Sum-um-um-ummation

       In last weeks assigned modules we covered action potentials, hyper polarization and depolarization . If you were completely lost on the topic and would like a better understanding explained in roughly five minutes watch the video posted below for a brief recap so that you don't get lost while reading my blog.

The gentlemen in this video covers the materially clearly and concisely so you shouldn't get too confused when listening.

Before I begin my discussion on Excitatory Presynaptic Potential I want to cover summation and the two different types.

At the beginning of module 3.1 we learn about temporal summation; which is described as being "a cumulative effect of repeated stimuli within a brief time"(Kalat, 2012). Imagine your trying to break a concrete barrier with a sledge hammer. You hit the barrier once, nothing happens. You hit it again and again and again continuously and it cracks. In a sense this happens in temporal summation being that a stimulus is received down the axon of the presynaptic neuron when the the postsynaptic neuron receives that stimulus Excitatory Presynaptic Potential (EPSP) occurs however, the threshold for action potential is not reached. Yet, if more than one stimulus travels down that presynaptic neuron one after the other essentially action potential can be reached. 

With spatial summation more than one neuron can be touching the postsynaptic neuron and instead of it receiving stimuli information from just one axon it can receive stimuli from both one after the other which can be enough to cause an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron.

Leslie Samuel gives a more scientific understanding which parallels what our text says about temporal summation and spatial summation.

My reason for choosing this topic isn't only because it interest me; I chose it because it is so important. If Charles Sherrington had never thought about the speed of reflexes and delayed transmission , etc. we probably wouldn't have such a good understanding of certain psychological situations such as depression or drug addiction. It makes me appreciate the science of synapses because without this branch of neuroscience our ability to help those whose synapses malfunction would be limited.

Kalat, J. W. (2012). Biological psychology In L. Schreiber-Ganster & J. Hague (Eds.), Biological Psychology(11th ed., p. 582, 583). North Carolina: Wadsworth Cengage Learning

Got a Clue about Glue?

       Many a time I've heard that we only use 10% of our brains. Now when I first heard this years ago I accepted it. I did not question it because I trusted the source that was feeding me that information. Well, time has passed since then and I have come to learn that you can't trust everything you hear or read. I've learned that the only true sources to trust for information are from the direct source or researcher. Even at that there is always room for human error.

      Nonetheless, I reach my topic. Our text Biological Psychology, 11th Edition by Kalat has a brief portion in chapter two dedicated to the discussion of glia. What is glia you might ask? Well friends glia (also known as neuroglia) are a type of cell in the nervous system that have several functions. To date there are five types of glia that scientists have named, they are as follows:

Astrocytes

Microglia

• Astrocytes are star shaped and wrap around the presynaptic terminals of a group of axons who relate functionally.
• Microglia are microscopic in size as their name hints who remove waste material along with viruses, fungi and other microorganisms.
• Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells are briefly mentioned in the text as cells that aid in the production of the myelin sheath which covers the axons. 



Oligodendrocytes



Radial Glia at work 

• Radial Glia are especially important during embryonic development because they guide the migration of neurons and their systems. After embryonic development they themselves mature into either neurons or other forms of glia. 

In a lecture by Dr. Doug Fields he goes into further detail about the importance of glia cells. What really intrigued me about his lecture is his enthusiasm about the topic. That captured my attention because for the longest time neurologists have thought that the most important part of the brain are the neurons. One of the first things Dr. Fields mentions is that the human brain is 10% to 15% composed of neurons. The remaining percentage is glia.  Now glia are still very new to the field of neurology because there is still so much to be learned about them, mostly due to our inability to study them in the brain. Hopefully as science progresses we will be able to better understand them and their over all importance.

So the idea that we only use 10% of our brains still remains to be refuted and proved. I hope that comes sooner than later. Time only knows how many lives depend on it. 

Introduction to Physiological Psychology

Imagination? Consciousness? Language? The ability to think?
    Do you think any of this would be possible if we had the same brain-to-body ratio as an alligator?
 Here is a little insight into this.

Of the many things that makes humans stand out from other species is our intelligence, and in various forms at that. Our ancestors were able to survive and evolve because of it. They used their intelligence and ability to understand their surroundings to create tools and hunt and eventually create civilizations. There are days when I sit and watch NatGeo or the History channel  in awe of all that the human species has created. The dirt that you walk on now was once moved by another human being generations ago.

On a different note......
 What if I told you that what you crave from What-a-burger, McDonald's, Burger King, Jack in the Box etc., was detrimental to your health...would you care?
Our text briefly mentions that the human brain-to-body ratio was declining due to the increasing amount of obese individuals. This scares me. If I told you that it is possible that degenerative brain disease and obesity could be linked would that make you change your diet?

I worry about our children and our futures. What if it is possible that instead of becoming more intelligent we are becoming less intelligent? Is this at all possible?