Neurons explained pt. 1
Let’s talk neurons. Neurons are the highways through which information travels in our brain. We have three major types of neurons:
1. Sensory neurons: They carry information from the periphery (our senses) to the brain.
2. Motor neurons: They carry information from the brain to other neurons, organs, and the periphery, allowing us to move and respond.
3. Interneurons: They act as relays between sensory and motor neurons, facilitating communication within the nervous system.
All neurons use electrical signals to transmit information, which is then translated into chemical signals via neurotransmitters. Neurons are among the most diverse types of cells in the body. We have the greatest number of neurons at birth, but we gradually lose a large portion of them during early developmental years through a process called synaptic pruning. Think of it as “survival of the fittest”—only the strongest and most efficient connections remain, while the others are eliminated.
Throughout life, certain parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus, can form new neurons through a process called neurogenesis. Additionally, our neural connections can be reshaped through neuroplasticity (from “plastic,” meaning adaptable), allowing our brain to reorganize itself in response to experiences, learning, and injuries.
The way our neurons communicate with one another is what makes us unique—not only as individuals but also as a species. However, the exact processes that determine how each neuron develops, differentiates, and evolves are still not fully understood.
Over the next few posts, I’ll explore key studies that have advanced our understanding of these processes and how far we’ve come in deciphering the brain’s architectural complexity.
References:
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-life-and-death-neuron
Neuroscience for Dummies - Amthor, F. (2023). Neuroscience for dummies. John Wiley & Sons.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7746664/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557811/#:~:text=It%20is%20defined%20as%20the,traumatic%20brain%20injury%20(TBI).
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6659986/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539894/#:~:text=Neurotransmitters%20are%20endogenous%20chemicals%20that,process%20of%20chemical%20synaptic%20transmission.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539846/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554616/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh?Cmd=DetailsSearch&Db=mesh&Term=%22Interneurons%22%5BMeSH%20Terms%5D