Basic Neuroscience concepts

Neurons

• there are approximately equal numbers of neurons and glia in the adult human brain (roughly 85 billion of each type)

• neurons are responsible for most of the unique functions of the brain. It is the neurons that sense changes in the environment, communicate these changes to other neurons, and command the body’s responses to these sensations.

• There are 100 billion neurons in the adult bain and 100 trillion connections between them

Glia

• Glia , or glial cells , contribute to brain function mainly by insulating, supporting, and nourishing neighboring neurons. the term glia is derived from the Greek word for “glue,” giving the impression that the main function of these cells is to keep the brain from running out of our ears!

Chromosome, DNA, Gene

• Chromosomes contain the genetic material DNA ( deoxyribonucleic acid ).
• Your DNA was passed on to you from your parents and it contains the blueprint for your entire body.
• The DNA in each of your neurons is the same, and it is the same as the DNA in the cells of your body organs.
• What distinguishes a neuron from a cell are the specific parts of the DNA that are used to assemble the cell. These segments of DNA are called genes.

Cerebral cortex

• the outer sheet or montle of cells covering the hemisphere

gyri/gyrus

• the crest of a fold of cortex

sulci/sulcus

• the infolding of the cortex

hippocampus

• old cortex, composed of 3 layers (responsible for learning and memory)

neocortex

• new cortex, composed of 6 layers

primary visual cortex

• V1, striate cortex, area 17
• 1’st cortical area to start processing visual information, calcarine cortex

Cortex division

• Brodman’s numbering system (50 areas)
• division by lobes (Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital)

Frontal lobe:

• motor function and higher cognitive functions

Occipital lobe:

• includes areas 17, 18, 19: visual function

Temporal lobe:

• includes areas 41, hearing, meanings, sounds
• understanding language, visual functions, recognizing faces
  Reference: Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain [Bear, Mark F., Connors, Barry W., Paradiso, Michael A.]