cells in a different location of the body and with the environment. The most significant functions are response to stimuli, to control specialised cell functions and during development.