Neurobiology+and+Learning

=NEUROBIOLOGY AND LEARNING=

Neurons play a vital role in a child’s development.



The cells in the brain are called neurons. They process and transmit electrical signals throughout the brain. There are close to 100 billion neurons in the brain.

Neurons consist of several different features: Soma or cell body- contains the nucleus and is responsible for keeping the neuron healthy. Dendrites- branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons. Axon- a long, armlike structure that transmits electrical impulses to other neurons. Terminal buttons- the ends of axon branches that contain chemical substances (neurotransmitters). Myelin sheath- white matter made up lipids (fat) that surround axons in most neurons. It is responsible for moving electrical impulses more quickly across axons. Synapses- a junction (gap) between two neurons that allows messages to transfer from terminal buttons of one neuron to dendrites of another neuron. Neurotransmitters- chemical substances that relay, amplify, and modulate electrical impulses from one neuron to another neuron.


 * The process of transmitting a message from one neuron to another:**

A dendrite will become electrically charged from an influx of positive ions, mainly sodium ions. If the charge reaches a threshold, the neuron will fire an electrical impulse down its axon called an action potential. If the axon is covered by a myelin sheath, the impulse will travel rapidly down the axon. If the axon is not covered in myelin sheath, the electrical impulse will travel slower. Once the electrical impulse reaches the terminal buttons of the axon, calcium ions are released triggering neurotransmitters in the terminal buttons to release. The neurotransmitters will travel across the synaptic gap between neurons. The neurotransmitters will bind to receptors on the other neuron's dendrite, allowing sodium ions to enter into the other neuron. The next neuron will start to become positively charged from the influx of sodium ions and the whole process repeats.


 * A change in neurons is an integral process in learning development:**

- When a neuron is first developed, it contains no myelin. As a child grows, so does the myelin surrounding axons on neurons, a process called myelination. This increases the speed electoral impulses (messages) are carried from one neuron to another. The faster a message is carried, the quicker a child is able to process information. - The process of creating new synapses is known as synaptogenesis New synapses are created as children learn and adults learn new information throughout their lives. However, immediately after birth there is a spontaneously rapid increase in synapses due to genetic programming. Children do not create synapses from learning experiences at an early age. Children in early elementary grades have many more synapses than adults do. This is why children can learn so much information at one time. - Another process associated with learning and developing an understanding of environmental events and behavioral patterns is synaptic pruning. In synaptic pruning, synapses that are barely used gradually fade away. As a child begins to make sense of their environment, the synapses correlated to their previous misconceptions get eliminated. Synaptic pruning happens frequently during preschool and early elementary years. To be an effective learner, they need to be able to think, as well as inhibit the tendencies to not think in certain ways. - It is also true that new neurons are created throughout our lifetime and not just at birth.


 * Neurotransmitters:**

Created by Robert Luce

References:

Ormrod, J. E. (2001). //Educational psychology: Developing learners, 7/e.// Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

http://www.apa.org/education/k12/brain-function.aspx

http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/theneuron.html

http://www.faculty.umb.edu/gary_zabel/Courses/Phil%20281/Philosophy%20of%20Magic/My%20Documents/Neuroscience%20of%20Altered%20States%20a.htm

http://brunsappsych.weebly.com/semester-exam-review-questions.html

http://understandingcontext.com/2014/01/synapses-and-neurotransmitter/

https://www.boundless.com/biology/textbooks/boundless-biology-textbook/the-nervous-system-35/how-neurons-communicate-200/synaptic-transmission-763-11996/