Learning and the brain
The brain is complex. Its functions and mechanism have inspired researchers for a long time, and they are still learning its features and functionalities. Nonetheless, they've made significant progress in the last few decades, and their understanding of brain anatomy and physiology is expanding yearly. We'll investigate the biological foundations of thinking and learning. Before getting into the details, we will start by analysing the human nervous system. We'll then look at different parts of the brain and its functions.
Human Nervous System: The Basic Building Blocks
You might be familiar with the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Right? The central nervous system, which serves as the coordination centre, comprises the brain and spinal cord. It links what we sense and how we respond to stimuli. The messenger system is the peripheral nervous system: It sends information to the central nervous system from receptor cells, which are specialized to detect specific types of stimulation from the environment (e.g., light, sound, chemicals, heat, pressure), and it sends instructions back to various body parts (muscles, organs, etc.) on how to respond to that stimulation. Nerve cells, also known as neurons, are how the nervous system transmits and coordinates information. Surprisingly, neurons do not directly touch one another; instead, they send chemical messages to their neighbours via tiny spaces known as synapses. Furthermore, neurons are structurally and structurally supported by other glial cells. Let's take a quick look at these vital nervous system components.
Neurons
Neurons in the human body serve one of three functions. Sensory neurons relay information from receptor cells. This information is communicated to interneurons, who analyse and interpret it and send it to multiple locations. The resulting "decisions" are sent to motor neurons, which send messages to the appropriate parts of the body about how to behave and respond.
Neurons vary in shape and size, but they all share several characteristics. First, like all cells, they have a cell body, or soma, which contains the nucleus and is in charge of the cell's health and well-being. They also have several branchlike structures called dendrites that receive messages from other neurons. They also have an axon. In some cases, there will be more than one. It is a long, arm-like structure that sends information to other neurons. The axon's terminal end can branch out multiple times, and its tiny branches' tips have terminal buttons containing specific chemical substances (more about these substances shortly). Some (but not all) neurons have axons. And these axons are covered with a membrane.
Synapses
The branching ends of a neuron's axon reach out to but do not quite touch other neurons' dendrites (or somas). Whereas information transmission within a neuron is electrical, information transmission from one neuron to another is chemical. When an electrical impulse travels down the axon of a neuron, the terminal buttons release chemicals known as neurotransmitters. These chemicals cross synapses and stimulate neighbouring neurons' dendrites or somas. Different neurons specialize in various neurotransmitters. You might have heard about dopamine, the happy hormone, epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and amino acids. All these are neurotransmitters, and each may play a distinct role in the nervous system.
The Glial Cells
Glial cells are also known as neuroglia. It comprises one to five trillion glial cells in white colour. All these cells are known as white matter due to their colour.
Structures and Functions of the Brain
In some cases, sensory neurons in the spinal cord connect directly with motor neurons, allowing for an automatic response, or reflex, that requires no thought. You immediately withdraw or shake your hand when you touch something cold or hot. It is because of the information the motor neuron receives from the sensory neurons. Although your brain is aware of the heat, your spinal cord allows you to remove yourself from danger before your brain even considers the situation.
However, most information from the outside world is routed to the brain, which decides whether and how to respond. Given the sheer number of cells in the brain—several trillion in total—and their microscopic size and innumerable interconnections, researchers have had a difficult time determining how the brain works and which parts serve what functions. Nonetheless, they've made significant progress.
Brain Structure Interconnectedness
Many aspects of daily functioning, such as attention, learning, memory, and motor skills, are handled in multiple places, as you may have noticed in our earlier discussion of various brain structures. And, as you know, the two hemispheres usually collaborate to understand and respond to the world. Remember that any single neuron can have hundreds (or more) synapses with other neurons.