The Synapse

Neurons have special extensions called dendrites and axons.  Dendrites bring information to the cell body and axons move information away from the cell body.

Information travels from one neuron to the next through a small gap called a synapse.  

The pre-synaptic ending (neuron at the front of the chain) contains neurotransmitters.

The post-synaptic ending (neuron on the receiving end of the synapse) contains receptor sites for the neurotransmitters.

By releasing special neurotransmitters, neurons can release special signals and information to the next one.  The billions of neurons communicate with each other this way, which allows the brain to carry out all of its specialized functions!

The synapse is shown very well in the following video:

Bill Nye The Science Guy

We have finally found the video on the brain from the Bill Nye series. Enjoy!

Natural Hallucinogen

This video is very neat. By staring at the middle of the screen for around a minute, your eyes get accustomed to the motion of the lines. Since this is now "normal", your brain adapts to the way the lines move and perceives it as being normal. Once you turn away from the video and look at something that is still, your brain is tricked!

IlLuSiOnS

Since we all love illusions, we will post some more cool illusions!

MORE illusions!

We found some more illusions from your favorite scientist: Bill Nye..The Science Guy!

WHAT? Our brain isn't perfect?

Sometimes we think that our brain can do anything. We trust our brains to keep us alive and make the best decisions possible.  However, the next two sites show that the brain is NOT perfect.  We can be easily tricked by simple things in life and we may not even know it.

http://listverse.com/2010/01/07/top-10-common-faults-in-human-thought/

http://listverse.com/2010/04/12/10-more-common-faults-in-human-thought/

Do any of these errors sound familiar?? Most should and if not, these faults can prepare you for what's to come next!

How Your Brain Works

Ever wonder how our brain works? Well its amazingly complex, as every day
it controls everything that happens to our body along with everything that
we think. Despite being complex and advanced our brain has problems and
issues of its own. BBC, National geographic and KidsHealth are three good
places to learn more about how our brain works.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/interactives/organs/ brainmap/index.shtml

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/spacescience/brain/

http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/brain.html

What is a Neuron?

The brain is a very amazing organ.  It carries out higher level processing, which is no easy task.  In order to work properly, the trillions of cells in the brain must work together well.  These cells are neurons and are specialized to carry messages through electrochemical processes.

Below is a basic structure of a neuron:

The neuron receives messages from other neurons at its dendrites.  It passes this information along its axon through electrical signals.  At the presynaptic terminal, the neuron passes its message onto the next cell through chemical signaling.  The neuron can pass its message to muscle cells, which help you move around!

Brain Imaging

Recent technology has allowed neuroscientists to see inside a living brain.  These techniques have allowed them to:

• understand the function each area in the brain serves
• locate areas that are affected by brain injuries

Computed Tomography Scan (CT Scan)

-uses x-ray beams to pass through the head.  

-shows structure of the brain, but not function.

Position Emission Tomography (PET)

-detects radioactive material that is injected or inhaled to produce an image of the brain

-radioactive material moves to area of the brain that is in use

-allows you to see function

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

-detects radio frequency signals produced by displacing radio waves in a magnetic field

-shows structures of brain

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

-detects changes in blood flow to the brain

-shows structure and function of the parts of the brain