Functional And Structural Changes To The Brain Essay

NURS 6630

Neuron

Neurons, also known as nerve cells, are responsible for sending and receiving signals from the brain. It has three parts: axon, cell body, and dendrites. The cell body, also known as the soma, is the core section of the neuron as it contains genetic information, provides energy, and maintains the structure of the neuron. The axon is a long tail-like structure that joins the cell body at the axon hillock junction. It is insulated with the myelin sheath involved in electrical signal conduction. The dendrites branch out from the cell body and function by receiving and processing signals from the axons of other neurons (Ludwig et al., 2021). Transmission of a nerve impulse along a neuron from one end to another results from electrical changes across the neuron membrane, which in turn generate an action potential. Functional And Structural Changes To The Brain Essay

Components of Subcortical Structures

Comprise a group of various neural formations located deep within the brain, including the pituitary gland, diencephalon, limbic structures, and basal ganglia (Ludwig et al., 2021). They participate in complex activities such as pleasure, emotion, memory, and hormone production. They transmit and modulate information passing to different areas of the brain, acting as information centers of the nervous system.

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Part of the brain is responsible for memory, learning, and addiction.

The hippocampus is found in the temporal lobe, where episodic memories are formed and indexed for later access. It is also responsible for transferring new learning to long-term memory (Fogwe et al., 2022). It is involved in retrieving two types: spatial relationships and declarative memories. Spatial relationship memories consist of pathways or roots, whereas declarative memories are related to events and facts. The pyramidal cells in the hippocampus are responsible for associative learning, which studies the relationship between two separate stimuli. The stimuli might range from events and concrete objects to abstract concepts, including location, time, and others. The mesolimbic dopamine pathway, otherwise known as the brain’s reward circuit, is responsible for addiction through the release of dopamine, a chemical that makes you feel good. Functional And Structural Changes To The Brain Essay

Substantia Nigra

The substantia nigra striatal region produces two hormones: acetylcholine and dopamine. Acetylcholine inhibits movement by inhibiting the direct pathway and exciting the indirect pathway (Sonne et al., 2021). Dopamine, however, increases movement by stimulating the direct pathway and inhibiting the indirect pathway. Functional And Structural Changes To The Brain Essay

Glial cells

The glial cells, also known as neuroglia, are non-neuronal in the central and peripheral nervous systems. According to Ludwig et al. (2021), they provide metabolic and physical support to neurons, including communication, neuronal insulation, and nutrient and waste transport.

Synapse

A synapse is the point of communication between two neurons. At the chemical synapse, an action potential triggers the presynaptic neuron leading to the release of neurotransmitters which then bind to the receptors on the postsynaptic membrane (Caire et al., 2022). This results in the development of an action potential.

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity, also referred to as brain plasticity, is a process that involves functional and structural changes to the brain by forming new neural connections over time. The nervous system can alter its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimulants by restructuring its connections, structures, and functions (Puderbaugh & Emmady, 2022). examples include; changes that occur secondary to traumatic brain injury or stroke. Functional And Structural Changes To The Brain Essay

References

Caire, M. J., Reddy, V., & Varacallo, M. (2022, March 26). Physiology, Synapse. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526047/

Fogwe, L. A., Reddy, V., & Mesfin, F. B. (2022, July 18). Neuroanatomy, Hippocampus. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482171/

Ludwig, P. E., Reddy, V., & Varacallo, M. (2021, July 31). Neuroanatomy, Neurons. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441977/

‌Puderbaugh, M., & Emmady, P. D. (2022, May 8). Neuroplasticity. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557811/

Sonne, J., Reddy, V., & Beato, M. R. (2021, October 30). Neuroanatomy, Substantia Nigra. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536995/

Address the following Short Answer prompts for your Assignment. Be sure to include references to the Learning Resources for this week.

In 4 or 5 sentences, describe the anatomy of the basic unit of the nervous system, the neuron. Include each part of the neuron and a general overview of electrical impulse conduction, the pathway it travels, and the net result at the termination of the impulse. Be specific and provide examples. Functional And Structural Changes To The Brain Essay
Answer the following (listing is acceptable for these questions):
What are the major components that make up the subcortical structures?
Which component plays a role in learning, memory, and addiction?
What are the two key neurotransmitters located in the nigra striatal region of the brain that play a major role in motor control?
In 3 or 4 sentences, explain how glia cells function in the central nervous system. Be specific and provide examples.
The synapse is an area between two neurons that allows for chemical communication. In 3 or 4 sentences, explain what part of the neurons are communicating with each other and in which direction does this communication occur? Be specific.
In 3–5 sentences, explain the concept of “neuroplasticity.” Be specific and provide examples. Functional And Structural Changes To The Brain Essay